by Paige Stringer | Oct 11, 2009 | Uncategorized
It seemed fitting that on the 999th anniversary of Hanoi’s liberation from invading armies, I paid a visit to an old soldier. Viet Hong Lam Pham traded his gun for a paintbrush almost 40 years ago after being deafened during an American bombing raid during the Vietnam...
by Paige Stringer | Oct 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
Our friends at the NGO Caritas graciously set up a meeting for me at a school for disabled children in a province about 2.5 hours away from Hanoi. The Vice-Dean of Special Education at Hanoi University, joined me on the trip. To have 5 hours round-trip in a car with...
by Paige Stringer | Oct 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
I arrived in Hanoi a few hours ago, and what a change from the countryside! This clamoring city is bustling with contagious energy – its like hitting New York City after spending weeks in Fargo, ND. A much older metropolis than Ho Chi Minh (it turns 1000 in...
by Paige Stringer | Oct 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
One has to appreciate a culture that finds so much to be thankful for and celebrates it all! When I came to Thuan An last year, we honored the teachers with wreaths, cards, and a big ceremony on Teacher Appreciation Day. This time, the focus has been on the kids...
by Paige Stringer | Oct 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
As I took the first sip of yet another satisfying concoction of tea, I realized that I have yet to have a bad cup in Vietnam. There’s just something about the way they prepare it here with a dash of sugar and some added spices that combine to make a perfect cup...
by Paige Stringer | Oct 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
School at Thuan An starts each week with a 7 am Monday morning flag ceremony. Students line up rank and file by age on the cement drive– bright-eyed and uniform in appearance with their pressed light blue and stark white-collared shirts and matching dark blue pants....
