A most unusual and memorable Easter Sunday
04/12/2009
Wow! Sometimes I feel like a ghost when I see pictures of myself with Vietnamese colleagues!
Before I start on today's entry, I have to say how much I am enjoying the iPod that I bought this week. It contains an eclectic mix of music--acoustic, alternative, bluegrass, classic rock, classical, country, gospel, motown, lots of oldies, and more. When I returned home this evening I turned on the AC, tuned into Everything But the Girl, and felt myself being transported back to the late 80s when I lived in LA and heard them in concert with my friend Tom. It's amazing how music can be so infused with memories of people and places.
And now, for today! I reported to G-2 (a classroom building) this morning at 7:30. As I walked there I noticed many other students, which is unusual for a Sunday morning. As it turns out, today was the first of several oral examinations for graduating seniors, and I served on a panel to evaluate translation students. It was very interesting! The students in my group already have BA degrees, but have spent the past 2 years working on what is essentially a 2nd major--in English. Our three-judge panel listened as students introduced their work, showed the text on Powerpoint, and translated passages from Vietnamese to English and English to Vietnamese. Since I couldn't really evaluate the accuracy of their translations, I got to pick the sections they had to translate. Some did a super job and others struggled.
After the last exam (there were 50 students divided among 5 rooms of teachers), the class treated us to a festive dinner at a very nice seafood restaurant. What wonderful collegiality! As a cohort, they have become very good friends. As you can see in this picture, many of the women sat at this end of the table, and enjoyed soft drinks and iced tea. As with many of the Vietnamese set menus, it started with things like fried sticky rice, squid salad, and rice cakes. Then there was steamed squid, plus a hot pot, and several beautifully baked fish, followed by watermelon and grapefruit.
Female teachers occupied the middle of the long table, and the men tended to congregate at the other end of the table where they found many reasons to toast the day, "Mot, hi, ba!" Even though it was not an Easter meal with family, it felt like I was with family because everyone was so warm and inclusive. Afterward the students persuaded me to join them for karaoke at a local hotel where they had rented a karaoke room. Since I had not yet experienced this beloved pastime for many young Vietnamese, I thought it would be a good opportunity. As we sat around the room eatiing more fruit and having more drinks, people took turns selecting Vietnamese and English songs from a huge listing of titles. Some were excellent singers! Of course I had to sing something, so I chose the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" because it was a good one for them to sing with me.
Today was another example of the wonderful times I have observed Vietnamese people having with one another--taking genuine pleasure in each other's company, enjoying the beauty of the day, and living in the moment. It's a good lesson for us all.
