Community Service Class

Part of my Community Service Class is to help out at the Orphanage (the orphanage has more than 200 kids) in Go Vap District - from newborn babies to big kids.  My teacher Christina takes me to help only with newborn babies and kids my age. She explains to me about kids with different illnesses and disabilities and why some kids end up living in the orphanage.  While at the orphanage i get to help kids my age who cannot walk by holding them, play with them, try to talk or read to them. I hold and feed the little babies when they are hungry or about to take a nap. Some babies cry a lot when i leave  i feel like taking them home.  Kids my age also get sad when i leave because we all have fun playing together. I enjoy the hours at the orphanage it's sad when it's time to go back home.

Christina is holding a baby. 

This kid is 11 months old she gives me smiles when i sing to her.

These are 2 friends they love to play. 

This kid is really ill he likes it when i tickle his hands.

I really get sad when it's time to go home. 

Christina is holding a baby she and her husband want to adopt. Awww very cute.

Cao Dai Monks

This weekend my mom and i went to visit parts of Vietnam.  We went to see Cao Dai monks then the Cu Chi Tunnels.  The drive is long from Saigon, we were less that 30 minutes away from the Cambodian border but we arrived on time to see the service.  The building is very beautiful and colorful.  The monks wearing white were chanting, there are several priests in bright red, yellow and blue robes.  There are pictures of Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, Saints and Prophets.  Most of all there is ONE BIG EYE above the altar looking at the monks and everyone around. The belief is we are all praying to ONE God and that Cao Dai is a mix of many different religions. I wish my dad was with us on this trip but he's in America. 

Next month we get to visit Cambodia then Thailand, i've heard all about Angkor Wat i can't wait.

Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi tunnels are very interesting to see, they were used by North Vietnamese to win the war against the Americans.  The Americans knew the Vietnamese were somewhere but couldn't find them. The American soldiers would run after the Viet Cong only to have them disappear in the jungle by sneaking into cave entrances camouflaged by termite hills placed on top. Pepper would be sprinkled around the entrance so that dogs could not trace them.  Families lived under the tunnels, there were hospitals, schools, kitchens, living areas.  Viet Cong fought in sandals made from tires to avoid jungle rot while the Americans struggled with wet feet rotting in their boots.  Booby traps were laid out waiting for  when Americans would find a cave entrance. I crawled through one of the tunnels inside it is very hot and humid, tight and uncomfortable that my mom was screaming she couldn't breath.  I couldn't believe that people used to live under these dark scary tunnels.
There is also a shooting range where you can shoot guns that were used during the war. Bad idea!

My first piece of Pottery

I just finished making a cup for my Aunt and a bowl for myself with my name in Japanese.  I am still making a vase for Gogo.

After making a cup and a vase i took a break from pottery and took cooking.  In class we made Yokitori which is Japanese grilled chicken. Yummy. Next we will learn how to make Sushi.

Japanese School and Australian International School

I have been working hard with my swim team at the Australian International School.  Our coach Mike pushes us a lot.  Our team will compete with other International Schools in Ho Chi Minh City starting February next year.

While i am busy swimming i have been taking a pottery class at the Japanese school.  Tomiwaka and Izumi are very good at  teaching pottery.  Tomiwaka is from Tokyo he used to be a chef in Japan now moved to Vietnam where he opened a cooking and pottery school.  Izumi who is also from Japan helps at the school with both cooking and pottery.  After my pottery is done i will be taking a cooking class.  We have become good friends with both Tomiwaka and Izumi and they tell me some funny stories of them growing up in Japan.
See some of my pottery work i still need to bake a vase which i am making for Gogo. I am glazing a cup i am making for my Aunt in America.

Halloween..

My mom's friend April, with Ceci and Felix on Halloween night.  Both my mom and April never dressed up for halloween and don't understand it because they did not grow up in America.  Trick or Treat!

My friends Ceci and Felix