Visit to a local Orphanage

On Tuesday, July 28^th, the whole class planned a trip to go and visit a local orphanage call Duc Son. We were accompanied by Co Anh, Professor Bigg’s wife, and student volunteers from Hue University. We took three cabs and the travel was not far from our hotel. As we approached the orphanage, we were enthusiastic to see the kids and wanted to start playing with them.

As we got off the cab, we met the head nun who was in charge of the facility and she let us in with open arms. She gave us a brief description of the place, with the help of Co Anh as the translator, and said that the entire class who came meant a lot towards the orphans.

Here in Duc Son, there are about 192 orphans. The age varies from the youngest child at 2 month old to a 3^rd year college student. The orphans can stay at the facility until they decide to leave and can live on their own. When I was looking at these kids they’re faces glow with hope and happiness. So I decided to meet some of them.

One orphan that I met was a little girl who was practicing her writing skills. Since she was so shy she would not tell me her name or say anything to me. All she would you when I say something was stare at me like I was some sort of alien. However, I didn’t give up. I gave her a sheet of stickers and action spoke louder than words. Once she took the stickers, a smile lit up and then I knew that was a start for me. I asked her to continue what she was doing. On two full page of her note book, she repeatedly wrote the word “chá.” Her penmanship was consistently perfect. Although I don’t know her name or the things about her, I knew that she’s an amazing child and she yearning to learn.

Let me just say that the girls at the orphanage are very nice and respectful; however, some of the boys were very mean. I hate to say it but they were mean towards me. As I sat with the little girl, some of the boys surrounded me out of nowhere like a zebra trapped by a group of lions. The stared at me, pointed, laughed and said the words “Con Ga!” The word con ga means chicken. At first I did not know why they said it but then it hit me. My hair style was in a fohawk and it looked like a head of a chicken or a rooster. They kept on laughing and touching my hair, but I didn’t mind must because boys will be boys. I wish I had pictures of this event, but I don't.

After that chicken ordeal, one of the nuns told the kids to get together and sing. They sang various songs and the rest of us joined in. Most of us don’t know the songs so we just clapped or pretended to know the words.

Finally, I met another kid but he was a bit younger than most of the boys. I don’t know his name either since he was 2 years old and could not talk yet. But I have to say he was adorable and barely knows how to walk. However, there is a trick. The trick to make him walk is to show an object and as he stands, just tease him with it. It’s fun, mean, and adorable at the same time. I did it with my camera but I let him play with it for awhile.

In the end, we could not stay long because Co Anh told us it was time to go. Some of us wanted to stay a little longer and some wanted to take the kids home. We were glad that we went. Some of us will return to do our internship at the orphanage, and other like myself will do other type of internship. However, I would like to go back before I leave.