"I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near a good market for the productions of the garden. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden. Such a variety of subjects, some one always coming to perfection, the failure of one thing repaired by the success of another, and instead of one harvest, a continued one thro' the year. Under a total want of demand except for our family table. I am still devoted to the garden. But tho' an old man, I am but a young gardener."
-Thomas Jefferson
Today we visited the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology… It is a museum dedicated to the different ethnic / tribal roots of the Vietnamese people…It was a great museum…It had one major indoor museum building with traditional / representative arts and crafts of the various groups within the Viet culture…Additionally, there is a large open air museum…a sort of village made up of different representations of houses/structures representing the various groups in the country…These houses were built and constructed by the various different villages on-site at the museum…very interesting…and very educational…
The study of history and cultures here is very interesting…When you study Vietnamese history…you are literally studying a history that is thousands of years old…For example…we are visiting pagodas that were built around 1000AD…It is interesting to study a culture and country with such a long history…In the US, we look at a building built in the 1700’s and are wowed…It is certainly interesting to compare the long history of Vietnam…compared to the relatively short one in the US…
When talking about the history of this country…it is difficult to ignore that its independence is only about 50 years old…As some of you may know, Vietnam (along with Cambodia and Laos) was under French Colonial rule from the late 1800’s until the early 1950’s…Hanoi, the current capital, was also the capital of French Indo-China…So you can definitely feel the French design of the city…Many of the government buildings were former French Colonial Government buildings…including the presidential palace…which served as the French Governor General’s residence during colonial times…China pretty much ruled this region for a long time as well (close to about a 1000 years)…so basically, the Vietnam we know today has only been independent for a relative short time…
As we mentioned before, the people here seem to be very proud…We have never felt unwelcome, or unsafe…as a matter of fact we feel real comfortable here…We certainly miss home, our families, friends, dog, cat, etc….and it will be great to be home…but there is something about this place…it is difficult to explain…maybe because our son was born here, not sure…but we like it here…There is a lot of poverty, it is not a perfect place, but certainly a sense of communal spirit that is to be respected…again not perfect, but not completely bad either…
There is certainly a lot of irony here…particularly traveling the streets as Americans…who would of thought that American’s not only would be welcomed here as tourists…but as parents of Vietnamese children?? Pretty interesting…pretty amazing… and we feel that we are part of an amazing history here for us as well…we are celebrating our own personal accomplishment…a new chapter of the history of our family that includes the addition of little Anthony, certainly a monumental event in our lives…and We guess his as well…hopefully it will be a history of accomplishment, love and happiness that we all will be proud of…
As our time here in Hanoi is short…we leave for the airport in less than 48 hours…We are excited to be heading home to get back to reality…and start our family routine…
Here are some pictures from our recent travels in Hanoi…hope you enjoy…and again thanks everyone for their positive comments, e-mails, and prayers…they mean a lot…we really appreciate all of the love and support we have received from everyone during this journey...THANKS!!!!
The entrance to the Museum of Ethnology
A couple getting their wedding photos at the grounds of the museum...
A display of the craft of making traditional hats out of bamboo...
A sample of an ancient tomb...
One of the many structures on display...
Today was international children's day...we did not pay for admission for the baby...or meals all day for him...
One of the many lizards we have encountered...
Little Anthony loves to eat...we have not found anything he does not like....Here he is eating dinner...
Someone is taking a well deserved nap....
Hamming it up for the camera...
One of our favorite Vietnamese dishes...Bun Cha...It is a traditional Hanoi / North Vietnamese dish...It is really good...
The motorbike...perfect, roomy transportation for a family of four...No family minivans or suv's here....
-Thomas Jefferson
Today we visited the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology… It is a museum dedicated to the different ethnic / tribal roots of the Vietnamese people…It was a great museum…It had one major indoor museum building with traditional / representative arts and crafts of the various groups within the Viet culture…Additionally, there is a large open air museum…a sort of village made up of different representations of houses/structures representing the various groups in the country…These houses were built and constructed by the various different villages on-site at the museum…very interesting…and very educational…
The study of history and cultures here is very interesting…When you study Vietnamese history…you are literally studying a history that is thousands of years old…For example…we are visiting pagodas that were built around 1000AD…It is interesting to study a culture and country with such a long history…In the US, we look at a building built in the 1700’s and are wowed…It is certainly interesting to compare the long history of Vietnam…compared to the relatively short one in the US…
When talking about the history of this country…it is difficult to ignore that its independence is only about 50 years old…As some of you may know, Vietnam (along with Cambodia and Laos) was under French Colonial rule from the late 1800’s until the early 1950’s…Hanoi, the current capital, was also the capital of French Indo-China…So you can definitely feel the French design of the city…Many of the government buildings were former French Colonial Government buildings…including the presidential palace…which served as the French Governor General’s residence during colonial times…China pretty much ruled this region for a long time as well (close to about a 1000 years)…so basically, the Vietnam we know today has only been independent for a relative short time…
As we mentioned before, the people here seem to be very proud…We have never felt unwelcome, or unsafe…as a matter of fact we feel real comfortable here…We certainly miss home, our families, friends, dog, cat, etc….and it will be great to be home…but there is something about this place…it is difficult to explain…maybe because our son was born here, not sure…but we like it here…There is a lot of poverty, it is not a perfect place, but certainly a sense of communal spirit that is to be respected…again not perfect, but not completely bad either…
There is certainly a lot of irony here…particularly traveling the streets as Americans…who would of thought that American’s not only would be welcomed here as tourists…but as parents of Vietnamese children?? Pretty interesting…pretty amazing… and we feel that we are part of an amazing history here for us as well…we are celebrating our own personal accomplishment…a new chapter of the history of our family that includes the addition of little Anthony, certainly a monumental event in our lives…and We guess his as well…hopefully it will be a history of accomplishment, love and happiness that we all will be proud of…
As our time here in Hanoi is short…we leave for the airport in less than 48 hours…We are excited to be heading home to get back to reality…and start our family routine…
Here are some pictures from our recent travels in Hanoi…hope you enjoy…and again thanks everyone for their positive comments, e-mails, and prayers…they mean a lot…we really appreciate all of the love and support we have received from everyone during this journey...THANKS!!!!
The entrance to the Museum of Ethnology
A couple getting their wedding photos at the grounds of the museum...
A display of the craft of making traditional hats out of bamboo...
A sample of an ancient tomb...
One of the many structures on display...
Today was international children's day...we did not pay for admission for the baby...or meals all day for him...
One of the many lizards we have encountered...
Little Anthony loves to eat...we have not found anything he does not like....Here he is eating dinner...
Someone is taking a well deserved nap....
Hamming it up for the camera...
One of our favorite Vietnamese dishes...Bun Cha...It is a traditional Hanoi / North Vietnamese dish...It is really good...
The motorbike...perfect, roomy transportation for a family of four...No family minivans or suv's here....
Another great shot of the flowers in Vietnam...
4 comments:
Thanks so much for your insight into this incredible country. Obviously it will always be a very special place for you, for all of us really. Cathy and I enjoy reading your updates each day. Heck, we even have my mom hooked on your blog! We appreciate you taking the time to tell us your story. We look forward to doing the same this fall! Many Blessings and safe travel home! Thomas & Cathy
This posting is so much like what rob would have written - didn't realize you were related!
What a great record this is going to be for all of you in the years to come.
Looking forward to meeting the newest member of our growing family.
Love,
Paula and Rob
I am loving the four person motorbike! If the gas prices keep going the way they are in THIS country I will have to second guess that as a family means of transport! LOL
BTW What are the gas prices over there?
Mimi and I are enjoying the pictures and words that illustrate your time in Vietnam. Thanks for sharing with all of us. The great thing is that this is only the beginning of your journey together as a family.
Sharif
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