5/3: Hanoi and student reflections

Everything went smoothly with our flight from Hue to Hanoi. After checking into our hotel, we walked five minutes to Hoan Kiem lake, right next to the old district, and then separated into small groups for lunch. The adults at cha ca, a special cuisine of Hanoi of fish, vegetables, peanuts and noodles (and of course fish sauce), cooked right at your table.

Ha, preparing the cha ca meal. Ha told us there are two authentic cha ca restaurants in Hanoi. This one is over 100 years old, run by the same family for five generations.

The students then toured the beautiful temple on the island in Haon Kiem lake, saw the traditional water puppet show, explored the old district in bicycle rickshaws, ate dinner in the old district, and then returned to our hotel for a meditation/reflection, sharing lesson.

Students on the island in Hoan Kiem lake

Meditation and reflection:
I first shared the old Chinese story of the farmer who lost his horse. His neighbors said, "That is too bad," but the farmer replied, "Maybe good, maybe bad. You never know." One day his horse returned pregnant, along with a wild stallion. His neigbors replied, "that is so great," but the farmer said, "Maybe good, maybe bad. You never know." His son, trying to tame the stallion, fell and broke his leg. His neighbors said, "Oh, that is too bad." But the farmer replied, "Maybe good, maybe bad. You never know." Then the Mongols invaded China and the Chinese government drafted all the young men to fight, but the farmer's son, with his broken leg, stayed home. His neighbors said, "that's great." And of course, the farmer replied, "Maybe good, maybe bad. You never know."

When I gave the students' donation to the four land mine victims, they were so happy and thankful, but I told them, "No, we thank you. You have given us so much more by sharing your story. Through the sharing of your pain and suffering, you have touched the hearts of all of my students. You have changed their lives and through their actions in the future, have helped to make this world a better place."

You never know how events will turn out. Sometimes what you think is a negative experience ends up being the best thing that could have happened to you. Have you ever felt anger, frustration, or impatience in reaction to an event, only to later reflect on the event, and see it totally differently? It’s all about your mood – which colors your interaction

If reality is colored by our moods, if we are the projector of reality, then how much of your reality is a reflection of past events? Of future expectations or fears? How much of your reality is just being present in the moment? Things happen, there is nothing we can do about that. What is in our power, maybe the only power we have, is how we respond to events.

Meditation and sharing prompt:
Think of a situation where you felt a certain way, and then later, after your “projector" is not so colored by a certain emotion, you saw the entire situation differently.

Think of a situation where you experienced something negative, and after some time, the experience turned into something positive for you.

Excerpts from the students' sharing about their experience at Peace Trees Vietnam after the meditation:
"Before I got there, I thought I wouldn't make a connection with the land mine victims, because I am too judgmental. But when I was there and listening to their stories, I started asking questions. I can't imagine what their life is like, how much they have lost and suffered. But it helped me to appreciate all that I have."

"They have gone through so much, lost so much, and still they have this incredible desire to go on."

"The story of the 17 year old boy who still wants to be a painter was really inspirational. Even with such a major disability, he still wants to be what he wanted to be, and doesn't let the disability get in his way."

"The story of the woman who lost her legs, and then lost her son, who was her inspiration to keep on living, really affected me. I started thinking about all the things I get angry about, and how little they are compared to their suffering."

"I thought it would be hard for me to make a connection to them. But then I realized how much harder it is for them to make a connection to us. It's a taboo in America to talk about the Vietnam war. But here they are, willing to share their story with us Americans."

"A lot of times the people who have undergone such tragic events are often the ones who work the hardest, like the man who is first in his class. It made me realize what incredible opportunities I have had, and inspired me to work harder."

"I thought about the woman who kept going after losing her legs due to the life of her infant son. It made me realize about the bond of motherhood. As teenagers, we get mad at our parents all the time. Her story helped me to appreciate my parents more."

"It made me realize how much we take for granted. Anything could happen and any time, and if you don't cherish the opportunities we have been given, you miss out and realize you really didn't take advantage of the opportunities presented."

"Hearing their stories, I wasn't so much emotionally moved, it was more like my mind shifted. There are opportunities to change things and I felt frustrated that I didn't have a way to do it."

"When we planted trees, the holes were already dug for us, and the trees were half grown. They already did the work for us. I don't give enough back."

"It is so easy to donate to an organization, but sometimes it takes time to get to the people who need it. By donating directly to these people it made me realize how much more there is to be done. Donating to an organization is just the first step."

"I was thinking about their lives after the accident, but was also thinking about their lives before the accident, and how much change they have experienced."

"At the Peace Trees office, I was feeling hot and sick. I really wasn't paying attention. After hearing everyone, I wish I would have paid more attention."