My Post-Sabbatical Year(s) in Asia (or wherever): May 4th and 5th in Hoian: Farming lesson and orphanage

May 4^th and 5^th in Hoian: Farming lesson and orphanage:

Hoian is a beautiful village and UNESCO site, about 30 minutes south of Danang. We are staying in this luxurious 4-star hotel, complete with swimming pool and a gourmet breakfast buffet. Starting on May 5^th students will be divided into 4 groups and will rotate each day between farming, fishing, cooking and rowing lessons each morning. In the afternoon students sign up for different activities. In the early afternoon their choices are staying at the hotel to journal write and relax at the pool, or go into to town to explore and shop. In the late afternoon students can sign up for visiting the orphanage, staying at the hotel, bicycling to the beach, or going into town.

May 4^th was a relaxing day. After a late breakfast, we held a class meeting to give an overview of the next 5 days. Students then went out in chaperone groups to explore the town, and in the late afternoon we all rode bikes to the beach, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) to the east of town. The ocean temperature was perfect, refreshing without any chill. We had a great time swimming, riding the waves, and having chicken fights. In the evening we walked everyone down to “restaurant row,” a few blocks of restaurants right on the river. All the adults ate at the Banana Leaf, one of my favorite restaurants ever. Students were divided into groups of 5 or 6, given a time to return back to the Banana Leaf, and went out to eat on their own for the first time.

Giving students opportunities to make choices on their own in structured, safe environment, is a significant part of the Global Studies program. After a week in Vietnam, students are now ready to do some independent exploration on their own without adults in groups of at least three people, and eating out on their own in groups of 5 or 6. This is still coordinated with a checkout and check in system, and a reminder about the relationship between privileges and responsibility – respectful engagement with the Vietnamese, making good choices when going out to eat, and punctuality.

May 5th
After a beautiful bike ride through the countryside of rice fields, and a ride on a buffalo, we arrived at our farming lesson. Though not very rigorous at all, all the students wanted to do each step of the process, from hoeing the ground to racking it level to planting the lettuce. We then returned to the farm house for our foot massage, a cooking lesson making Vietnamese pancakes, and then a delicious meal.

after riding the buffalo

farming lesson

foot massages

Hoian panckaes

In the afternoon about half of the students went to the orphanage. The Hoian orphanage has been in existence since 1975. About 200 children have lived in this orphanage. There are presently 66 orphans living there. The government gives the orphanage about $1 a day per person, so there is a great need to attract private funds to run the orphanage. Very few of the orphans are ever adopted (in the long history of this orphanage, only 6 children have ever been adopted), thus they live their life up to adulthood at the orphanage. This was a powerful experience for the students, for about 20 of the children have severe mental or physical disabilities. It was so heartwarming watching the students engage with the Vietnamese children. Our students brought gifts, played games, or just held the orphans. The most difficult part was leaving, as bonds were formed very quickly. At our evening class meeting, students sharing the gifts they were given, and once again, I was so proud of the compassion and wisdom of these young adults.