The last two days are a blur but a few things really stand out. We had two lectures, one was really great. It was on traditional musical instruments and we learned about a few of them including the Dan Bau which I am quite fond of. We also had an ethnography lecture and I learned there are 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, some dating back thousands of years.
Today we visited a place that really impacted most of the students. It is called the Vietnam Friendship Village and they are a place that cares for Vietnam veterans and disabled children that were affected by agent orange in the Vietnam war (which they call the American war, by the way). Currently 40 vets and 120 children get care and education here, and all services are free. The children are the third generation of agent orange affected population and they really have no idea how many generations out might be dealing with these effects. The village teaches the children a sense of identity, some life skills and other things. It is a really special place. Some children come there with no sense of self, and cant hear or see. Most are mentally disabled, some physically disabled. I made fast friends with several of various ages right away. :)
We also visited Hanoi University. It was very neat to visit a college in another country and be able to talk to teachers and students so we could compare/contrast our schools and programs. The Asian boys were so cute and interesting-very well rounded and intelligent.
Lastly, I have spent several days in Vietnam now and I have come to the conclusion I would never survive in Hanoi. The city is so overcrowded, polluted, and dirty. Traffic at rush hour is totally off the charts. I have been wearing a pollution mask when I walk in the city. They seem to have little rules here about public cleanliness and most people sweep trash right into the street, sewer or road. In the long run it piles up roadside and on every vacant plot or spot it can. Even the beach in Ha Long Bay was several miles of polluted trash. So sad.
