The Tanh Tam Special School in DaNang is run by nuns. At any moment we all expect to see Maria from the Sound of Music appear with her guitar case in hand. These religious women are the nicest people in the world and very good cooks!They arranged for Sister Catherine to help us with interpreting. She does not work at the school usually. She lives in the center of DaNang at the main convent with the Mother Superior.Sister Catherine tells us she entered the Nunnery at age 10 and that her twin brother was killed during a bomb attack around that time - 1962. She also explains that she became a nun at age 17. Another thing we learn about this fascinating woman is that though we all think she must be in her 80s, she is my age!
Next door to the school is the retirement home for these nuns. During our lunch break today, Sister Catherine takes me and Judy on a tour of the 100 year old nunnery.
The gardens amaze us.The simple design of the building is peaceful. Sister Catherine takes us upstairs where the retired sisters are resting. We meet her mentor Sister Andre Marie. Though skinny like a skeleton and unable to sit up, this retired nun gives a big smile when she meets us. We meet many nuns who are lying, resting, waiting for the next step in life. For some reason, Sister Catherine thinks Judy and I need to witness this peaceful process.
Sister Catherine also tells us that the US Airforce Base is just one building beyond the Convent. Forty years ago this place was quite different, but the convent was here! Behind the big iron gates, the convent remains quite the same.
I wanted to see the US Airforce building - the mint green one in the picture on the blog. Nothing in DaNang looks like there was a war here. Even this area which must have had airplanes coming and going and soldiers everywhere, now is a neighborhood of stucco houses (with some makeshift homes here and there) across the road skirting China Beach. Sister Catherine tells us that business men from China are building hotels, condos, and casinos along the beach. Our history lesson/tour guide is quite a departure from the listening and spoken language work we are doing at the school.
We pause at the shrine of Our Lady of the Star. At this holy spot many miracles have occurred. People donate money, plaques, ad benches when they feel an answer to their prayers from dedication to this shrine. i say a silent prayer.
As we check the time, we realize we must get back for lecture and demonstrations at the school. Oh no, the gate to the nunnery is locked. What a funny site to see the three of us trying to break INTO the convent! Luckily I prayed for help at the shrine and we were let in to hurry back through the lovely gardens and get to the classroom on time. Again, I sensed a "Sound of Music moment" - I felt like Maria hurrying back - arriving a little late to her duties at the convent.
