Sister Loan and Sister Tram invite me to lunch at their center. This is after I do a professional critique of Sister Loan's video of trying to get a 7 year old to hear with one hearing aid!
As they get on their motor bikes, they say they will call a taxi for me. I say; “Do you have room for me on a bike?" Sure! They thought I was too scared to ride the motorbike, but hey, this is Vietnam! Sister Loan rides with Sister Phuong. Sister Tram hands me a helmet. I climb on behind her. I hold on tight! Now I enter the stream of motorbikes I've been watching for 4 weeks. I am loving it!
We drive about 10 minutes through the chaos of Nha Trang traffic, turn left down a small road, and the left again down a smaller cement road to a dead end she I see a home made into a 'school'; “Sao Mai”.
Vy, the girl from the video greets us with squeals of delight and a big hug for Sister Loan. Mother Superior, Sister Melany Loan, is waiting for us at the gate. She greets me with the warmest smile. I am meeting the “Earth Mother of Vietnam”. I feel enveloped in her love. She thanks me for coming and for teaching the teachers.
She is eager to show me around the school. We climb up three levels of a brand new clean building. Children are everywhere saying; “hello”, “hello”. The students put on a show for me. The teenagers with developmental delay dance to a modern pop rock piece. Their movement to the music and expression through dance is as captivating as any Apsara performance as they incorporate new moves with traditional. Three teenage girls with hearing aids dance to old-style Vietnamese music with grace and feeling. One girl who listens with hearing aids plays the piano. I think of my students, Sophie and Penny who also play the piano – so wonderful.
Lunch is waiting. I listen to them say prayers before we enjoy the beautiful food Sister Melany Loan made for us – great vegetarian dishes! We enjoy honest open conversations as we pass the plates around the table. I feel so ‘taken care of’. I have not felt like that in a few weeks now. I feel like I am ‘at home’ with these women.
Mother Superior sees that I am very tired. She insists that I take the mid day nap. Sister Tram lets me lie down in her room. Her room? It is a classroom during the day. She moves the desks aside and opens out her bed. Her bed is a frame with a straw mat. I see a hammock and think that might be more comfy for this North American, but I think I should at least try the bed. I lie down. Within minutes I am resting deeply, not really asleep, just quiet and “under their spell”. Maybe I rest for 15 minutes. I get up and feel refreshed! Sister Tram arrives and we walk down the stairs past all the sleeping children lying on their mats in their classrooms.
We climb onto the motorbike once again and buzz back for afternoon lectures. I am barely holding on now, as I trust my driver. I feel like I have been in an oasis, a little bit of “Heaven” on this side of the world. I know that I can help Sister Loan teach her students listen and talk. She has such a supportive team at Sao Mai.
Sister Loan says she will try my suggestions in her therapy with Vy and her family. She will make another video and mail it to me in about two months. Sister Phuong, my interpreter, says she will translate my suggestions that I write after Sister Loan sends me that video of her therapy. I can help this teacher from afar. Here is a professional ready to change and develop her skills.
Sister Loan is the one who finds the Vietnamese translation of Brown Bear Brown Bear that I told everyone I knew existed. I know I can help a therapist who has Eric Carl in her library! I am happy about that.
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