Last Night in Saigon

It was Friday night and it was going to be my last night in Saigon. The streets are bustling and it seems like everyone is on their motor bikes or getting on taxis and going out. I jumped into a Taxi myself and immerse into the Friday traffic jam. I had to cross down town before heading out to district 2 to visit the children one last time. They requested if I can print out some of the photos we took at Vung Tau so I kept to my promise.



I stopped by “Sieu Thi” super market which is not too far from my office. I had first asked Tuan Anh, my coworker, about buying some popcorn to accompany movies with the children. This apparently is a rarity in Saigon so I had to improvise with candies. Strolling down the “Sieu Thi”, I found the candy row. On some neighborhoods and streets, Saigon can appear like a third world country but in this supermarket, I felt like I was in the US with row after row of goods. There were all kinds of lollypops so I grabbed about five bags estimating that it would suffice for about 100 children.

Entering the Pagoda, armed with candies, movie projector, some stuffed animal toys, I was geared up for another festive event. Normally, I am greeted only by the 5 year old crowd of kids. This time, it was refreshing to have some of the older children also greeted. These were the same ones that joined us for the Vung Tau beach trip so they were sight for sore eyes.



The younger boys saw the plastic translucent bag I had on hand so they pointed and asked for the toys. Some of the toys I forgot to bring last week were toys that had names on them as a gift to a specific child from their sponsored parents. I also had some stuff animals which were meant to be given to any child. The remote control toy cars however was much more of an enticement since all the boys started to rush for the bag. I tried lifting above their heads but it was it became a feeding frenzy. It seems that I don’t have the disciplinary gene or perhaps the parental acumen to yell at them to control the mob of 7 year olds. I decided to take evasive action and stepped on the table in the dining to rise above the crowd. Not noticing where I was standing, I stood up and I saw some of the children gasp. There was a ceiling fan spinning at a fast clip which I just barely missed. Standing on top of the table, my head could have easily touched the spinning blades. After I noticed the nearly tragic moment, I stepped back and told the kids in my most authorative voice that some of these gifts were for specific children and therefore they had to wait. They seem to get the message so we continued up to the movie room.


Nigel had prepared a four hour DVD with all kinds of cartoons for the children’s enjoyment. I was therefore not lacking in entertainment content. However, the tricky part was getting the electricity to work. It appears that each outlet in the room has a fuse adjacent to it. Rather than having a central fuse box for the building, the fuses were located next to each socket. The problem was that all the fuses seem to be missing so there was no juice coming out of any of the outlet. One of the assistance at the Pagoda saw my predicament and went searching for a fuse. He was very kind and effective at placing in a fuse and in a few minutes, we were up and running with the cartoons blaring on the green tinted wall.



It was a treat passing out the lollypops as the children sat on the tile floor and the lights were turned off. All the children were taught very well since when given anything, even the smallest of a piece of candy, they would hold out two hands with heads bowed as if they were to receive a grand jewel. They would then nod their heads in gratitude upon receipt of each piece of candy. I have never met such an obedient set of children.

I sat among the children soaking in the colorful flashing images of cartoon world. The younger children took turns coming up and sitting in my lap. They would crowd around me and then as one child slides off, another would step up. I felt like a Santa Clause but it was even better. I would have multiple kids sit side by side and two at times on my lap just sucking on the candy and having a great time with the movies.



Co Bao stopped by and confirmed with the older children that they had school on Saturday morning, which they did. They were therefore suppose to finish their homework. They explained defiantly that they had finished their homework and therefore deserved hanging out with the younger children.

As I was lost in the sea of little people, I felt that there is no other place I rather be than right here at that moment. I then felt a little tap on my shoulder as one of the older kids signaled to me. The two girls motioned for me to me to follow them as they disappeared out of the room. I put the little ones on my lap down and walked out. They had a little book in had and wanted to show me. It appeared to be a highly prized item in the way it was affectionately held. It had little cute stickers on it and appeared rather old. They were very proud of it as it was being revealed to me. This was a photo album that has pictures of the children. It was a family album but in this case, there were no parents but rather just the children. Apparently, groups of children were given the same birthday since their exact birthdates were not known. This resulted in pictures of birthday celebrations with groups of children.

Lien Thu then pointed her fingers upon a little child playing on a shallow pull of water o a public pool. She described that this was her when she was a little girl. The emulsion on the photographic paper was fading and the colors have lost its luster. However, from her gleaming smile on her face during her animated description indicated that this faltering image will never fade upon this child’s eyes. The pictures that were most treasured and most numerous were the ones when they went on a field trips. Some appear to be to local theme parks in Saigon. Some were of them going to the beach before. I am so happy that they did have the opportunity to venture out of the Pagoda and had fun. Nearing the end of the album, they had placed the pictures of our recent trip and were very proud to show them to me. I honored and filled with joy to feel as part of their lives and part of their family and included in their memories through the album.

As I was talking to a few of the older children reminiscing upon their prized family album book, a little girl who they called “map” which means fat tugged at my feet. She was just a little chubby but that nick name just stuck and that is how the 4 year old girl was refereed to. I lifted her onto my waist and continued my conversation with the small group. We talked about Lien Thu’s new boyfriend at school or Trinh’s vocational school. It was just fun shooting the breeze and hanging out with the gang.

Upon my return to the main central make shift theatre, many of the children has sucked their way though a few cartoons and lollypops. I went to open up a few more bags of candies. Rather than passing them out as the first time, they started to come up, even the ones in front which did not see me sneak back in. It was as if they had a canine sense for sugar snacks even when the bag was being opened across the room. I finished passing out all the candies and we watched a few more movies.

I did not grow up going to school on Saturday morning so I thought it was appropriate to have movie night on Friday. We actually did stay rather late but I felt guilty since this is a school night. After the Goofy cartoon completed, I therefore turned off the DVD player and the lights were turned on.

The children of all ages were very good with providing assistance. They would hand me the bag or help gather the DVD to be placed in its bag. Only a few minutes after the showing, we were all packed up for the evening. I then strolled my way across the terrace hand in hand with the children making my way back out the front gates. Co Bao also gracefully walked me out like always. There were a good size group of us waiting for the taxi to come. It was a sad parting since they knew I was leaving in the morning on a jet plane. Trinh joked that she would hide in one of my suit cases and be transported with me to the US. I then gave the children a parting hug including a hug with co Bao and hen crawled into the taxi. It was rather sad driving away but I felt they are with me. The children of Dieu Giac will always remain with me. I feel that even when I am on the other side of the earth on a different time zone, I can never forget the smiles and special times I have with these children. Co Bao commented that I have a special bond with these children. I modestly replied that the children were adorable and that anyone who meets them would feel the same. I do feel however that the children had made an indelible impression on my heart and they will always fill me with affection and love which I can never forget.