ceremony.
Several hundred chairs were lined up outside in the courtyard in front of the administration building. The school’s brass band mercilessly played only two off-key anthems as people found their seats and waited patiently for the dignitaries to arrive. Jessica and I sat about three rows back with many of the other esteemed teachers.
“What are they waiting for?” Jessica asked when the clock struck 8:30.
“Definitely a dignitary. Dignitaries always show up late. They must show up late, that way everyone can lavish their attention on them. If they came on time, it would be like making no entrance at all.”
“That’s really different from America. We start on time, and if the guests don’t show up, well that’s their fault.”
“Vietnam is a patient country. We lived with the Chinese for a thousand years, but when we got the chance, we kicked the bastards out.”
Jessica laughed.
“You’re too funny. Where did you learn that lingo?”
“American movies,” I replied.
“Well it feels like we have been waiting for a thousand years. Oh look, someone is coming.”
A large black Nissan entered the main gate to the left and drove to within fifty meters of the podium. Out jumped three men in black suits. One I recognized immediately – it was Mr. Duc.
“I know him,” I said to Jessica. “I met him yesterday in the salon. I gave him a shave. It’s Mr. Duc. Head of the Thai Nguyen’s People’s Council. My whole salon was buzzing from his visit yesterday.”
“Really. You gave him a shave?”
“Yes. And he gave me 500,000 as a tip.”
“Wow. That’s pretty good.”
Unfortunately, the band went into another rendition of the national anthem and everyone stood up and sang as the esteemed guests made their way to the platform. The ceremony consisted of an hour of pompous dignitaries spouting the party line about development, education, and building a better tomorrow for the people of Vietnam. It all rang hollow to me. I had seen and heard it all before, and it wiped my family out. I hated every one of those individuals on the platform, but I put on an excellent show for Jessica. I clapped vigorously at every introduction and stood solemnly at every appropriate time. I was such the patriot, though I continued to chat with Jessica during the speeches. Most of the time I spent watching Mr. Duc wondering why he gave me so much money. I wondered who shaved him this morning.
When the ceremony ended at about 9:45, the esteemed dignitaries came down from the platform and started greeting those in the first few rows. The university president singled out Jessica and had her come to the front. She grabbed my hand and pulled me in tow. Mr. Duc stood directly beside Rector Lieu.
“Mr. Duc. I want to introduce you to our foreign teacher. This is Miss Jessica Hanson. She is from New York.”
“Miss Jessica,” said Mr. Duc in English. “Thank you for coming to Vietnam and teaching English here. English is a very important part of our development. We greatly appreciate your service.”
“I’m honored to meet you, sir. I love teaching in Vietnam. The people are so friendly.”
“And how do you find the food?”
“It’s incredible. I especially love bun cha and of course pho.
“Everyone loves pho”, he said with a smile.
At that point, Mr. Duc looked past Jessica and right into my eyes. I smiled at him timidly, and he smiled back in a rather surprised manner.
“Is this a friend of yours?” he asked Jessica as he looked at me.
“Yes. This is my good friend My Phuong. She was my student for two years. She took night classes to earn an advanced English certificate. She is a very bright student.”
“Hello sir,” I said timidly and bowed my head slightly.
“So she is one of your star pupils?” Duc asked Jessica.
“She’s the best I ever had.”
“That’s good to hear. I hope you enjoy your stay in Thai Nguyen.”
“Thank you sir,” said Jessica.
Mr. Duc moved past Jessica and
Several hundred chairs were lined up outside in the courtyard in front of the administration building. The school’s brass band mercilessly played only two off-key anthems as people found their seats and waited patiently for the dignitaries to arrive. Jessica and I sat about three rows back with many of the other esteemed teachers.
“What are they waiting for?” Jessica asked when the clock struck 8:30.
“Definitely a dignitary. Dignitaries always show up late. They must show up late, that way everyone can lavish their attention on them. If they came on time, it would be like making no entrance at all.”
“That’s really different from America. We start on time, and if the guests don’t show up, well that’s their fault.”
“Vietnam is a patient country. We lived with the Chinese for a thousand years, but when we got the chance, we kicked the bastards out.”
Jessica laughed.
“You’re too funny. Where did you learn that lingo?”
“American movies,” I replied.
“Well it feels like we have been waiting for a thousand years. Oh look, someone is coming.”
A large black Nissan entered the main gate to the left and drove to within fifty meters of the podium. Out jumped three men in black suits. One I recognized immediately – it was Mr. Duc.
“I know him,” I said to Jessica. “I met him yesterday in the salon. I gave him a shave. It’s Mr. Duc. Head of the Thai Nguyen’s People’s Council. My whole salon was buzzing from his visit yesterday.”
“Really. You gave him a shave?”
“Yes. And he gave me 500,000 as a tip.”
“Wow. That’s pretty good.”
Unfortunately, the band went into another rendition of the national anthem and everyone stood up and sang as the esteemed guests made their way to the platform. The ceremony consisted of an hour of pompous dignitaries spouting the party line about development, education, and building a better tomorrow for the people of Vietnam. It all rang hollow to me. I had seen and heard it all before, and it wiped my family out. I hated every one of those individuals on the platform, but I put on an excellent show for Jessica. I clapped vigorously at every introduction and stood solemnly at every appropriate time. I was such the patriot, though I continued to chat with Jessica during the speeches. Most of the time I spent watching Mr. Duc wondering why he gave me so much money. I wondered who shaved him this morning.
When the ceremony ended at about 9:45, the esteemed dignitaries came down from the platform and started greeting those in the first few rows. The university president singled out Jessica and had her come to the front. She grabbed my hand and pulled me in tow. Mr. Duc stood directly beside Rector Lieu.
“Mr. Duc. I want to introduce you to our foreign teacher. This is Miss Jessica Hanson. She is from New York.”
“Miss Jessica,” said Mr. Duc in English. “Thank you for coming to Vietnam and teaching English here. English is a very important part of our development. We greatly appreciate your service.”
“I’m honored to meet you, sir. I love teaching in Vietnam. The people are so friendly.”
“And how do you find the food?”
“It’s incredible. I especially love bun cha and of course pho.
“Everyone loves pho”, he said with a smile.
At that point, Mr. Duc looked past Jessica and right into my eyes. I smiled at him timidly, and he smiled back in a rather surprised manner.
“Is this a friend of yours?” he asked Jessica as he looked at me.
“Yes. This is my good friend My Phuong. She was my student for two years. She took night classes to earn an advanced English certificate. She is a very bright student.”
“Hello sir,” I said timidly and bowed my head slightly.
“So she is one of your star pupils?” Duc asked Jessica.
“She’s the best I ever had.”
“That’s good to hear. I hope you enjoy your stay in Thai Nguyen.”
“Thank you sir,” said Jessica.
Mr. Duc moved past Jessica and
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