It’s that time of year when the women of Vietnam bundle up with hats, scarves, face masks, opera-length gloves, heavy socks, slacks and denim jackets. Colorful Christmas lights festoon the thatched-roofed bars and medleys of traditional Christmas songs waft along behind the pedal-powered vending carts. Is Christmas approaching? Sorry, no. If it were, the fifty-foot tall Christmas tree constructed entirely of dark green Heineken beer bottles would still be standing in front of the supermarket on Le Duan Street in Da Nang and Santa would still be flying in a reindeer-drawn Heineken bottle over the streets of Hanoi. If it were New Year’s, we would still have an orange tree standing in the middle of our living room, next to the motorbike. It isn’t Halloween either, although the sight of gangs of Vietnamese women dressed up like gunslingers from the American Wild West might give you that impression.
Summer has arrived in Vietnam. And all prudent women who care about preserving their pale good looks will stop at nothing to protect their skin against the intensified rays of the tropical sun as they travel about on their motorbikes. Ironically, many of these same women balk at wearing a motorbike helmet to protect themselves against possible death and disability from head injury because they think helmets look too strange!
Comments (1)
Hi, Virginia! Meeting you was one of the high points of my week at Gathering. I take to heart all that you say about leaving the U.S., yet my roots here in Wisconsin go SO deep. So perhaps it is my leading to stay here and continue speaking truth to power, through my teaching, through my contacts. But perhaps I may show up on your doorstep some day!
While I was at Gathering I was reading the book Three Cups of Tea, about an American man named Greg Mortenson's work to establish schools throughout rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. I thought of your work the whole time I was reading about his. It is so life affirming. And yes, though he works in what is possibly one of the most dangerous places to be an American these days, he does not hesitate to identify himself, and I agree, it is the right thing to do.
Finally, I wondered if you saw that Cindy Sheehan is back from her self-imposed exile. I went to Camp Casey 2 years ago, and I have the utmost respect for Cindy and the road she travels. The so-called "Left" seems to be hell-bent on eating its own (or is the more apt word "crucifying"?)I cringe when someone I respect becomes a sweetheart of the Left, because I know it is only a matter of time until they're tearing them down. What is it, some kind of ego thing? Cindy will be in Wisconsin in September to receive a well-deserved honor from a local progressive and populist organization, Fighting Bob Fest. Interestingly enough, the only member of Congress that gave Greg Mortenson support was Republican Mary Bono. Humanity crosses all party lines, doesn't it?
Well, I hope you had a safe journey back to Vietnam, back to your home. Please stay in touch.
Blessings.
Suzy
Posted by Suzy Grindrod | July 11, 2007 12:56 AM
Posted on July 11, 2007 00:56