Monday is my day off and on Mondays, the elementary school next door starts its day and school week with a "general assembly". The school is built as a two storey quadrangle, with a large gate on the street side, and three storeys of classes at the opposite side. (Of course as with most public buildings, there is a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh very visible in the quad. Parental motorbikes drive in and out of the gate at the beginning and end of each school day, with the quadrangle acting as a large parking lot/drop off/pick up zone.
After the "drop off" on Monday's, when all the motorbikes have departed, several hundred students sit in the quadrangle on rows of very small plastic stools. The other students stand or sit in the open sided hallways, looking out onto the quadrangle. Quite loud recorded music always begins the "general assembly". It soars up to our 19th floor apartment and through our windows, closed or open, with no problem at all.
Of course, if there are words to the song, they are in Vietnamese. Except this past Monday, when we heard a familiar tune. It took a few moments for it to register with me: the words sung were in English and yes, they actually were "Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane". Very few of the students would have such good English that they would understand. I assume some translation was provided prior to the song.
Our 60 year old language tutor (yes, we are trying to learn some more Vietnamese) assured us that some younger Vietnamese families are actually beginning to practice the western custom of exchanging gifts at Christmas. This is surprising since this culture, as with other Asian cultures, has its major gift giving celebration at the Lunar New Year. Here it is called Tet and this year comes early - from January 23 - 27th. I would be surprised it gift giving at Christmas becomes a tradition in many households.
We are daily reminded at this time of year, that few Hanoi residents know anything about the great Gift our world received on that first Christmas morning.
After the "drop off" on Monday's, when all the motorbikes have departed, several hundred students sit in the quadrangle on rows of very small plastic stools. The other students stand or sit in the open sided hallways, looking out onto the quadrangle. Quite loud recorded music always begins the "general assembly". It soars up to our 19th floor apartment and through our windows, closed or open, with no problem at all.
Of course, if there are words to the song, they are in Vietnamese. Except this past Monday, when we heard a familiar tune. It took a few moments for it to register with me: the words sung were in English and yes, they actually were "Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane". Very few of the students would have such good English that they would understand. I assume some translation was provided prior to the song.
Our 60 year old language tutor (yes, we are trying to learn some more Vietnamese) assured us that some younger Vietnamese families are actually beginning to practice the western custom of exchanging gifts at Christmas. This is surprising since this culture, as with other Asian cultures, has its major gift giving celebration at the Lunar New Year. Here it is called Tet and this year comes early - from January 23 - 27th. I would be surprised it gift giving at Christmas becomes a tradition in many households.
We are daily reminded at this time of year, that few Hanoi residents know anything about the great Gift our world received on that first Christmas morning.
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