High School in Viet Nam

This afternoon I asked Tan if he could take me on a tour of his former high school. It's next to the bishop's house. Here is the end of one of the two three-story wings. The school is 10th to 12th grade only.

These are the covered enclosures for bicycles. During classes, they are locked so that they can't be stolen. This one of only two open spaces on the campus. One of the others is a courtyard and the third is a small cement area that has three basketball hoops. I watched some of the taller kids playing.

Each classroom houses 40-50 students who stay together the entire three years. Here, the students stay in the same room all day and the teachers rotate. This would seem to get really boring for the students, but Tan says they like being together and make lasting friendships. I wonder how this effects courses like science that need specialized equipment. Tan told me that they just started a computer class.

There is a courtyard between the two wings and trees are planted for some shade. The students go to school in the morning, go home for lunch and a siesta, then return to school for the afternoon. Next week, the graduating students will take their tests to see who will be allowed to go to the university. The higher the grade, the better the university. But there is a lower cut off: one for those who will not be allowed more school and must go to work right away, and those a bit above who will be able to attend a trade school. The only problem with getting admitted to higher education is that these people are poor, and they have to pay for tuition, books, and living expenses. That could amount to almost $1,000 a year, a fortune to most.

The grounds were owned by the Catholic Church before the Communists took over, who then confiscated them. This old building on the grounds used to be a small chapel. Now it is used for storage.

The front of the administration building is decorated with Uncle Ho's picture and favorite sayings. This is where the principal's office is along with one of the two libraries. It is also the only place with air conditioning.

Preparing the Food for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul

The feast of Sts. Peter and Paul was today, June 29. The cathedral at Phat Diem is dedicated to them as is the diocese, so it is a time for a solemn mass and for lots of food. Preparation begins before mass with everyone chipping in, many helping with the food. The girls and young women wash the vegetables.

There is a huge outside washing area that is always lots of fun to visit.

Here are the guys cutting meat.

The sisters make sure that all the plasticware and plates are ready to do for the buffet after mass.

Here is a video in the kitchen getting the meat tray ready.

Registering

At the bishop's house before the mass, over 1,000 people had to be in, their vehicles parked, and all of them lined up. Here are the seminarians at work getting all of this together. I have to say that it went pretty smoothly without many snags.

There were about eight cars and a zillion motorbikes that had to be parked, so the soccer field did extra duty.

Getting Ready for the Procession

Everyone in the procession gathered behind the cathedral before the mass. Here I am with my old friend who is in charge of one of the parishes.
Just a random shot of some of the priests. Behind them is the garden where I like to take strolls and enjoy the shade and breeze.

They are not allowed to fly the official flag of the Vatican, but they can use the colors of the Vatican to decorate. I admire the architecture of the cathedral to the right and the bell tower to the left.

Here is a long shot of theside of the cathedral lookg from the front to the back. This is the left side where the women sit. The doors are not opened until the procession has begun. The doors are not only in the back, but also all along the side. They are moveable walls of hand-carved wood.

These are some pictures the students wanted me to take with them.

Below is a video of the singers. They are very involved with the cathedral and with charity in the village.

The Procession into the Cathedral

First in the procession is the band. The bass drum is too heavy to carry by the drummer himself, so one of our music students helped him.

We are way out in the countryside, and here this guy on the left has a four-valve rotary euphonium in perfect condition.

After the band come the church elders, the men (and a few women) who run the parish.

Here are some of the women elders.

The celebration is for the diocese, but also present were representatives of orders of priests and sisters. Notice the Dominican in his white and black.Next were the priests. I got Fr. Hien's face just as he was about to go behind the tree.

All of the priests in the diocese were there, representing a total of 75 parishes spread across the diocese.

Here is Bishop Joseph along with the priests who run the diocese. These make up my dinner table.

Here they are rounding the corner to the front of the Cathedral.

Two of the young music students who wanted their picture taken.

The cathedral was crowded, so I sat outside with some of thestudents. Here is the front of the cathedral looking up from where I stood.

Looking to the right from where I stood for the mass. You can see one of the four stone chapels. Below is a video I took of the singers as they went by.

After the Mass of Sts. Peter and Paul

When we got back to the bishop's house, I couldn't believe all the motorbikes on the soccer field. The one-lane road out was packed with people going in and motorbikes coming out.

A picture of one of the music students with a seminarian, both from the same parish.

Just being goofy.

Two of the preseminarians packing strawberry milk for those who have a long trip back home. Some live as far as 50 miles, and on a motorbike and these bad roads, it can take a few hours.

Another music student.

Eating the great buffet food.

Bishop Joseph cracking us all up by insisting I take a photo of him in full regalia.

This is a very long tent under which the buffet was spread. All 1,000 participants got their food there then went everywhere to eat. It was a fun and exhausting morning, and I enjoyed seeing the many friends I have made these four years in Phat Diem. Now for a good nap.

Ice Cream and a Movie

On the weekends, the children who live too far away to go home with their parents stay. There is really not much for them to do, so last night we had a move with the new LCD projector. It was Parent Trap, and the kids laughed a lot. Afterwards, we had ice cream which Tuyen rode to get on his motorbike really fast so it wouldn't all melt before he got back.

It was great fun and the children appreciated the "night out."