It was getting dark and asked for the only light for the courtyard to be turned on. The problem was that it didn't work. The solution? Get on the roof and fix it. Nothing stops a party in Phat Diem.
Fr. Suyt tended the fire and, after the bamboo did its trick, the embers were red hot. Time for some serious work.
The grate was out on and the grilling commenced for a nonstop hour...there was that much food. Typical guys, one does the work and the rest of us watch. Great fun.
Just thought you like to see grilling fish. The smell was wonderful, but I didn't try it. Sister came out after a few minutes and took over the grill from Fr. Suyt. She is a pro and nothing burned even though this was her first BBQ.
Come on, the Fourth of July without beer? Some of the guys almost forgot, so it was a beer run to the kitchen. Vietnamese beer is very low in alcoholic content so it's almost like drinking water.
Hanging out with some of the newer sisters. They live in the mother house near the cathedral. So glad they go away to spend time with us. This was their first BBQ, also, and they had a grand time.
Every time I tried to take this picture the wind shifted and the smoke from the grill came between us. I couldn't get it clear so I decided to just put this one up.
There was a lot of toasting, mostly for America. There is great love for the country and I appreciated it so much. They demanded I sing our national song, but rather than the Star Spangled Banner, I sang America the Beautiful. Honestly, I almost choked up, but waited until after the song to let a few tears out. In a communist country for Independence Day!
Hau had a little too much of the brew. He put the beer can box up to his chest and told me he was Iron Man. And that is how I spent the Fourth of July this year in Vietnam.
Here is Nam Vu working his keyboard. Now entering 8th grade, he is quite the conversationalist. It's hard to believe that I have kn...