On the Way Back from the Movie

On the way back from the Big C shopping center we stopped along the road to visit Tien's (another Tiein) house. Everyone got off and went inside. Fr. Thiem took one look at the hammock and decided in a power nap. There was no way we wouldn't take a picture to embarrass him with later.  

While waiting for Tien's mother to being a few drinks, the seminarians relaxed along with the sisters. The guys love to lose for the camera and the sisters just out up with it to be nice to me.  

Tien's cousin, also a seminarian, me (the tall guy), Tien, and Tien's mother. it was an all too short visit, only 15 minutes, but well worth the time. I have known Tien for five years and he is going to begin his fifth and final year at the major seminary in Hanoi.  

I took this shot from the bus to show you the new roads in the country. What is new is that they are asphalt and not concrete, and what a nice ride they make. The concrete cracked and was difficult to repair. And there were new intersections and bridges. Why all the construction? The new president of Vietnam is from this district and he has wielded a lot of power the last few years. He even is having his old high school rebuilt from the ground up.  

The last stop was Fr. Thiem's house. The only problem was that his neighborhood had a low hanging pole over the road to stop large trucks from using it as a short cut and ruining the roads. We were in a bus. What to do? Hao jumped out, climbed the cement wall, and lifted up the pole enough to let us through. Nothing stops these students. When we got to the house I didn't take pictures because Fr. Thiem'sThiem's mother has Alzheimer's and his father was taking care of her. It broke my heart to see her not recognize her son.  

Just a random photo. After we got back I was doing my regular afternoon walk and ran into the sisters cutting dragon fruit. These monsters are purple inside with lots of little seeds. Sweet and refreshing.