Feast of the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs

Today we all went to the mass in honor of the 117 Vietnamese Catholics who lost their lives during the 1820s and 1830s. Here are all my students at the church before the procession.

This is the memorial to the martyrs. We all sat under large tents or trees to watch. An estimated 4,000 people came to take part in the celebration.

As always, the large drums played. The bell in the tower rang out, a bell being the symbol of God, of heaven. In response, we humans are the drum, responding to God's call. I have to say they were really loud.

Before mass began, there was a procession of the elders, sisters, priest, deacons, and various members of the parishes. Carried on the shoulders of men and women were relics of five of the martyrs.

Most of the transitional deacons (those who are to become priests within the year) have been my student. I am so proud of them. We got to hang out afterwards and talk.

This is only one of the tents and, and you can see, the crowd goes really far back. But even with the covering and the early hour (7:30 a.m.), it was hot.

This is a shot from the back of the large courtyard looking forward to the shrine. Mass was said by the bishop and the singing provided by an amazing choir.

After the mass, we all got a chance to have some water, yogurt, and just chat. I came with Frs. Vong, An, and Luyen. We were the last to leave, and I took this shot of an empty courtyard used by the parishioners to pray and meditate. How beautiful. So much music and so many people melted into calm and quiet. This is all so Vietnam.

Tuesday in Class

Their assignment was called At the Restaurant. They were put in groups of four and had to design a menu for a restaurant.

Most of these guys have never eaten in a big American-style restaurant, and I wanted to get them ready to go out in Hanoi.

So the menus were designed, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and drinks chosen, I had them practice how to greet the host, order, tip, and pay.

They took turns being guests and being host/server. It was hilarious because they acted exactly like the would in a real restaurant.

I do not have any photos of the restaurant practice itself, but suffice it to say I was mighty proud of all of them.

 I just wanted to take a picture of these two...

 Then a crazy guy got into the picture...

 Then another...

Finally, there was this bunch.

Going Out for the Evening

 Last night after dinner, Fr. Vong took myself, Fr. An, and the sisters who also live at the seminary out for a drink. The place is right across from the cathedral and is new. On the right is Dinh. He was in my first class 11 years ago and now a deacon. He will be ordained a priest in about six months.

 Here I am with two of the sisters. The drinks were amazing, cool and refreshing.

Here is the whole family. The sisters on the left, me, Dinh, Tinh (who is an amazing musician and now in his third year at the major seminary), Fr. Vong and Fr. An. It was a wonderful evening.

Tending to the Grounds

 Work on the grounds by the seminarians continues unabated. Here, trees are pruned to keep them healthy.

 Placing plants along the ponds is difficult work. Yes, t would be easier to just step into the water, but sometimes the hard way is the best way.

Transplanting a tree is one thing, but keeping it vertical is another.

 Hao is doing his best to hold the tree steady, but he can't resist posing for a picture.

 Fr. Suit is fixing up a small area at the side entrance of the seminary grounds. Those Jesuits have a way with plants and the place is starting to look nice.

Here, Fr. Suit points to where the large pot is to be placed, later to be filled with fresh mud from the far pond to get the plants started.

Pictionary

Pictionary...how much fun can it be for reviewing vocabulary? A lot!

Vocabulary Review Rethought

The day after watching Jurassic World, the students had to write what they believed will happen in the next movie. To a person, almost all agreed that Claire and Owen would marry and they would take care of Maisie. I had the students take their sequel synopsis to the wall.

Each student then underlined one word or phrase they thought really worked. They could underline something that was already underlined.

It was interesting how long they lingered at each of the papers, looking critically. They felt their vote really made a difference and took care in their decisions.

Afterwards, they took their own writing down. I only told them that I was proud of how they were intent on working carefully. They felt that their writing is improving and they saw exactly where through their fellow students.

This is a panorama. Click on it to check it out.

After playing pictionary (see another post), the students chose eight words at random and had to create one silly sentence. Here are a few of the groups.

Jurassic World and Eating at the Mall Food Court

 Fr. Vong took the class and I to see the new Jurassic World movie, a film chosen unanimously by the students. Afterwards, we went upstairs in the mall and had lunch. I got a fried chicken leg and pork fried rice. 30,000 VN Dong? That's $1.32. And I got a $.50 Pepsi.

 Fr. Vong was really hungry and cleaned his plate. The chicken to me was moist, but the skin was not as much crunchy as leathery. Still, at that price...

My two right-hand men, Hao and Hien. They can do anything.

Me and Fr. Vong just hanging out.

Here are three tables of some of the guys. Everyone agreed that the food made by the sisters at the seminary is way better than this fast food.