Relatives!

Ben Tre

Aunt and Great-Uncle 

This week, I met my relatives and spent time with them in their hometowns, Ben Tre and Soc Trang.  I admit it was a little awkward and nerve-wrecking to meet my relatives for the very first time, but it was such a good and meaningful experience! I tried making conversation with all the vietnamese I could muster and I am so glad that I'm at least proficient at speaking Vietnamese! 

That night I went in a taxi with my (aunt?) to stay at a hotel which was closer to the bus station. Early the next morning, we hopped onto a bus to Ben Tre, where my grandma's brother lives. My first time out of the big city and I could tell some differences of this suburban town compared to Saigon. It is a lot more spread out, the streets are a little cleaner, and my (great-uncle?) lives in the more country side of town. There was not much to do, but it was nice to have conversations and show them pictures of how my family looks like now. My great-uncle (grandma's brother) is such a warmhearted person that reminds me so much of my grandma! And he sure can dance and boogie on the dance floor! :]:]

Soc Trang

After a few days, we hopped on a sketchy hippie bus to go to Soc Trang, which is 4hrs south from Saigon. The bus ride there was horrible!! We were centimeters away from crashing into oncoming traffic, but glad to say that we made it through. We went to my aunt's (grandma's neice) house, which is the house that my grandma and her parents lived in. It was amazing to go back to my roots and I felt this sense of gratitude of it all. I paid respect to my ancestors at the shrine that had pictures of my great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents. At Soc Trang, I love the feel of the close community especially when we go to the market and everything is so fresh! 

Me in rice hat (nong la) heheh :]

 This was such a meaningful experience for me and I am glad to have set time to specifically to spend with family :]