Today we went to the orphanage in the morning. This was a really eye opening experience. The children here have so much love to give and easily got attached to us over the two hour time frame. Three of the children had Agent Orange. Before coming to Vietnam I did a lot of research on Agent Orange but to see it in real life in three different forms was unreal. One child had an enlarged head, one had dismantled arms and legs and the other was very disproportional. The three of them were often seen with many bugs on them that enjoyed annoying them. I had a lot of fun playing with the children here but I felt hopeless. I could play and help contribute to their happiness for a few hours but that will not make their lives easier or provide a loving home for them. This was the hardest part of my experiences here thus far.
After the orphanage , we went to the pagoda that Nah practices her religion. It was really cool here. The pagodas here are fairly large and spread out and oftentimes consist of two levels filled with buddhas and lady buddhas. While observing several old women and a few men practicing their daily praise, they invited us to join. All 10 of us did. This was relaxing and interesting to take on a religion where you can't understand the hymns or words being said. While bowing and praying the women would slide over mats for our knees to make us all more comfortable. The welcoming of the people in Danang never cease to amaze me. Especially when it comes to something as personal as religion. After the pagoda, I bargained for 3 mediation beads. After that I had my first taste of street food, a fried banana with coconut. It was so good. When we got back we had lunch and then headed back out for a short time for some fresh coconut water down the street. When we got back we napped and then got picked up by "King" the leader of DAFO. When we got to the DAFO club it was a really awesome experience. All of the students here loved us and were so interested in learning English. They welcomed us with open arms and invited us for bubble tea afterwards. All 10 of us got on a DAFO member's motorbike and went to get bubble tea.
After the orphanage , we went to the pagoda that Nah practices her religion. It was really cool here. The pagodas here are fairly large and spread out and oftentimes consist of two levels filled with buddhas and lady buddhas. While observing several old women and a few men practicing their daily praise, they invited us to join. All 10 of us did. This was relaxing and interesting to take on a religion where you can't understand the hymns or words being said. While bowing and praying the women would slide over mats for our knees to make us all more comfortable. The welcoming of the people in Danang never cease to amaze me. Especially when it comes to something as personal as religion. After the pagoda, I bargained for 3 mediation beads. After that I had my first taste of street food, a fried banana with coconut. It was so good. When we got back we had lunch and then headed back out for a short time for some fresh coconut water down the street. When we got back we napped and then got picked up by "King" the leader of DAFO. When we got to the DAFO club it was a really awesome experience. All of the students here loved us and were so interested in learning English. They welcomed us with open arms and invited us for bubble tea afterwards. All 10 of us got on a DAFO member's motorbike and went to get bubble tea.