Today is Saturday, October 20th, 2007- Vietnamese Women’s Day. It is a national celebration of women in Viet Nam. The entire week, students brought their female teachers flowers and some sang them songs. On Friday, our department went out for dinner and a movie paid for by the department. There are only a handful of men teachers but we came out in support of our colleagues. Family members were also invited.

With 55 people showing up, dinner turned out to be a festive occassion. Our dean was offered flowers, three toasts were given (two in competition with the table next to us), and we ate Thai hotpot. ‘Not as spicy as I would have liked, but still very good. The 9 males that attended gathered at one table- mostly on one end. When guys get together, the combined testosterone brings about the usual jokes. It has to be hardwired into our makeup. Jokes and conversations that I hadn’t heard since the U.S. were plentiful that night. References to a magic number were used to tease one of the teachers that did not know its meaning. Toward the end of the dinner, the lightbulb turned on.

The celebration of women did not have any feminist undertones as would have been present if such a holiday were held in the United States. A celebration of this nature would probably not have been as large scale at the general public level. The department’s event was planned by one of the male teachers in appreciation of our female colleagues. It was very festive and provided an opportunity for all of us to get to know each other better.

In Viet Nam, there are 2 Women’s Days. One is the national holiday that was recently celebrated on October 20th. The other is International Women’s Day celebrated in the Spring.

I am looking forward to comparing International Women’s Day in Viet Nam, the U.S., and worldwide.

Sometimes you fall so hard and so far that you are numbed all over. Everything around you seems to be in complete chaos; no rescue in sight. The below picture is from Isaura Simon, an artist whose work I stumbled upon while surfing the Net years ago. It is one of my favorites because people can easily relate to it in their own way.

The song that follows is what I think we all feel when our world comes crashing down on us- that all we have left is that last bit of hope. To me, hanging on to that last bit of hope and fighting to survive the storm is our only way out.

This entry, picture, and song is dedicated to all of us- because we’ve all been there before.

“Storm”
Lifehouse

How long have I
Been in this storm
So overwhelmed by the ocean’s shapeless form
Water’s getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see You
Everything will be alright
If I’d see You
This darkness will turn to light

And I will walk on water
And You will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into Your eyes
I know everything will be alright
I know everything is alright

I know You didn’t
Bring me out here to drown
So why am I 10 feet under and upside down
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Cause I’m so used to living underneath the surface

If I could just see You
Everything will be alright
If I see You
This darkness will turn to light

And I will walk on water
And You will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright

And I will walk on water
And You will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
And everything will be alright
I know everything is alright

Everything’s alright
Yeah…
Everything’s alright

And she was right under my nose! She’s a fellow teacher in the same department I’m in. She dances ballroom and said that she knows all the ballroom dances and some Latin. I was impressed and mad that i didn’t know a month ago. But now that I do, it’s soooo on! Apparently there is a ballroom competition this weeknd and she is trying to get tickets. If not, we’re gonna go dancing anyway.

The wait is finally over… Thank You Baby Jesus!!