He received multiple injuries in his face, eyes and cheek. He was then taken to Quang Tri General Hospital for first aid and treatment
Monday, June 27, 2005
Man Injured By Explosive in Vietnam
(Vo The Vinh, aged 46) An accident happened to a 46 year-old man in Gio Linh district of Quang Tri province at 10h a.m on Saturday, June 25^th . A piece of ordnance detonated while he was gardening outside his home.
He received multiple injuries in his face, eyes and cheek. He was then taken to Quang Tri General Hospital for first aid and treatment
He received multiple injuries in his face, eyes and cheek. He was then taken to Quang Tri General Hospital for first aid and treatment
Friday, June 24, 2005
JSC Students Reach Vermont
A group of students from Johnson State College (JSC) is spending the next few weeks with Clear Path International in Vietnam. This is possible due to a partnership between Clear Path, the Break Away Program and JSC. The students and staff will be posting tales and photos from their journey to this blog. You can read all of their posts by clicking here.
Catch up
Posted by Galen
I am now at home in Vermont, but wanted to update the blog and tell you a little about our last few days in Vietnam.
6/15 Before leaving Dong Ha we went to the CPI office to say thank you and farewell. This is taken from my journal: " I felt the closing with the CPI staff was important and letting them know how much we appreciated their time with us. Chi recorded most of our final visit, including Chris singing his signature Vietnamese song. I am sure we will see it on the website. Our group sang "Old MacDonald" one last time. It was so great to be with the CPI staff the past couple of days and make the connection between us stronger. I feel like now I have a greater understanding of the organizaton on a whole because I have seen the support that they are able to give to victims and their families. I have now met those families and feel honored to have heard their stories."
6/16 We traveled to Ha Noi today after saying good bye to the hotel family and all the wonderful people who took care of us there. When we landed in Ha Noi the first thing we did was go and eat Pho, a speciality. It is noodle soup with pork that stews in a bug cauldron for hours. It was an experience just as all our food consumption here has been. Ha Noi is a whole new world compared to Hue. Much bigger and busier streets. A few of us walked around and saw an old Catholic Churth that was build in the beginning of the French occupation of Vietnam. We played soccor with some kids on the street outside the church all the while dodging motor bikes and other various vehicles.
6/17 We were able to visit the Friendship Village this morning, which was long anticipated. It is an organization and community that works with children and veterans who suffer disabilities, both physical and mental, that are a direct affect from contamination of Agent Orange. Our visit there was so wonderful! It is amazing to see a community that has pulled together their resouces in the best way possible to serve their benificiaries to the best of their ability
In the afternoon we went to see the Water Puppets. In order to fully understand this, please ask the people you know who went on this trip, it is difficult to put it in words for this.
6/18 It is my birthday in Vietnam! The group threw me a great party and i was able to spend the morning with Ho Chi Minh at his moseleum! I was fantastic!
6/19 10 am we send Jill and Angie off to Cambodia
12:40 pm We begin our journey home
Catch up
Posted by Galen
I am now at home in Vermont, but wanted to update the blog and tell you a little about our last few days in Vietnam.
6/15 Before leaving Dong Ha we went to the CPI office to say thank you and farewell. This is taken from my journal: " I felt the closing with the CPI staff was important and letting them know how much we appreciated their time with us. Chi recorded most of our final visit, including Chris singing his signature Vietnamese song. I am sure we will see it on the website. Our group sang "Old MacDonald" one last time. It was so great to be with the CPI staff the past couple of days and make the connection between us stronger. I feel like now I have a greater understanding of the organizaton on a whole because I have seen the support that they are able to give to victims and their families. I have now met those families and feel honored to have heard their stories."
6/16 We traveled to Ha Noi today after saying good bye to the hotel family and all the wonderful people who took care of us there. When we landed in Ha Noi the first thing we did was go and eat Pho, a speciality. It is noodle soup with pork that stews in a bug cauldron for hours. It was an experience just as all our food consumption here has been. Ha Noi is a whole new world compared to Hue. Much bigger and busier streets. A few of us walked around and saw an old Catholic Churth that was build in the beginning of the French occupation of Vietnam. We played soccor with some kids on the street outside the church all the while dodging motor bikes and other various vehicles.
6/17 We were able to visit the Friendship Village this morning, which was long anticipated. It is an organization and community that works with children and veterans who suffer disabilities, both physical and mental, that are a direct affect from contamination of Agent Orange. Our visit there was so wonderful! It is amazing to see a community that has pulled together their resouces in the best way possible to serve their benificiaries to the best of their ability
In the afternoon we went to see the Water Puppets. In order to fully understand this, please ask the people you know who went on this trip, it is difficult to put it in words for this.
6/18 It is my birthday in Vietnam! The group threw me a great party and i was able to spend the morning with Ho Chi Minh at his moseleum! I was fantastic!
6/19 10 am we send Jill and Angie off to Cambodia
12:40 pm We begin our journey home
June Proves Dangerous in Vietnam
This report comes from our Vietnam office:
Pls find below the info of new accidents that we responded in June:
1. (Nguyen Si Phu-aged 12; Phan Thanh Hieu-born in 1993) An accident happened to a boy in Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province in the afternoon on May 29^th . It was Sunday and Phu�s day off. He went out to play and saw a cluster bomb on the street. He took it with him and came to his aunt� house which is quite far from his. He called Hieu, his cousin to go to the front yard near the Commune People�s Committee. They both then discovered the bomb. Finding nothing and having no interest in the cluster bomb, Hieu left just when Phu dropped the bomb on the ground. Phu was killed at spot while his cousin was injured at the legs.
This accident was reported to CPI by Landmine Survivor Network, another Mine Action Program based in Quang Binh Province. Bo Trach is their main project area. However, they requested CPI to support the one killed only but left the injured one for them to support.
2. (Le Phi-born in 1957, father & his daughter Le Thi Buom-born in 1989) A 48-year-old man was killed on the spot and his daughter injured when a 81mm mortar exploded in Huong So commune of Hue city in Central Vietnam.
The explosion occurred at 10 a.m on Tuesday when Le Phi, a scrap collector and also an ice-cream seller, was removing the charge of a mortar with a large knife at the back of his home.
His 16-year-old daughter got injured at her leg just while she was cleaning vegetables at the well near by.
Le Phi often went along the streets to sell ice-cream for money and also change ice-cream for scrap that he took it home and later on resold it to the scrap dealers.
3. (Phan Van Bay-born in 1977) A 29-year-old man was killed on the spot by an unknown UXO exploded in Phong Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district of Quang Binh province.
The accident happened on Thursday, June 9^th when he was searching for scrap metal in the above-mentioned area. However, he in fact lived in Quang Luu commune, Quang Trach district in Quang Binh province. He left behind his wife with two small children.
Tuyen Hoa is a mountainous district where is very popular for scrap metal collection and where happened a number of severe accidents that CPI have responded so far.
4. (Hoang Van Tuan-born in 1972) A 33-year-old man was killed on the spot by an unknown ordnance exploded in Hai Lang district of Quang Binh province.
The accident happened on Friday, June 10^th while he was collecting scrap metal. He left behind his old mother. (His father died long time ago)
Hai Lang SoLISA reported this accident to CPI.
5. (Hoang Thai Phai-age???) An accident happened to a Pahi ethnic man on June 10^th in Phong My commune, Phong Dien district of Thua Thien Hue province when a landmine detonated as he was trying to extinguish a fire in a forest.
He got multiple injured and was after the accident taken to the local health center for first aid and treatment
Phong My, a hilly area used to be a military base during the war.
6. June 12, 2005 Sunday 3:46 AM GMT
(Mr. Trung - Binh Dinh province & Mr. Dung -Phu Yen Province) A man was killed and another seriously injured when a Vietnam War-era shell exploded in the central province of Phu Yen, state press reported Sunday. The accident occurred when two scrap metal traders were attempting to break open the American-made 105-millimetre (4.2-inch) shell on Wednesday in order to extract explosives, said the youth daily Thanh Nien.
Police found 11 other unexploded shells of the same type at the victim's house, it said.
Pls find below the info of new accidents that we responded in June:
1. (Nguyen Si Phu-aged 12; Phan Thanh Hieu-born in 1993) An accident happened to a boy in Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province in the afternoon on May 29^th . It was Sunday and Phu�s day off. He went out to play and saw a cluster bomb on the street. He took it with him and came to his aunt� house which is quite far from his. He called Hieu, his cousin to go to the front yard near the Commune People�s Committee. They both then discovered the bomb. Finding nothing and having no interest in the cluster bomb, Hieu left just when Phu dropped the bomb on the ground. Phu was killed at spot while his cousin was injured at the legs.
This accident was reported to CPI by Landmine Survivor Network, another Mine Action Program based in Quang Binh Province. Bo Trach is their main project area. However, they requested CPI to support the one killed only but left the injured one for them to support.
2. (Le Phi-born in 1957, father & his daughter Le Thi Buom-born in 1989) A 48-year-old man was killed on the spot and his daughter injured when a 81mm mortar exploded in Huong So commune of Hue city in Central Vietnam.
The explosion occurred at 10 a.m on Tuesday when Le Phi, a scrap collector and also an ice-cream seller, was removing the charge of a mortar with a large knife at the back of his home.
His 16-year-old daughter got injured at her leg just while she was cleaning vegetables at the well near by.
Le Phi often went along the streets to sell ice-cream for money and also change ice-cream for scrap that he took it home and later on resold it to the scrap dealers.
3. (Phan Van Bay-born in 1977) A 29-year-old man was killed on the spot by an unknown UXO exploded in Phong Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district of Quang Binh province.
The accident happened on Thursday, June 9^th when he was searching for scrap metal in the above-mentioned area. However, he in fact lived in Quang Luu commune, Quang Trach district in Quang Binh province. He left behind his wife with two small children.
Tuyen Hoa is a mountainous district where is very popular for scrap metal collection and where happened a number of severe accidents that CPI have responded so far.
4. (Hoang Van Tuan-born in 1972) A 33-year-old man was killed on the spot by an unknown ordnance exploded in Hai Lang district of Quang Binh province.
The accident happened on Friday, June 10^th while he was collecting scrap metal. He left behind his old mother. (His father died long time ago)
Hai Lang SoLISA reported this accident to CPI.
5. (Hoang Thai Phai-age???) An accident happened to a Pahi ethnic man on June 10^th in Phong My commune, Phong Dien district of Thua Thien Hue province when a landmine detonated as he was trying to extinguish a fire in a forest.
He got multiple injured and was after the accident taken to the local health center for first aid and treatment
Phong My, a hilly area used to be a military base during the war.
6. June 12, 2005 Sunday 3:46 AM GMT
(Mr. Trung - Binh Dinh province & Mr. Dung -Phu Yen Province) A man was killed and another seriously injured when a Vietnam War-era shell exploded in the central province of Phu Yen, state press reported Sunday. The accident occurred when two scrap metal traders were attempting to break open the American-made 105-millimetre (4.2-inch) shell on Wednesday in order to extract explosives, said the youth daily Thanh Nien.
Police found 11 other unexploded shells of the same type at the victim's house, it said.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Medical Donations Program Hits Milestone
Imbert Matthee, co-founder of Clear Path, heads up our medical donations program. He has authored this report
Sary Math crouches down between two pallets of shrink-wrapped boxes of surgical supplies. He sets his feet against one and presses his back against the other until the whole stack behind him moves slightly towards the inside container wall.
He has just created a bit more space between the pallets, enough to fit a stack of extra boxes in the shipment we�re sending to Cambodia: several hundred thousand dollars worth of surgical supplies and medical equipment for five hospitals and charities there.
Just like the ones Sary and I have loaded before, this container will have a lot of items the hospitals are looking for: beds, gurneys, exam tables, suction machines, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, ventilators, an anesthesia machine, an incubator and everything they might need to perform surgeries.
But in one way, this one isn�t like the others. It�s a milestone: Number 50 since we started sending donated hospital relief goods four years ago and I still can�t quite believe it. If anyone would have told Sary and me we�d be up to that many when we begun, I would have been incredulous.
I met Sary at the Cambodian Honorary Consul�s office in Seattle in early 2001. He was with some men from the Cambodian American community who wanted to help pay for a shipment of four containers to Preah Ket Mealea Hospital in Phnom Penh. An American Vietnam veteran living in Kamloops had alerted us to the liquidation of three hospitals there and we were looking for a way to pay for the container shipments at $2,500 a piece.
Sary helped raise the money for those first containers and he has been volunteering with medical shipments ever since. We now have a great partner in Canada who raises the funds to cover the shipping cost of our containers, which have gone to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Malawi, Uganda, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Jordan and the Philippines.
Earlier this year, we were offered a very large donation of exam tables by Midmark Corp. in California. With the help of volunteer Lucas Hess in Sacramento, we have loaded 20 containers with 44 tables each for hospitals and ministries of health on almost every continent.
It hasn�t been hard to locate the donations. Our informal network of referrals has grown over time and many donors call us after googling �medical donations� on the web. We can source almost anywhere in the country as long as we know someone local who can inspect the donation.
We stage loading parties to get the items in the container. For this last shipment, we had quite a crew: Sary and his friend Youssef, Mark Holmgren (also a longtime volunteer), Niki Xxxxx (who contributed a ventilator to the shipment for a children�s hospital in Siem Reap) and Frank Cole (a Vietnam veteran from Yakima).
We ordered a high-cube container, which has two extra feet of height inside. That way, we could stack mattresses or boxes on top of the equipment or pallets. Usually, we have only two hours to fit everything in before the trucking company starts charging us to have the driver standing by.
We�re a lot faster now and there�s not much daylight in the �can� when we�re done. Very little space gets wasted. There�s no waste in any aspect of the program. We have donated warehouse space in Georgetown near Boeing Field thanks to the generosity of Kevin Sutherland of Commercial Floor Distributors. Nick Zarcadas, an electrician on Bainbridge Island, donated his old Chevy Astro van to Clear Path to round up smaller donations of equipment and supplies. We rely almost exclusively on volunteers to load the shipments.
Most of the time, we don�t even store the donated items. We apply a just-in-time collection method, ordering the container straight to the donor�s doorstep if there is enough stuff to fill a container and there often is: from hospitals turning over their equipment, from nursing homes, and from clinics.
It�s a form of recycling that makes all the sense in the world. The equipment donated in the Untied States is often in very good condition, though government regulations or new technology have made it obsolete in this market. But in Southeast Asia, where we ship most of the goods, it�s received with open arms.
For instance, a lot of medical facilities here are getting rid of their mechanical beds, the ones you crank to change the position of the patient�s back or legs (this is more critical than one would think for the proper healing of limb injuries and other conditions). They are being replaced with electrical beds that require the push of a button to adjust.
But hospitals in developing countries prefer beds that can be adjusted manually because even if patient rooms or wards have enough electrical outlets, they like to save on their utility bill. And, some countries are prone to blackouts, making the beds inoperable.
So, we�re at 50 thanks to the people whose name I have mentioned and many others. To Sary, Lucas and all you volunteers, donors and sponsors, let�s celebrate this milestone and then do another 50!
Sary Math crouches down between two pallets of shrink-wrapped boxes of surgical supplies. He sets his feet against one and presses his back against the other until the whole stack behind him moves slightly towards the inside container wall.
He has just created a bit more space between the pallets, enough to fit a stack of extra boxes in the shipment we�re sending to Cambodia: several hundred thousand dollars worth of surgical supplies and medical equipment for five hospitals and charities there.
Just like the ones Sary and I have loaded before, this container will have a lot of items the hospitals are looking for: beds, gurneys, exam tables, suction machines, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, ventilators, an anesthesia machine, an incubator and everything they might need to perform surgeries.
But in one way, this one isn�t like the others. It�s a milestone: Number 50 since we started sending donated hospital relief goods four years ago and I still can�t quite believe it. If anyone would have told Sary and me we�d be up to that many when we begun, I would have been incredulous.
I met Sary at the Cambodian Honorary Consul�s office in Seattle in early 2001. He was with some men from the Cambodian American community who wanted to help pay for a shipment of four containers to Preah Ket Mealea Hospital in Phnom Penh. An American Vietnam veteran living in Kamloops had alerted us to the liquidation of three hospitals there and we were looking for a way to pay for the container shipments at $2,500 a piece.
Sary helped raise the money for those first containers and he has been volunteering with medical shipments ever since. We now have a great partner in Canada who raises the funds to cover the shipping cost of our containers, which have gone to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Malawi, Uganda, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Jordan and the Philippines.
Earlier this year, we were offered a very large donation of exam tables by Midmark Corp. in California. With the help of volunteer Lucas Hess in Sacramento, we have loaded 20 containers with 44 tables each for hospitals and ministries of health on almost every continent.
It hasn�t been hard to locate the donations. Our informal network of referrals has grown over time and many donors call us after googling �medical donations� on the web. We can source almost anywhere in the country as long as we know someone local who can inspect the donation.
We stage loading parties to get the items in the container. For this last shipment, we had quite a crew: Sary and his friend Youssef, Mark Holmgren (also a longtime volunteer), Niki Xxxxx (who contributed a ventilator to the shipment for a children�s hospital in Siem Reap) and Frank Cole (a Vietnam veteran from Yakima).
We ordered a high-cube container, which has two extra feet of height inside. That way, we could stack mattresses or boxes on top of the equipment or pallets. Usually, we have only two hours to fit everything in before the trucking company starts charging us to have the driver standing by.
We�re a lot faster now and there�s not much daylight in the �can� when we�re done. Very little space gets wasted. There�s no waste in any aspect of the program. We have donated warehouse space in Georgetown near Boeing Field thanks to the generosity of Kevin Sutherland of Commercial Floor Distributors. Nick Zarcadas, an electrician on Bainbridge Island, donated his old Chevy Astro van to Clear Path to round up smaller donations of equipment and supplies. We rely almost exclusively on volunteers to load the shipments.
Most of the time, we don�t even store the donated items. We apply a just-in-time collection method, ordering the container straight to the donor�s doorstep if there is enough stuff to fill a container and there often is: from hospitals turning over their equipment, from nursing homes, and from clinics.
It�s a form of recycling that makes all the sense in the world. The equipment donated in the Untied States is often in very good condition, though government regulations or new technology have made it obsolete in this market. But in Southeast Asia, where we ship most of the goods, it�s received with open arms.
For instance, a lot of medical facilities here are getting rid of their mechanical beds, the ones you crank to change the position of the patient�s back or legs (this is more critical than one would think for the proper healing of limb injuries and other conditions). They are being replaced with electrical beds that require the push of a button to adjust.
But hospitals in developing countries prefer beds that can be adjusted manually because even if patient rooms or wards have enough electrical outlets, they like to save on their utility bill. And, some countries are prone to blackouts, making the beds inoperable.
So, we�re at 50 thanks to the people whose name I have mentioned and many others. To Sary, Lucas and all you volunteers, donors and sponsors, let�s celebrate this milestone and then do another 50!
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Falklands: Leave our Landmines There
The people of the Falkland Islands have voted to turn down government assistance in clearing landmines from their territories and instead for the money to help those in more grave danger...
Read more here.
Read more here.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
A Morning with MAG
(Written by Jill Piacitelli)
Day two in Dong Ha. This rural setting has changed some of our morning habits: Dave can�t get up at 5 to hit the badminton scene, people aren�t running back from quick communiqu�ia the internet, and no sweet French morning pastries. Here we wake up and march into the day like soldiers: 7 am sharp, quiet round tables, and the simple hardiness of eggs, a small baguette, and an inch of thick and very black coffee. It does the trick and we file into the van dispatched to our first morning stop back at the CPI office. Today, we will be with their neighbors and peers in landmine work - MAG (Mines Advisory Group -- www.mag.or.uk).
The JSC group shuffles into a small room garnished with few maps and plenty of three-ring binders. The uniformed worker, Cliff, introduces himself: a former long-time British military engineer who now heads up MAG�s mine removal efforts in Vietnam. He is direct and succinct as he explains MAG�s work, which delays some of the shock of his words: �There is easily one UXO or landmine accident a week�, �There were just 2,000 American mines cleared from Gio Lihn�, �Five mines found this week, and it�s just Tuesday�, �We can find 900 pieces in one day at a metal scrap yard�. He answers our questions, and each group member seems to have one or two -- funding, personal reasons, clarifications. He is not patronizing us, and explains everything in detail and frankness.
In a pause, he moves our discussion to the hallway to show us shelves that display many of MAG�s educational souvenirs from 30 or more years ago. It is staggering, the malevolent genius that designs, manufactures, and utilizes these weapons. Necessity is the mother of invention, but war necessitates such a loss of humanity to those involved. Mind boggling to think about, and draws my sympathies to all involved in conflicts. When talking of landmines, Cliff makes the point to say they were designed to maim and demoralize, but not kill. All three categories are covered now in the civilians and beneficiaries we have been meeting.
We are behind now, and so hurriedly head off to visit some MAG mine removal teams in action. The first stop is at a site in a rice field and farming area. The roads to get there are so rough we abandon the van and are shuttled, high speed, in Cliff�s vehicle. Once there, we get a close up view of tedium: crystal clear procedure, basic and simple equipment, methodological sweeping and probing inch by inch and foot by foot -- each worker wearing the dense uniform of caution. The second stop still has us all shaking our heads -- a schoolyard that MAG has finally been allowed on because the children are on summer break. They found 14 pieces just doing the day long exploratory assessment, and 8 since then. By the time we arrived at 11 am, the team had three newly discovered UXO�s lined up: two active mortar shells and one Vietnamese grenade with the fuse clearly and chillingly visible. The school was build post-war on a dump of sorts, and now was a playground of sand, hiding the danger by just .5 meters. Needless to say, we walked directly in the footsteps of our guides at this point, and hurriedly retreated to sidewalk when the orientation was finished.
Day two in Dong Ha. This rural setting has changed some of our morning habits: Dave can�t get up at 5 to hit the badminton scene, people aren�t running back from quick communiqu�ia the internet, and no sweet French morning pastries. Here we wake up and march into the day like soldiers: 7 am sharp, quiet round tables, and the simple hardiness of eggs, a small baguette, and an inch of thick and very black coffee. It does the trick and we file into the van dispatched to our first morning stop back at the CPI office. Today, we will be with their neighbors and peers in landmine work - MAG (Mines Advisory Group -- www.mag.or.uk).
The JSC group shuffles into a small room garnished with few maps and plenty of three-ring binders. The uniformed worker, Cliff, introduces himself: a former long-time British military engineer who now heads up MAG�s mine removal efforts in Vietnam. He is direct and succinct as he explains MAG�s work, which delays some of the shock of his words: �There is easily one UXO or landmine accident a week�, �There were just 2,000 American mines cleared from Gio Lihn�, �Five mines found this week, and it�s just Tuesday�, �We can find 900 pieces in one day at a metal scrap yard�. He answers our questions, and each group member seems to have one or two -- funding, personal reasons, clarifications. He is not patronizing us, and explains everything in detail and frankness.
In a pause, he moves our discussion to the hallway to show us shelves that display many of MAG�s educational souvenirs from 30 or more years ago. It is staggering, the malevolent genius that designs, manufactures, and utilizes these weapons. Necessity is the mother of invention, but war necessitates such a loss of humanity to those involved. Mind boggling to think about, and draws my sympathies to all involved in conflicts. When talking of landmines, Cliff makes the point to say they were designed to maim and demoralize, but not kill. All three categories are covered now in the civilians and beneficiaries we have been meeting.
We are behind now, and so hurriedly head off to visit some MAG mine removal teams in action. The first stop is at a site in a rice field and farming area. The roads to get there are so rough we abandon the van and are shuttled, high speed, in Cliff�s vehicle. Once there, we get a close up view of tedium: crystal clear procedure, basic and simple equipment, methodological sweeping and probing inch by inch and foot by foot -- each worker wearing the dense uniform of caution. The second stop still has us all shaking our heads -- a schoolyard that MAG has finally been allowed on because the children are on summer break. They found 14 pieces just doing the day long exploratory assessment, and 8 since then. By the time we arrived at 11 am, the team had three newly discovered UXO�s lined up: two active mortar shells and one Vietnamese grenade with the fuse clearly and chillingly visible. The school was build post-war on a dump of sorts, and now was a playground of sand, hiding the danger by just .5 meters. Needless to say, we walked directly in the footsteps of our guides at this point, and hurriedly retreated to sidewalk when the orientation was finished.
Monday, June 13, 2005
In some ways an ending, in some a beginning
A group of students from Johnson State College (JSC) is spending the next few weeks with Clear Path International in Vietnam. This is possible due to a partnership between Clear Path, the Break Away Program and JSC. The students and staff will be posting tales and photos from their journey to this blog. You can read all of their posts by clicking here.
Posted by Chris Anderson
First I would like to apoligize for this Blog being posted late, for some reason it was not posted when I did do it. We are in Quan Tri now and I am reposting this at Clear Path Internationals office.
Today (Thursday 6-9-05) was another long day. We woke up early in the morning and caught breakfast same place as usual, in the first floor of our great inn. At 7:30 we were off to the Blind Association to finish our last day of labor work there. When we got there our mission was set out. Some were to weed the front grounds of the establishment, while another team was to dig a sports hole for equipment that would later be installed. We had some help from three of our interpreters which was great as well. Thanks guys!! Another hot day as usual, we all sweated together as we turned the front lawn brown and dug deep for the hole. This was a sad moment for some, being not only the last labor project for the Blind Association but also this is the last day of real labor work for the rest of the trip. We said our goodbyes to everyone there but we were not worried, for we will be seeing them the next day when we are marketing products for them in the morning.
We returned to the hotel to get ready for the afternoon portion of the day. We ate a great lunch as always, and instead of people taking the usual rest, we instead bought supplies and then planned what we were going to do for the last day of teaching both at the Children's House and saddest of all the Street Children house. We got all of our gifts together, balloons, candies, pens, toys, drinks, and other various items and set off at 1:45. We arrived at the Childrens House and began our activities. It was a light session. We started with games for the first leg of it and then we ended with conversation which we had to move inside because it started raining on us. We said our goodbyes to the kids at the Childrens House, exchanging email adresses and offering them to get in touch with us any time they felt fit for any reason at all. We were off to the Street Children's House.
We arrived to slight dissapointment for some. It was great to see those who reside there as always, but most of the children that did not live at the Street Children House were not there because the day before they had not attended and they were not aware that we were there for our last day. It was after all their summer vacation at this point. We had a great time nonetheless. It was an incredibly emotional time. The head mother of the house gave a speech that almost brought tears to many of our eyes. Some exchanged words and then we played with the children giving them all our gifts. They did not open one candy wrapper, they did not rink their Vinamilks, they only played with the Hug A Planets, beachballs and balloons we had given them. It seemed as though they were saving those things to savor the moment. It is hard to say what kind of impact we had on these childrens lives. All I can say is that they had an incredible impact on mine and made me see things more clearly than I ever thought possible. Their laughter brought me so much joy, and their respect for their teachers was incredible. Some of them may not have a father or mother figure, some of them may not have someone to play with or give them undivided attention when they go back to their homes, especially the ones who resided at the school house. For them, the hour and a half a day during the week that we had with them, was their time, their time to shine. The time we spent with them for me was priceless and beautiful beyond what words can explain at this point in time. Only two of my boys showed for the day, which was sad but we had fun. They seemed very grateful for what we had for them and what we did with them. I was very sad for having to leave. I have the reassurance of knowing that I may see them again when I return next year. Before leaving we exchanged hugs, and with other children other than my own students with whom I made connections with. I was close to tears but fought it back. I hope that these children grow up to have beautiful lives, lives reflecting the beautiful nature of their persons. Children of this age are the ones most affected by landmines and UXO. Children that come from poorer families, collect scrap metal to sell off for quick money. This is one of the most common reasons why there are deaths and injuries, also Bombis look like fun balls to play with and children are quick to do so, not knowing the consequences of their actions. This is one of the connections I made, I hope to God none of them have to deal with it, but they are in that age category, living near the DMZ, in one of the most infected areas for mines/UXO. My prayers go out for a brighter day.
So it was the ending of our teaching that we worked hard for, and the ending of our last labor project while here in Vietnam, but also the beginning of the last leg of the trip, and the beginning of absorbing what we did, and digesting it, trying to reflect upon it is now the big task.
Posted by Chris Anderson
First I would like to apoligize for this Blog being posted late, for some reason it was not posted when I did do it. We are in Quan Tri now and I am reposting this at Clear Path Internationals office.
Today (Thursday 6-9-05) was another long day. We woke up early in the morning and caught breakfast same place as usual, in the first floor of our great inn. At 7:30 we were off to the Blind Association to finish our last day of labor work there. When we got there our mission was set out. Some were to weed the front grounds of the establishment, while another team was to dig a sports hole for equipment that would later be installed. We had some help from three of our interpreters which was great as well. Thanks guys!! Another hot day as usual, we all sweated together as we turned the front lawn brown and dug deep for the hole. This was a sad moment for some, being not only the last labor project for the Blind Association but also this is the last day of real labor work for the rest of the trip. We said our goodbyes to everyone there but we were not worried, for we will be seeing them the next day when we are marketing products for them in the morning.
We returned to the hotel to get ready for the afternoon portion of the day. We ate a great lunch as always, and instead of people taking the usual rest, we instead bought supplies and then planned what we were going to do for the last day of teaching both at the Children's House and saddest of all the Street Children house. We got all of our gifts together, balloons, candies, pens, toys, drinks, and other various items and set off at 1:45. We arrived at the Childrens House and began our activities. It was a light session. We started with games for the first leg of it and then we ended with conversation which we had to move inside because it started raining on us. We said our goodbyes to the kids at the Childrens House, exchanging email adresses and offering them to get in touch with us any time they felt fit for any reason at all. We were off to the Street Children's House.
We arrived to slight dissapointment for some. It was great to see those who reside there as always, but most of the children that did not live at the Street Children House were not there because the day before they had not attended and they were not aware that we were there for our last day. It was after all their summer vacation at this point. We had a great time nonetheless. It was an incredibly emotional time. The head mother of the house gave a speech that almost brought tears to many of our eyes. Some exchanged words and then we played with the children giving them all our gifts. They did not open one candy wrapper, they did not rink their Vinamilks, they only played with the Hug A Planets, beachballs and balloons we had given them. It seemed as though they were saving those things to savor the moment. It is hard to say what kind of impact we had on these childrens lives. All I can say is that they had an incredible impact on mine and made me see things more clearly than I ever thought possible. Their laughter brought me so much joy, and their respect for their teachers was incredible. Some of them may not have a father or mother figure, some of them may not have someone to play with or give them undivided attention when they go back to their homes, especially the ones who resided at the school house. For them, the hour and a half a day during the week that we had with them, was their time, their time to shine. The time we spent with them for me was priceless and beautiful beyond what words can explain at this point in time. Only two of my boys showed for the day, which was sad but we had fun. They seemed very grateful for what we had for them and what we did with them. I was very sad for having to leave. I have the reassurance of knowing that I may see them again when I return next year. Before leaving we exchanged hugs, and with other children other than my own students with whom I made connections with. I was close to tears but fought it back. I hope that these children grow up to have beautiful lives, lives reflecting the beautiful nature of their persons. Children of this age are the ones most affected by landmines and UXO. Children that come from poorer families, collect scrap metal to sell off for quick money. This is one of the most common reasons why there are deaths and injuries, also Bombis look like fun balls to play with and children are quick to do so, not knowing the consequences of their actions. This is one of the connections I made, I hope to God none of them have to deal with it, but they are in that age category, living near the DMZ, in one of the most infected areas for mines/UXO. My prayers go out for a brighter day.
So it was the ending of our teaching that we worked hard for, and the ending of our last labor project while here in Vietnam, but also the beginning of the last leg of the trip, and the beginning of absorbing what we did, and digesting it, trying to reflect upon it is now the big task.
Friday, June 10, 2005
There are Many Types of Landmines
Many people think of landmines as round, platelike objects. In reality, mines come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, depending on their application and the technology available.
Here is a great resource for learning more about all the different types of mines
From the above-mentioned site, here is a description of a PP-Mi-D anti-personnel mine from the Czech Republic:
The PP-Mi-D is a rectangular, wooden bodied A pers mine which is designed to wound or kill by blast effect. The design is based on the Russian PMD-6 A pers mine. The mine is basically two over lapping wood boxes which are connected clamshell style. The upper section acts as the pressure plate, and the lower section contains the fuze and 200 g TNT charge. The fuze is the Ro-1 pull fuze (MUV copy) which is equipped with a winged pin for pressure removal. Due to its wooden construction and expedient nature the PP-MI-D body will rot, thereby limiting its operational endurance. The fuze, however, may remain operational for a considerable time. As a result the mine may not detonate when pressure is applied to it, but may actuate if the mine is lifted. The PP-Mi-D can be located using metal detectors under most field conditions, and it can be defeated by blast overpressure from explosive breaching systems such as the Giant Viper and MICLIC.
Here is a great resource for learning more about all the different types of mines
From the above-mentioned site, here is a description of a PP-Mi-D anti-personnel mine from the Czech Republic:
The PP-Mi-D is a rectangular, wooden bodied A pers mine which is designed to wound or kill by blast effect. The design is based on the Russian PMD-6 A pers mine. The mine is basically two over lapping wood boxes which are connected clamshell style. The upper section acts as the pressure plate, and the lower section contains the fuze and 200 g TNT charge. The fuze is the Ro-1 pull fuze (MUV copy) which is equipped with a winged pin for pressure removal. Due to its wooden construction and expedient nature the PP-MI-D body will rot, thereby limiting its operational endurance. The fuze, however, may remain operational for a considerable time. As a result the mine may not detonate when pressure is applied to it, but may actuate if the mine is lifted. The PP-Mi-D can be located using metal detectors under most field conditions, and it can be defeated by blast overpressure from explosive breaching systems such as the Giant Viper and MICLIC.Thursday, June 9, 2005
Sweat Labor and a Flash Flood
A group of students from Johnson State College (JSC) is spending the next few weeks with Clear Path International in Vietnam. This is possible due to a partnership between Clear Path, the Break Away Program and JSC. The students and staff will be posting tales and photos from their journey to this blog. You can read all of their posts by clicking here. The images from this post are from the Clear Path Archive.
(Written by Caroline Cole)
We were off to an early start today. After a quick breakfast we headed out to the emerging teen center to continue our efforts. Galen and I assumed our places at the brick-slinging station. Our job consisted of placing bricks in baskets, hauling them from point A to point B, then latching the baskets to a pulley system that transported them to the top floor. I actually found the work quite satisfying. There is something to be said for using the sheer strength of your body to attain a tangible ends. The effort of my muscles becomes a place where kids can learn and recreate in. It is a way of transfering internal processes to the external environment, like art, a simple yet amazing alchemy. It is a way of manifesting intent. The engagement of the flesh somehow makes the service more complete, not a mere exercise of the mind, but grounded in the earth as well. It had a certain meditative quality. It slows me down, allows my mind to clear. It was also a way to really be with the Vietnamese people around me. Perhaps we could exchange only limited words, but we grew a natural sort of intimacy that can only be achieved through shared sweat and labor.
Later that evening we experienced a crazy flash flood that bears mentioning. In what seemed like a matter of moments, a seemingly benign rain storm ecscalted into a full-fledged city emergency. The streets were filled with about a foot and a half of water. The people of Hue seemed largely unphased by the situation. Children splashed
around in the filthy waves. Mother and fathers quietly walked there bikes home. Cyclo drivers donned tarps and sought customers completely undaunted. One fellow fished an eel out of the murky depths. The mood was generally quite cheery, people smiling and laughing. It was a break from the usual routine, the kind that awakens one to life's spectacle, and to the grace of having one another's company in this mad adventure.
The lower floor of our hotel is a restaurant that is completely open to the road on one side. The high water mark was essentially exactly level with the floor of the hotel, having swallowed the front steps. As if by divine providence, the flood did not rise that last fateful inch. Meanwhile, we all sort of took the cue of the locals and calmly finished our supper by candlelight (the power went out as well). It was one part fiddling while Rome burned, and one part romantic lakeside dining. Somehow the lack of panic seemed utterly normal. I think the Vietanmese spirit possessed me at that moment. Somehow it seemed as if we were all in this together, a peaceful resignation, a genuinely felt sense of community. Not the community we yammer on about in cliched sermons, but the real kind that develops after years of struggle and quietly plodding on. The sense of knowing exactly what is important, and knowing exactly how much the human spirit can take. It reminds me of a Joyce quote, "Go on loving, it's your only revenge."
(Written by Caroline Cole)
We were off to an early start today. After a quick breakfast we headed out to the emerging teen center to continue our efforts. Galen and I assumed our places at the brick-slinging station. Our job consisted of placing bricks in baskets, hauling them from point A to point B, then latching the baskets to a pulley system that transported them to the top floor. I actually found the work quite satisfying. There is something to be said for using the sheer strength of your body to attain a tangible ends. The effort of my muscles becomes a place where kids can learn and recreate in. It is a way of transfering internal processes to the external environment, like art, a simple yet amazing alchemy. It is a way of manifesting intent. The engagement of the flesh somehow makes the service more complete, not a mere exercise of the mind, but grounded in the earth as well. It had a certain meditative quality. It slows me down, allows my mind to clear. It was also a way to really be with the Vietnamese people around me. Perhaps we could exchange only limited words, but we grew a natural sort of intimacy that can only be achieved through shared sweat and labor.
Later that evening we experienced a crazy flash flood that bears mentioning. In what seemed like a matter of moments, a seemingly benign rain storm ecscalted into a full-fledged city emergency. The streets were filled with about a foot and a half of water. The people of Hue seemed largely unphased by the situation. Children splashedaround in the filthy waves. Mother and fathers quietly walked there bikes home. Cyclo drivers donned tarps and sought customers completely undaunted. One fellow fished an eel out of the murky depths. The mood was generally quite cheery, people smiling and laughing. It was a break from the usual routine, the kind that awakens one to life's spectacle, and to the grace of having one another's company in this mad adventure.
The lower floor of our hotel is a restaurant that is completely open to the road on one side. The high water mark was essentially exactly level with the floor of the hotel, having swallowed the front steps. As if by divine providence, the flood did not rise that last fateful inch. Meanwhile, we all sort of took the cue of the locals and calmly finished our supper by candlelight (the power went out as well). It was one part fiddling while Rome burned, and one part romantic lakeside dining. Somehow the lack of panic seemed utterly normal. I think the Vietanmese spirit possessed me at that moment. Somehow it seemed as if we were all in this together, a peaceful resignation, a genuinely felt sense of community. Not the community we yammer on about in cliched sermons, but the real kind that develops after years of struggle and quietly plodding on. The sense of knowing exactly what is important, and knowing exactly how much the human spirit can take. It reminds me of a Joyce quote, "Go on loving, it's your only revenge."The Rehabilitation Center
(Written by Celine Riendeau)
Today we traveled to a Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children. The disabilities ranged from children who had down syndrome and mental retardation to children who were born with a debilitating disease like cerebral palsy. The center works with the children for up to three months on their ability level. Things that are offered to the children are schooling if they are age appropriate, physical therapy and tasks to help them further develop mentally.
We toured the center, and spent time with the children in each room. The first room had mostly younger children, some with down syndrome and others with CP. The second room that we visited had older children who all had mental retardation. They were working in their school books, the wall covered with their art work. The last building that we visited was made up of two rooms, and was once again mostly younger children with CP or severe mental retardation. So many beautiful, precious babies. A lot of the children's mothers were there with them, and seemed to enjoy the extra attention that their child was receiving. We spent the morning hanging out with the children, trying to give them all one on one attention. We had some stuffed animals that we brought in from the states that we handed out, as well as some candy for the children to enjoy. There were so many cute faces. We all wanted to take them home. While we were there, a local lady came to interview some of us. Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon, we split into two groups. We were given the choice of visiting a landmine victim survivor that was in the hospital or one that was at their home. Chi and Toan from Clear Path International met us at the hotel to bring us to the survivors. Chi took a group to the hospital while Toan took her group to the home of the survivor. I went with Chi to the hospital. There we met a 13 year old boy who was in a landmine accident in March of this past year and a 22 year old who's accident just happened in May. The young boy lost both of his legs below the knee and one of his arms in the blast. He was with his father, visiting a family member when his father instructed him to take food out to his mother who was still working in the field. He brought food out to her and on his way back, he saw a shiny piece of metal.
Today we traveled to a Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children. The disabilities ranged from children who had down syndrome and mental retardation to children who were born with a debilitating disease like cerebral palsy. The center works with the children for up to three months on their ability level. Things that are offered to the children are schooling if they are age appropriate, physical therapy and tasks to help them further develop mentally.
| www.flickr.com |
We toured the center, and spent time with the children in each room. The first room had mostly younger children, some with down syndrome and others with CP. The second room that we visited had older children who all had mental retardation. They were working in their school books, the wall covered with their art work. The last building that we visited was made up of two rooms, and was once again mostly younger children with CP or severe mental retardation. So many beautiful, precious babies. A lot of the children's mothers were there with them, and seemed to enjoy the extra attention that their child was receiving. We spent the morning hanging out with the children, trying to give them all one on one attention. We had some stuffed animals that we brought in from the states that we handed out, as well as some candy for the children to enjoy. There were so many cute faces. We all wanted to take them home. While we were there, a local lady came to interview some of us. Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon, we split into two groups. We were given the choice of visiting a landmine victim survivor that was in the hospital or one that was at their home. Chi and Toan from Clear Path International met us at the hotel to bring us to the survivors. Chi took a group to the hospital while Toan took her group to the home of the survivor. I went with Chi to the hospital. There we met a 13 year old boy who was in a landmine accident in March of this past year and a 22 year old who's accident just happened in May. The young boy lost both of his legs below the knee and one of his arms in the blast. He was with his father, visiting a family member when his father instructed him to take food out to his mother who was still working in the field. He brought food out to her and on his way back, he saw a shiny piece of metal.
Sunday - A Day of Rest
A group of students from Johnson State College (JSC) is spending the next few weeks with Clear Path International in Vietnam. This is possible due to a partnership between Clear Path, the Break Away Program and JSC. The students and staff will be posting tales and photos from their journey to this blog. You can read all of their posts by clicking here.
(Written by Laura Meyerson)
Sunday, sunday--our rest day. This is the day we normally don't have any scheduled activities, work or otherwise. Still, most of us found it impossible to rest and relax. There is so much history in Hue, the city and the landscape are beautiful, and we will have seen only a fraction of it by the time we leave. So, we take each opportunity to witness its magnificence while we can. Despite the slow but steady modern development of the city into a tourist hot-spot, much of the ancient architecture and traditions are visibly intact.
Two groups set out into the country to tour pagodas and garden-houses. Chris, Dave, Galen, and Trinh (an economics lecturer and one of the local volunteers we have worked with) visited some of the oldest sites: Theravada pagodas (traditional Buddhist monasteries), and elaborate garden-houses (with pineapple, coconut, and banana trees as well as ponds filled with lotus flowers in bloom. These garden houses still serve as home to some--can you imagine?
Meanwhile, Tess, Trista, Caroline, and Tara visited pagodas, tombs, and lastly an American bunker. At one of the sites they posed for a priceless photo wearing traditional Vietnamese dress.
Elsewhere, Celine and I were headed for disaster. We headed to the market to "window-shop" and take pictures of things that we could not explain by words alone. We took plenty of interesting pictures but were spotted by someone who knew our group. She led us to her shop and in the midst of conversation she deftly turned to business. Before Celine and I knew what was happening she had a crew dressing us and fanning us and trying to sit us down. We were laughing hysterically watching one another be twirled into one outfit and the next. This is not uncommon--the Vietnamese in Hue are entrepenurial beyond belief. A young boy tried to shoe-shine my Teva-like sandals yesterday. The tenacity of a vendor is formidable, and my transactions usually end in disbelieving laughter. When we left the market we were without enough money to buy even a watermelon and each had instead a lovely pair of pants.
On our way back to the hotel we met Jill who had been held captive by a stubborn computer and faulty disk all morning. Budgeting is a Zen-art apparently and Jill & Angie are devout artists--Buddha bless them. It was, however, a very hot day and high-time for most of us to head to the beach. Tara and Caroline were already there. Tess went with Ha, Loan, and Quyen (three of our saintly volunteer student interpreters from Hue University) while Angie, Jill, Celine, and I rented the most competitive motor-scooter drivers in Vietnam; arriving in one piece was a blessing as was the cool Pacific salt-water. Swimming and basking in the sun made it worth the race home in the dark, which Jill's driver won, by the way. Kudos to Jill and her crazy speed hawk.
(Written by Laura Meyerson)
Sunday, sunday--our rest day. This is the day we normally don't have any scheduled activities, work or otherwise. Still, most of us found it impossible to rest and relax. There is so much history in Hue, the city and the landscape are beautiful, and we will have seen only a fraction of it by the time we leave. So, we take each opportunity to witness its magnificence while we can. Despite the slow but steady modern development of the city into a tourist hot-spot, much of the ancient architecture and traditions are visibly intact.
Two groups set out into the country to tour pagodas and garden-houses. Chris, Dave, Galen, and Trinh (an economics lecturer and one of the local volunteers we have worked with) visited some of the oldest sites: Theravada pagodas (traditional Buddhist monasteries), and elaborate garden-houses (with pineapple, coconut, and banana trees as well as ponds filled with lotus flowers in bloom. These garden houses still serve as home to some--can you imagine?
Meanwhile, Tess, Trista, Caroline, and Tara visited pagodas, tombs, and lastly an American bunker. At one of the sites they posed for a priceless photo wearing traditional Vietnamese dress.
Elsewhere, Celine and I were headed for disaster. We headed to the market to "window-shop" and take pictures of things that we could not explain by words alone. We took plenty of interesting pictures but were spotted by someone who knew our group. She led us to her shop and in the midst of conversation she deftly turned to business. Before Celine and I knew what was happening she had a crew dressing us and fanning us and trying to sit us down. We were laughing hysterically watching one another be twirled into one outfit and the next. This is not uncommon--the Vietnamese in Hue are entrepenurial beyond belief. A young boy tried to shoe-shine my Teva-like sandals yesterday. The tenacity of a vendor is formidable, and my transactions usually end in disbelieving laughter. When we left the market we were without enough money to buy even a watermelon and each had instead a lovely pair of pants.
On our way back to the hotel we met Jill who had been held captive by a stubborn computer and faulty disk all morning. Budgeting is a Zen-art apparently and Jill & Angie are devout artists--Buddha bless them. It was, however, a very hot day and high-time for most of us to head to the beach. Tara and Caroline were already there. Tess went with Ha, Loan, and Quyen (three of our saintly volunteer student interpreters from Hue University) while Angie, Jill, Celine, and I rented the most competitive motor-scooter drivers in Vietnam; arriving in one piece was a blessing as was the cool Pacific salt-water. Swimming and basking in the sun made it worth the race home in the dark, which Jill's driver won, by the way. Kudos to Jill and her crazy speed hawk.
Landmine Kills Father and Injures Daughter in Vietnam
Due to economic hardhip, many people in former war zones in SE Asia tamper with unexploded ordnance (UXO) tampering to sell the metal and the TNT. Below is the most recent story involving tampering that resulted in death and injury in Vietnam.
Xinhua General News Service
June 8, 2005 Wednesday 3:01 AM EST
SECTION: WORLD NEWS
LENGTH: 160 words
HEADLINE: Mine explosion kills father, injures daughter in Vietnam
DATELINE: HANOI
A 48-year-old man was killed on the spot and his daughter injured when a mine exploded in Vietnam's central Hue city, local newspaper Saigon Liberation reported Wednesday.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday when Le Phi, a scrap collector and ice-cream seller, was removing the charge of a mine with a large knife at his home.
His 16-year-old daughter got injured at her leg.
According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund of the United States, during the Vietnam War from 1965-1975, the US Armed Forces deployed more than 15 million tons of bombs, mines, artillery shells and other ordnance in the country, in which ten percent did not detonate as designed.
Local scrap collectors often saw of unexploded ordnance (UXO) for metal and explosive, while small children play ammunitions by breaking them, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries annually. Now, there are over 300,000 tons of UXO in Vietnam, estimated local officials.
Xinhua General News Service
June 8, 2005 Wednesday 3:01 AM EST
SECTION: WORLD NEWS
LENGTH: 160 words
HEADLINE: Mine explosion kills father, injures daughter in Vietnam
DATELINE: HANOI
A 48-year-old man was killed on the spot and his daughter injured when a mine exploded in Vietnam's central Hue city, local newspaper Saigon Liberation reported Wednesday.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday when Le Phi, a scrap collector and ice-cream seller, was removing the charge of a mine with a large knife at his home.
His 16-year-old daughter got injured at her leg.
According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund of the United States, during the Vietnam War from 1965-1975, the US Armed Forces deployed more than 15 million tons of bombs, mines, artillery shells and other ordnance in the country, in which ten percent did not detonate as designed.
Local scrap collectors often saw of unexploded ordnance (UXO) for metal and explosive, while small children play ammunitions by breaking them, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries annually. Now, there are over 300,000 tons of UXO in Vietnam, estimated local officials.
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
Video: Mother of two is lost to Bomb
This accident was reported here last month, but Chi from the Vietnam ofice just put together a video of the visit with the family. Click the button below to see the video.
He has also sent in a report which can be found at the link below.
PERSONAL
Full Name: Tran Thi Tuyet
Beneficiary ID: 3000
Birth Date/Year: 1981
Occupation: Farmer
LOCATION
Province/ID: Quang Tri
District/ID: Gio Linh
Commune/ID: Gio Son
Village/ID: Nam Dong
HOUSEHOLD
Household ID:
Poverty Card: Yes
Number of Family Members: 3
Number of School Age Children: 2
INCIDENT
Incident Date: May 1st, 2005
Incident ID:
Number Injured: 0
Number Killed: 1
RESPONSE
Response Date: May 13, 2005
Response Type: EOS
Responding Staff: Duc-Chi
SERVICE
Project ID:
Service to Date: F.B.G
Service to Date Cost: VND 1,5 mil
DOCUMENTATION
Written By: Tran Hong Chi
The wedding was held in 2000, marking a turning point in their family life. The young couple decided to go south to try their luck. Their destination was 1,000 kilometers away from home, in Bu Dang district, Binh Phuoc province. They settled here for the next two years, sold their labor to some farm works. In 2002 the couple decided to return home after the wife miscarriage their first child.
After three years struggling in their homeland, difficulties seem started to fade out. The couple possessed a small property in Nam Dong village. A small, brand new house was just about to complete with supports from the commune�s compassion fund together with villagers� contributions. Their son is turning 2 years old while the daughter is seven months of age. Last but not least, they have just found an abandoned area that they can come reclaim more land for they have had only one Sao (500 sqm) of land to grow rice and the outcomes have been way too low for the family's needs.
It was May 1st, 2005, and they got to the "field" at eight, after dropping off their children at the kindergarten. Their work place is about 3 kilometer from home, just north of a famous hilltop named Con Tien. In 1967, shortly before the Tet offensive took place, the entire area here was target for hundreds of B52 mission as well as naval artilleries. The place was then reported "like the landscape on the moon's surface"...
The tough terrain created by thousands of craters of all sizes is exactly the reason why no farmer wants to farm here. However, the couple had found the solution for the abandoned land: planting banana trees in those craters. And today, while many people enjoy the May Day holiday, the couple decided to go clear vegetation. Despite of the blazing sun, they kept working till 11:30 before going home to cook lunch.
The work resumed at 14:00 when out door temperature still showed 390C. The wife raked dried leaves and branches down the craters while the husband continue slashing bushes with a large knife. An hour later, she came back with a match box, lit up fire to burn out the trash. The ashes would be good fertilizer for the young banana plants. After lighting up all the trash, the wife returned to the first crater, where the flame had eaten all the dried leaves and was about to go out. She gathered an armful of dried branches and got down to feed the fire. Threw the dried branch on top of the pile, the wife sat on her knee, bending forward to blow some air to bring back the flame. The flame returned, and just as she was about to walk away to avoid the heat, a bright flash together with a powerful blast occurred at the same time, killing her instantly.
The husband, who was standing about 30m away, was not injured. But when he rushed up, what he could see was a torn up body of his dear wife, the one who had shared with him all difficulties in their own life. She had gone when their daughter still in the breast-feeding period.
He has also sent in a report which can be found at the link below.
PERSONALFull Name: Tran Thi Tuyet
Beneficiary ID: 3000
Birth Date/Year: 1981
Occupation: Farmer
LOCATION
Province/ID: Quang Tri
District/ID: Gio Linh
Commune/ID: Gio Son
Village/ID: Nam Dong
HOUSEHOLD
Household ID:
Poverty Card: Yes
Number of Family Members: 3
Number of School Age Children: 2
INCIDENT
Incident Date: May 1st, 2005
Incident ID:
Number Injured: 0
Number Killed: 1
RESPONSE
Response Date: May 13, 2005
Response Type: EOS
Responding Staff: Duc-Chi
SERVICE
Project ID:
Service to Date: F.B.G
Service to Date Cost: VND 1,5 mil
DOCUMENTATION
Written By: Tran Hong Chi
The wedding was held in 2000, marking a turning point in their family life. The young couple decided to go south to try their luck. Their destination was 1,000 kilometers away from home, in Bu Dang district, Binh Phuoc province. They settled here for the next two years, sold their labor to some farm works. In 2002 the couple decided to return home after the wife miscarriage their first child.
After three years struggling in their homeland, difficulties seem started to fade out. The couple possessed a small property in Nam Dong village. A small, brand new house was just about to complete with supports from the commune�s compassion fund together with villagers� contributions. Their son is turning 2 years old while the daughter is seven months of age. Last but not least, they have just found an abandoned area that they can come reclaim more land for they have had only one Sao (500 sqm) of land to grow rice and the outcomes have been way too low for the family's needs.
It was May 1st, 2005, and they got to the "field" at eight, after dropping off their children at the kindergarten. Their work place is about 3 kilometer from home, just north of a famous hilltop named Con Tien. In 1967, shortly before the Tet offensive took place, the entire area here was target for hundreds of B52 mission as well as naval artilleries. The place was then reported "like the landscape on the moon's surface"...
The tough terrain created by thousands of craters of all sizes is exactly the reason why no farmer wants to farm here. However, the couple had found the solution for the abandoned land: planting banana trees in those craters. And today, while many people enjoy the May Day holiday, the couple decided to go clear vegetation. Despite of the blazing sun, they kept working till 11:30 before going home to cook lunch.
The work resumed at 14:00 when out door temperature still showed 390C. The wife raked dried leaves and branches down the craters while the husband continue slashing bushes with a large knife. An hour later, she came back with a match box, lit up fire to burn out the trash. The ashes would be good fertilizer for the young banana plants. After lighting up all the trash, the wife returned to the first crater, where the flame had eaten all the dried leaves and was about to go out. She gathered an armful of dried branches and got down to feed the fire. Threw the dried branch on top of the pile, the wife sat on her knee, bending forward to blow some air to bring back the flame. The flame returned, and just as she was about to walk away to avoid the heat, a bright flash together with a powerful blast occurred at the same time, killing her instantly.
The husband, who was standing about 30m away, was not injured. But when he rushed up, what he could see was a torn up body of his dear wife, the one who had shared with him all difficulties in their own life. She had gone when their daughter still in the breast-feeding period.
Monday, June 6, 2005
Video: JSC Crew Visits CPI Families
A group of students from Johnson State College (JSC) is spending the next few weeks with Clear Path International in Vietnam. This is possible due to a partnership between Clear Path, the Break Away Program and JSC. The students and staff will be posting tales and photos from their journey to this blog. You can read all of their posts by clicking here.
Thanks to CPI Staff members Toan and Chi, we have video of some of the JSC group visiting with beneficiary families... click the button below to view in Windows Media format
There are also new JSC pictures posted to our flickr site!
Thanks to CPI Staff members Toan and Chi, we have video of some of the JSC group visiting with beneficiary families... click the button below to view in Windows Media format
There are also new JSC pictures posted to our flickr site!
Sunday, June 5, 2005
Orange Dust
(Written by Trista Reigert)
Well, another eventful day. We awoke early to meet for breakfast at 6:30 for 7 am departure to the work site of a teen center being built in Hue. Upon arrival we load and unload heavy orange bricks, about five pounds each, that are hauled up flights of being constructed walls, or wheeled from the tiny mountains of surplus piling bricks to neat organized structures where the bricklayers can reach them with convenient ease. Some of us pick and shovel at the clay like dirt, triumphantly with hope for making a long foot deep trench along side the building. This is a morning of intense physical labor. While our clothes are drenched with sweat and carpeted with orange dust, our muscles are screaming and our minds are meditating.
After working hard all morning we leave the work site at 11 to return to the hotel for showers and lunch. Following is an hour or two of sleep and R+R for most. After, some of us go to the high school to teach English to the summer students who want to learn more about American culture and improve their English. They are eager to learn American songs so we teach them to sing �Up on the Roof Top� which they learn quickly.
At 3:30 we teach at the street children�s house until five. Today was a testing day for my class on questions like �How are you? What is your name? How old are you?� and their reciprical responses. After we break and return to the hotel we have a group builder comprised of stuffing and sewing �Hugga Planets� to be handed out as gifts later in our trip. This is a calm peaceful time upon the roof of the hotel as the dusk descends and the techno music radiates from the street below.
�Have any stories Jill?� someone asks.
Jill seriously responds �Yes�actually,� after we laugh.
The story unfolds as she explains a conversation she had with a local reporter who came to interview us that day while we were working at the teen center. The Vietnamese newswoman commented on how much dirt and filth was on our pants. Jill had laughed and said something along the lines of �yes we�re dirty�, then she noticed the woman�s lip was trembling. �It just makes me so happy�no words can explain�� the woman replied before breaking down in tears of happiness. We silently listened to Jill�s story, I think all of us felt both a bit surprised and humbled by the account.
After our Hugga Planet party up on the roof, we�re all starving and craving nourishment. Nhi takes us to a Vietnamese style sports bar where we get French fries with garlic and hot pots, one filled with tofu/vegetables and the other with seafood. The place is a scene of entertainment as we walk in to a long table of about 20 drunken Vietnamese men watching the home football team (soccer to us) play a game on TV. With mirth and song, they raised their glasses and cheered loudly. Ten minutes after we were seated for dinner, their group changes tables so the waitresses can pick up the array of Huda and Tiger beer bottles scattered on the floor. Once at a fresh new table, we watched as the beer bottles pile up again on the floor by their feet.
Following dinner everyone dispersed for the night, some to get shakes from our favorite shake restaurant, some to check email and some to bed. I checked my email and walked back to the hotel where Nhi was sitting on the steps outside. �Want to go for a drive?� she asks me. Though I am physically tired from the long day, its still only 8:30 and going for a drive on her bike sounds fun. We drive past the Citadel where people are playing sports and games in the field, and past Forbidden City, whose presence feels different to me now then when I had been there a few days earlier in the day. Dark, deserted and seemingly haunted, I imagine what it was like two centuries ago when the king and royal court would have filled the place with life.
We drive through the streets to Nhi�s brothers house. It�s nice and her family is very hospital as we sit in her living room drinking water and sipping homemade frozen yogurt (yum!) I meet Nhi�s niece who, as it is explained to me, took her senior examination today, a very big deal for a Vietnamese. This exam will greatly determine the course of her life and because of its pivotal importance everyone in the family calls for support. �She�s born the same year as you!� Nhi says sitting next to me on the couch. We both smile shyly at each other as Nhi translates bits of conversation for me with her family.
However, despite the enjoyed company and time, it�s weighed on a sad note: one of the family dogs was poisoned and killed earlier that day. When Nhi�s husband, Hugh, arrives I ask him why someone would poison their dog. �They poison dogs with rat poison and steal the carcass for meat to serve at restaurants� somethings,� he says, �I don�t like about Vietnam.� I nod thinking how much I like tofu.
Well, another eventful day. We awoke early to meet for breakfast at 6:30 for 7 am departure to the work site of a teen center being built in Hue. Upon arrival we load and unload heavy orange bricks, about five pounds each, that are hauled up flights of being constructed walls, or wheeled from the tiny mountains of surplus piling bricks to neat organized structures where the bricklayers can reach them with convenient ease. Some of us pick and shovel at the clay like dirt, triumphantly with hope for making a long foot deep trench along side the building. This is a morning of intense physical labor. While our clothes are drenched with sweat and carpeted with orange dust, our muscles are screaming and our minds are meditating.
After working hard all morning we leave the work site at 11 to return to the hotel for showers and lunch. Following is an hour or two of sleep and R+R for most. After, some of us go to the high school to teach English to the summer students who want to learn more about American culture and improve their English. They are eager to learn American songs so we teach them to sing �Up on the Roof Top� which they learn quickly.
At 3:30 we teach at the street children�s house until five. Today was a testing day for my class on questions like �How are you? What is your name? How old are you?� and their reciprical responses. After we break and return to the hotel we have a group builder comprised of stuffing and sewing �Hugga Planets� to be handed out as gifts later in our trip. This is a calm peaceful time upon the roof of the hotel as the dusk descends and the techno music radiates from the street below.
�Have any stories Jill?� someone asks.
Jill seriously responds �Yes�actually,� after we laugh.
The story unfolds as she explains a conversation she had with a local reporter who came to interview us that day while we were working at the teen center. The Vietnamese newswoman commented on how much dirt and filth was on our pants. Jill had laughed and said something along the lines of �yes we�re dirty�, then she noticed the woman�s lip was trembling. �It just makes me so happy�no words can explain�� the woman replied before breaking down in tears of happiness. We silently listened to Jill�s story, I think all of us felt both a bit surprised and humbled by the account.
After our Hugga Planet party up on the roof, we�re all starving and craving nourishment. Nhi takes us to a Vietnamese style sports bar where we get French fries with garlic and hot pots, one filled with tofu/vegetables and the other with seafood. The place is a scene of entertainment as we walk in to a long table of about 20 drunken Vietnamese men watching the home football team (soccer to us) play a game on TV. With mirth and song, they raised their glasses and cheered loudly. Ten minutes after we were seated for dinner, their group changes tables so the waitresses can pick up the array of Huda and Tiger beer bottles scattered on the floor. Once at a fresh new table, we watched as the beer bottles pile up again on the floor by their feet.
Following dinner everyone dispersed for the night, some to get shakes from our favorite shake restaurant, some to check email and some to bed. I checked my email and walked back to the hotel where Nhi was sitting on the steps outside. �Want to go for a drive?� she asks me. Though I am physically tired from the long day, its still only 8:30 and going for a drive on her bike sounds fun. We drive past the Citadel where people are playing sports and games in the field, and past Forbidden City, whose presence feels different to me now then when I had been there a few days earlier in the day. Dark, deserted and seemingly haunted, I imagine what it was like two centuries ago when the king and royal court would have filled the place with life.
We drive through the streets to Nhi�s brothers house. It�s nice and her family is very hospital as we sit in her living room drinking water and sipping homemade frozen yogurt (yum!) I meet Nhi�s niece who, as it is explained to me, took her senior examination today, a very big deal for a Vietnamese. This exam will greatly determine the course of her life and because of its pivotal importance everyone in the family calls for support. �She�s born the same year as you!� Nhi says sitting next to me on the couch. We both smile shyly at each other as Nhi translates bits of conversation for me with her family.
However, despite the enjoyed company and time, it�s weighed on a sad note: one of the family dogs was poisoned and killed earlier that day. When Nhi�s husband, Hugh, arrives I ask him why someone would poison their dog. �They poison dogs with rat poison and steal the carcass for meat to serve at restaurants� somethings,� he says, �I don�t like about Vietnam.� I nod thinking how much I like tofu.
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Addendum to the Poem
(Written by Jill Piacitelli)
The accompanying poem below was written at the urging of Galen Dickstein, as we wondered what to do to capture the sweet anguish of being lost on our way to the work project of the June 2 morning. The rest of the group made it to the Thuy Xan Children's House to "weed the center's garden". From what I understand, this was a vigorous and dirty digging project done in blazing heat. But the school was absolutely beautiful, and is again, a place that we would like to expand our relationship with next year, after spilling the drops of sweat on their soil.
Meanwhile, Galen and I were riding our bikes for 2 hours trying to find the group. When we thought we did, but then didn't at all, we sat in the silence and Galen began to sketch the desolate, but beautiful view in front of us. She encouraged me to write in my journal, or an accompanying poem. I sat in sweat for the first 10 minutes, working out our chances of survival if all we had were the contents of my bike basket: 2 bags of chewy candy for the kids, 1 liter of water, and 2 machetes. In my carry bag, I also had a melted piece of gum, the emergency contact list for the group, my journal, and 20 dollars. I counted our chances of survival as high, so I was finally able to write.
We all reunited at the hotel for lunch, dirty, tired, and sweaty from our various labors. Sickness is tapering off in the group, so we are starting to be represented in our entirety at meals and work. Nhi was so excited by this that she led a round of 3 toasts.
The early afternoon was spent as usual... in preparation for teaching our kids and recovering from the morning exposure. FYI, each day begins at about 7 for breakfast, showing up at our project by 8. We work until 11, get back to the hotel for lunch at 11 or 11:30. 12:30 - 3 is spent doing prep and recovery, and then from 3-5:30 we are with the street kids. When we come home from that, we usually gather as a group for a reflection or a group builder. Then dinner at 7, and home again by 8:30. Depending on energy levels, members of the group then go to internet cafes, browse the shopping, chill out downstairs or outside, or go to their rooms to watch a parade of horrible 80's HBO movies. Usually the last option is the most dangerous: plot lines with evil robots or Kurt Russell or dragons can create rather fitful night's rest.
Anyway, four members of our group went earlier to a new project - teaching English culture at the Children's House. This group of students (about 20) have been exposed to English longer and more extensively, so they are less about the alphabet and more about music, folk stories, and other cultural influences of the U.S. Smaller off shoots of our group will be alternating work with these students for all of next week... amazingly enough this will be our last week in Hue. Next Sunday, we'll head to Quong Tri to work more directly with Clear Path at their offices. When we get back from that stint, we'll head back up to Hanoi in preparation to come home. Meanwhile, we will continue to work with the street kids on their ABCs and numbers. Dave Whitaker was the genius of today... the got his kids playing a version of twister with numbers and the ABCs. Got some fine pictures of that flash of brilliance. The rest of us continue to work on in our various groups... three of us and two Vietnamese student interpreters work with groups of kids varying from 15-35. We've divided up the kids according to their grade, which doesn't necessarily match their age. They continue to just thrill us and break our hearts with their earnest, eager, and loving nature. We've made name tags for them, and one young boy asked Nhi if he could take his off to bathe... "but then I'll put it right back on, I promise. And I will sleep with it here, over my heart, and wear it back to school."
Angie and I led a quick discussion before dinner, about our work as a group and as individuals, and then we were off to our night plans (see above). Each day presents a challenge for growth as a group and as a person... even to the point of being overwhelmed or exhausted. Thanks to all who write comments on the blog. We are encouraged by it all, and grateful to have a chance to share and process this experience with our circles of support.
The accompanying poem below was written at the urging of Galen Dickstein, as we wondered what to do to capture the sweet anguish of being lost on our way to the work project of the June 2 morning. The rest of the group made it to the Thuy Xan Children's House to "weed the center's garden". From what I understand, this was a vigorous and dirty digging project done in blazing heat. But the school was absolutely beautiful, and is again, a place that we would like to expand our relationship with next year, after spilling the drops of sweat on their soil.
Meanwhile, Galen and I were riding our bikes for 2 hours trying to find the group. When we thought we did, but then didn't at all, we sat in the silence and Galen began to sketch the desolate, but beautiful view in front of us. She encouraged me to write in my journal, or an accompanying poem. I sat in sweat for the first 10 minutes, working out our chances of survival if all we had were the contents of my bike basket: 2 bags of chewy candy for the kids, 1 liter of water, and 2 machetes. In my carry bag, I also had a melted piece of gum, the emergency contact list for the group, my journal, and 20 dollars. I counted our chances of survival as high, so I was finally able to write.
We all reunited at the hotel for lunch, dirty, tired, and sweaty from our various labors. Sickness is tapering off in the group, so we are starting to be represented in our entirety at meals and work. Nhi was so excited by this that she led a round of 3 toasts.
The early afternoon was spent as usual... in preparation for teaching our kids and recovering from the morning exposure. FYI, each day begins at about 7 for breakfast, showing up at our project by 8. We work until 11, get back to the hotel for lunch at 11 or 11:30. 12:30 - 3 is spent doing prep and recovery, and then from 3-5:30 we are with the street kids. When we come home from that, we usually gather as a group for a reflection or a group builder. Then dinner at 7, and home again by 8:30. Depending on energy levels, members of the group then go to internet cafes, browse the shopping, chill out downstairs or outside, or go to their rooms to watch a parade of horrible 80's HBO movies. Usually the last option is the most dangerous: plot lines with evil robots or Kurt Russell or dragons can create rather fitful night's rest.
Anyway, four members of our group went earlier to a new project - teaching English culture at the Children's House. This group of students (about 20) have been exposed to English longer and more extensively, so they are less about the alphabet and more about music, folk stories, and other cultural influences of the U.S. Smaller off shoots of our group will be alternating work with these students for all of next week... amazingly enough this will be our last week in Hue. Next Sunday, we'll head to Quong Tri to work more directly with Clear Path at their offices. When we get back from that stint, we'll head back up to Hanoi in preparation to come home. Meanwhile, we will continue to work with the street kids on their ABCs and numbers. Dave Whitaker was the genius of today... the got his kids playing a version of twister with numbers and the ABCs. Got some fine pictures of that flash of brilliance. The rest of us continue to work on in our various groups... three of us and two Vietnamese student interpreters work with groups of kids varying from 15-35. We've divided up the kids according to their grade, which doesn't necessarily match their age. They continue to just thrill us and break our hearts with their earnest, eager, and loving nature. We've made name tags for them, and one young boy asked Nhi if he could take his off to bathe... "but then I'll put it right back on, I promise. And I will sleep with it here, over my heart, and wear it back to school."
Angie and I led a quick discussion before dinner, about our work as a group and as individuals, and then we were off to our night plans (see above). Each day presents a challenge for growth as a group and as a person... even to the point of being overwhelmed or exhausted. Thanks to all who write comments on the blog. We are encouraged by it all, and grateful to have a chance to share and process this experience with our circles of support.
Poetry While Lost
A poem, written while utterly lost, by Jill Piacitelli. This work of art was accompanied by a sketch by Galen Dickstein, the other lost participant.
Poetry to the Lost and Directionless
It all begins with such little mishaps
Forgotten water, broken bike chains, or a brief judgmental lapse
Suddenly now you are just a bit behind
Wondering if you will be found or will find
The group which is your umbilical cord
(Except for during lunch � conversation gets us bored)
Your lifeline, your crutch, your everything
The group which you�d stand in front of 1,000 to sing.
Anyway, such was the experience of Galen and I
On the second of June, not the second of July.
Two minutes into our ride to the morning project site
Galen�s chain just slipped off, to her non-delight.
So she pulled over and Jill followed after
And both engaged in a short burst of resigned laughter.
Then shouting ahead for the group to go on
They walked the bike back to Mr. Hoang.
A quick exchange for a sweet blue beauty
(That rides a little high and makes a sore booty)
And off they were again to catch the group,
Riding the Lei Loi, a familiar street loop.
But then, once passed the familiar street kids house
There was no JSC sighting, not even a mouse.
So we pulled out the brilliant yellow itinerary
(Some may mistake it for a flattened bright canary.)
And began our quest, by asking for directions
From the slew of drivers, pedestrians, and men who give inspections
If you had a tag or a uniform on
We�d show you the address, you�d point, we�d say �cam on�
This was the way
We covered all of Hue.
We found out indeed, that Vietnam has mountains
And that Galen and I both contain inner sweat fountains.
Back and forth, right and left
We did it until we felt completely bereft.
We went back to Le Loi and hired one of the first asked drivers
To guide us straight to Thuy Xan as bedraggled survivors.
And thus began our Tour de France training-
The way we were sweating, people thought it was raining.
He, ahead, on his fast moto scooter
Was going with such speed, he seemed a fleeing looter
We pedaled furiously up Mt. Hue
Looking sometimes to see if the other was okay
Taking a very (20 minutes off course) wrong turn
Made our hearts (and Galen�s neck) with vengeance begin to burn.
But at last, here we were, one last huge hill
I slapped my own face wondering it if was real.
We paid the driver and said a French farewell
And then dragged our bikes through this last step of heck.
The group would be cheering! Rejoicing our arrival!
No doubt that most, nay many, had doubted our survival!
But the further up the hill, and closer to the place
The quieter it got, the sparser the human face.
And then we saw the schoolyard, desolate as any�
Where there were few, there should have been many.
Greeted only by a beautiful vista and a danger sign
We were finally lost, but found, at half past nine.
So here we sit, no voices stirring, to capture the scene
And shortly ride back home�what adventure this has been.
Poetry to the Lost and Directionless
It all begins with such little mishaps
Forgotten water, broken bike chains, or a brief judgmental lapse
Suddenly now you are just a bit behind
Wondering if you will be found or will find
The group which is your umbilical cord
(Except for during lunch � conversation gets us bored)
Your lifeline, your crutch, your everything
The group which you�d stand in front of 1,000 to sing.
Anyway, such was the experience of Galen and I
On the second of June, not the second of July.
Two minutes into our ride to the morning project site
Galen�s chain just slipped off, to her non-delight.
So she pulled over and Jill followed after
And both engaged in a short burst of resigned laughter.
Then shouting ahead for the group to go on
They walked the bike back to Mr. Hoang.
A quick exchange for a sweet blue beauty
(That rides a little high and makes a sore booty)
And off they were again to catch the group,
Riding the Lei Loi, a familiar street loop.
But then, once passed the familiar street kids house
There was no JSC sighting, not even a mouse.
So we pulled out the brilliant yellow itinerary
(Some may mistake it for a flattened bright canary.)
And began our quest, by asking for directions
From the slew of drivers, pedestrians, and men who give inspections
If you had a tag or a uniform on
We�d show you the address, you�d point, we�d say �cam on�
This was the way
We covered all of Hue.
We found out indeed, that Vietnam has mountains
And that Galen and I both contain inner sweat fountains.
Back and forth, right and left
We did it until we felt completely bereft.
We went back to Le Loi and hired one of the first asked drivers
To guide us straight to Thuy Xan as bedraggled survivors.
And thus began our Tour de France training-
The way we were sweating, people thought it was raining.
He, ahead, on his fast moto scooter
Was going with such speed, he seemed a fleeing looter
We pedaled furiously up Mt. Hue
Looking sometimes to see if the other was okay
Taking a very (20 minutes off course) wrong turn
Made our hearts (and Galen�s neck) with vengeance begin to burn.
But at last, here we were, one last huge hill
I slapped my own face wondering it if was real.
We paid the driver and said a French farewell
And then dragged our bikes through this last step of heck.
The group would be cheering! Rejoicing our arrival!
No doubt that most, nay many, had doubted our survival!
But the further up the hill, and closer to the place
The quieter it got, the sparser the human face.
And then we saw the schoolyard, desolate as any�
Where there were few, there should have been many.
Greeted only by a beautiful vista and a danger sign
We were finally lost, but found, at half past nine.
So here we sit, no voices stirring, to capture the scene
And shortly ride back home�what adventure this has been.
Celebrating Children's Day with Photos
As our friends from Johnson State College are celebrating Children's Day in Vietnam... we thought we would celebrate the gift of children as well by posting a link to our photo archive of children we have met on our travels at CPI.
Go here for the photo gallery.
Go here for the photo gallery.
Children�s Day in Hue, Viet Nam
A group of students from Johnson State College (JSC) is spending the next few weeks with Clear Path International in Vietnam. This is possible due to a partnership between Clear Path, the Break Away Program and JSC. The students and staff will be posting tales and photos from their journey to this blog. You can read all of their posts by clicking here.
Posted by Nhi, the group's guide while in Vietnam
A new day came. Everybody looked refreshed. We all were ready for a day full of children�s activities as June 1st is �Children�s Day� in Viet Nam: visit the children�s painting festival in the morning, celebrate the Children�s Day Party with sweet children at Street Children House in the afternoon, and take part in the music performance for children at Province Children House in the evening.
Leaving the hotel at 7:45 AM, we turned into the poetic Le Loi street riding merrily under the shade of trees, enjoying the fresh air. I drove my �steel horse� (meaning a motorbike) and the rest of the group was on their bikes forming a long line on the street as a group of working �aunties� traveled side by side on their way to work. Sometimes, people on the street looked at us with surprise and wonder and then gave us a smile.
Where we stopped there is a greenery park by the side of Perfume River. Hundreds of kids were sitting in groups on the grass. They looked so cute with one hand holding the paper while the other was running the tiny paint brush up and down, left and right as the pro painters do. Here and there, the US students were walking around. Jill, Angie, and I (three big babies) quickly joined a group of �tiny painters�. Sitting under the tree in the middle at the park, Caroline, Tara, Laura were chatting gaily. Further along the path, Galen and David were taking a walk around several groups of children. The theme of painting festival is �free the children�s imagination,� therefore the kids chose to bring the spaceship, star, sun, moon, and even the whole planet into their painting. Many of them picked up blue to paint the sky, earth, and the ocean. �You chose a very nice color, why don�t you choose the other ones?� I stopped, sat down by a young boy and asked. �Blue is a very pleasant color and it symbolizes peace and dream of discovering the world,� he replied and smiled. Leaving that boy, I stopped and kneeled next to two little cute girls working on their painting. It looks very simple with 2 colors: black and white and so many number tens. Trying to interpret the meaning of number ten, I was hardly successful with that. �What do the number tens mean?� I asked. �An excellent mark at school is ten: I want to be an excellent pupil and this is my dream.� Oh, it turns out simple but a 23-year-old person like me could barely find out.�
We left the painting festival when it was still going. Back at the hotel, we met to prepare for a singing performance with children in the evening. There were so many ideas that we hardly knew which songs should be chosen. However, we finally decided the introduction of each member�s name in Vietnamese. �Toi la...� means �I am�.�. We decided to start there first, and then sing three songs.
Time passed quickly and we were at Street Children House. There the kids sat neatly in rows. They could not cover their eagerness to see us coming. Some of them even got out of their seats, running to sit next to their favorite American teachers. The celebrations began with a couple of speeches by government officials and teachers, and then the teacher honored the kids who had achieved excellent study results in the year. As planned, we came to bring gifts and candies for the kids. But you know what? It actually ended up as a singing performance. The US students stood against the children audience and as usual, I was moving around to make sure the kids pay attention to our performance.
�Old MacDonald� was the first song we sang. Amazingly, this song made people laugh their heads off, especially when Jill, Caroline, Christ, and Angie imitated the sounds of a dog, goat, cow, and pig. A small game came up after the song. Children had to say the names of the animal they recognized in the song and imitated its sound. Who did it correctly would get a small gift. All of them were fighting to answer the questions and it took me so hard to pick up some. The Street Children House seemed to be bath in the laughing, chatting, and singing. I have never had such a day in my childhood so to see the kids laughing and being happy on the Children�s Day meant so much to me. Another game came up. The kids would listen to one sentence of the song �Row, Row, Row Your Boat� sung 3 times by the US students. Then they had to repeat that sentence and the one who did the best job got a nice treat. Ten children were in a row and started singing. �Ro, ro, ro yo bok�, sung the first child. �Ro, ro, so, cro...ha...ha (laughing)�� sung the second one. They continued to sing and everybody burst into laughter till the last one ended up his singing like this: �Ro�.huh...huh�ro�hi...hi...hi (laughing)�. So, what should we do? Laughing, we laughed from ear to ear from the beginning till the end. That was such an incredibly wonderful time to be with street children.
Despite of the singing in front of the street children house in the afternoon, we could not resist our anxiety to perform it again tonight on a real stage with a huge audience. By the time we got to the Children House, it was already full of children and parents. I tried to calm down myself, but still felt my heart beating like drum. We all were the �special� guests and proudly sat in the two first rows of chairs for VIPs. Surrounding us were easily one thousand children. The program started with lots of games, singing, dancing, and kung fu performance. Our eyes stuck to the stage upon the appearance of the kids in the beautiful kung fu uniform. Wow, their moves were so smooth and gentle sometimes, then quick and strong at other times. It was the most impressive show I had ever seen in my life. Also another extraordinary show was dragon dance. It is always the favorite show of the children in Viet Nam. Just before our singing, it started to rain slightly. Angie and I were almost happy to think that we could escape from our singing if it rained harder. Hence, it stopped. Our wish was not fulfilled and the consequence of this was we had to get up on the stage in front of our little angel audience.
�Um�blah�um�blah� �Be calm, Nhi� I talked to myself. Taking a very deep breath, I finally could open my mouth and to briefly our group and our performance. After that was the name introduction of the group in Vietnamese. They did a good job, I think. Then the group sang �Itsy Bitsy Spider� doing the hand illustration. Next was �I�m a Little Teapot� and then �Old Mac Donald.� Again, the animal sounds for this song really stirred up the atmosphere. Lots of laughing from the children, especially the game going together with this song: thank God, we finally can have a minute to breath easy when Chris came up to sing a Vietnamese folk song �Ly Cay Bong� to close our performance. This is his fourth time to sing it and he�s no doubt the right person for this beautiful song.
What a day! Extremely exhausted but my heart is blooded in the joys and happiness of being with the little angels. A day full of laughter and happiness, I hope everyone in the group entirely enjoy it. In my dream that night, I was singing with somebody and we were both very happy. Children�s Day was over but the rhythm of the songs, the sound of laughter, and the smiles on the bright faces of children will stay with us forever.
------
We do not have a photo update yet from the group, but in honor of Children's Day, please click this link to see CPI's Photo Archive of children we have met on our journeys.
Posted by Nhi, the group's guide while in Vietnam
A new day came. Everybody looked refreshed. We all were ready for a day full of children�s activities as June 1st is �Children�s Day� in Viet Nam: visit the children�s painting festival in the morning, celebrate the Children�s Day Party with sweet children at Street Children House in the afternoon, and take part in the music performance for children at Province Children House in the evening.
Leaving the hotel at 7:45 AM, we turned into the poetic Le Loi street riding merrily under the shade of trees, enjoying the fresh air. I drove my �steel horse� (meaning a motorbike) and the rest of the group was on their bikes forming a long line on the street as a group of working �aunties� traveled side by side on their way to work. Sometimes, people on the street looked at us with surprise and wonder and then gave us a smile.
Where we stopped there is a greenery park by the side of Perfume River. Hundreds of kids were sitting in groups on the grass. They looked so cute with one hand holding the paper while the other was running the tiny paint brush up and down, left and right as the pro painters do. Here and there, the US students were walking around. Jill, Angie, and I (three big babies) quickly joined a group of �tiny painters�. Sitting under the tree in the middle at the park, Caroline, Tara, Laura were chatting gaily. Further along the path, Galen and David were taking a walk around several groups of children. The theme of painting festival is �free the children�s imagination,� therefore the kids chose to bring the spaceship, star, sun, moon, and even the whole planet into their painting. Many of them picked up blue to paint the sky, earth, and the ocean. �You chose a very nice color, why don�t you choose the other ones?� I stopped, sat down by a young boy and asked. �Blue is a very pleasant color and it symbolizes peace and dream of discovering the world,� he replied and smiled. Leaving that boy, I stopped and kneeled next to two little cute girls working on their painting. It looks very simple with 2 colors: black and white and so many number tens. Trying to interpret the meaning of number ten, I was hardly successful with that. �What do the number tens mean?� I asked. �An excellent mark at school is ten: I want to be an excellent pupil and this is my dream.� Oh, it turns out simple but a 23-year-old person like me could barely find out.�
We left the painting festival when it was still going. Back at the hotel, we met to prepare for a singing performance with children in the evening. There were so many ideas that we hardly knew which songs should be chosen. However, we finally decided the introduction of each member�s name in Vietnamese. �Toi la...� means �I am�.�. We decided to start there first, and then sing three songs.
Time passed quickly and we were at Street Children House. There the kids sat neatly in rows. They could not cover their eagerness to see us coming. Some of them even got out of their seats, running to sit next to their favorite American teachers. The celebrations began with a couple of speeches by government officials and teachers, and then the teacher honored the kids who had achieved excellent study results in the year. As planned, we came to bring gifts and candies for the kids. But you know what? It actually ended up as a singing performance. The US students stood against the children audience and as usual, I was moving around to make sure the kids pay attention to our performance.
�Old MacDonald� was the first song we sang. Amazingly, this song made people laugh their heads off, especially when Jill, Caroline, Christ, and Angie imitated the sounds of a dog, goat, cow, and pig. A small game came up after the song. Children had to say the names of the animal they recognized in the song and imitated its sound. Who did it correctly would get a small gift. All of them were fighting to answer the questions and it took me so hard to pick up some. The Street Children House seemed to be bath in the laughing, chatting, and singing. I have never had such a day in my childhood so to see the kids laughing and being happy on the Children�s Day meant so much to me. Another game came up. The kids would listen to one sentence of the song �Row, Row, Row Your Boat� sung 3 times by the US students. Then they had to repeat that sentence and the one who did the best job got a nice treat. Ten children were in a row and started singing. �Ro, ro, ro yo bok�, sung the first child. �Ro, ro, so, cro...ha...ha (laughing)�� sung the second one. They continued to sing and everybody burst into laughter till the last one ended up his singing like this: �Ro�.huh...huh�ro�hi...hi...hi (laughing)�. So, what should we do? Laughing, we laughed from ear to ear from the beginning till the end. That was such an incredibly wonderful time to be with street children.
Despite of the singing in front of the street children house in the afternoon, we could not resist our anxiety to perform it again tonight on a real stage with a huge audience. By the time we got to the Children House, it was already full of children and parents. I tried to calm down myself, but still felt my heart beating like drum. We all were the �special� guests and proudly sat in the two first rows of chairs for VIPs. Surrounding us were easily one thousand children. The program started with lots of games, singing, dancing, and kung fu performance. Our eyes stuck to the stage upon the appearance of the kids in the beautiful kung fu uniform. Wow, their moves were so smooth and gentle sometimes, then quick and strong at other times. It was the most impressive show I had ever seen in my life. Also another extraordinary show was dragon dance. It is always the favorite show of the children in Viet Nam. Just before our singing, it started to rain slightly. Angie and I were almost happy to think that we could escape from our singing if it rained harder. Hence, it stopped. Our wish was not fulfilled and the consequence of this was we had to get up on the stage in front of our little angel audience.
�Um�blah�um�blah� �Be calm, Nhi� I talked to myself. Taking a very deep breath, I finally could open my mouth and to briefly our group and our performance. After that was the name introduction of the group in Vietnamese. They did a good job, I think. Then the group sang �Itsy Bitsy Spider� doing the hand illustration. Next was �I�m a Little Teapot� and then �Old Mac Donald.� Again, the animal sounds for this song really stirred up the atmosphere. Lots of laughing from the children, especially the game going together with this song: thank God, we finally can have a minute to breath easy when Chris came up to sing a Vietnamese folk song �Ly Cay Bong� to close our performance. This is his fourth time to sing it and he�s no doubt the right person for this beautiful song.
What a day! Extremely exhausted but my heart is blooded in the joys and happiness of being with the little angels. A day full of laughter and happiness, I hope everyone in the group entirely enjoy it. In my dream that night, I was singing with somebody and we were both very happy. Children�s Day was over but the rhythm of the songs, the sound of laughter, and the smiles on the bright faces of children will stay with us forever.
------
We do not have a photo update yet from the group, but in honor of Children's Day, please click this link to see CPI's Photo Archive of children we have met on our journeys.
Friday, June 3, 2005
The Landmine's More Deadly Cousin
The landmine's more deadly cousin, the cluster bomb kills and injures people with regularity in Vietnam. In present-day Vietnam, a cluster bomb's "bomblet" or "bombie" resembles a muddy baseball.Children are naturally drawn to them out of curiosity, often to horrific results.
Read more about bombies here.
Thursday, June 2, 2005
Wounded Iraqis left Broken and Burdened
With medical facilities strained, assistance is hard to come by
A sad story on civilian war victims in Iraq.
A sad story on civilian war victims in Iraq.
Clear Path Photo Archive
We have begun to post our very large archive of photos to the web using flickr.com.
To view the pictures, go here
The size of the font on the link page is relative to the number of photos in each "gallery"
There will be more as we continue to update on a regular basis.
To view the pictures, go here
The size of the font on the link page is relative to the number of photos in each "gallery"
There will be more as we continue to update on a regular basis.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Boy, 12, Killed by Cluster Bomb in Vietnam
Quang Binh Province, Vietnam- A boy has lost his life after discovering a piece of unexploded ordnance in Central Vietnam.
Nguyen Si Phu, 12, had found a cluster bomb while playing near his aunt's home on May 29, 2005. He picked it up and played for it for a time not knowing what it was before it detonated and killed him instantly. A cousin playing nearby was also injured.
The photo at left is of Phu's brothers.
Although the Vietnam War ended 30 years ago, by some estimates over 350,000 tons of bombs that did not detonate when dropped remain in the ground. This ordnance regularly claims lives and limbs in this still war-ravaged province. Since the conflict ended in 1975, nearly 40,000 Vietnamese have been killed by by these munitions.
Clear Path International serves landmine and bomb accident survivors, their families and their communities in former war zones in Southeast Asia. This assistance takes the form of both direct and indirect medical and social services to survivor families as well as equipment support to hospitals. Current Clear Path projects are in Vietnam, Cambodia and on the Thai-Burma border.
More information about Clear Path International can be found on the web at www.cpi.org
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