June 2013

What a week!

It's been wonderful, it's been horrid, it's been full of proud tears and full of sorrowful tears, and it’s been a week of lasts and a week of finishing so so many things and a week of endless goodbyes.

We had our final visitors this week.  It was a pleasure showing off our adopted city for the last time - to Joe and Lucinda thank you for visiting us we loved having you here.

Ms Hang and I at Graduation

I finished my three years at school this week and it was with many tears that I have said goodbye.  Besides saying goodbye to Ms Hang and Ms Nga one of my unexpected difficult farewells was to one of our cleaning ladies.  She is a lovely lady who besides neither of us sharing a common language we manage to greet each other every morning and to acknowledge each other throughout the day.  She came into the library on Wednesday and spoke with me, having no idea what she was saying I gave the typical Vietnamese Jazz hands.  She then grabbed a piece of paper and wrote 2014 at which point I knew exactly what she was asking and with tears brimming in my eyes I said no I am not coming back.  She then said something to me in Vietnamese, at which point I shock my head, and then she said "but me like….".  By now both of us had tears in our eyes– after a hug we both went back to our jobs – hers in the Vietnamese world mine in the Expat world, I am truly grateful for the friends that I made here particularly the ones who despite not having a common language we somehow are important to each other.

Josh and the Middle School Rock Band

What are they talking about?

I had three graduations this week, where I shed many a tear.  My own elementary school, where Mr Jim despite his promise made me cry on stage when he acknowledged my service to the school.  Josh’s graduation was next, this time their where tears of both pride and sadness, pride for this young man of mine who has become such a part of this Vietnamese school. Today he played in the school rock band, won sports  awards,  both the Social Studies Achievement Award for his Grade and was one of 6 students who won Outstanding GPA Award.  But when his Friend Ahn spoke with his many references to Josh and Australia I shed tears of sadness at friendships that have been formed and now have to endure farewells.  

Josh Graduating

Middle School Graduates Class of 2013

Josh and Ahn

Friends

Bella’s was the last graduation.  

The pomp and ceremony of the high school graduation is enough to bring the tears again.  For Bella it is the end of 13 years of schooling and whilst there are many wonderful things to come it is time to say farewell to what she has done for as long as she remembers, coupled with saying goodbye to friends that have been so important over the last few years, I cried as she sang her final performance for school and as she received her High School Diploma but for her it is time to move on.

Bella's beautiful voice

Graduation from High School

Class of 2013

Proud parents

What are they talking about?

Beautiful

Then it was time to say goodbye to friends and colleagues at a brunch.  And with more tears again I farewelled people who despite being newly formed friends, have become very important in my life and I truly hope I will see again.

The last farewell for this week was on Saturday when I once more sent my child out into the world without us by her side, my only consolation is that in only two weeks my family will be 6 again.

When we left Australia 3 years ago I would never have imagined that our departure from Vietnam could possibly be as emotional as our departure from Australia, how wrong I was.