South Vietnam - Thu Thua (Ken's Family)

So our final day in Vietnam happened to be the anniversary of the death of Ken's paternal grandmother.  In Vietnam, birthdays are rarely if ever celebrated, but the anniversary of your death is celebrated for 3 generations.  It is a time for family to come together and honor the memory of their ancestors.  The celebration began in Ken's grandmother's former home (now occupied by his Aunt who took care of his grandmother in her final years).  We paid respect at the shrine in the home and then we drove to her burial site nearby to pay respect there as well.  Then we returned to the family home and enjoyed a wonderful meal together.  I think there were nearly 40 people in attendance and Ken's 83 year old aunt made a 6 course meal for everyone.  It was amazing!!!  I tried to explain the concept of potluck, but I don't think they grasped the idea.  :-)

I only wish we had taken a big group picture before the meal.  Everyone finished eating at different times and then most everyone went off to take naps in various places throughout the house or yard.  People left before others woke, so we never had a chance to get everyone at once. 

Ken really enjoyed visiting with his family and seeing the village where he grew up.  He was in Saigon 15 years ago, but he didn't come to Thu Thua on that trip, so he hasn't been here since they left Vietnam in 1978.  It was entertaining watching him see his old village through the eyes of an adult ... so much had changed and yet so much was still the same.  Ken couldn't get over how much smaller everything was in reality compared to his memory.  It was an incredibly special day for everyone ... the boys LOVED seeing where daddy used to live.  So very different than where/how we live today!!

Entrance to school where Ken and his siblings attended, his mom was a teacher, and his dad was the principal

Ken's elementary school

This used to be the house where Ken grew up.  Apparently the Red Cross used it during the war, but it no longer remains in the family.  It is right next door to his grandmother's house.

 

Front room of his grandmother's house ... the entire wall is a shrine built for the family members that have passed away.  It includes gifts of fruit, incense, and flowers.  There are pictures of each of them on the shelves.

Close up of part of the family shrine.  Ken's paternal grandparents are in the middle and that's a picture of Ken's sister on the right.  She passed away last year.  On the left are cousins who fled Vietnam during the war and were never heard from.  They are presumed dead, but no one knows for sure.

Ken and his dad with his Aunt.  She lives in the house we gathered and was responsible for the all the delicious food and drinks we enjoyed!!!  An amazing lady!!! 

This is the kitchen where they cooked a 6 course meal for 40 people.  They had a 2 burner gas cooktop and a toaster oven.  I was blown away!

This is additional space for an outdoor kitchen area .. where they prepped food and washed dishes.  This area was added to the house in recent years.

Ken's mom with another one of his Aunts

Empty creek that ran the length of the property between the house Ken grew up and his grandmother's house.  He remembers playing in the giant river all the time.  Note:  if full of water it would be about 3 feet wide!  :-)  And he also learned it was never part of the natural river behind the property, but was actually a small fish farm his grandparents built and used as a source of income.

This is the foundation to the old outhouse.  Ken remembered it was a LOOOONG haul to get out to the out house (especially at night) and then you would practically scale a mountain to get up to it.  And it emptied into a giant lake.  The reality:  it was maybe 10' from the edge of kitchen and you had to climb 3 steps.  Can you see the giant lake in the picture??  Probably because it was tiny!!!  Love the memory of a child where everything was SO much larger than the reality!  Jaden and Nicholas were most grateful that the house now had indoor plumbing!!

Meeting one of their cousins

A 100 year old bed that remains in the family.  It's used as a table, desk, bed, anything.  There were several people sprawled across it after lunch taking naps.  No need for pillows or blankets.  You just crashed on top the way it is.  Seems so uncomfortable to this spoiled American!

A few of the uncles greeting us on the front porch

Jackfruit tree on the patio ... my favorite tropical fruit.  I wish they made jackfruit scented candles!  I love the smell almost as much as I love this delicious fruit!!!

Burial site for Ken's paternal grandparents

The incense is brought to your forehead and then you bow 3 times before placing the incense in a pot under the pictures of the grandparents.

Boys did a great job following their cousins and doing as they were asked.

Picture of his grandmother at her gravesite

The graves are located in the middle of rice fields, tucked away where you would never know.  It was very private.

Front porch is set and ready for lunch

Some of the food ready to be enjoyed ... those are giant shrimp in the front and 3 huge whole fish that were battered and fried. 

Ken's Aunt's dog Jackie got a lot of love and attention! 

Mrs Doan adored the dog!  I didn't know she was such a dog lover!

Ken's cousin teaching Jaden proper use of chopsticks.  (Grateful he sat at our table ... one of 2 people that spoke English!)

Ken's dad offered a toast before the meal

Enjoying the food

These were some delicious spring rolls!!!  Loved that sausage!!!

 After lunch we tried to take some pictures of the family before they all left...

The boys wanted a turn to sit on a motorcycle...

 

 

 More pictures of Jackie...

Me with Ken's Aunt and her son.  He was HILARIOUS!!!  He didn't really speak English, but he sat at our table and loved to drink with others.  Every few moments he would say "Yo!!" (Vietnamese equivalent of "cheers") and clink glasses and have a swig of beer.  Eventually I couldn't keep up with him so instead of saying "Yo!" in response, I started saying "No Yo!  No Yo!"  The guys continued to drink, but I had had enough!  He was a good sport about it!

We were sad to say goodbye and to have to leave this beautiful family and this amazing country. 
We hope to return again someday soon!