Farewells

Today we checked out of our hotel and went straight to the deaf school to attend Mass. We were welcomed at the gate by the students and again made to feel like rock stars. Every Father and Sister in My Tho attended along with the local Bishop. The Bishop made special mention of our work in the area and thanked us for our charity in English. The only part of mass we could understand apart from An! 

After mass we participated in the school concert, the deaf children danced and put on a traditional play and one boy played a keyboard. Amazing to keep rythem without hearing. We sung Home amongst the Gum Trees and actually remembered all the words and actions!  The school had been decorated and there would have been 300 people in attendance this included the local clergy, university students, parents and helpers. 

After the concert we all sat down for a very interesting lunch. We have been telling the students to be travellers and not tourist however on this occasion we turned into tourists. Lunch started with eggs with half grown ducks inside. This was removed from our table immediately the next course were pawns - all good for the seafood lovers.  Then came out beef stew with intestines -that didn't get  eaten either then some stir fried venison. I don't think calling it Bambi helped! We all ate some bread and the chocolate ice cream. A massive slab of birthday cake was next and you got a spoon each and dug in. 

We then gave Sister Elizabeth some gifts for the school and said farewell promising to be back again next year. 

The building site was next for farewells the family was given plaques from both schools to hang in their new house and a special name plate was unveiled. All students were given a certificate of merit and a letter of thanks from the Vietnam government. After many speeches and some sad farewells we once again boarded the bus and headed for Ho Chi Minh City. 

Tonight we went on a dinner river cruise after running though a torrential downpour and some accidentally boarded the wrong boat but we all ended up together in the end and on the correct boat! The streets here flood easily in a downpour but also drain quickly when the rain has stopped. We enjoyed some local entertainment with some of us participating playing cups and tambourine. 

Tomorrow we visit the markets, china town and the War remnants museum.