Tidbits

Dog update: Baby Patches has been renamed by his new owner.  "Foster" will romp and play in his garden in Hoi An long after our Foster heads back to Vermont.  Awww.

Nolan, Brianna, Foster and Foster

The conversation I overheard at snacktime today reminded me to embrace all of the little things that are Vietnam as we move into the homestretch (last day of school tomorrow).  "Theo!  I'll trade you my rice crackers for your seaweed."  Then a few minutes later when big sister arrived on the scene, "Aww Theo...I can't believe you traded for mangostein.  That grows in the yard!  Bad trade."  Rice crackers?  Seaweed?  Mangostein?  All so foreign at this time last year, now they are a part of our everyday life that will vanish in a puff of smoke next month.  The snacktime conversation come September will revert to apples, granola bars and goldfish crackers.  Sniffle.

Ice cream, however, will be one food that it will be good to have Vermont-style again. Ben & Jerry's is high on the list of things to do in the first twenty-four hours after we land in Burlington.  Ice cream is not a Vietnamese specialty product, but what it lacks in recognizable dairy products is made up for in its presentation.  Or should I say its arrival via the "ding dong man" in the rice paddy?  Check him out.

Brianna took to the water last weekend and got her turn to SCUBA dive. Once we finally convinced her that she would not be attacked by a shark in the swimming pool, she decided that it did, in fact, look like fun and wanted to give it a try.  She looked like she was born to dive.  Now everyone is ready for a real ocean dive, so we can put our skills to the test - just waiting to hear which day the ocean will be predator-free for Miss Brianna.

Born to wear flippers

Lending a helping hand



Ready to go



Regulator in

Check!