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Russell Meadows thanks volunteers
Underground society By Anne Donovan Special to the Reflet-News
People my age will remember the television showM*A*S*H (the reruns at least) as the representation of the war in Korea and Vietnam, the series being as much an allegory of one as the other. Of course, we were influenced by the American propaganda, but through comedy and drama, many people were introduced to the realities of Southeast Asian countries. Upon arriving in Vietnam, after a stop in Bangkok (Thailand) and Siem Reap (Cambo- dia), we were prepared for the eternal sunny hot weather of March, the pointy straw hats and the Pho noodles. We were wondering, however, if the Vietnamese people still bore resentment against the Americans, and if this would influence the way we would be treated. The short answer is yes… and no. It seemed like half the population in the old southern capital of Saigon would prefer we refrain from visiting their country, while the other half would like to resemble us. So the service we received could be in stark contrast from one time to another. This contrast could also be seen on the streets, where 5 million motorbikes are on the road every single day. This fast pace city boasts high-end stores and personal drivers on one side of the road while the other is plagued with street vendors, peddlers and beware-of-thieves. In this whirlwind of people, most of the time, Westerners don’t know what’s up or what’s down. We did learn, however, about what’s down once we left Ho Chi Minh City and traveled a few hundred kilometers north. The Cu Chi people were clever individuals who had to improvise methods of combat and concealment without the technology of big cities or countries. The tunnels they built were initially to communicate between villages, which turned into a village onto itself when it became necessary. I could write a whole book on these people, what they represented to their country as militia, as citizens and as allies, but I’m sure it has been done many times over and this is not the topic of this article. It does however leave one to reflect on the strength and perseverance of these Vietnamese people. In Hoi An, it’s a whole different story and culture. This old French administrative hub, designated as a World Heritage Site in 1999, has been kept mostly in its original splen- dour, apart from the hundreds of tailor shops that litter the core of the city. One cannot walk more than 10 paces without running into another ‘local’ tailor shop. People from all over the world come to Hoi An to get a tailor-made suit at a very reduced cost while enjoying the beach between fittings. Regrettably, quality is not always at the party, and many foreigners leave the city with a sour taste in their mouth. Fortunately for us, we found a gem, or an angel with a needle, in the haystack of ordinary, pattern-exhausted tailors. We left Hoi An with a suit in our luggage and a foreign tailor for life. We couldn’t let our visa expire, without going to Hanoi, the capital of this coastal country. Being tourists as well as teachers, we often have to bypass popular touristic destinations, sometimes without concern, as we prefer discovering local and hidden treasures, but at times with some regret, fearing we have not been able to fully grasp each city’s or country’s culture on our passage. Our extended stay in Hanoi gave us many opportunities to take part in different organized tours, but we chose instead to book the services of Hanoi Little Ambassadors Free Tours. This is a wonderful way to explore the city on budget while helping tourism students get experience. We thought we would be satisfied with exploring the city by foot while engaging in conversation with the local student guides, but through fellow Canadian friends we have met on the road, we have been enticed to visit Ha Long Bay, this geological marvel of limestone karsts islets that clutter the northeast shores. I may not have fully adopted the Southeast Asian way of life, but these islets, which ceaselessly whisper the secrets of 20 million years of existence, have certainly enchanted me.
Photo Candice Vetter
Russell Meadows retirement residence recognized the contributions of their many volunteers on Thursday, April 17 at the residence on Church Street in Russell. This year, the staff decided to forego speeches and awards and instead entertained their many guestswith skits and karaoke. Here staffmembers Ursula Beisheim, KimHearle, Doris Leclerc and Lupita Rodriguez pose after performing their own versions of Abba tunes with the words changed to show appreciation for their volunteers.
We thank you for joining us for our 1 st Fashion Show
Friday May 9, 2014 Friday May 9, 2014 R The Pink Ribbon
$25 person
Knights of Columbus Hall - 5 Forget St., Embrun
7
Includes: wine and cheese, champagne & door prizes
THE MONEY FROM THE SALE OF THE TICKETS WILL BE DONATED TO THE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION.
Desgin and printing of tickets and posters courtesy of Estelle Patenaude - Impressions inc.
TICKETS ON SALE AT BOUTIQUE JOMA 839 NOTRE-DAME ST., EMBRUN 613-443-0101
Above, Emperor Jade Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. For more about the travels around theworld of AnneDonovan and her family, go towww.FromOttawa. com
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