We did go to Vung Tau today (the city where Ian is from). We took the hydrofoil (high speed hydroplaning boat) from Ho Chi Minh City. It was a bit bumpy at times, but otherwise no problem. The hardest thing was getting on & off - o.k. but a bit scary with stepping onto the boat. One guy (an employee for the boat company) saw the look on my face, extended his hand to help me and said "Don't cry."
We took a taxi to the "Big Buddha" statue and temple, which was cool and there was a little market where we got a Vung Tau t-shirt for Ian and and a few other things. It actually rained on us a little when we first got there (Ian didn't really get wet) and so we were wet (damp) plus the humidity....a bit uncomfortable. While we were waiting for the boat back we had lunch at KFC! ..Ian actually did great and it was our first big outing. On the boat ride back he was overtired and started to fuss & cry. It made me more aware of the looks of the Vietnamese people. Many are very friendly and nice and will come up and say "Vietnam baby?" and ask how old, etc. One lady today actually held him and she was so great - really fussed over him. The Vietnamese womenmake a great clucking sound when they play with the babies.
We were aware at the "Big Buddha" temple that there was a little crowd of Vietnamese people hanging around watching us (that was when the lady held him). We have had also had some serious stares and I try to understand that too. Many are happy the orphans are being adopted by Americans. One man on the street said to Ian "Just come back to Vietnam one day." He even jokingly shook a finger at him and said this several times (we were trying to find a taxi after the U.S. visa medical visit). I told the man we would make sure he would come back and that we planned to bring him back. It was bittersweet, along with the fact that our great joy is due to his birthmother's greastest sorrow in having to give him up and the fact that we are removing him from his birth culture. We know we will make sure he has a great life, but there is something sad about all of that as well.
All in all a pretty successful outing, but we are all so tired. While inVung Tau, Sean and I both wondered if any of the women we saw could be his birthmother. We have noticed how he listens intently when we have Vietnamese t.v. on and when he hears a conversation inVietnamese. We just wonder what is going on in his little head that helps him make sense of all of this. But when we wake up to hearing him happily babbling in his crib and he grins hugely at the sight of us, we know he will be just fine. I am amazed at his resiliency.
Better start uploading the pics....the first one of Ian is on the boat ride home ...very serious and overtired. I was thinking he almost never looks this serious - he is very smiley!
We hope everyone back home is doing well!
Michelle & Sean
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