At Monday’s early morning breakfast meeting with Phoung at a French Deli in the Old Town we are told that where we are going to teach next is a 'non-designated area for foreigners' and the communist party in this province will require copies of all our educational qualifications before we are allowed to reside there (pros and cons of this enthusiasm for education.) Peter hasn't got a clue where his are but I E-mail home in haste. Peter will have to be my side kick.
In the last few days it is now a question of fitting in meetings to explore how we can develop the work we have done and the ideas we have, as well as both teaching and ensuring we spend some sociable time with Vietnamese people who have been so supportive to us, including marvellous Lluang and Hai-Ahn who have helped make life such a pleasure here. Evaluation sheets designed and completed by all students. I am pleased that they are generally positive, if distincly unwestern in tone. Quite a few of them have said 'I love you' in the general comments section. Peter's department take us out to a feast in a backstreet restaurant. Plastic 8″ stools, TV on loud – I have never had such enigmatic and delicious food before. Staff depart on motorbikes after very many toasts.
Phoung arrives the next morning to photocopy our passports which he will motorbike out to the party headquarters three hours drive away. Do we want to travel by motorbike on Friday with all our luggage? No thank you. We'll take the train. If entry to Phuto province proves difficult we will swap plans and stay first with family in tribe in northern mountainous region. Is there anything we need for that stay? Would it be possible to have a mattress and sheet rather than bamboo planks? Phoung looks dubious. I have been told that the Western practice of mattresses is considered unhygeinic here, given the humidity.