Day 13-- I'm a maid of honor

Today we got up as usual and went to UEF for our last culture and language classes. Culture class was interesting because we learned about superstitions about numbers and went in depth with Vietnamese art. (We learned that the number 9 is significant in marriage, more on this later). Language class was fun because we were "tested" on our skills. We were put into teams and had to compete. Score was not kept but if it was my team might have won. We then went to lunch at the canteen at Kent. 

After lunch we drove to the Xa Loi Pagoda (a Buddhist temple). We took our shoes off and put some skirts on to walk inside to see a huge, beautiful Buddha. Next we walked to the Thich Quang Duc memorial. This monk was the monk that self immolated in protest of the persecutions of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government at the time. It felt very strange to be at the exact place that he protested. It's amazing/insane/respectable what people will do for what they believe in.

We then walked to the War Remnants Museum (which is about two blocks from the hotel). Before we began walking through the museum, Arielle was stopped by people she met at the American Center a few days ago. The two kids gave her a gift made of coconut leaves (it was an ornament looking thing with nine grasshoppers). Now since we learned what the number nine means, we are fairly certain the boy was asking Arielle to marry her. If this is truly the case, I have happily accepted the position of Arielle's maid of honor. (edit April 2019--Arielle still has the handmade ornament!)
We spent about an hour in the museum walking through rooms and rooms of pictures of the war. Most of these pictures portrayed victims of the war, victims of Agent Orange, and generally the war from the Vietnamese point of view. Outside the museum (still part of the museum) were helicopters and tanks all of which were American. The most goose-bump inciting thing for me was a picture of a child born in 2008 with defects caused by Agent Orange. It is clear that the war had lasting effects on the land and its people. 
Walking through the museum I took it for what it was--a museum. I was not particularly offended by any part of the museum and understood completely that what I was looking at was how the Vietnamese viewed the war. It was certainly not my place to argue with anyone about facts about the war because I was not there and have only learned about the war in textbooks. That being said, walking through the museum I got the general understanding that both sides used extreme techniques to win. Although the fighting got very violent, all soldiers should be commemorated for their bravery in protecting their respective nations. 
As of the present I'm confident when I say that I feel no hostility between the two nations. The Vietnamese people that we have met while on the trip, whether they be students, teachers, restaurant owners or shop owners, business owners, have all been very nice to us and genuinely happy when we are around. The Vietnamese people are extremely kind people and I feel very happy/lucky to have met a few. 

5/7 of the girls at lunch ft. Ho Chi Minh City in the background

BUDDHA

Thích Quảng Đức Memorial