Adrean Cronauer a.k.a Robbin Wiliams
“Goooood morning Vietnam!”“This is Adrean Cronauer on the air from Saigon. Talkin’ with Rosevelt Rosie up in Pung Trang.”“How is it up there, Rosevelt?”“It’s HOT, damn HOT, real HOT. Guys in little orange robes goin’ up in flames!”“How’s it going to be tonight Rosevelt?”“It’s gonna be Hot, damn fool, real Hot!”
February 14, 2015
Today marks our return to Vietnam. We arrived in the upper reaches of the Mekong Delta town of Tan Chau in the province of An Giang, a small town untouched by tourism. The nearby, quiet village of Ba Chuc was raided by the Khmer Rouge in 1978. After the 3-week, vicious atrocities ended, the population of 3,500 was reduced to 2. Today the area, which continues to be primarily rural, is healthy. Depending on the time of year and weather, people alternate between farming [rice, vegetables, and fruits], and fishing. They are very proud of two Vietnamese accomplishments: first, no one ever goes hungry – they will share food with anyone who needs it; second, every child from conception to 6 years old, and very person over 65, receives complete and free medical care. Mandatory medical insurance is required for everyone between 7 and 64. A co-payment is required with every visit or prescription. For those people who can’t afford to pay for health insurance [very few take this option because they are proud], the government provides a subsidy. Gee, what a novel idea! I wonder why some of our medieval minded legislators and senators cannot figure this out? Oh well, as they say, three steps forward, one step back….guess the current cadre is working hard to take a step back.
In contrast, old and retired people do not receive any support from the government. Taking care of the elderly is the responsibility of the family. It is very important to a father to have at least one son. This son will be responsible for supporting his father and mother until they pass away. [Hear that children???} If he doesn’t have a son, then he hopes that a daughter’s husband will care for them…..or maybe not. I guess we all have the same anxieties about in-laws. Thankfully, given our Social Security system in the USA, we’re not solely at the mercy of the in-laws.
Leaving for Evergreen Island
Managing the ‘Monkey’ bridge
Helping to navigate the narrow ‘Monkey’ bridge and path
Drying the peanut harvest
Kitchen cooking area
Family cookware
Altar in the great room
We visited a village on Evergreen Island. As we pulled our sampan onto the muddy bank, small children 5-7 years old met us and held our hand to help us navigate over the ‘monkey bridges’ to get safely ashore.
Singing the Vietnamese national anthem
We had a chance to see their life-style – drying their harvest of peanuts and hot peppers, picking melons, squash and corn, and preparing to hand their harvest over to middle-men, who take them to the merchants in the various markets.
Family Patriarch
We were invited into the home of a villager, who is retired and enjoys the support of his son and his family that live in his house. He said he likes his daughter-in-law because she prepares dishes he loves. The house and farm-land is passed from one generation to the next. Unlike Cambodia where a husband moves into his wife’s family’s home, the Vietnamese wife moves into the husband’s family home. The central room is their ‘great’ room where they get together to talk, party, and relax. This family is fortunate to have a TV. The TV is in this great room. Any neighbor has a right to come over and watch TV. Not allowing this would have severe social ramifications – the family would never again be invited to one of the others’ parties or gatherings. Just to be clear, the grandfather picks the program. They love their children and grandchildren. The grandfather said that his 4-year-old grandson is the ‘Emperor’ [a cute little, high-energy, charming, outgoing boy…hmmm, reminds me of our family] who manages the house. Grandpa frequently selects a TV program the little ‘Emperor’ wants. Meals are served and eaten in the kitchen. The grandfather was a former Viet Cong member. He wanted to meet anyone in our party that had served in the Vietnam War – unfortunately there wasn’t anyone. He wanted to shake hands and welcome him to a new relationship.
The Rattan Mat factory
85 years old and enjoying life!
Next, we walked over to a Rattan Mat factory that is owned by the village. The manufacturing process is completely manual…..many steps, yet they are paid just $1 per hour. Their work is beautiful.
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