Extraordinary stories

I confessed to Yummii, who being her - read my previous post  and decided to send me a link with an example of a book published by a father and his daughters... Haha i confessed to her that often times i like to write cool ideas down to make like i'm hella cool... but it's really is just stalling.

Anyway- so  accountability is an annoying but lovely message nudging in the "doing"- rather than 'thinking about it' direction... haha damn i thought no one reads this blog anymore so i could just write whatever the heck i felt like.

Haha, anyway Tivi is positively THRILLED at the prospect of being my illustrator. Che said he would love to be the Author. We will do it together he said. Yay.

Haha... anyway so- i've been half thinking about how to do this... and then half doing other things. Somehow i was reminded of something else... and i got to thinking, the reason why i never do anything... is that i'm hugely intimidated by the extraordinary people out there. Doing this stuff amazingly well.

I have this huge confidence problem. I can't sell myself. I don't think i'm worth paying for. Haha... with the kids though, i have to teach them to believe they always can. I often wince when i say things i know i don't practice for myself. How do i expect them to believe me, when i'm not the example myself. I know its okay now, because they are little and can't see through it. I'm terrified of the day they will be old enough to know... that it's all just words.

Haha but on the bright side, i have from now til then to back those words with examples. "Sometimes you are scared Che, but courage is when you don't feel brave- and you still do it. Courage makes you brave."

*sigh*

It reminded me, of something i've been meaning to write about.

When we went to Vietnam, i spoke of taking the kids to an orphanage.

When we went, because of waiting for people to arrive and being late for the appointment i'd made, we missed our visit time and on the request of the lovely director... was asked to come back later.

The boys fell asleep and the rest of my family went to explore the markets.

The orphanage was a must on my list of things to do in Vietnam and despite jetlag and culture awe... we brought Tivi and Vinnie back later on in the afternoon.

I chose The Christina Noble Foundation (http://www.cncf.org) that i found through this site  http://carryforkids.org/ because of the extensive information provided.

I needed a place in the city - within travelling distance from where we were staying, unfamiliar with Vietnam and wary from all the stories and warnings i'd been given about street kids and scams... i wanted a to find a 'safe' way to show the kids what life was like for other kids in the world. It's important to me that my kids grow up with a sense of responsibility, and most of all with the knowledge that they can help.

When people asked me where and which place i would take them to - and they'd never heard of CNCF - i kinda thought... oh okay am i going to the wrong place?

I emailed Carry for kids, weeks before we left, and received a warm response from Brenton Whittaker, who is the project coordinator of Carry for Kids, an organisation that

".. promotes and educates airline staff, travel agents and travellers about how they can as individuals make a difference to the lives of underprivileged children in developing countries."

 and also heads the Bali Orphanage project.

Brenton liased with staff for us, and was altogether a lovely person to correspond with. I do a lot of things by instinct... and my instinct told me this was the way to go.

There was a great "selling point " for me in the Carry for Kids information section http://carryforkids.org/beware a range of great points on why the most destitute places can be the wrong places to give. That and i had the kids to consider, it was their first big trip overseas to a culture that was different to Australia or New Zealand... i didn't want to overwhelm them with poverty and despair. But i wanted them to know, not all kids were so lucky.

I knew very little about the foundation, or Christina Noble. I'm sure i came across as very lost... the director... i'm really sorry to say i didn't quite get her name something starting with M...she had a very cool irish accent... haha anyway... she came out to meet us the second time... asked where the rest of the family was because earlier i had rocked up late with a mini bus of 17 and the office looked confused and had called her on the phone.

She informed us that the kids had a rest period now, the 'orphanage' wasn't so much an orphanage anymore - it was a "Social Medical Centre" and a school. They didn't allow visitors through at nap time, and couldn't accommodate for such a large group but insisted i come back later.

She asked a few questions, and later on - i'd learn why.

But we went through - Tivi was shy and clung to our legs, We were hot and sweaty and a little apprehensive.

"M" told us how the building had been changed from an old run down orphanage to a medical centre which now took on the worst of cases from the city. They looked after the kids who needed the most medical attention and nursed them back to health. We entered a room with little babies some laying down some sitting... on the floor around a blonde smiling woman. SOme of the kids saw 'M' and their faces lit up. They clambered on her as she sat down. We all sat down on the ground. Tivi stared at the babies, some malformed and others just curious.

A boy planted himself on Vinnies lap and wouldn't get up.

M told us more about the work they did, providing early learning, Physio and free education to the lowest income families... we had walked past the classrooms of kids downstairs.

I looked around and there were cots, toys and posters. It looked like a childcare.

It was clean, the kids obviously loved their carers. Maybe, they didn't need the money as much as other places - or maybe.... they just spent their funding extremely well.

We went to the Physio room, a boy with deformed legs and a girl with half a leg, one on the floor and one saying 'i'm tired' just as we came in, and sitting down.

M told us how some of these kids were born like that and they worked on teaching them how to walk - fixing their legs. The kids were shy but they seemed to be enjoying their exercises.

The highlight was went we went into the 'kindies' class... they were dancing when we came in- they saw M and ran to her... she played chasing with them - a thick irish accent speaking Vietnamese.

Tivi peaked curiously at the kids her age. Vinnie bent down and started asking the kids their names. They lined up in front of us. We picked them up and lifted them high. They giggled and soon there was a chorus of Me next me next!! haha... a little boy with a cheeky face came up to me, Hi, whats Your name? i asked him.

I'm Tu! Carry me!

Haha... Tu is my cousins name... we grew up together as kids... he was always the naughty one... i wondered if all Tu's had the same issues.

I had weeks ahead - bought a bunch of stationary supplies as according to the 'wishlist' on carry for kids... geometry sets, and pencils and because it was the week before Tet... a whole load of chocolate coins for 'luck'. M, thanked us for our visit, we thanked her... we went to give a donation at the office... we bought Tivi a shirt. And i purchased Christina Noble's (the founder) book.

We weren't allowed to take any photos inside the facility. They're protective of the kids.

I read the book on the long bus trip down south.

Her story is extraordinary.

It explained why we were asked why we chose CNFC to visit, and how we knew of Christina Noble.

I gather that those who know her story come to see the centre alone BECAUSE of the story behind it.

It explained the Irish accent. It explained the stringent rules about safety.

I can't summarise it in it's entirety. You'll just have to read it. The Irish - in the tradition of Frank Maccourt and Angela's Ashes... are gifted story tellers.

In the end it is one of my very best memories of Vietnam. The kids were cute, the cause was worthy- but behind them the courage was extreme and amazing.

Christina Noble, was one person- someone who suffered immensely - but trusted herself, and under the worst of circumstances, she rose above everything that would have crushed many... and upon a dream... she created something insane... in a country she had no obvious ties to. If you get the chance read Bridge across my Sorrows. It's Angela's Ashes, with a woman's will.

Sometimes, when i let it- a path chooses me. The Christina noble foundation and the story behind it... well - if i were to believe in signs and messages... it was clear to me when i finished the book, that the moral to the story was... if you believe in something hard enough, long enough and with enough conviction... it becomes a foundation... and it changes lives. ANYONE can do this. You just got to want to bad enough.

Haha.. or something like that.

I've forgotten many of the adventures in Vietnam in the whirlwind of new years and new school terms... but this was one of them.

Today i was reminded of dreams, of DOING as opposed to just saying. Of not letting excuses or circumstances get in the way. Of the need to be clear.

So thankful today for amazing stories, people and storytellers.

Thank you to Brenton who organised our visit from Bali. One day we will come to visit you.

Thanks to Yummii also... for ruining all the fun :P

hehe time for Game of Thrones.