Lunar New Year is both solemn and intimate. Tet comes, so many memories come flooding back, so many feelings of deep longing.
Lunar New Year 1983
In November 1982, I returned to teach in B'lao (now Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province) for a few months before Tet. At that time, school was closed on December 29 and classes resumed on January 5.
The first Tet away from home, away from Hue, on the night of the 30th, my brother LXN, a teacher at the same school, and I lit cigarettes to welcome the New Year. We told each other stories about Tet in our hometown and at home. On the morning of the first day, after setting off firecrackers, we raised our glasses of lemon wine (a specialty of Hanoi's state-owned wine at that time) to celebrate the new year.
Tet in B'lao back then was simple, but the schoolmates loved each other, every house was bustling with fatty meat, banh chung, pickled onions...
On the 5th day of Tet, teachers and students seriously returned to school, with some lingering "melon seeds" but still teaching as usual.
Tet is the time for reunion
Tet Binh Dan 1986
After the last lesson, I went back to my hometown. On December 29, the Bao Loc - Nha Trang route was crowded, thanks to a student taking a cultural supplementary course who was the stationmaster, I "neatly" got a seat on the bus. When I arrived at Nha Trang station, there were no tickets, so I accepted to pay a ticket. The train was packed with people and goods. I sometimes stood, sometimes sat on the floor. Through the window, I saw people setting up the pole, my heart was excited about Tet so I didn't feel tired.
I returned home on the afternoon of the 30th. It was cold and rainy in Hue, but the whole family was happy to reunite. At the moment of New Year's Eve, my mother wore ao dai, I stood behind the altar. In the sacred moment of the new year, my mother prayed for the family's health and peace.
Now the family has 8 more families, my parents are far away, New Year's Eve is still the same as before, I just miss my parents so much...
Lunar New Year 2014
During the days before Tet, as the principal of a high school, I take care of making the teachers of the school happier, giving each disadvantaged student a gift, including sticky rice, cakes, instant noodles, jam... with all my love.
After the last class of the year, the children went to the hall to receive their Tet gifts. I invited teachers, parents and priest Vu Dinh Tan (Saint Heart Parish, Loc Phat, Bao Loc City) to come and wish them a happy new year. Seeing the children receive their neatly wrapped Tet gifts, with all their heart from their teachers, I was both happy and moved.
There is also a gift due to HL's absence, a problem student. HL's father left the family when he was young, his mother worked far away, HL lived with his grandmother. HL is stubborn, he only plays with friends outside of school. Fighting with friends is a daily occurrence at HL's school.
On the afternoon of the 28th of Tet, the teachers came to HL's house to give Tet gifts. HL was surprised and said thank you. At that moment, everyone's eyes were filled with tears, hoping that HL would change. Although we know that the school still has to try harder to educate L., but looking at her at that time, I felt more joy to celebrate Tet and persevere with the career of "growing people".
Family together on Tet holiday making Chung cake
Lunar New Year 2025
This is the fifth Tet I have retired. I "let go" of school work, went home to teach, write, take care of my health, and enjoy my family. My wife is also retired, my two sons have their own families, and are currently working in Ho Chi Minh City.
On the morning of the 26th of Tet, V., a teacher at the school, came to my house to wish me a happy new year. V. graduated from university, and I contacted her for work at the school. Reading her profile, I found out that she graduated with honors, so I signed a teaching contract. After that, she passed the civil service exam and officially joined the school. She was enthusiastic, responsible for her work, and taught well. A few years later, she got married. V.'s husband was a teacher at the same school. On the wedding day, I was busy going to China, so I asked the departments at home to prepare everything carefully. Now they have two sons, and the family is filled with love and happiness. She told me that in addition to teaching, she sells online to earn extra money for milk for her children. Hearing V.'s wishes for a happy new year, I was happy...
At the end of the year, talking with the director of a Department of Education and Training, the two brothers shared the same opinion about specialized schools in the locality. In the past two years, teachers have "stagnated", students are not interested in joining the team. We think that in order for students to have aspirations, teachers need to inspire them through in-depth, extensive lectures, and must work hard. If we want many sweet fruits, we teachers must be "passionate" about cultivating. That's what teaching is all about!
On the afternoon of the 26th of Tet, my children returned from Ho Chi Minh City to Bao Loc to celebrate Tet with their family. These past few days, the old couple has had a lot of work to do, but nothing is more joyful than being together during Tet.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tet-nha-tet-truong-dong-day-thuong-yeu-185250130154057406.htm
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