A box of books won't change the world, but it can make some souls happy.
John Hickok, a librarian and an English instructor at the California State University at Fullerton came back Vietnam last month (April 09).
He carried along about 150 copies of books for kids and decided to share a half for the Vietnamese kids and another half for the Cambodian kids. Those books were donated by students at his university.
Receiving foreign books in this country is not simple. No public school can make it without the consent of local authorities. But, finally, we could find a place to donate the books. It is Mai Tam House lead by Father Toai.
Mai Tam House currently is a living place for over 50 kids and 15 mothers who got the HIV-AIDS disease. Father Toai established this place few years ago, and he is waiting for the permit from the government to operate this House officially.
I talked with a young lady. She told that she came from Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province, central Vietnam. She was the former worker in Binh Duong Industrial Park. Once her daughter got sick, she took her daughter to Nhi Dong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and found that her daughter and herself got the HIV-AIDS pandemic. She heard about Mai Tam and asked Father Toai to stay here for the rest of their lives.
Looking at the kids, I find that they are very cue. These kids can not read English but they can see pictures. A small box of books won't change the world, but can make these kids happy.
If you can make a donation, please send your books to:
Mai Tam House (Father Toai)
29/84/17 Doan Thi Diem Street
Ward 1, Phu Nhuan District
Ho Chi Minh City
Ngỗng là loài vật thông minh và chung thủy. Hồi còn nhỏ, nhà tôi có nuôi một cặp ngỗng. Không hiểu sao ngày nọ một con lăn ra chết. Còn lại một mình, chú ngỗng kia đi lang thang trong vườn, kêu lên những lời thảm thiết.
Ngồi học trong nhà, bên cạnh cửa sổ, tôi giả tiếng ngỗng kêu đáp lại. Chú ngỗng nghe tiếng kêu chạy đến bên cửa sổ ngẩng đầu tìm bạn. Sợ chú ngỗng cô đơn biết sự thật càng thêm đau khổ, tôi bèn ngồi giấu mình khuất sau bệ cửa.
Bài thơ tôi viết trong một tình cảnh như thế.
