Kino of the box

Things we have learned about Kino. He is very neat. We tend to spill noodles and rice on the table or his bib (thanks for that mom!) He will very carefully pick up each piece and deposit it back from whence it came or back to the spoon laden with the next deposit. He clearly likes order, which must have driven him a bit batty in a country where order is not a word I see in action. Or perhaps it’s that the definition is off kilter.

Kino likes to eat – noodles, meat, shrimp, and broth from his pho. Rice takes a lot of chewing. Likes the crunch of corn flakes, but thinks they could be fun to play around with. Gives us the head turn when he is not interested, but generally will try everything we offer. Wants nothing to do with the formula he was getting at Tam Binh. Sleeps like a champ – long afternoon naps and from 8 pm to 6 am.

Total trooper. At the zoo watched every animal with a careful studied appraisal – taking in the environment with flicks of his eyes – seemingly not missing a thing. Likes to walk and does so also with great enthusiasm – grabbing each of our hands (politely holding up “froggie” or his coaster for holding) and off we go.

Likes magazines and has discovered how to turn pages – can you imagine he didn’t know how to do this? At ay rate he is making up for lost time. When first given a National Geographic – we had looked at it with him showing him animals he had observed at the zoo and comparing colors with things in the room. When given the mag to check out on his own he spent time figuring out how to turn the pages, then the correct way the mag should be positioned to look at the pictures. Fascinating to watch the process of discovery.

We may be going to Hanoi today – it’s about a 2 hour flight we’re told. So this will be the long flight home pre test… :)

Reactions to two whites walking with Vietnamese child is mixed. We get stared at a lot. Often we get asked in various languages if he is from here, where we are from. They then will say something to him and he cocks his head and stares, but doesn’t speak back although he of course can. He is verbalizing a bit, but seems to understand it’s for himself, as we don’t know what he’s saying. There used to be a perception that Americans adopted Vietnamese to sell their organs – not sure if any of that idea still exists. But how does it feel to see one of your own going to another country away from his birthplace and culture? It certainly doesn’t go the other direction – Vietnamese adopting an American so we can’t even begin to understand the emotions such an exchange brings. Children are well loved in this country no matter the parents – people give him little gifts, fruit or big smiles all the time – it’s so sweet. But then the Vietnamese people are sweet, caring and giving.

Ing and Steve were having a discussion about fruit. She has since made special trips from her home to bring us some to try. Longan – a small fruit that must have the skin peeled to reveal flesh textured like a grape covering a large seed, star april which we haven’t tried yet, jackfrut and of course the “King of Fruits” the Durian. Now I’m guessing you’ve heard the reputation of this King – the flavor is supposed to be an out of this world combination, thus the title – if you can get to eating it as IT STINKS! Yes indeed it smells like s sewer that has backed up on a nice hot tropical day with overtones of decomposing flesh and every other nasty thing you can think of rolled into one neat package. I initially sniffed it and thought it wasn’t too bad and took a bite. I’m a texture gal and am driven many times to food choices by the need to not have things be slimy. This was slimy, when you bite; it’s like biting something way past it’s prime, lie maybe an apple that has rotted almost to the stage of liquid. You get the idea - I didn’t like it much. Steve being Steve finished it off ad we put the rest in the fridge. Later we had to find a way to get rid of it as every time we opened the fridge the blast from hell hit you. Garbage in Vietnam is not like the US and there are not cans everywhere to dispose of your junk – no you toss it in the street and it is cleaned up by women dressed in orange jumpsuits with long sleeves, masks and conical hats – they push along an orange cart with a long broom and work all day in the immense heat. Later the contents of the cart are separated I’m assuming for recycle?

At any rate – we did find a container to place it and felt bad for the person who would be picking it up!

Oh yes had our first almost issue – the elevators here don’t have the safety mechanisms we are used to – you know if it senses a body or something in between the doors it won’t close – weeeeeelllll not here. They will try and close on a full sized human being! Kino yesterday while getting off somehow stuck his little hand in the door and got it stuck as it tried to close on us, and the maid! No emergency stop bottoms, no phones nada. We got his hand out – he cried a bit – iced it and only one small cut on his thumb (which got a Diego Band-Aid – his first I know – thanks Susanna and Kellan) the favorite for thumb sucking….

Leslie
Saigon 6:18 am bathroom of Room 401, Y Thien Hotel.