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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE August 6, 2006
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| July 28, 2006 |
Da Nang, Viet Nam – Giant Youth Exchange |
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| Two members of the Da Nang Youth League |
With our arrival delayed a day due to the typhoon, participants dove straight into scheduled tours and independent explorations of Da Nang, Viet Nam on July 28th. One such tour was the “Giant Youth Exchange”.
After disembarking into the warm morning, we were paired with members of the Da Nang Youth Union who greeted us in ao dai (traditional dress). Peace Boat and the Da Nang Youth Union have been collaborating through this exchange program since 1994. My partner was 19-year-old Oan who taught me a song of dedication to Ho Chi Minh during our bus ride. |
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| The preparation of pho |
When we arrived at the Center, all enjoyed a celebratory breakfast of pho (noodles in soup) that had been prepared in festive red bowls. Peace Boat participants got to know their new friends through an atmosphere of vibrant energy. Some suffered a touch of land-sickness as swaying knees got used to solid ground. |
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| Peace Boat participants and Da Nang Youth sing together |
Members of the Youth Union treated Peace Boat participants to performances of break dancing, salsa, and traditional Vietnamese music in exchange for Peace Boat performances of a cheerleading troupe, a Japanese drumming team and parapara (synchronized dance originating in Tokyo clubs). Much of the afternoon was spent in this way, intercultural sharing through music and laughter. |
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| After the programme at the Youth League Center, partners went to enjoy the city together |
After the performances, the group was set free and hosts led their guests on an exploration of Da Nang on the backs of motorbikes and in taxis. We were treated to a tour of the Ho Chi Minh museum, a taste of local markets, and traditional Vietnamese dining in backstreet restaurants of mint green walls and an elbow-to-elbow friendliness familiar to those who have spent time in Japan and other Asian countries. |
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| A delicious lunch in a vibrant setting |
Although this tour usually lasts two days and includes camping on the first night, the short visit nurtured strong bonds through a powerful revelry of differences and similarities. The departure ceremony revealed tears and promises that the interrupted friendships would continue, regardless of distance. |
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