Nhan Chinh School for the Deaf

Thank God for bringing me here. The kids are lovely. They first thought I'm a new teacher. But now they teach me their sign languages. They understand me, though sometimes I don't get what they want to say. Here they are. My 15 little angels.


THUY. She's the youngest here. Only 2 and a half years old. She likes to wash her hair and pretends to do it all the time, even during lunch and afternoon nap. So I have to feed her while she is washing her hair.

DZUNG. 4 years old. He wasn't feeling well today, vomitted two times. Poor thing. Maybe he had a cold. He couldn't run and play with the rest. Dzung helped me do the jigsaw carpet after class.

HONG. 5 years old. She can speak best in class. Her degree of hearing loss is also the least. She's very smart indeed. I helped her do her hair today. Hahaha. Pretty right? She's very pleased with it and gave me a thumb up.

HIEU. 5 years old. He loves to hug. And swim. He's swimming on the floor during the speech therapy and the teacher punished him. Oh btw, he graps any chance of climbing on my back!

LINH. 4 years old. Pretty and shy. Her family is in Haduong, a poor town far away from Hanoi. Her parents work very hard so that Linh can study here. She lives with her grandma in a rented flat. Linh can easily cry in class because she misses her mom.

THE ANH. 5 years old. He's always the loudest in class, though he cannot speak as clearly as Hong. He never listens to me! The teacher says I must be strict to him. But whenever I tries to be serious, he laughs. So yeah... His mom left him when he was 9 months. His father is tough on him. He will be the one I find it most difficult to say good bye. He's stubborn. But he's the most lovely kid here.

TRANG. 4 years old. She loves to take picture, though she never smiles when I take photo of her alone. She loves to dress up also. Oh. Hieu and Trang are the ones who make my back ache until now!

DUC ANH. 5 years old. Always the fastest to finish his lunch. He eats everything his friends give him. So I have to make sure the kids finish their own meals. The Anh and Hong once put half of their rice into Duc Anh's bowl. Duc Anh always prepare the mats and pillows for the rest after lunch.

THAO. 3 years old. She's the second youngest. She only smiles to me recently. Now she loves to play the Rainbow with me, though her fingers are too small to cross between mine. Thao's hometown is also very far from Hanoi. Her parents had to move to Hanoi and find a job here.

PHONG. 5 years old. My handsome little boy. He likes to protect the girls. But he can only say Hong's name clearly, because 'Hong' sounds like 'Phong'-his name.

NGAN. 4 years old. She likes to ask me to tie her hair, though her hair is too short to do any style. Ngan always listens to her teacher. And me also! She has 5 other sisters. Ngan's family is not in Hanoi. She lives here with her two big sisters, who are still in university.

HUONG. 4 years old. He loves to take picture, too. His grandpa brings him to school everyday because his parents are too busy at work. He's a cheerful kid. Always smiles. Even when he is accidentally hurt by his friends.

NGUYEN. 4 years old. She always show you that she understands what you are talking about. Very encouraging and helpful. She smiles to me when I nearly give up chasing after the boys. The kind of smile makes you realize that it's not the end of the world.

CONG. 5 years old. He's the one who follows The Anh and always make me chase after. But at least he listens to me whenever I tell him to play with those he fights with.

DUONG. 4 years old. His greatest fear in class is that his friends don't play with him. So if he accidentally hurt anyone, he will cry first, before the 'victim' starts crying. His mother was a teacher in Ha Giang, a remoted and mountainous area. She gave up her job, moved to Hanoi and takes care of Duong.

My angels. By God's grace, I live my life to its fullness when I spend time with them. Just like when I'm with my kids in Pattaya.