Back to Sapa

The first time I went to Sapa, our tour guide told us that the H'mong people were always looking for volunteer English teachers.  Considering I didn't have any gainful employment in Hanoi at the time, I took the bait and planned a return trip.

Within an hour of my second arrival I was an English teacher at Sapa O'Chau.  I just asked a few local H'mong girls and they put me in touch with Shu, the director of the school.  The next day I joined the two other westerners who teach English there and took over the beginner class.

It was an interesting experience.  Below are some pictures of my time there with a touch of commentary.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

This is the Sapa O'Chau school house.  There's only one classroom where 1 - 3 teachers, depending on availability of volunteers, teach some 40 students.  The lower levels of the school are a dormitory for the students.  For most of the students, this is the only way they can go to school because their families live in villages that are several hours' walk from Sapa.

This is the portrait of Ho Chi Minh that is mandatory in every classroom in Viet Nam.  There's also a mandatory Viet Nam flag in the entryway.  I'm not really sure what either has done for the H'mong.

The students' lunch.  Boiled greens, squash, tofu and tomato, and fatty pork with bean sprouts.  Oh, and rice.  In H'mong, you say what sounds like 'no more' before and after you start eating.  It literally means 'eat rice'.

Some of the students from Sapa O'Chau.  From left to right: La, Chi, Sai, (I'm not sure who's on the farthest stool on the left, or who's crouched down), Zuh, Sho, (I'm not sure who has their backs turned to the camera), Thanh in blue in the back, Vang, Thi, Shinh, Sui, Sam and Lam.

Having a little lunch.