Admin and e-mail in the morning. It takes quite a lot of time to report about our activities, both in English and in German, as we have German supporters too. Then went downstairs to catch a taxi to the CBD. Not as easy as we thought.
We had two "TAXI DAYS" as we called them.
Thursday morning ... only the third driver knew where we wanted to go ... which was unusual, but then he overshot the mark and could not find the location, so we got out and walked back 3 blocks.
On the way back to the hotel we got a taxi again, meter started at 8.000, jumped to 11.000 and then to 29.000 in a matter of meters, not going far. I told him to stop and that his meter was incorrect. He then asked us what we were prepared to pay. We got out .... it had only been a short ride ... and the next cab ride home took less than 5 minutes and cost us 11.000 dong.
In the afternoon we walked to the Peace Orphanage ... had fun with the kids again.
On the way home we went past the COOP super market to buy some yogurt and fruit. Peak hour traffic ... so we walked.
A granny helped Uli across the road !!! (see picture) Then we discovered the ABC shop - a coffee shop with all the goodies, cakes the lot. We had to stop for a cupper. Excellent.
Friday we spent more time in a TAXI than anything else. Our friend Hien picked us up at the hotel, went to district 3 to a police station, waited in the taxi for 15 minutes, picked a police woman and went to a school for hearing impaired people. Total cost 135.000 dong incl waiting time.
At the Hope School we met with the principle, THAN and deputy DIEP (first names). There are eleven children who need our immediate help but also ongoing support. On the spot we decided to sponsor NAHT and also ANH. We set up profiles which we sent to them immediately
After the meeting we went back to district 1, dropped off HIEN on the way. 25 minute ride ... 94.000 Dong . Meeting at SOZO with Christine and ANJA regarding a house we sponsored last year. An hour later we hopped in the taxi, rang HIEN and she told the diver the directions on the mobile. Got there ... then HIEN arrived on a motor bike. We went to see little Tram and her family again. Uli and myself already paid Tram's school fees last year and will continue in the future. TRAM was borne with a twisted spine and we are also investigating the possibility of an operation.
TRAM and her younger brother DANG were happy to see us again. they live in a small house, one room, tiny kitchen and sleep upstairs. Very basic, but have toilet and shower.
TRAM’s father is a tailor, but work is only frequent. He asked with the aid of HIEN, as English is always a problem, if we could buy him a cheap second hand sowing machine.
We agreed on the spot, but not to buy a cheap one but get a better model. The estimated cost will be 4,500,000 VN DONG ~ AUD $ 300.
Now we are helping to start a micro economy business. We decided to buy him the necessary tools too.
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