We are the result of our experiences

This is the statement my teacher told me couple days ago. So then I started thinking about all of my experiences. A lot of the thing I discussed in this blog usually was probably more related to my experience during teenager and young adult time. I never really looked far back, as far as perhaps 3 year old. Therefore, I would like to write about my early childhood today.

I was the first grand daughter of a very big family who lives next to each other. My great-grandma, by her ability has arranged for ALL of her kids to live nearby her house. I was a bundle of joy for the whole huge family. My mother has 7 brothers and sisters, by the time I was born, all of them were still living in grandma’s house. My house is about 100 meter away from grandma’s house because the government awarded any public officer who got married a house.

I was a skinny kid, a tiny one. My sister was born when I was 3. I cannot recall what happened before I turn 3, seems like I was too busy learning how to walk and talk. My mother told me that I was in her belly overdue 10 days. I guess I was born a delayed person. Back then, there was no ultrasound, so we only know I’m a girl when I was born. My grandma asked my Dad if he was sad since I’m a girl. My Dad has responded to my grandma with all of his certainty: I’m so happy that she was born in full, not losing a leg or an arm. Boy or Girl, really doesn’t matter. Obviously, I didn’t hear that since I was busy crying inside. My grandma told me when I was 10.

As a child, I only started speaking when I was 3, and walking when I was 2. That’s a bit delayed for a standard child. By the age of 3 or probably 4, I started going to grandma’s house alone, without my parent’s supervision. Because Mom was busy with my sister at home, Dad was at work, and I’m just bored. It was full of wonders. I am a constant visitor to all the neighbor’s home. I had so many friends.

This is when my relationship with my Dad formed. I adored my Father. Back then, to own a television is a luxury, and we were poor. Every night, my father would carry me to go to Grandma’s house to watch TV. It was just the two of us. When I was a bit older, may be 4 and a half, my Father started bringing me to work with him.

It was a mushroom farm in Hóc Môn. We were going everyday, I was a very good kid. I didn’t fall asleep on the way, so my Father felt confident to bring me with. I guess he’s also enjoying having me along the way with all the questions. At the farm, his workers showed me how to make cricket origami from the silver paper of a cigarrette pack. I would wander around in the open field and collect “nhãn lồng” or papaya, anything that was growing wild. On the way back home, we would stop by my aunt’s coffee shop or any shop to have some snack. Now looking back, perhaps, the love of nature, of trees and garden probably stems from these everyday visit.

From the age of 0 to the age of 7, me and my father was each other’s best friends. I was a happy, loving child that was full of laughter till then.

I also spent a lot of time at great-grandma and Nana’s house. They were living next to each other. My great-grandma has these black teeth, the typical black teeth of a Northern girl. She would spend her time rolling her hair up every morning before going to the market. Another typical Northern tradition that she brought with her. I loved talking to her, she would tell me many many stories, even one about how she lost a child.

I grew up eating Northern food, my favorite food is bánh giày, bánh cốm, and cháo kê. Believe it or not, I’m also a big fan of Tiết Canh ( raw blood jelly). Whenever Nana made for Grandpa, I would sit by his side and have some. Nana’s favorite food was Phèo ( Pig’s short intestine), and I also eat that too, I loved it.

My childhood, up until this moment was magical, wonderful and full of loving kindness. I wasn’t scared nor afraid of anything. Everyday passing was full of happiness in the mix of curiosity.