VietBlog

From Kapsoo Kim. An observation about the musical Vietnamese people:

The Vietnamese enjoy singing as much as the South Koreans and West Virginians do. Whenever and wherever they find some reasons or an occasion to sing, they do sing. These two countries (Vietnam and S. Korea) have something in common:

First, they are countries on peninsulas, where the bright sun and sea may make them sing.

Second, the vigors of agriculture based on rice paddies demanded solidarity and several historical crises cultivated their collective resistance.

They used to sing whether in peacetime or during war, when they were happy or sad. Who knows if the egg or if the chicken comes first? Were they born to sing about their experiences or did their collective experiences bring them to singing?

From five o’clock mass at the cathedral, they sing from beginning from the end. In my room, I can always hear a someone or large groups singing karaoke from the downstairs of the hotel. (Probably the WVU students have added to the many voices.) In Ho Chi Minh City the singing goes all night long- until 6 in the morning.

This trip has been one of musical exchange. Nearly at every stop we were greeted with songs and graciously returned the favor. I have to say we’ve have all become better singers (even Neal too! j/k).

We have as been saved by our resident Rock Star Nick Blood too. He has performed many great tunes, impressing our friends in Ho Chi Minh and Long Xuyen.