Winnie Post 3: Viet Nam

Please feel free to share these emails w/ Bill or whomever - I just like to 
write to you all and keep you informed - plus it acts like a journal for me.  
Today it is warm but foggy or smoggy - we were picked up by the husband of one 
of the women we were w/ in the past few days.  He drove us to his father's home.  
His father is a famous artist - the Van Gogh of Viet Nam - they live in a 5 
story home and it is filled w/ his oil paintings.  It is common for the son to 
bring his wife to the home of his parents to live - and we got to see 4 of the 5 
stories.  The home had a central stair case so you could look up and see all 5 
stories.  There was no wall space free as every possible wall was adorned w/ his 
oil paintings and they are large ones.  His son mixes music for a living and has 
a studio across the stair case from his father's art studio.  In the art studio 
are literally hundreds of canvases.  Beaver was really impressed w/ the son's 
music studio for recording artists.  
> 

> 
> When we arrived, we all took off our shoes and were given flip flops. 

Then we were taken to the living room which had 6 chairs and ever 

so much art work, including bronze sculptures, stone sculptures, 

and tremendous art work.  Then we were given tea.  After tea, we 

were given an art tour and saw their bedrooms and kitchen. 

Fascinating. Bedrooms were large 25' square and all open. 

In it were their beds, armoires,

child's toys and crib, dressing table etc.  
> 
> 
> At the end of the visit, the artist wanted to give me a gift and 

pulled out a large art 

book of all of his art work.  He wanted to know how to write my name 

so he could inscribe it for 

me, which he did and then presented it to me!  It pays to be an elder! 

Now of course you must want 

to know his name...the book is in Linh's room as she is going to pack it 

so my suitcase won't be so heavy...so you will be held in anticipation 

for a day or so! [His name is Van Tho.]
> 

http://vantho.vxartgallery.com/About/

> 
> Duy Man sat me down this AM and wanted to tell me about the party tonight.  
Since I had seen the wedding at the hotel a couple of nights ago, he said that 
would give me an idea of how tonight will go.  There will be about 100 people in 
attendance.  Beav and Ha My will be introduced, Duy Man will speak, and there 
will be a slide show of the wedding ongoing.  They will play Beav's music from 
his CDs and then there will be a receiving line that will last about 45 minutes.  
A meal will be served.  I can speak and Andy will translate for me but I think I 
will be silent, for once.  The entire event will last about 2 hours and then it 
is over.  Duy Man said that is how they do it here, not long like our wedding 
receptions.
> 
> 
> My 'dress' arrived.  I have red silk pants, rather wide legs and the top is 
mandarin collar.  The fabric is red and black brocade-like.  The bodice is lined 
while the remainder of the tunic and sleeves are same fabric but w/o lining, 
they are more see through.  The tunic length is below my knees and the slit in 
the sides of the tunic begin around the hips, I think.  I have not tried it on 
so who knows.  
> 
> 
> Well it is time for me to begin my dressing process!  Wish me luck in not 
making any major gaffs!