TRAVELER real FORTUNE , Chapter 10: SAPA

.

The last exceptional thing that happened to us is called SAPA, a village in the mountains, in the north, where there are some tribes living.

Here I discovered that the common sense and the true value of a life and its principals are never forgotten, even if the people believing in it can hardly read.

I remembered that being human has nothing to do with how many books you have read and it is a quality that we loose day by day in the society that we create, society meant to eventually self-destruct - but this is another story.

The lesson that the girls Black H’mong (the name of their tribe) gave us, was one that will stay with me always!

These girls, between 9 and 15 years, live already without their parents, down in the village, trying to help their families by selling things to the tourists; mostly they sell aluminum earrings, handmade bracelets or traditional clothes.

The boys about the same age are already working the land. Very few of them go to school, and around 15, they get married.

Most of these girls were coming at the reception of our hotel, we found them there every morning, playing cards. We easily became friends, they were very, very open, and as we have soon found out, very warm and tender.

The smallest in the group was always around me, touching me, always looking up and smiling, happy to be able to change a few words in English. Because, even if they do not go to school and they do not know how to write, well, they do speak English! They have learnt it with and from the tourists. Of course it helps the business also!

Well, this small one asks me if I want to buy something from her. I said yes and I asked her to bring me some earrings that, I noticed, were in a very fashion among them, and she promised to bring them to me the next day.

That very next day we were also living, so when in the morning I saw her at the hotel, I knew she was waiting for me. As it was raining and we had to spend the morning in, she was always around me and I was curious how and when will she give me the earrings, I was sure she had it!

After a while she finally show them to me, looking for confirmation that they were the ones I asked for. I said, “yes, thank you, this is it; tell me how much does it costs”. She looked down and she said that I have to give it a price. So… I gave her the equivalent of two dollars or so. You can not imagine the big-big eyes she made looking at the money!

I didn't know if the reaction was due to the fact that I gave her more than she was expecting, or less... But I went for it wasn't enough. So I offered her another dollar, asking if this will do. Her eyes got even bigger and she thanked me whispering the words.

I was so impressed by her reaction! Immediately her friend came over and asks me if I would like to buy something from her too. I said no, but I gave her the same equivalent of a dollar saying that I have enough jewelery for a day, but this is for her. She thanked me the same gentle way and they disappeared.

Five minutes later they were back, coming directly to me, taking both of my hands and putting bracelets on them. I said “no, I do not want to buy any more”. And the answer was; “These are not for sell, these are our presents for you!”

I swear I was so deeply, deeply touched!

In the afternoon we could visit a little more around and late afternoon we were in the bus, waiting to go back to Hanoi. The whole group of girls was there. They kissed us all and they told us to come back soon.

One of them, kind of a leader (the quickest one on cheating while playing cards) came next to the window of one of our colleagues and asked: “Why didn’t you buy anything from me? Yesterday I asked you and you said you will. I asked: you PROMISE? And you said YES. Now, why didn’t you buy?”

We all told the guy to give her some money. He searched his pockets and he handed it to her, through the window.

The girl looked directly in his eyes, said nothing and slowly turn her head looking away and up, obviously offended.

None of the girls beside her touched the money, even if the guy was waving them hoping that someone would pick it up.

The bus started to move but the girl stayed there, unmoved, looking up, proud, teaching us that in Sapa a promise is a promise !

This is the image that I keep.

This is the image that I left with.

This is the image that follows me and that made me love Vietnam.

.