Feelings of union
In the bitter cold of the last days of the year, the Tet atmosphere is still bustling throughout the highland village of Lai Chau. This is also the time when teachers and teachers in the lowland go to Lai Chau to discuss about work or stay. Long distances, not much time for Tet holiday, multiply the concerns of teachers far from home. But the desire to return to family, relatives and neighbors is stronger than ever.
The Covid-19 epidemic appeared, for 2 years, many localities implemented long-term social distancing, the opportunity to return home to celebrate Tet for teachers working away from home was not much. Many teachers have been reluctant to stay at work and celebrate Tet together at official houses and odd schools. Even though they are full of materials, they also miss the reunion meeting, regret the warm atmosphere of family and relatives gathering around the year-end meal at home. Happy New Year, health, life to parents, siblings and even spouses, children… must be transmitted by phone.
In mid-2022, the Covid-19 epidemic is basically under control, society returns to a new normal, localities have a plan to live with the epidemic to recover their economy. It is an opportunity for teachers working away from home to return to their hometown to celebrate the traditional New Year as they have done for a long time.
After many years of not returning to his hometown because of his duties and long distances, Mr. Tran Nam Phong only enjoyed Tet at Ka Lang. Asked if he will return to his hometown to celebrate Tet this year, Mr. Phong said that he is working with students to try to complete the product to participate in the provincial Science and Technology competition in early January 2023. Teachers and students have invested all their hearts and minds, so they hope to win high prizes in this exam. “When the contest is over, I will spend the rest of the Tet holiday to return to my hometown to celebrate Tet with my family and relatives…”, Mr. Phong affirmed.
He shared: “A few years ago, I stayed at school to celebrate Tet. Local Ha Nhi people do not celebrate the Lunar New Year, so the atmosphere here is very calm. Teachers and people also celebrate Tet and congratulate each other, but what we – teachers who are far away from home always lack is the warmth of reunion and reunion. Especially during the Tet holiday, the nostalgia for parents, relatives and homeland is even more prominent. Tet is an occasion for reunion, reunion is never wrong…”.
Teacher Nguyen Thi Thanh from Muong Te Town Primary School (Lai Chau) will return to school soon to clean up and stabilize the number of students… Photo: Ha Thuan
Tet comes… make up for me
Young teacher Nguyen Thi Thanh from Vinh Phuc countryside to Muong Te has been working for 4 years. In the first year, she worked in the border commune of Mu Ca and is currently teaching at Muong Te Town Primary School.
“I came here alone, my husband and children were in the countryside. Two years ago, I had to spend Tet alone in the boarding house. Going in and out is endless, sometimes I remember my children calling home to ask questions, see pictures… Last year, even though I registered to return to my hometown to celebrate Tet, the road was too far away, the sudden epidemic made me unable to going home to celebrate Tet…”, Ms. Thanh said.
Recalling the Tet holiday away from home, Ms. Thanh shared: “Every time I call home, the children say: “Mom, why don’t you come back and take me shopping and playing Tet? All of my friends were taken by their mother to buy new clothes…” and her heart sank. I can only try to hold back my tears and promise many things to do when the epidemic ends. Then, look for online purchases to send back. Shopping for Tet is done online…”.
Working away from home, Ms. Thanh and many other teachers only have 2 occasions a year, Tet and summer, to return to their hometown. Therefore, after 2 years of missing an appointment due to the epidemic, Ms. Thanh only wished for a longer Tet holiday to make up for her family and relatives.
Like Ms. Thanh, last year, Ms. Lo Thi Thuy could not return to her hometown to celebrate Tet and had to shop online for Tet for her paternal and maternal family. “I have a little salary and plan to go back to my hometown to shop for Tet. Although I don’t have much, I will try to buy some gifts for the two families. That is my love for my parents, brothers…”, Ms. Thuy shared.
Tet is approaching, it is also the time when the teachers of “one place, four countryside” head to their homeland. Many teachers are ready for the reunion festival after 2 years of the pandemic. However, there are teachers who once again put it off because of the same school assignment. Ms. Hoang Thi Oanh, Vice Principal of Ta Ao Primary School for Ethnic Minority Affairs (Sin Ho, Lai Chau), said: “This year, I celebrate Tet at work because I still have school duties. Although homesick, but responsible for the school, students still have to complete the task. Coming home in time or not after New Year’s Eve will continue to count…”.
“Teachers in the highlands, despite having fun in the spring, still do not forget their duties. Going home to celebrate Tet, but still thinking about students, maintaining the number of students, stabilizing schools after Tet. Teachers in the highlands, working away from home, often leave at least 1-2 days to move, pay early leave to clean up the classroom, grasp the situation of students. Even at peak times, during the festive season, teachers have to plan early, personally mobilize, “pull” students back to study…”, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, Primary School in Muong Te town, To share.