Tet Trung Thu - Mid-Autumn Festival

 One year ago, we arrived in Hanoi one day AFTER the Mid-Autumn Festival, and for this whole year we have felt cheated out of a fun Vietnamese experience. This year, we made up for it! 

But that will have to wait for the end of the week...

On Monday, we were expecting a big storm to hit Vietnam, Typhoon Bualoi, and we were ready for it. We planned our p-day to be at our apartment so we could all stay dry. It was a fun game day.

But the rain didn't hit until the next day... our District Council Meeting. And it rained. And it rained. And it rained. 

And it thundered and it lightninged. And we could barely see the buildings across from us.

The Hanoi District (Stake) sent out advisories that people should stay in their homes, so the missionaries canceled Game Night for Tuesday night, and later that evening the Mission President sent out a message that all missionaries should get themselves safely home and let their District and Zone Leaders know they were safe for the night. The rain totals were about 7 inches for Tuesday instead of the 2 we were expecting. Our part of Hanoi seemed to fare rather well, but the news reports showed other parts still under water, with pictures of scooters covered by the water, and other parts of Vietnam were really devastated. I'm afraid we didn't have a good grasp of how terrible this storm really was. It rained and rained for most of last week and most of this, and when it finally stopped, we went walking on Wednesday, to Hoan Kiem Lake.

Okay, it ALMOST stopped raining...

The water in the lake had risen and overflowed from the storm. It's hard to tell how full it is now, but when we walked down to the other end and saw where it had flooded over the plaza (and now was back to normal), it was amazing.

Just a cool tree...

Decorations for the Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival).

Thursday, we walked down the street in front of the mall to see if there was anything we needed at the "street fair". These shops are set up on the wide sidewalk in front of the mall and stay for a couple of weeks, selling clothing, gadgets, books, food, and more food. I need someone with me (Vietnamese) who can tell me what all the food offerings are so that I can understand. Hasn't happened yet.

Something fishy...

I wish that along with the pictures I could add the smells. You can't get the full picture without them.

And then there was the English activity at night. It was pretty sparse this week; maybe because of the changeable weather?

Friday turned out to be the celebration day of Tet Trung Thu in the little neighborhood preschool; they had lion dancers and they had a little program with singing and drumming.

Friday evening was a combined activity with the YSA and our RS in preparation for our branch Mid-Autumn Festival celebration to be help Saturday evening. We all came Friday evening to help make lanterns and moon cakes, both are traditional for the festival.

Unfortunately, whatever the occasion was, the Grab cars were all extremely busy; the closest car was 15 minutes away, and then the drive would be 15 to 20 minutes, so we decided to walk the 1.8 miles to the church. It's not a bad walk, but it's nicer when it's your choice and not forced on you by circumstances.

The traffic was really heavy; part of the reason we were having trouble getting a Grab.

Even walking was not easy...

We made it!!

Making the dough was definitely a process. Below is our specialist--Chi Linh--without whom we would have been sunk. She loves to bake.

These packages held the innards of the cakes. Unfortunately one was durian. haha

It was hard to tell who was having the most fun...

My FIRST EVER MOON CAKE (right hand), straight out of the press (left hand)!

Once I got the hang of it, it was pretty fun.

Saturday, after the usual music class, meeting for Allen, and English activity for all of us, the branch began to gather to make the final preparations for the festivities that night.

LOTS of food and goodies!

And tasting the moon cakes is very important.

SO colorful and SO much fun!

We've figured out that this holiday is really an elaborate kid party, but who cares?

Me, trying to read sheet music on my phone.                                                                                  

Jokes aren't as funny if you have to explain them. That's okay; he finally got it.

The winner of the prize for musical chairs!

Our Elders were good sports throughout the night, jumping in the make the games work, and providing the lion dancing.

This is my sweet friend Hoa, my first Music Conducting Course graduate, and my most determined piano student! With her little 2-year old, Vy.

Sunday for everyone in the United States was General Conference Sunday, but for us it was a regular Fast Sunday. We will listen to General Conference in Vietnamese (or English) next Saturday and Sunday. But Vietnam was busy celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival on this Sunday!

This was in the lobby of our apartment building and was loaded with goodies. (They didn't last long.)

More goodies in the lobby...

There were 2 stages set up in different areas of the complex.

This one was just down from our apartment building.

We were a little too early to see this lion dance.

But we did see the rehearsal for the fashion show...

It was a beautiful night, and the people were out enjoying it. I don't remember the story of the mid-autumn festival, or moon festival, but apparently it's a happy story for children. And I think that's what the world needs more of... happy stories.

Have a lovely week!

Here's one last picture of our lovely evening tonight!