Embassy Interview and Temple of Literature

I got up bright and early and took a taxi to the consular office to turn in my visa packet. I was going to hire a motorbike to take me, but it was sprinkling when I set out and I chickened out and went by taxi. I had been told I wouldn't have to wait in line but I couldn't get the guards to understand that. As a result I got there at 8:30, got through the security checks by 8:45, and was forced to stand in line with Vietnamese nationals waiting for immigrant visas until 9:45. When I finally got to the front of the line the person behind the glass told me I wasn't supposed to wait in line but should have just gone to the private interview room. Well, at least I didn't have Henry with me to have to stand and wait all that time.

I decided to walk back to the hotel--a pretty great distance but I wanted to make a stop at the Temple of Literature. This is the Temple of Literature--how could I be in Hanoi and NOT go to a place called the Temple of Literature? This is a centuries old place of learning dedicated to Confucius and the site of the first university in Vietnam.
These four pillars mark the entrance to the Temple--the four pillars of Confucianism.

There are five courtyards, one within the other.
Below is the Well of Heavenly Clarity.
There are dozens of stelea--stone markers on turtles' backs that have the name of graduates going back hundreds of years engraved on them.

The central courtyard had the obligatory gift shop--one of which had an assortment of water puppets.

This is the central courtyard, a shrine to learning.
There are four pools with lotus blossoms in them in the outer courtyards.

I got home with just an hour and a half to bathe Henry and dress him in his sailor outfit for his trip to the embassy. We had a 2 PM interview appointment and they said I must bring him. My mother has been sick since we got to Hanoi--she's really been sick since we went to Hoi An. She went out once since we got here to Hanoi and felt worse so she has stayed in the room to conserve her strength for the long trip home.

The visit to the consular office wasn't too difficult to do by myself. I strapped Henry in a snuggli and had a backpack with our supplies and it was a two dollar taxi ride there and back. I got there around 1:30 but didn't get called until 2:30. There were about ten other families there with infants and one family with older children--looked like a boy of around six and a girl around four years of age.

The interview was simple. I wouldn't even call it an interview. I signed a paper saying I would have Henry immunized when I get back to the US and I said I filled the form out accurately to the best of my knowledge. Then I paid the fee and was told to come back tomorrow to pick up the visa. I don't know why I had to bring Henry--nobody looked at him except the other parents. But it was fun to dress him up. This little suit is what he wore to the interview in HCMC with Mary Anne Russell. He has gained weight since then and it barely fits him now.

So it's all done except the plane ride home--which I'm sure will have its ups and downs. But thank goodness I got a phone call today confirming that I do have a bassinette for both legs of the trip home.

My last night in Vietnam. After a night on the plane we will be home!