A Letter

Tuesday evening, I was teaching English at Social Support Center, and I noticed ‘ Cam ’ waving at me. Standing behind the door, at the corner of my classroom, she pointed towards a piece of paper and a pen on her hand.

Nguyen Thi Cam, is 26 years old. Always well dressed and accessorized. She cannot speak and hear. But, she was not born like that. She could speak and hear until  she was brutally hit on the head by her father; punishment- after he found out that she was pregnant at the age of 16 without been married.

These days, she lives at Social Support Center where she takes care of children. Her daughter is now six years old and is being raised by her brother. Though she can’t speak, she tries to explain her story using sign language, brings photo albums to show us the pictures of her family members. She still remembers those days when she could speak and hear; how she attained this disability, those moments are still alive in her mind.

Her father who gave life to his daughter, himself, gave this life of disability to her, and he is free, still living a normal life. I doubt if he even regrets for what he did.

Cam gestured me a paper to write down our names, I happily inscribed “Therese, Jennifer and Jyoti”. With names on that paper, she hurriedly ran out of the room.

After my class was over, I saw Cam again; she was standing at the door with an envelope on her hand. She walked, swiftly handed the envelope over to me and ran back. Curiosity sprinted throughout my nerves; I opened the envelope, and found a letter written in Vietnamese

“I need a translator please!!!”

I couldn’t stop showing it to my volunteer mates, and we could not wait any further to know what was actually written in there....

Next day finally, I asked our translator to translate the letter in English, and it goes….

Dear Jennifer, Therese and Jyoti,

I am Nguyen Thi Cam. I am working at social support Center. I heard that you are going home soon, so I want to send my regards to your family and wish you always happy and funny as well as thinking of me and this center. I love you for your help and work  throughout your stay. You all are so kind, and take care of the children in the Social. Everyone in the Social support center loves you, and are very grateful for your help.

However, I am very sorry because I can not talk with you as I can't speak, and it makes me sad. If I could speak everything, it would have been better, but sadly I can't. 

Now you're going home, but I don't have anything to offer you. Therefore, I can only show my thoughts. It will be my happiness if you can read my letter.

Good luck to you.

I wish you succeed and want you to come back again.

With regards,                                                                 

Cam

Da Nang

(Letter translated by Ben)

XOXO

JO_tee