Hai Duong is forever in my heart

The old royal poinciana tree in the schoolyard bloomed with clusters of bright red flowers, sudden showers of rain, the chirping of cicadas, the soft, soft sound of falling leaves… That was enough to signal that summer was coming and I suddenly felt my heart flutter…

I remember, just the other day I was still bewildered when I followed my parents to this beautiful land, which is known as the most livable city in Vietnam. And yet a school year has passed by so quickly. There was joy, there was sadness, there was nostalgia for the old school, old friends. And there was also anger and resentment… Those emotions were enough for me to gather into my luggage to enter life.

Unlike the past summers, this summer, I am no longer excited about my travel plans, temporarily putting aside the joy of setting foot to explore new lands on the S-shaped land, the only place I want to go is back to my hometown - the peaceful Hai Duong city where I was born and raised. That peaceful city is full of my childhood memories.

I remember the summer days when I rode my bike along the shady Nguyen Quy Tan street with my close friends to school. The school I attended was named after the scholar Le Quy Don. There, the teachers were not only the ones who steered the boat of knowledge but also the fathers and mothers who were always by my side, protecting me and giving me many profound lessons about friendship and the relationship between teacher and student. There, there were mischievous friends who played all kinds of pranks to make me laugh, but were also willing to spend precious recess time listening to me confide in them about my “coming of age” stories. There, the security guard could also teach me profound lessons about life.

This summer, I will return to the arms of my grandmother - the one who held me, sang lullabies to me, and told me stories about the Buddha and the Fairy. She made me understand that, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, home is the place to return to. Family is the most precious and sacred thing.

My city of Hai Duong is changing day by day. I can see it clearly through the stories of my brothers, sisters, friends and through the news I follow every day. I am eager to return to join the crowd on the bustling walking street, participate in interesting games, enjoy street performances, or simply stop by the stalls to look around or eat a cool ice cream to dispel the heat of summer... That newness and excitement is really interesting and motivates me.

I suddenly remembered two famous verses of poet Che Lan Vien: "When we are here, it is just a place to live/ When we leave, the land suddenly becomes our soul". Although I am not mature enough to understand and experience the myriad of different emotions in life, I have gradually realized that my homeland and family are truly something worth cherishing. Only after leaving my homeland can I see that every road, street corner, and schoolyard can become unforgettable memories. The things that we thought were ordinary, even boring, are the calls urging us to return. Home and homeland are places that open their arms to welcome us, embrace us, and give us a sense of peace and warmth.

The sudden downpour dispelled the scorching sun and brought me back to reality. I smiled to myself. Because in just a few days, the first school year with a new school, new friends, new teachers would end. I officially had an exciting summer vacation in my hometown. Visiting the old school, old friends, walking on the streets full of memories, visiting the bustling and new walking street… Hai Duong is forever dear to me!

PHAM PHUNG GIA NHU
(Tan Binh Ward, Hai Duong City)