Tet and nostalgia

I don't know how many Tet holidays I've spent away from my hometown, but I feel nostalgic remembering the days leading up to Tet in Phan Thiet – how joyful and bustling they were!

I'll always remember those last lessons of the year, both teachers and students were so excited... The lovely and warm wishes: - "I wish you a happy and warm Lunar New Year with your family." "On behalf of all the students in the class, I wish you a peaceful and happy spring season"...

Now, here in the magnificent city of Ho Chi Minh , the Tet holiday is just as bustling, but somehow, as someone far from home, I still yearn for the Tet holidays of my homeland... I remember the Tet holidays in Phan Thiet, where I would stroll along the Ca Ty River searching for beautiful wild apricot blossom branches to display in the living room to welcome the new year. Then, my family would go to the night market to buy supplies and food for the first days of the year. We would wander along Tran Hung Dao and Hung Vuong streets, looking for potted fresh flowers to place in designated spots on the porch and in corners. Especially noteworthy was the apricot tree in front of my house; in the cool air of the days leading up to Tet, it was budding with lovely blossoms, ready to bloom to welcome the New Year.

In the early days of spring, the students' visits to wish us a happy new year are truly heartwarming. The greatest happiness for a teacher during this time is when former students come to visit, or simply when they call to inquire about their well-being and offer New Year's greetings. My heart swells with emotion, and I feel a lump in my throat. I'll always remember the image of the motorbikes peeking out from the gate, the heads peeking inside. The house becomes lively and bustling. Like a flock of sparrows, they laugh and chatter incessantly, telling stories about everything under the sun. Wow! They're all almost grown up! It's wonderful to see them confidently progressing on their academic paths, becoming teachers, engineers, journalists... they've persevered through life, earning a living and studying. Whether in the vibrant city of Saigon or in the distant, sun-drenched land of Central Vietnam, they always come to visit their teacher, and it's also an opportunity to reunite with old friends. Their appearances, hairstyles, clothes, and voices have all changed to some extent, but only their friendship and the bond between teacher and student remain as strong as ever.

Teachers' Day is simple and unpretentious! No elaborate feasts, no grand celebrations, just heartfelt gifts of love, remembrance, and respect... That is undoubtedly the most precious gift for the teachers who have stood on the giảng platform.

Having been away from my hometown and my beloved students for over a decade, even though in this age of information technology people can talk to each other more easily without meeting in person, the emotional distance between people has also widened. Even with other relationships influencing my life, the gratitude I feel towards my teacher remains the same! The teacher will always be like the "apple tree of my homeland" – always ready to offer shade and sweet fruit.

In the springtime, alongside the joyful excitement of welcoming the new year, retired teachers often cherish the "marks of time" in their hearts, their souls returning to cherished memories and fond recollections of the past!

The longing for the Tet holidays in my hometown will always remain with me...

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