HUMANITY IN A FOREIGN LAND
Thanks to his excellent medical training, doctor and writer Nguyen Hoai Nam had the opportunity to study in France. His luck was so good that many friends jokingly teased him, saying he "won the lottery three times in three lifetimes and had to cultivate virtue for four lifetimes to achieve this." Charles de Gaulle Airport welcomed the author for the first time in France during a cold, windy winter, with a gloomy sky: "A light drizzle accompanied by the cold wind of late winter, it looked truly bleak." One might expect it to be very sad, but during his time in exile, the warmth of human kindness in this foreign land always helped him find solace and comfort in the biting cold.
The book "Days in Paris" (published by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House) by writer Nguyen Hoai Nam
Photo: Q.TRAN
The author recounts: "Upon arriving in Paris, I was accepted as a student by Professor Jean Michel Cormier – a leading figure in European vascular surgery who greatly admired Vietnam." He was also fortunate to meet Professor Pierre Desoutter and Mrs. Parteney, whose genuine kindness endeared them to the writer. The story of "the warm Mrs. Parteney" was also written very touchingly by the author: "Mrs. Parteney called the nurse to bring my things and showed me my room in the trainees' quarters. The place was quite beautiful, situated right on top of a hill, surrounded by bare trees swaying in the cold wind of late winter. The nurse told me that the temperature this morning was about 4 degrees Celsius. Cold, but no snow. The hospital apartment given to me exceeded my expectations, with a heated bedroom, a kitchen with a dining area, and a living room. The rent was 2,000 francs a month, yet the hospital and Director Parteney didn't charge a single cent. Later, when my wife came to live with me, I had started working and asked to pay half the rent, but she still refused. I don't know when I will ever be able to repay this kindness."
And in historic Paris, besides the warm hospitality of the locals, in this distant foreign land, Dr. Nam also met many Vietnamese expatriates who deeply loved their homeland and always shared joys and sorrows with him, such as Michel Tran Van Quyen, Uncle Kh., Dr. Michel Tran… Especially the delicious Saturday lunches, full of the unique flavors of Vietnamese life abroad, are something he will never forget.
" Thrusting slices amidst a jumble of memories"
Commenting on the book "Days in Paris ," critic Le Thieu Nhon shared: "Many doctors have had the opportunity to study in France. However, few have found 'in Paris' like Nguyen Hoai Nam. This is because Dr. Nam already possesses an artistic heart that allows him to strongly interact with the living space he was fortunate enough to be a part of. The book is divided into many short sections, like random slices amidst a jumble of memories. The author confronts Paris, feeling a burning longing for that land. Then he confronts himself, feeling a wistful longing for many close friends. Reading 'Days in Paris ' leisurely and slowly, it's not difficult to realize a truth: that material wealth is often not as valuable as spiritual wealth, if people know how to think and trust each other."
Wandering Through Paris with writer Nguyen Hoai Nam, besides many unique and interesting stories told from his melancholic perspective, readers who enjoy exploring the world can also experience a journey through the heart of romantic France, through his gentle writings.
"In Paris, what I love most is strolling along the natural stone-paved sidewalks on early winter or early autumn afternoons, with the crisp coolness competing with the gentle breeze. The road leading up the hill from the Gage Metro station is beautiful, with its smooth, time-worn cobblestone sidewalks and classic French-style houses quietly nestled behind rows of maple trees whose leaves turn crimson with each change of season" (Walking Through the Streets) .
Author Nguyen Hoai Nam also dedicates quite a few pages to writing about the "irresistibly delicious" French cuisine , about the city of Cannes - the capital of the seventh art... and when parting ways, all that remains are jumbled memories of longing and nostalgia.
"Goodbye, magnificent Paris. My nose stung, a few tears rolled down my cheeks. My wife cried too. We cried for the sweet memories of our years away from home, and for the kindness of our friends. As the plane took off, I looked out the window; it was raining outside, and below, the entire city of Paris shone brightly against the sky…," writer Nguyen Hoai Nam said, his eyes welling up with tears.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuong-nho-nhung-ngay-o-paris-185251017214509533.htm
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