"Uncle take me home".........

Sunday morning, my first day on my own with Emma Duong (my brother who was so nice to travel here for the first part of my trip has a family and work to get home to) and it started out about the same. Arms folded and crying first thing in the morning. Went up to breakfast where she actually did eat some fruit and bread. Met our cab driver from last night at eight am to go back to the zoo, I think routine days are important right now... She hopped into the cab and zipped out "Uncle take me home"!!! Very sad but you gotta laugh. This cab driver is my hero. He is pretty good with english and understands her situation. He told her she was not going home, she was going to the park and she was a lucky lucky little girl. He met us after we were done at the zoo and is going to be our taxi for the rest of our stay in Ho Chi Minh City. Tomorrow he is picking us up at eight and taking us to a different park - yea, I really cannot look at these animals one more day without causing problems.

Emma was bold at the zoo today. She got on three rides and also played in a playground. Some things just tear your heart out - she stumbles quite a bit in her shoes (which do fit by the way) on the playground equipment. I just don't think she has ever been on anything like what she was today. Ladders were a bit tough, she can do them just very unsure. Each ride she picked out she never smiled. Stone faced and hanging on riding right along with the 3 year olds who were squealing. I know she liked it because when she got off she was quite excited.

After the zoo, our taxi driver met us and she ran to his car when she saw him....getting used to being driven around. Back to the room to rest but it ended up in tears. Tried to let her cry herself to sleep but she never did. So, we got up and went shopping and to KFC. Doesn't like anything at KFC.... Bought two new pairs of shoes and sat with the ladies who sold them to us for awhile and let them talk to her. Everyone is so curious and they all ask alot of questions. Emma will not answer anyone or if she does it is very softly (well, except for the Uncle take me home comment). I thought she would respond to people speaking vietnamese but she really does not... This time when we came back home we had goodies for her and she was in a good mood.

Here is what I am really proud of her about today. The last two days I have taken her up to the rooftop and shown her the pool. Scared to death. Today we walked up there and watched a daughter and dad swim and play. Emma laughed. Mid afternoon I changed her into her bathing suit, put mine on (no one will ever see pictures of that) and we headed back up. Emma watched while I got in for about 5 minutes. No way was she getting in. Back to the room. One hour later she started pointing up and ran and put her suit on. Clinging to me for dear life we both got in. She never took her arms from around my neck or her legs from around my waist but we stayed in 15 to 20 minutes. She really liked it. Tomorrow she will probably loosen up even more.

Back to Pizza Hut for dinner where they recognize us and are so nice. Manners eating out do not exist. How would she know what to do?? Staff helped me by talking to her about staying in the booth, once again people coming to my rescue - everyone is so nice to us. Pizza Hut is on the fourth floor of a Dillard's type department store. Got her a cute kitty cat jacket and purse on the way out.

Its seven pm and Emma is out. Must have been a long day for her. She is great at night. We got here at six, played on computer for awhile, she got on the bed and started looking at her books and the next thing I know she is out.

Successful day even if she wants Uncle to take her home.......