Quê Hươngby Kiên Hoàng Lê

Home is not the place, that it is, but a place that it is not.

Bernhard Schlink

a place of beinga place of longing a place of laughterwhere the storm is calmand the compassion remains

a place of sadnessa place of melancholiea place of grievewhere the heart is contentand the flow is natural

Kiên Hoàng Lê - Hanoi 2013

You both - fahter and son - are going back home with us for tete celebration. Your grandparents are so happy because you are the source of happiness to us.

Today is the 6th day of Tet celebration. You both have stayed 6 days home with us now. Tomorrow we will go back to Hanoi. The last days we have been so happy, because children and grandchildren came in big numbers. Many relatives have been here for a visit. Today grandpa could also eat 2 sweat potatoes and a bowl of rice noodels. I was very happy about that.

Today you have been again at grandma from your mothers side. Was it good for you? Tomorrow you are on the way again, we are always there with our wishes for you, so that you stay healthy and awake to continue exploring.

Today is the 7th of the first month in the moon calendar. I am a little bit tired from the journey in the car, but also relieved to be at home. My grandson Hung is here and the chief of the quarter came for a visit, too. It was nice. You both are here. That’s the most beautiful.

We, grandpa and grandma, wish you a lot of happiness and success on the following way. Take care of yourself. Reach your dreams, so that we’ll be content. Today you have invited us to eat out in a restaurant. It was great fun to us. All the grand-children from both sides are here. Nguyen is also here. Today you will fly back. I don’t want that you leave us again. I wish so much, that you will find a wife soon. Send your parents and Trung many greetings. I love you very much.

Kiên Hoàng LêQuê Hương

Photographs Kiên Hoàng Lê, Thieu Thi SamIntroduction Kiên Hoàng LêText in Vietnamese Thieu Thi Sam (grandmother)Text in English Kiên Hoàng LêQuote Bernhard Schlink Translation Kiên Hoàng LêDesign Kiên Hoàng LêFonts Perpetua, Palatino

First Print 2013

Photographs © Kiên Hoàng Lê, Thieu Thi SamIntroduction © Kiên Hoàng LêText © Thieu Thi Sam, Kiên Hoàng LêQuote © Bernhard Schlink

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