Showering in the Rain

by Thai Nguyen

The last time I experienced the joy of "tắm mưa," or "showering in the rain," was during my childhood when I was around 6 or 7 years old. This activity may seem unusual in America. However, in Vietnam, during the challenging postwar era when toys were scarce, "tắm mưa" was a source of delight—a contrast to "dầm mưa," a phrase that symbolizes hardship from being drenched in the rain.

On the third day of our workcamp, I joined others in assembling climbing nets for the children's playground. As the rain poured, we continued our work while I joyfully embraced the "tắm mưa" experience once again. The work was slowed at first due to our inexperience. We eventually developed a system: one person held the rope's end to avoid getting the rope knotted, some held the red rope connectors in place, making it easier for other people to pull the rope through the holes in the connectors and keeping the robe tight. It was fun to see our pace getting faster and faster as teamwork developed. Although some might have seen it as "dầm mưa," I was simply having too much fun, reliving fond memories “tắm mưa” while making new ones and bonding with other team members.

Then, the rain stopped! In the afternoon, I had to endure the scorching sun, "dãi nắng," as we worked tirelessly to complete the nets.  This was definitely not “tắm nắng” – figuratively translated to getting a tan in the sun.  Unlike the refreshing rainwater, I found myself drenched in sweat and feeling “icky”. Every 10-15 minutes, I needed to take a water break to cool down and stay hydrated. This experience deepened my appreciation for the dedicated workers and team members who consistently labored under the blazing sun. However, seeing the bright smiles of the children as they enjoyed the newly built playground made it worthwhile for all of us.

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for the unforgettable fun and cherished memories we created together.