Hoang Ngut My's father is gravely ill with tuberculosis, far advanced and wide spread, even to his skin. He was once a worker in a toothpick factory and able to support his family. My's mother now supports the family just as many poor women in Saigon; on a good day My's mother will bring home 55 cents.

The family lives in a long, narrow house, 12' x 24', with a corrugated iron roof, wooden walls, and a cement floor. This hut was built in the days when they were well off and My's father was working. They have some furniture left from their period prosperity: two beds, a clothes closet, a round table, a small table, and four chairs.

Hoang Ngut My is Maine West's foster child. Student Council, through PLAN, supports this little Vietnamese girl. My (Vietnamese children go by their last name) calculates her age by the lunar calendar; she was one year old at birth. Birthdays are not celebrated as they are in the U.S. My's birthday was November 8. She is now ten years old.

Schooling in Vietnam is not compulsory. Even though the government tries hard and is building schools and training teachers, the demand for education is

much greater than the physical means. Many private schools exist. School fees range from 50 cents to $2.00 per child per month for elementary school. My's tuition fees are 69 cents a month.

Important holidays in Vietnam are August 15, Feast of the Assumption; August 22, Vietnamese All‑Souls' Day; September 20, Mid‑Autumn Festival; September 28, Confucius Anniversary; November 1, Anniversary of Revolution and All Saints' Day; November 2, Memorial Day; December 25, Christmas; January 1, New Year's Day.

Other holidays are February 2 and 3, Lunar New Year (a very important day to children because this is their birthday and is known as Tet); March 8, Trung Sister's Anniversary (National Women Heroes); April 18, Easter (not a holiday); May 1, Labor Day; May 15, Buddha's Birthday; May 27, Feast of the Ascension.

My is always very happy to receive snapshots from her foster parents. She also enjoys picture postcards very much. In order to send pictures, postcards, and letters to My, put them in the Student Council Suggestion Box or turn them into the Student Council office.