It means whisper, or speaking quietly to each other. Like when you don't want Teacher Nam to hear something, you speak ru ri. He draws laughs from the class. Dinh routinely mixes Vietnamese with English, knowing that the majority of his class is far more fluent in the latter. The curriculum at this school, like its counterparts, focuses on basics, but when possible, there is an emphasis on traditional customs and values.
Books contain stories about several generations living together or New Year's customs.
Celebrations, complete with children's performances, are staged for Tet and Harvest Moon festivals. Volunteer labor keeps costs low, making the schools even more attractive to families. Even when I was principal, my husband was the custodian. Parental involvement is essential to making this work. He combines classical Chinese literature and Taoist philosophy with Chinese poetry, all delivered via funny anecdotes and interesting stories.