My Trip to Chua Tu Dam Temple, Birmingham – A Special Day

I have been living in Sheffield for almost a year now. I come from Vietnam. Sheffield is a good city with kind people. I live with five other young people like me.

When I came to England, I was seventeen years old. This November, I will be eighteen, and I cannot wait to celebrate my birthday.

Today, I want to tell you about a special day when I visited Chua Tu Dam Temple in Birmingham this August. I had always wished to visit a temple in England, and my lucky day came when this wish came true.

In Vietnam, I often went to the temple. I grew up following many Buddhist traditions and believed in the Buddhist way of life. To me, Buddha is about finding peace in a world where people are suffering and not helping one another. Those who suffer must find peace, love, and comfort.

When I arrived in England, life felt very different. I missed the temple. Later, I found out that the nearest temple like the ones in Vietnam was in Birmingham. At first, I thought I could never go there because Birmingham is a big city and far from where I live. I spoke to my key workers and my social worker. They were very kind and supportive. They helped me follow my religion, and I felt very thankful.

They planned a trip for me and my friend. We travelled to Birmingham by National Express coach. The return ticket was £26. I was happy to travel with my friend, and we felt safe because our key worker came with us.

We left Sheffield at 9:00 in the morning and arrived in Birmingham at 11:00. Since we wanted to attend the morning prayers, we took a taxi straight to the temple. It cost £12 for the three of us.

At the temple, we took off our shoes and went inside. We gave our gifts and lit candles. Then we sat cross-legged on the floor and joined in the prayers. A Buddhist monk led the chanting, and we followed.

After the prayers, we walked around the temple, looking at the images of Buddha. We said more prayers quietly. It made me feel peaceful and reminded me of home.

Before the trip, I had heard about the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham. I wanted to see it. My key worker asked my friend and me to find the right bus ourselves. Using our phones, we discovered that bus number 74 goes to the city centre. The ticket cost £3. When we arrived, I was amazed. The Bullring was huge, with many shops, especially expensive ones. I saw shorts costing £200 and a jacket for £1000! It was fun to look around, and we took many photos.

Later, my key worker gave us a small challenge — to find a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch. We searched on our phones and found one close to the coach station. The food was delicious and tasted just like home. Eating there made me so happy.

Afterwards, we went to the coach station and took the bus back to Sheffield. We arrived at 6:00 in the evening.

That day was very special for me. It was an adventure. I visited the temple, enjoyed good food, and discovered new places. I will never forget it, and I hope I can go again one day.

By VAL, a young person supported by Roundabout