“Cohabiting” has become the familiar concept to many students nowadays. Therefore, the existence of a “pregnant student hamlet” in the university village does not surprise anyone.
Nguyen Hoang Son, a student of the Information Technology University, introduced himself as a married man. “We loved each other too much. And my girlfriend, also a student, became pregnant,” Son recalled the love story.
“My wife gave up lessons for two weeks after she realised the pregnancy. She later returned to class, but she had to use every trick to hide the pregnancy. Then we were allowed to get married, because the parents understood that they had no other choice.” He added.
The problem is that a lot of student couples have been living together for a long time, but they parents do not know anything about that. Tan, a fourth year student of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanity, related that one day, his parents went to the city for healthcare and dropped into his rent room to see how the son lived.
As Tan did not want his parents to know that he was living with a girlfriend, he and the girl decided to “evacuate” to other rooms. However, right after the parents left for the home village, Tan and his girlfriend have “reunited.”
Cohabiting has become the choice of many students, including Tan and Son. Therefore, a “pregnant student hamlet” has arisen next to the University of Social Sciences and Humanity. The students in pregnancy move there to live, because here they can receive the sympathy from others who are in the same conditions. Meanwhile, they do not want to be disregarded by their friends.
The pregnant student village comprises many student families as well. After getting birth to children, the students can form up families.
Most of the families have to live in difficulties, because they not only have to follow studying, but also have to take care for the families and earn money to grow the children.
When reporters came to visit a couple, they could see with they eyes, the big challenges the couple has to face. There were only several simple things used for the basic needs: a bookcase that served the study of parents, and some children toys. The meals were plain with just vegetables, soya curds.
The husband said that in the past, he and his wife sometimes went out to cafes. However, since the child was born, they have to cut down all unnecessary expenses. He also admitted that he still lives on the money remitted by the parents.
The atmosphere of the pregnant student hamlet seems to be a little different from other rent rooms. People here share difficulties and help each other in their lives.
In a small room with things lying about in disorder and in the way, Ngan, a mother was seen giving a baby a breast. “You should go upstairs to feed the child. We have guests today,” Hoang, her husband said.
However, Ngan did not want to go upstairs, because it was too hot there, which might cause diseases for the child.
Hoang said that his wife has stayed off from school and she would only return to school when the child gets older and he can live with the grandparents.
He admitted that they have been living together without any wedding. As they are jobless, they have been living in big difficulties. In the past, Hoang sometimes smoked, but now, the budget for cigarettes has been reserved to buy food for the child.
