Sarah's Vietnam Adventure

Last Days in Hue

2010-12-14T14:26:00.006-05:00

What do you do when you only have a few days left in a place you have come to love and appreciate??

Here's what I did during my last days in Hue:

- Ate as much delicious Hue foods as I could from street food and sidewalk coffee to home cooked Vietnamese meals to my favorite Vietnamese restaurants (you're not really surprised by this one, are you? :)
- Countryside motorbike ride to no where in particular, the main purpose being to just drive, drive, drive and experience real Vietnamese life as it happens outside the city walls
- Sang my heart out at karaoke with friends
- Chatted, laughed and shared stories with good friends at some of the city's best coffee shops from the luxurious 5-star Imperial hotel cafe located on the top floor, offering an incredible view of Hue city, to a hidden bamboo cafe situated on a secluded lotus flower lake
- Last dance at the city's only late night expat/tourist dance club with friends jamming and dancing away 'til the early morning

While my adventure in Vietnam has literally ended in the fact that I am now back home, the people and culture of Vietnam have certainly made an impact on me -- my likes, my perspectives, my way of life. So, while my original purpose for writing this blog -- to tell all of my adventures while in Vietnam -- has now ended, there is still so much to tell. And so much that I'm sure I have yet to realize and recall now that I am back at home and not immersed in the fascinating Vietnamese culture.

So, stay tuned for more soon :)

People Make All the Difference

2010-12-11T07:00:00.006-05:00

I have loved my time in Vietnam for countless reasons, from the amazing food (that I'm sure you haven't heard enough about:) and beautiful natural landscapes to the country's vibrant culture and rich heritage. Yet, for me, this experience would mean very little without the many, many, many people who have shaped my time and experiences here.

Living in Vietnam has allowed me to make connections with people from various generations and ways of life:

- my energetic college-aged Vietnamese friends who have helped me to find my love for Vietnamese food, karaoke, music, coffee shops, bike riding and weddings
- the international volunteer community who understand the joys and challenges of volunteering abroad
- My dear VSO volunteer friend Pat who is over thirty years older than I am and yet very young at heart and always willing to lend a listening ear
- the Hope Center staff and artisans who have taught me how to better appreciate life and to live for today

To you all, thank you for sharing your friendship. Thank you for sharing your lives. You have all made an impression on me and I will never forget you.

Weekends Were Made for Countryside Motorbike Trips

2010-12-07T10:55:00.006-05:00

Ninh Binh

2010-12-03T01:35:00.003-05:00

I have been itching to get out and experience more of the beautiful Vietnamese countryside before I leave in just a few short weeks. I love the vibrant atmosphere that is present in Hanoi, HCMC and, on a smaller scale, Hue, but I also have truly enjoyed my time spent in Vietnam's natural landscapes -- from the never-ending mountains peppered with green rice paddies in Sapa to the white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of Phu Quoc island.

One natural landscape still on my list with only a couple of weeks to spare: Ninh Binh -- known for its towering limestone rock formations, picturesque traditional Vietnamese countryside and the Cuc Phuong national park.

The problem: I have no more vacation time.

The solution: My roomies very kindly agreed to go on two overnight buses almost back to back this past weekend to make this fun trip happen before I leave. We boarded the overnight bus on Friday night after work and stepped off the return bus in Hue on Monday morning in time for the start of the new work week. Success!

The result: While we were a little bleary-eyed for some of the trip and the food was not near as good as Hue (yes, I did have to throw one comment in here about the food:), the natural landscapes were just gorgeous. It was definitely a trip well worth the effort and lack of sleep :)

An American Thanksgiving...in Vietnam

2010-11-28T22:45:00.014-05:00

As I have mentioned on this blog too many times to count, I love food. I also love celebrations and holidays. So, naturally I had to find a way to celebrate the great ol' American holiday we call Thanksgiving in Hue.

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, how do you have a real American Thanksgiving without access to all the good holiday favorites in Hue like yams, jellied cranberry, pumpkin pie, etc., etc. Oh, and did I mention that ovens are very rare and hard to come by in Vietnam, meaning that we do not have one at our house. Hmm...

Well, my roommate and I bought as many traditional Thanksgiving items as we could during our recent trip to Hanoi (in a very popular expat part of town around Tay Ho district). I also asked my friend whose family owns a bakery here in Hue (bakeries are about the only places that actually have ovens) if we could use their oven for an hour or two.

After spending a lot of time planning, trying to figure out how to make traditional dishes without all of the necessary ingredients, and with help from some friends, the final Thanksgiving menu ended up something like this:

- Roasted chicken breast rubbed in butter, oregano, pepper, thyme and a little bit of chili powder (no turkey to be found but the chicken actually turned out really good!)

- Sweet potato pie complete with lots and lots of brown sugar, butter, marshmallows, ritz crackers and candied yams...amazingly good! (the above picture just features the yummy toppings)

- Stovetop stuffing with vegetables

- Salad...a REAL salad complete with goat cheese, cranberries and vinegreatte dressing

- Jellied Cranberries...a Thanksgiving celebration isn't complete without them

- Pumpkin Pie for dessert

The end result: six individuals (4 Americans, 1 Vietnamese and 1 Norwegian) with extremely full, satisfied bellies.

A Flooded Hue

2010-11-18T02:13:00.006-05:00

What do you do when you need to make an emergency visit to the office and your street is completely flooded? Well, just call over a boat floating down the street and ask them for a ride -- at least that's what my roommate Linh did when she needed to make a quick visit to her office and our street was nearly three feet deep of murky brown water.

The above shot was taken from my bedroom balcony. My roommate and I were cooped up in our house for nearly two days with no electricity due to the recent flood.

Boy, I am seriously appreciative of power and the ability to actually leave my house right now!

Vietnamese Weddings

2010-11-11T09:14:00.005-05:00

This past week, I was a Vietnamese bridesmaid for the second time since arriving in Vietnam (who would have thought?). After attending six Vietnamese weddings in less than a year, I have learned a thing or two about this cultural tradition in Vietnam.

Here are a few things you should know about Vietnamese weddings -- you know, just in case you happen to come to Vietnam and get invited to a wedding :) :

1) Karaoke is a staple of every Vietnamese wedding -- Karaoke is to Vietnamese weddings what dancing is to American weddings. Every wedding has lots and lots of karaoke -- it is the main entertainment attraction of Vietnamese weddings. Oh, and they love to hear foreigners sing -- so either get your singing pipes ready or else be prepared to consistently decline the offer to sing throughout the course of the event with a big smile on your face.

2) No cake for you -- While almost every Vietnamese wedding has a large, delicious-looking cake just starring at you from the front of the room, do not be fooled. The cake is actually not for your consumption. It is simply cut by the bride and groom and saved for the family to eat -- after the wedding. The first time I attended a Vietnamese wedding I was so excited when I noticed the cake at the front of the room, especially since the Vietnamese culture is not as concerned with sweets and desserts in comparison to the American culture. Yet, as the night wore on and no cake was served to the guests, I soon learned that actually eating the cake is not as important in their wedding celebrations.

3) Come hungry - While guests do not get to enjoy the wedding cake, a big part of this Vietnamese celebration involves eating ALOT of food. In fact, almost every Vietnamese wedding involves serving six or seven courses -- including salad, soup, lots of different meats, rice and fruit -- to the guests, and never-ending drinks all around. Plus, the Vietnamese culture is very concerned with hospitality so people seated around you are continually placing more food in your bowl and more beverages in your cup throughout the entire process.

Below is a picture of myself with the other bridesmaids and the bride and groom at the wedding this past Tuesday. It was a very PINK wedding!

A Hue Halloween

2010-11-01T08:05:00.003-04:00

I love eating candy, dressing up and getting scared, so naturally I also love Halloween. Even though people here don't actually celebrate Halloween as a part of the Vietnamese culture, the other volunteer at the Hope Center (Taru from Finland) and I decided to throw the staff and artisans at the Center a Halloween party. This basically involved us bringing lots of candy and the two of us running around in Halloween costumes (myself as a Vietnamese girl in the traditional dress -- how appropriate! and Taru as a male painter) while they laughed and smiled at us.

After awhile though, the Hope Center really did get into the spirit of dressing up for Halloween which involved Taru painting beards and eyebrows on several of the children (to match her own face make up) and the artisans trying on the wigs and clothes at the Center. Taru's partner and son also arrived later on dressed up as girls, which was quite hilarious!

On Halloween night, one of my other fellow volunteer friends (Hy) put on a haunted house with the children at one of the local shelters. HY and the other children at the shelter really put a lot of time and energy into creating an authentic haunted house and it was really quite well done. One of the rooms inside the house even featured The Ring complete with a fuzzy television set and girls popping out as the creepy girl from the movie (and they looked so much like the actual girl from the movie which made it even creepier!).

Even though I missed not being able to celebrate Halloween in the US, I still had a really good holiday here in Vietnam.

Vietnamese Cooking 101

2010-10-25T10:43:00.006-04:00

One of the great things about being a foreign volunteer living in a relatively small Vietnamese city is that I get the opportunity to be a part of a variety of different and unique activities on a regular basis.

This past weekend I received a call from one of my Vietnamese friends asking if my roommate and I wanted to participate in a cooking class for foreigners that was going to air on television. Not really understanding all of the specifics, but clearing hearing that we would get to eat some yummy Vietnamese food for free, I emphatically agreed (you have all heard many times about my LOVE for food!).

When Rachael and I arrived we soon learned that we were shooting an advertorial for a new cooking class that was soon-to-be offered by one of the local tour operators in town. Along with another American and a Korean, we began the morning by driving to a famous chef's house in Hue -- a beautiful historic garden house and our location for the cooking class. Of course, our journey to the chef's house was kind of a production in and of itself as the camera crew made us stop repeatedly to take footage of us driving our bikes.

We met our chef for the morning, a cheerful older Vietnamese women wearing an au dai and a conical hat, and headed to the market -- again with the whole camera crew in tow. Then, with our many ingredients in hand, we set to chopping all of the vegetables and meat for our fried spring rolls, fried rice and sweet soup, the menu for the day.

It took quite awhile to prepare everything and it was a little strange having the camera crew filming our every move from peeling a shrimp to frying the spring rolls in the oil. Not to mention the fact that we were all asked to wear aprons and chef hats, complete with the tour operator's information embroidered on the front.

All in all though, it was well worth it as the end result was eating a bunch of yummy Vietnamese food prepared by one of Hue's finest chefs.

Have I mentioned before that I love Vietnamese food? :)

Just Another Fun Weekend In Hue

2010-10-19T01:46:00.005-04:00

Weekends in Hue are a time to....

Go to an INGO Happy Hour with representation from over seven countries

Celebrate a friend's birthday over chocolate cake, coffee and, of course, some Vietnamese karaoke

Go for a motorbike ride to visit a beautiful scenic spot in Hue overlooking the Perfume river and a pagoda off the beaten path

Dance the night away at the local tourist/expat/Vietnamese bar, Brown Eyes, with roommates and friends

Catch up with friends over yummy Vietnamese food such as pho ga or nem lui. Then head to one of the many atmospheric coffee shops around town for ever-so-sweet coffee and good conversation

Just another fun weekend in Hue

What I Love Most About Hue

2010-10-14T02:52:00.007-04:00

It's a shame that many foreign tourists in Vietnam breeze through the city of Hue without even touching the surface as to what this amazing city is all about. Sure, they go and see the citadel and the king's tombs and maybe take one of the many day trips outside the city, but they don't really get to experience the vibrant, culturally rich and beautiful city that I have come to love.

Here are just a few reasons why I love living in Hue, in no certain order:

Lush, Shady Streets All Around - The city of Hue is peppered with tall leafy trees that overhang into the street and provide the perfect shade when driving in the hot sun. There are also a plethora of rich green parks, offering the perfect opportunities to relax with friends over an iced coffee or fruit smoothie. Above is a picture of one of my favorite streets in Hue, that also just happens to be on my daily commute to work (lucky me!).

Plethora of Yummy Vietnamese Food - Hue is famous for its many, many, many, many varieties of savory Vietnamese cuisine. I know, I know -- I have talked about food many times, but I just can't help it. It's so good that I have to talk about it at least one more time. So, here are a few of my favorites: fresh pork grilled spring rolls dipped in sweet and spicy peanut sauce, marinated pork barbeque with fresh rice noodles and chili, savory fish noodle soup, crunchy Vietnamese spring rolls with salty fish sauce, a ton of different flavorful vegetarian cuisine, and the list goes on and on -- seriously. As a food lover, this is a great perk of living in Hue!

Beautiful Nature Around Every Bend - Hue is surrounded by absolutely picturesque countryside. It is quite common to be traveling down any given road complete with storefronts and houses and the next moment be enclosed by a rich green field of rice paddies.

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee - Hue has many varieties of coffee shops and cafe cocs (sidewalk coffee) around town. There are so many to choose from and each one has its own individual personality. The coffee shops here also offer a variety of drinks to choose from, apart from the amazing coffee including fresh squeezed fruit drinks, ice cream, sweet creamy yogurt drinks with fresh fruit, etc., etc.

Oh Hue, how I will miss you come December!

Work Trip to Hoi An

2010-10-10T03:20:00.004-04:00

This past week I traveled with some of the Hope Center staff to Hoi An to take part in a week long product development workshop aimed at helping craft producers better understand how to create intentional, meaningful products for their given customer bases. The course focused on product design and development including trends, product life cycle, colors, textures, etc.

While the course in and of itself was useful and will certainly be of help to the Hope Center in the future, for me the best part of the trip was simply getting to spend time with my coworkers outside of the typical work setting -- working on new product designs, playing Vietnamese card games, walking around Hoi An, eating meals, telling jokes, trying to talk to one another with my limited Vietnamese and their small knowledge of English and, of course, laughing ALOT.

I am glad to be back in Hue after a busy week away and ready for some much needed rest and relaxation, but I am thankful for the time I got to spend with the Hope Center staff. I really am going to miss them when I leave in just two short months, especially their zest for life and their generous and hospitable spirits.

Getting Around the Vietnamese Way

2010-10-01T11:40:00.003-04:00

When I first arrived in Vietnam, I was more than a little apprehensive about navigating through traffic as a pedestrian, let alone trying to be a driver. Yet, after eight months of living here and nearly seven months of driving a motorbike (well, an electric bike or se dap dien) I have gotten used to the organized chaos and I think it is a great way to get around (except of course when I am soaking wet or sweating like crazy from the heat).

Not only do I feel the cool breeze on my face as I zoom around town, but I am able to experience life from a much different vantage point. While driving a car, I am very likely to zone out and forget that life continues to take place around me. Aboard my bike however I tend to notice people much more, whether it be a street vendor trying to flag me down, young Vietnamese frequenting a local cafe or other drivers carrying all sorts of things that I never would have imagined fitting effectively on a bike -- ducks, pigs, living room furniture...an entire family!

This past weekend, some of my friends and I took a motorbike ride to visit a very picturesque pagoda situated in the mountains and a popular springs located about 60 kilometers outside of town. I will admit that my back and rear end were very sore by the end of the trip, but I had such a good time experiencing Vietnamese life, with the wind whipping through my hair and the freeing feeling I have every time I jump on a bike, that it was definitely worth the little bit of pain I felt afterwards.

Mid Autumn Festival

2010-09-23T06:03:00.003-04:00

This week Vietnam is celebrating the Mid Autumn Festival, the country's biggest holiday for children. The celebration is filled with many song and dance performances for children, fire breathing dragon dances and drum troupes (see video above) and lots of candy and moon pies (a special sweet cake filled with meat and eggs that is only available during this holiday -- sounds completely unappetizing as a dessert but I actually really liked it).

I had many opportunities to take part in the celebration from joining the Hope Center youth (I am really going to miss them when I leave!) at a community wide Mid Autumn party to tagging along with my translator and following her church's dragon crew around several Hue neighborhoods.

In a sense, the dragon troupes act in a similar way to trick-or-treaters on Halloween, except they are trying to receive money notes versus candy and they have to work a lot harder to actually obtain the money. Each dragon crew practices for about a month prior to the celebration learning the dances and drum beats, buying the costumes, etc.

Then, during the festival, each group dances around neighborhoods and performs for neighbors that offer them money. Yet, the neighbors don't make it as easy as simply opening the door and handing over the cash. Instead, most Vietnamese residents and businesses will try to hang money on a long pole or stick and dangle it from a second story window or from one of the highest points on their buildings. Next, the dragon crew will have to reach up and take the money using the actual dragon costume -- sometimes this is achieved via a ladder and other times, as was the case with the group that we were with, this involves about 10 or 15 guys making a stacked pyramid of sorts to reach the money.

Even though I was most likely the dragon crew's oldest "groupie", I had such a great time following my translator's church dragon crew around town, that we tagged along with them two nights in a row!

This whole experience was definitely a far cry from the well beaten tourist path, and that's what I loved most about it -- getting to live and breathe a vibrant, authentic Vietnamese celebration.

Karaoke - Vietnamese Style

2010-09-17T01:36:00.004-04:00

Now that I have three months and counting left in Vietnam, I am starting to get a little nostalgic about some of the things that I know I will miss when I return to the US in December.

One of those things, strangely enough, is Vietnamese karaoke. First let me paint a picture as to what Vietnamese karaoke entails as I know that before arriving in Vietnam I, myself, always thought of karaoke as an embarrassing and sometimes painful activity in which case someone volunteers to get up on a stage and sing to a room full of strangers.

Vietnamese karaoke is very different -- your party receives an individual room complete with couches, a television and a karaoke machine. Once in the room, everyone takes turns picking out songs from a Vietnamese song book (and if you are lucky there are a few English songs -- if you are really lucky, there is a separate book full of English songs!), programming them into the machine and then singing the songs at the top of their lungs. Typically the karaoke machine is set to play at maximum volume and is accompanied by a colorful disco ball on the ceiling -- so, needless to say, it is usually a very LOUD and colorful experience.

People usually order drinks and food as well. At the mention of food you may be thinking of typical American snack food such as popcorn and candy. Yet, the Vietnamese typically serve fresh fruit with a chili and salt mixture (which is actually quite delicious!).

Now, let me take a moment to mention that there have been many occasions in which case I have said, "No. I cannot take any more Vietnamese karaoke!" Yet, now that I am on the verge of losing Vietnamese karaoke as a regular social activity when I return home, it has become much more special and something that I want to truly appreciate in my remaining months here.

In fact, that is the case now with many things here -- food, coffee shops, driving a bike, etc. etc. So, my next few blogs will be dedicated to sharing some of the things that I love about living in Vietnam overall, even if I have had some difficulty in adjusting to them along the way.

Below are a few recent pictures from a work karaoke party - we had a great time singing our hearts out and being silly together.

Cambodia

2010-09-09T01:50:00.006-04:00

Since arriving in Vietnam nearly eight months ago, I have heard a great deal from other volunteers and passing travelers about the grandeur of the Angkor temples near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Many commented that the temples are breathtakingly spectacular and that the Cambodian people are warm and friendly.

As such, I was anxious to visit and take in the sights and culture for myself. And last week I had the opportunity to travel to Siem Reap for a week's vacation with my good VSO friend, Pat.

The Cambodian people are in fact very warm and friendly, although a little reserved in comparison to the boisterous and feisty culture I have become accustomed to in Vietnam. The temples are indeed grand as well, although I found myself drawn to the very atmospheric temples that are still very much intertwined with nature as opposed to the manicured and somewhat sterilized temples such as Angkor Wat.

However, my favorite experiences in Cambodia were centered upon simply getting to interact with the people there and drink in God's natural beauty outside of the manmade monuments. We had ample opportunity to interact with the local people by way of the tuk tuk drivers around town (a cart with benches that is pulled by a motorbike and driver -- a great way to get around!) who all spoke English very well. Pat and I were also able to take a long horseback ride into the countryside at sunrise over rice paddies and rich green fields. Along the way we were constantly greeted with friendly waves and hellos.

I think the most challenging part of the trip was the fact that Cambodia is still wrought with incredible poverty and we continually encountered begging throughout our trip which was difficult to handle emotionally. Yet, amidst their poverty and the incredible turmoil and instability that was present in this country a mere decade ago, the people are very hospitable and open.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Cambodia and am glad I had the opportunity to experience another corner of this side of the world. However, I found myself continuing comparing Cambodia to Vietnam -- the people, the food, etc. and am happy to be back home in Hue.

Taking Success in the Small Things

2010-08-18T05:29:00.003-04:00

Before I left the US for this adventure in Vietnam, I asked those in my life who I greatly respect and who have had international work experience, what I could expect during my time overseas. I received a lot of great advice, but the message I kept hearing repeatedly was: "take success in the small things".

While I understood this saying to mean that work would be very challenging and different in comparison to work at home in the states and that I should be appreciative of the small strides that I make along the way, I can honestly say that I didn't fully comprehend this phrase until recently.

Reflecting on my time working aboard thus far, there have been many, many times that have been incredibly frustrating and discouraging as I faced a number of seemingly relentless mountains including lack of resources, people unwilling to change and an entirely foreign business context.

However, there have also been times in which case I have reveled in the small successes along the way -- discovering that those who seemed completely unwilling to change are sometimes the most enthusiastic about learning and change once they truly understand and appreciate the importance of it, landing a sizable international order that has allowed us to begin to rebuild the handicraft portion of our business (see photos below of the recycled telephone wire jewelry we sold to a Canadian wholesaler), teaching others about business and marketing and watching as they understand and eagerly apply what they have learned to their jobs.

I know that there will be more challenges around the corner, but I think the challenges I have already experienced as well as those I will experience in the future will only make the successes that much sweeter when they do occur.

So, I will keep enduring the challenges and taking success in the small things as they come.

An Indulgent Weekend

2010-08-11T03:40:00.003-04:00

I enjoy living in the slower-paced, beautiful and provincial city of Hue, but sometimes it is nice to get away for a bit to the ever-bustling and vibrant city of Hanoi and its plethora of modern niceties that I miss from home -- especially as it pertains to the many varieties of food that I miss. I know, I know...it is sad, but true that I really do enjoy my food.

Let me first say that I do like a wide variety of Vietnamese food, especially that found in Hue city, including fresh pork grilled spring rolls dipped in sweet and spicy peanut sauce, marinated pork barbeque with fresh rice noodles and chili, spicy and savory fish noodle soup, sweet yogurt drink with fresh cut strawberries, the best iced green tea I have ever had and ever-so-sweet Vietnamese coffee.

However, that being said, I do sometimes crave Haribo gummy bears, sharp cheddar cheese, spicy crackers, decadent chocolate desserts, garlic mashed potatos, grilled chicken breast marinated in red wine sause, yummy Indian food, sausage/egg/cheese breakfast burrito, a heaping salad of fresh greens with chicken strips and creamy balsamic dressing, American coffee....etc, etc, etc. I really could keep going on and on when it comes to food! Anyway, I am happy to say that I was able to have all of the above mentioned items and more during my last visit to Hanoi.

While the purpose of my visit was to act as a volunteer rep for the VSO advisory council and to meet with my partner organization (which I did responsibly), I must say that one of the key highlights of the trip was getting to indulge in some of the fabulous food I miss from home. I also got to spend time with some volunteer friends in Hanoi that I have not seen in quite some time as well as become acquainted with new volunteers that have recently arrived in country. Additionally, I was able to see some of the tourist sites that I had not had the opportunity to experience previously including a famous temple in downtown Hanoi and the water puppet theatre.

All in all, it was a nice, relaxing and indulgent trip. Now, I am content to be back in Hue enjoying my fresh spring rolls, fish noodle soup and pork barbeque for the time being.

A Busy, Busy But Good Week

2010-08-02T02:33:00.005-04:00

This past week, my dear VSO friend from Hanoi, Pat, was in Hue to conduct some disability mainstreaming courses both with the Hope Center staff and with representatives from the Hue government and NGO communities. The training was focused upon providing participants with a better understanding of disability challenges in Vietnam as well as working together to develop solutions and best practices concerning working effectively with people with disabilities.

In addition to the busy work week, we also made sure we had some time for fun too, including a motorbike ride into the countryside, lots of opportunities for good food and a weekend trip to Hoi An this past weekend.

It was so nice to have Pat here and it was a good week. Although, it was also really, really busy and I am now happy for a few quieter days on my own in Hue working at the Hope Center before I head back up to Hanoi Thursday through Sunday for more work and play.

Work Trip in the Northern Provinces

2010-07-17T11:50:00.005-04:00

This past week, I traveled with representatives from my partner organization, VVAF, to some of the provinces north of Hanoi, Nam Dinh and Thai Binh. The main purpose of the trip was to assess proposed business ventures of some of the disabled associations in these provinces in terms of feasibility and long-term sustainability. The goal is for these organizations to be capable of generating their own funding long-term rather than relying heavily upon external donors, such as VVAF.

I was asked to tag along on the trip to provide advice to VVAF on the proposed plans based on my business background. I was excited to participate and to have an opportunity to travel outside of the city to see rural Vietnamese life, but I was a little unsure as to what to expect.

The first day we traveled by car to Nam Binh to meet with one of the provincial disabled association and hear more about some of their proposed business ventures which included expanding the capacity of an existing operation -- raising chickens, ducks, fish and fruit trees -- as well as starting some new projects -- raising bonsai trees and constructing handicrafts. The association was incredibly gracious of our time and appreciative of our advice. In addition to discussing their proposals at the office, we also traveled offsite to some of the locations in which the ventures would be carried out as well as ate Vietnamese food at a local restaurant.

That same night we headed to Thai Binh and had a little time to relax after a busy day in Nam Binh including getting an AMAZING head massage and facial, shopping for shoes and eating yummy roasted chicken and noodles.

The following morning we resumed our business assessment with the Thai Binh disabled people club. During this particular meeting, I became slightly overwhelmed as they presented many, many proposals within a short timeframe. I was trying hard to put all of the pieces together and ask probbing questions about these plans, all while piecing together information through one of the staff members, who graciously served as my interpreter during the meetings, as well as looking at the plans -- of course, all in Vietnamese. However, despite this fact, I think we still had a good visit and, fortunately, I will get an opportunity to look at the plans later on in English and provide additional feedback.

Overall, the trip was very enjoyable. It was nice having the opportunity to travel outside of Hue for a few days to conduct some field work with other organizations in which case VVAF currently works.

I think it is always exciting to be a part of projects that are designed to help people help themselves. I truly hope these disabled organizations will learn to be self-sufficient and sustainable in time -- which is my same desire for the Hope Center.

Hope Center Trip to the Beach

2010-07-17T11:27:00.002-04:00

About four times a year the Hope Center employees take a break from sowing garments and constructing handicrafts to participate in a company wide fun day of some kind. Recently, our fun outing consisted of a trip to the beach about an hour's drive from Hue.

The children were so excited to have a day of fun, food and time in the water. And the beach we visited was just beautiful and uncrowded.

Below are a few pictures from the trip:

Resortmania

2010-07-15T09:36:00.005-04:00

I had heard Phuket described as Resortmania before my visit and I have to say that I agree with this assessment completely. It was the ultimate place for someone to go who is looking for lots of beautiful beaches, a plethora of restaurants and tourist attractions, very hospitable Thai people and handicraft shopping galore.

Despite the many touristy elements though, I did enjoy my visit to Phuket. We took a boat excursion to the Phi Phi islands for a day, lounged on the beach, experienced a Thai massage, ate some delicious food, bought a few Thai handicraft souvenirs and just relaxed for a few days.

However, I think I am starting to suffer from over exposure to beautiful beaches. Sounds strange, but beaches that look like they came straight from a postcard and would have normally made my jaw drop are starting to become very familiar. For example, I watched as the other tourists on our day trip to the Phi Phi islands continually exclaimed how beautiful each beach was while I was thinking, this is very pretty but I've seen similar landscape in Vietnam that is less populated by tourists.

I know, I know -- I have a really hard time living in Vietnam as a volunteer getting to experience all of these amazing beaches. In a little while, I will post another blog of the beautiful beach the Hope Center visited a few weeks ago as a part of our quarterly field trip -- not to rub it in, or anything :)

All Things Thai

2010-07-15T08:49:00.005-04:00

Last week I traveled with one of my Vietnamese friends to Thailand, a country I have wanted to visit for quite some time. This was spurred by my love for Thai food, the many cultural facets that this land holds and the fact that Thailand has a strong reputation for people who are warm and hospitable.

We first arrived in Bangkok to spend a few days exploring the capital city. I have to say that I was a little uneasy about visiting here given the recent political unrest. However, we felt very safe the whole time and we really enjoyed our visit. It was a little strange though walking right by the complex where the bombing took place and seeing the new construction already taking place with signage about peace in Thailand. We also visited the art center which included a reflection display concerning the recent actions in Bangkok. I truly do hope that lasting peace will find its way with this country.

The Thai food was amazing, the Thai massages were a unique, sometimes painful, but overall relaxing experience and the temples were truly larger than life. We visited the Emerald Buddha and Reclining Buddha temple complexes and it really was unlike anything I have ever experienced before -- incredibly ornate and elegant gold and emerald buildings. The people were also very friendly and welcoming everywhere we went.

There was a whole section of downtown Bangkok devoted to large shopping complexes. My friend was keen to check out the shopping aspect of Bangkok so this was one area that we visited. There were signs for "sales" everywhere. The funny thing was that even with discounts as high as 90 percent, the prices still seemed very high. It certainly made me appreciate the shopping experience in the US.

We traveled around town by the SkyTran, similar to a monorail, and by boat, both of which offered us unique and beautiful views of the city. We also visited the tallest tower in the center of Bangkok and got another spectacular view of the entire city.

All in all, I left with a very favorable impression of Bangkok.

Next stop -- Phuket for some beach time.

More Pictures - Friends Visit to Hue

2010-06-30T10:42:00.006-04:00

Even though it was extremely hot during the timeframe that my Florida friends were in Hue, we still managed to have a lot of fun -- singing kareoke, learning how to cook Vietnamese food and taking a motorbike tour to some of the city's highlights.

Below are a few more pictures from their Hue trip:

And The Heat Is On

2010-06-29T10:23:00.003-04:00

In the months leading up to the hot Hue summer, I was warned repeatedly by my friends that I needed to prepare myself for the extremely hot June, July and August in Hue.

"This will be the hottest summer you have ever experienced," they would tell me. "I'm from Florida," was always my reply, as I laughed aloud.

But, WOW I am definitely not the one laughing now -- I was completely unprepared for the hottest summer I have ever experienced. And, I am not even kidding. The heat index makes it feel like a boiling sauna. This factor combined with daily power cuts (i.e. no fans or air conditioning during these periods) make it pretty hard to bare.

My poor Floridian friends who recently visited me in Hue got to experience the heat full force, along with the daily power cuts. We kept laughing about how their experience in Vietnam was truly "authentic".

So, here is my advice on surviving the hot, hot Hue heat (many of these were practiced multiple times during my friends' visit) along with some pictures for illustration:

1) Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate and then Hydrate Some More -- you can never have too many cold drinks in this weather. One day, we literally stopped at four different fruit drink stands within an hour and a half

2) Locate the Air Conditioning -- with daily power outages, sometimes you just want to find a place in town that has nice, cold air conditioning. This past Saturday, after spending several hours in the sun, my friends and I sat at an air-conditioned bookstore for about 3 hours to fully cool off

3) Ice Cream is a GREAT, GREAT Thing -- fortunately for me, there are many, many places in Hue to get really good ice cream which helps you feel cool for a little while

4) Go Swimming as Often as Possible -- My friend Hang and I have made swimming a weekly ritual

5) Be Positive -- It is really, really hot here right now, but I'm trying to stay positive. I am sure once the rainy season hits after summer ends, I will be wishing for the heat again.

Phu Quoc Island

2010-06-24T09:17:00.005-04:00

Prior to visiting Phu Quoc island, I had read that this destination is a beautiful, relaxing beach getaway -- a few years ago, one of the beaches on the island was voted one of the top in the world -- but without all of the crowds you find at most big beach destinations. The island did not disappoint on this front. It was beautiful, calming and incredibly, almost unbelievably, uncrowded.

It was the low season, meaning that it rained a little throughout our stay -- which also enabled us to get such a great deal at our fantastic resort! However, this did not put a damper on our trip as we were still able to take a boat excursion to go fishing and snorkeling (I think this is probably one of the few locations in the world in which case you can get RIGHT next to the coral and see tons of tropical fish -- very neat experience!), lounge by the beach and pool at our resort while eating some amazing Vietnamese and Western food and rent a car to visit the major sites around the island including a pepper farm, the museum and a waterfall.

This was just the experience that I needed after a few busy, busy days in HCMC -- before I had to return straight to work upon arrival back in Hue.

Floridians Invade HCMC

2010-06-24T08:09:00.007-04:00

My first experience in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) occurred in April when I traveled down south with my interpreter and supervisor for Vietnam's largest handicraft exhibition. While I certainly enjoyed my time at the Expo and I liked getting to experience the unique vibe of this particular Vietnamese city, I walked away with the predominant impression that HCMC is very crowded, busy and industrial.

So, when my friends arrived in HCMC from the US last week, I was very excited to see them but a little unsure as to whether or not HCMC would be a good place to vacation for a few days. I have to say that after spending a few more days in this city, solely dedicated to sightseeing, the city has certainly won me over. While it is very busy and crowded, it also has an elegant charm, the people are friendly and there are many beautiful sites to see in and around the city.

Highlights of the trip: taking a speedboat tour to the fascinating Cu Chi tunnels (an underground, VERY small tunnel network utilized in the Vietnam war), floating down the Mekong Delta in a paddle boat, experiencing lots and lots of really good food -- and lots of varieties! and visiting museums and the major monuments in District 1.

Slight downsides of the trip: my prescription sunglasses sinking to the bottom of the muddy Mekong Delta (good thing they have really cute, knock off sunglasses to act as temporary replacements), almost having my purse snatched (fortunately, I managed to hold on super tight and avoid what would have been a very bad situation) and being talked into seeing a Vietnamese Opera by two college music majors (the upside was that we got to leave early:)

After spending three action-packed days in HCMC, we headed to Phu Quoc Island for some down time on the beach.

Reflections

2010-06-06T03:04:00.002-04:00

It is hard to believe that I have been living in Vietnam for nearly 5 months! In fact, this Friday will mark my 5 month anniversary here exactly. It seems like I have been here for a lot longer than 5 months and yet, at the same time, it feels like my adventures only just began yesterday.

In reflecting on my time here, below is a summary of the key lessons I have learned on my journey so far, in no certain order:

1) Relationships, Relationships, Relationships - Building strong rapport and developing relationships with others is essential in any working environment, no matter what the context. Working in another country has reaffirmed for me yet again how important this concept is -- it has been challenging working in an environment that is far different from what I am accustomed to, but by focusing on building relationships with people first, I have gained the respect and trust of my colleagues which has slowly paved the way for action and change to take place. This is so important regardless of the cultural context, and yet, too often in the West, we focus first on efficiency and second on relationships. Many times, in order to be effective and efficient, we need to think first about building solid relationships.

2) Things are just things - Living here has taught me to focus less on the physical things of this world that will come and go and depreciate over time and to focus more time and energy on the people in my life and my relationship with God.

3) Change is a process - Change doesn't happen over night -- it requires planting many, many seeds and taking many, many small steps and actions in order to make incremental alterations that are also sustainable. I guess this is something that I've understood in theory, but working in a new cultural context has put this concept into a whole new perspective for me!

4) Chopsticks can be very useful and fun - When I first started using chopsticks I was so clumsy -- providing a constant source of entertainment for my Vietnamese friends here. However, I have actually gotten the hang of using these eating utensils and think I will miss eating with them a lot when I return home.

5) Riding a bike is a great way to get around - I really, really enjoy my bike, which is funny because when I first arrived I thought those around me were crazy for choosing to ride around on an open bike in the frantic traffic here. However, after much practice and experience on my bike, I really enjoy the freeing feeling I get aboard my bike with the wind whipping across my face as I ride around the beautiful city of Hue. And, the traffic patterns make much more sense and don't seem so frantic. Of course, this would definitely be a different story if I lived in a much more crowded Vietnamese city like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh!

6) I really can cope without - As I have grown up and lived in the West for the majority of my life, I have become accustomed to modern standards of living --- air conditioning, constant source of power, hot water, etc, etc. Yet, living here without the guarantee that I will have hot water, power and/or air conditioning on a given day, has helped me to realize that I really can handle living without these things. They are nice amenities to have, but they are not essential and God will certainly provide me with the endurance and stamina to face whatever He brings my way.

7) The power of patience and positive thinking - Living in a very foreign context, there are many things that happen here on a weekly and very often daily basis that are outside my control and not at all what I had planned for. While I cannot control many of these circumstances, I can control my attitude and whether or not I choose to exert patience. I have learned that patience and a positive attitude will go a LONG way in helping me to overcome whatever situation I am faced with.

8) The Vietnamese language can be very challenging - Unfortunately, after 5 months I have not made as much progress in this area as I would have liked. This is due in part to the fact that my Vietnamese friends many times laugh and say I sound "cute" when I try to practice -- not overly encouraging to someone learning a new language:) -- as well as to the fact that I have a translator at work in which case I don't often practice with my colleagues. However, I feel strongly that it is very important to try and learn the language of the culture you are living in -- so, I am still taking weekly Vietnamese classes and hopefully I will have improved to at least a very basic conversational level by the time I leave here.

9) God is in control - Above all the things I have learned here, living and working aboard has reaffirmed for me that God is in control: of both the present and the future. I will continually strive to seek His face for guidance as to my life in Vietnam during the remainder of my time here as well as to what plans he has for me in the future.

Unexpected Trip to Hanoi

2010-06-01T02:15:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I began working on my work permit and visa renewal process as my Vietnamese visa will expire at the beginning of July. There are many steps in the process that involve getting signatures and approvals from various Vietnamese offices. It actually can be quite confusing and a little complicated as the processes have to be carried out in a certain order.

This past Thursday afternoon I got a call from the VSO office stating I had to travel to Hanoi that very day in order to visit the US embassy the following morning as a part of my visa renewal process. I have to admit that at first I was a little frustrated as I had to rearrange my work and social schedule as well as make travel arrangements in a very narrow window of time.

Yet, the more I thought about the situation, the more I realized that I really am quite fortunate. With my visa renewal process it is not really a question of if my visa will be renewed and more a matter of how long it will take for the process to be completed. This is not the same case for many of my Vietnamese friends however. In general, it is very difficult for Vietnamese to travel, let alone work, abroad. There are quite a few feats they have to overcome to do so including very lengthy and quite strict visa procedures -- not to mention the high costs associated with traveling or working abroad, especially since the Vietnamese dong will not go as far in most countries.

So, last Thursday night I headed up to Hanoi, visited the US embassy and completed the next step in the process -- plus, I got to have some fun spending time with friends up there along the way. There are many more steps that need to be completed in order for my visa renewal process to be complete, but I will try very hard not to get frustrated or complain, as I realize I am very fortunate to be experiencing life abroad.

New Home

2010-05-22T03:38:00.002-04:00

A little over a month ago, my roommate and I moved to a new house as a result of the theft incident at our old location. While living in our previous home, I thought we were extremely blessed as our house was very nice, spacious and in a quiet neighborhood.

Yet, I must say that I really, really, really like our new house. The house is very new, homey and inviting. It is decorated in a European, modern way and I have a larger bedroom in this house with an air conditioning unit (a very important asset in the extremely hot summer months in Hue). We also have a nice view of the neighborhood from our rooftop terrace and our land lady is absolutely wonderful and speaks English very well which makes communication much easier. She lives right next door to us so she is very close for the times in which case we need to sort something house-related out.

God sure has a way of surprising us sometimes by providing us with even greater blessings then the ones we've already been given. I am very thankful for His provisions.

Family Visit to Asia - Part 3

2010-05-22T02:47:00.005-04:00

I have now spent over four months living and working in Vietnam which has included taking part in customs and traditions that are important to the Vietnamese, learning about Vietnamese cuisine and entertainment, trying to understand the Vietnamese way of business and just experiencing the culture in a variety of different facets -- one that is far different from own, I might add. I might also add that this in no way makes me an expert on Vietnamese culture -- not even close! -- but it does provide me with a lot of personal insight that one living in another culture could not derive just by reading in a book.

So, when my family arrived in Hue to better understand how I have been living and working here in Central Vietnam I was excited to be able to show them the "true Vietnamese experience" based upon my own familiarity with the culture thus far. Of course we visited the main tourist attractions including the citadel, a dragon boat ride down the Perfume River, the kings' tombs and shop for souvenirs. Yet, they also got to see where I live and work, meet my Vietnamese friends, take their first ride on a motorcycle with my friends in the Hue countryside and experience Vietnamese cuisine.

The three days my family spent in Hue past by all to quickly and before I knew it, the time had come for them to return to the US. It was definitely hard saying goodbye to them as my family is very close and we had an incredible trip together, but I know that Hue is the place that God has chosen me to be for this particular life season. So, I will keep on experiencing the Vietnamese culture in Hue, Vietnam as best I can and keep leaning on Him for direction and guidance.

Family Visit to Asia - Part 2

2010-05-22T02:29:00.003-04:00

After spending four busy days in Singapore, we headed to China Beach, a famous beach in Central Vietnam very close to the city of Da Nang to relax for a bit.

China Beach was quiet, peaceful and incredibly beautiful. The next few days on the beach were spent in total relaxation -- lounging by the pool, reading, eating, playing games...then more lounging by the pool, reading, eating....

It was so nice just to have a few "veg out" days and get to spend time together. I even introduced my family to Asian kareoke in which case each party has their individual room with a kareoke machine to belt out whatever song they wish to sing -- without having to worry about the embarrassment of getting up in front of a room full of strangers. They loved it!

We then rented a car to go to Hue and experienced very scenic and breathtaking landscaping along the way.

Family Visit to Asia - Part 1

2010-05-20T23:41:00.008-04:00

Last week I met my parents and sister in Singapore. I have been feeling a little homesick for the familiar these past few weeks, so I was really excited about getting to spend time with them.

When I arrived at the hotel in Singapore, they were already waiting in the hotel lobby in eager anticipation of my arrival with big, smiling faces. It felt so good just to be able to give them big hugs and catch up face to face. We spent the next four days touring around city including the night safari, the zoo, the botanical gardens, downtown, the MegaZip zip line (for those of you who have been watching this season of Amazing Race), Santosa Island and Little India.

In addition to all of the sights, Singapore also has some amazing food options, including lots and lots of Western places I have been crazing since I arrived in Vietnam. It is amazing how much you appreciate something when you no longer have the option to obtain it. I can tell you that I really, really appreciated my Starbucks java chip frappacino, yummy burger and fries at Hardrock and Chili's chips and salsa and quesadila explosion salad (my mouth is actually watering thinking about it now!)

Singapore has been a place I have wanted to visit for a long time and it didn't disappoint. The city was truly fascinating with its blend of people from a variety of different Asian cultures, the incredible modernness of the city set up, the cleanness of the surroundings ( no trash anywhere!) and the beauty of the architecture and the natural backdrops.

Relaxing Mountain Getaway

2010-05-04T07:58:00.007-04:00

After a few stressful weeks in Hue, including the theft, my illness and some work challenges, I was very excited that we had a four day holiday this past weekend.

I traveled up to Hanoi to see my friend Pat for a day and then we planned to head up to the mountains in Sapa. It was so strange to be back in the city after spending nearly three months in Hue. Walking around the familiar part of Tay Ho district in Hanoi and seeing some of my friends up there, it seemed like another lifetime ago that I first traveled to this bustling city and began my training. In some ways I feel like I have grown and accomplished so much in the short time that I have been in Vietnam and in some ways I feel like I have so far to go. Ever had that mixed feeling?

Pat and I booked a three day tour for our Sapa trip. It began on Friday night with the overnight train up to the mountains. We then took a scenic mountain tour up into the highlands of Sapa. Sapa itself reminds me very much of a cute little European town as it has a lot of French influence. In terms of the actual landscaping of Sapa though -- I cannot even begin to do justice to how unique and breathtaking it is. I suddenly felt as if I was in a completely different country.

Part of the tour that we booked included a local guide from one of the villages that trekked with us through some of the Sapa villages. Our tour guide spoke English extremely well, despite never having learned to read or write, and she was so friendly, informative and caring throughout the two days of trekking with us. Pat and I got extremely lucky in that we had the guide to ourselves so the entire tour was very personable and we didn't feel like tourists being herded around like cattle. She truly made the whole experience really memorable and special.

Coming back from Sapa, we had the unfortunate experience of having cockroaches in the train cabin. Oh well, I guess the entire trip couldn't be free of some "bugs".

Celebrating 26 Years In Vietnam

2010-04-21T09:06:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I celebrated my 26th birthday in Vietnam. Reflecting back on yesterday's events, I can say that my friends here truly went above and beyond to ensure that my birthday here was extra special. My translator and her mother made me a birthday cake, I ate some of my favorite Vietnamese food at a local restaurant and sang the night away at a Vietnamese kareoke joint. Not to mention the beautiful flowers and presents I received from my friends.

While ringing in my 26th year here definitely makes me miss being with those I care about most at home, last night, as I was surrounded by my newfound Vietnamese friends of a couple months, I could't help but feel incredibly blessed and fortunate to have developed such great connections in the short time since I've been in Hue.

I can only wait to see what unfolds in the coming weeks and months as my friendships deepend and I continue to meet new people.

Blessings in the Storm

2010-04-18T03:57:00.002-04:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks in which case a lot of things seemed to go wrong, one thing after another, kind of like a snowball effect? Well, I am just wrapping up one of those weeks and am very happy to be coming out of the tail end of the storm rather than just beginning it.

Last Friday night, I had the unfortunate experience of having several of my electric devices taken from my home. I was very upset and disturbed by the occurence, but man, God is so good. He knew just what I needed during this particular tragedy and provided me with the support, friendships, resources and strength I needed at just the right time. I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am for the incredible people I have in my life here who reached out to support me during the police visits, helping me search for another place to life, etc, etc.

Then a few days later, I caught a bad flu virus (probably from the lack of sleep and maximum stress) and God stepped right in again to provide me with the support I needed to get through the situation in the form of wonderful friends. My friends brought me meals, took me to the doctor, provided me with flowers, and the list goes on and on.

While I am certainly not glad that any of these unfortunate situations occurred, I am thankful that God used this opportunity to remind me yet again that He is sovreign, in control and will provide for my every need.

International Fireworks Festival

2010-04-04T10:47:00.005-04:00

Last weekend I traveled to the industrial city of Da Nang with some friends for the international fireworks festival. While there I had the opportunity to experience the major sights of the town including the beach and the city's famous pagoda as well as an array of restaurants. The firework displays were pretty cool as it was a competition and we were able to see the presentations of Vietnam, Japan and Portugal on Saturday night (with most of the other residents of Da Nang and the surrounding areas!).

It was nice to see a new Vietnamese city, but my visit to Da Nang definitely made me appreciate the beautiful city of Hue, my home for the next ten months, with its peaceful feeling and delicious variety of foods.

Below are some picture highlights from the trip:

Working Abroad

2010-03-31T04:13:00.003-04:00

Most of my blog posts thus far have focused on all of the fun things I have been experiencing in Vietnam outside the work arena. But, since I am actually here in Vietnam to volunteer as a business development advisor and many of you have been asking about how my work is going, I thought it only appropriate to dedicate a blog post to my actual work life.

Work thus far has been very challenging, but also very rewarding. There are many steep learning curves for me to overcome including understanding the Vietnamese business and government systems, the handicraft industry, the non-profit arena, the disability sector --- all while working with language barriers. I am also learning how to be more flexible, patient, resilient and resourceful in my quest to be an effective and contributing member at work.

But the rewards certainly balance out the obstacles --- I love interacting with the youth with disabilities at the center every day. They are incredibly fun, endearing and talented individuals. I love the challenge of working at a social enterprise that also has a business side and trying to determine how to effectively weave these seemingly opposite concepts effectively together. Additionally, I love the opportunity to share the skills that I have been blessed with through education and experience with those at the center.

Yesterday, I started my weekly marketing and business development 101 training course with the administration staff. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed teaching the material and even more surprised by how satisfied I felt at the conclusion of the interactive session when those who participated smiled and said that they had learned something. Wow - what a great feeling that I didn't expect to get from teaching a training class. I am excited to see how next week's training session goes.

Sometimes it is hard to visualize the way that things are without images (at least for me) so below are a few pictures of the center, the people and the center's products:

A Fun Weekend

2010-03-24T11:05:00.004-04:00

This past weekend, my dear VSO friend from Hanoi came down for a visit. Despite our age gap (she's in her 50s and I'm in my 20s) we really connect and always have such a good time together. This past weekend was no exception.

We had the opportunity to explore some true treasures of Hue that are a little off the beaten path including a colliseum arena where people of Hue's past would fight elephants and tigers (the elephants represented the monarch and the tigers represented rebellion so the elephants would always win the fight), a Japanese covered bridge situated in the beautiful, incredibly green countryside and a Chinese meeting house in the ancient part of Hue. In addition to these historical visits, we ate some yummy Vietnamese food, went to a Vietnamese/Western party at a high end hotel in town, went to English club, etc., etc. Needless to say, the weekend was action packed and enjoyable.

Below are some picture highlights from the weekend:

Visiting the Real Vietnam

2010-03-23T10:10:00.002-04:00

I have always loved traveling and experiencing the sights, tastes, sounds and smells that make a particular corner of the world a unique and different place from all the other places out there.

From a young age, I would look forward to family vacations and now, many, many years later, I remember with fondness the fun-filled trips we shared together: Colorado, Arizona, California, England.... And, as a teenager and now, as an adult, I have been fortunate to take part in many international adventures -- studying abroad in Oxford, participating in mission trips to Honduras and Jamaica, taking business class trips to Argentina and Italy. From all of these adventures, I got to see life from a different vantage point for a brief moment of time.

While my time in Vietnam is another opportunity for me to experience life from a different vantage point, this experience is quite different in that I am getting the unique chance to immerse myself in the culture rather than getting a tiny, little taste -- kind of like diving into the pool versus dipping your toe in the water.

I was thinking about this as I watched a pack of tourists with a Vietnamese guide this weekend. Their experiences here will most definitely be different from my own. While we both probably visited the citadel and took a dragon boat down the Perfume River, there are many things these tourists will probably not have the opportunity to partake in:

- Learning how to make a Vietnamese handicraft from a teenager with disabilities -- one of the sweetest, funniest and most talented teenagers I know
- Eating a variety of Vietnamese street food with my local friends
- Experiencing the wind whip through my hair as I drive to work every morning aboard my electric bike
- Singing my heart out with my friends at kareoke and trying desperately to sing a song in Vietnamese
- Visiting church every week and interacting with the church members who are so welcoming and encouraging....and also trying desperately to sing along with the church songs in Vietnamese :)
- Riding aboard my friend's motorbike to a beautiful place in Hue well off the beaten path
- Playing tien len, a very popular Vietnamese card game, with my friends and experiencing the sheer joy of beating them after they were confident I would lose big
- Practicing English each week with a college English club and seeing firsthand their dedication and enthusiasm for learning a new language

These are just some of the things I have come to love here. While there are certainly days that are frustrating and hard, I am truly loving experiencing the real Vietnam.

Getting Around Town in True Vietnamese Fashion

2010-03-14T01:35:00.003-05:00

Before I arrived in Vietnam, I read all about how the main form of transportation is by way of motorbike (or more like off roading/dirt type bikes for those reading this in the US) and I thought it would be really cool to learn how to drive a bike during my time overseas. However, when I first arrived and observed the unsystematic and very unfamiliar traffic patterns, I thought that there was no way I was ever going to drive a bike here, especially in a major metropolitan city like Hanoi. At first, I was very hesitant to cross the street as a pedestrian, let alone attempt to control a moving vehicle!

Yet, upon arriving in Hue, a much smaller and more manageable city, especially traffic wise, I began to rethink my initial hesitations and concerns. I slowly got used to the traffic patterns here as well as being transported around on my friends' motorbikes as a passenger (don't worry Mom -- I always choose to ride with safe drivers:). And, after a few weeks in Hue, I decided to invest in an electric bike, as my work place is several miles from my home and much too far to cycle to during the hot, summer months!

Learning how to drive an electric bike for the first time made me reflect on my days as a fifteen year old, nearly eleven years ago, when I first began driving a car. I can remember being so unsure and hesitant behind the wheel of a car. In the same way, I was a little tentative as I practiced the first few times on my bike (again, Mom -- don't worry!; I practiced far away from other drivers) and provided my local friends here with some good laughs at my expense as I timidly drove about 10 miles an hour down the street. However, after LOTS of practice and a few weeks of driving, I am happy to say that I now feel very comfortable on the road, although I always drive much slower than the locals :)

My electric bike operates very much like the motorbikes here, except it runs on a battery and I have to charge it every 40 k or so. It is nice to not have to worry about the language barrier in the instance of getting gasoline every week for my bike, but we shall see how high our electricity bill is at the end of the month!

Yes, there are actually heart and doll graphics on my bike. Since one is not legally able to operate a true motorbike until he/she is eighteen, most of the people who drive electric bikes here are teenagers (or foreigners!), hence the teenage-like decorations.

Becoming a Vietnamese Bridesmaid

2010-02-28T10:35:00.004-05:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to truly experience the Vietnamese culture as it relates to weddings. One of my new friends here invited me to take part in her wedding as a bridesmaid! When she asked me, I was thrilled and honored that she wanted to include me in her wedding party.

Vietnamese weddings usually consist of a bride's party at a restaurant or hotel, complete with entertainment, singing and lots of food. The following weekend, there is a ceremony that takes place, first at the bride's home and then at the groom's home, with the family members. After the ceremonies conclude, the groom's party takes place at another restaurant or hotel, complete with entertainment, singing and lots more food. There were about 350 people at the bride's party and nearly 600 people at the groom's party.

As a bridesmaid, I wore the traditional Vietnamese dress called an ao dai (see pictures below) and followed the bride around all day in order to take care of anything she needed. It was a bit challenging at times as all of instructions during the ceremonies were given in Vietnamese and unfortunately my understanding of the language is still very limited. Fortunately, I was able to rely heavily on the other bridesmaid, who speaks English very well, to ensure that I was following orders correctly.

It was so nice to be able to take part in a Vietnamese wedding. The bride and groom's families were both so welcoming of me and made me feel as though I was a member of the family. I truly enjoyed my time as bridesmaid here and feel honored that I had the opportunity to take part in this sacred tradition.

At the bride's party

The bride and I right before the ceremonies began

My escort and I

The other bridesmaid and I along with her cousin and sister

At the groom's party

Making New Friends

2010-02-28T10:21:00.005-05:00

I feel very fortunate in that I have been able to make some great friends here in the short time since I have been in Hue -- and I continue to meet more and more people each week! The only problem is that most of them want to practice their English which means that my Vietnamese is not improving as quickly as I would like. Nevertheless though, I feel blessed by these new friendships as I am never in want for something to do and I am truly getting to experience the Vietnamese culture.

Below are some recent photos of myself and some of my new friends here:

On the way to a soccer match

Visiting a pagoda

Learning how to make Vietnamese spring rolls

Dancing!

My translator and I

Hoi An Pictures

2010-02-28T04:08:00.003-05:00

Since I was unable to include images of Hoi An in my last post due to space, I wanted to include some here as they are certainly worth viewing:

Tet Holiday

2010-02-28T03:39:00.004-05:00

Tet is the biggest holiday here in Vietnam and it just so happened that the incoming volunteers, including myself, arrived at our placements just two weeks before this week long celebration began. So, if you can think about beginning a new job in the US just before Christmas break, you can imagine that diving full speed ahead into my placement was a little bit challenging with all of the hustle and bustle going on at my work place.

However, I am so glad that I arrived in Vietnam at this time because I was able to take part in the most important Vietnamese holiday of the year. The annual Tet holiday celebrates togetherness, both with family and friends, as the new lunar calendar starts anew. On New Year's Eve, people celebrate this holiday similar to the calendar New Year's Eve that we celebrate at home, complete with large parties and fireworks at midnight. Then, on the first day of Tet (the following day) people spend time with their families. The remaining days of Tet are spent visiting the homes of friends and welcoming others to your own home in celebration of the new lunar year.

One of the other VSO volunteers came down to visit over the Tet holiday which was quite fun. When she first arrived, we spent the afternoon at the citadel which was absolutely amazing to witness, even though part of it was destroyed in the war. I can only imagine what it looked like in its full glory! We then spent New Year's Eve in downtown Hue and watched the fireworks at midnight with one of my new friends here. The first day of Tet (when most people are celebrating with their families), we took a dragon boat tour down the beautiful Perfume River and visited several tombs and pagodas. The following day, we had the opportunity to visit several homes of my new friends here, including my line manager and my translator. At each home they were extremely welcoming and offered us tea, fruit and candies which is all part of the Tet tradition.

The remaining days of Tet, the visiting volunteer from Hanoi and I traveled to Hoi An for a few days. Hoi An is known for its hand sewing establishments and its quaint, historic streets. We enjoyed our time there experiencing the history, eating some great food and even doing a little bit of shopping.

Needless to say, I had a great Tet holiday here in Vietnam!

Below are some pictures from my holiday:

Citadel in Hue city

Visiting one of my new friends with the volunteer from Hanoi during Tet

The beautiful Perfume River

Dragon boat on the Perfume River

Two volunteers and myself experiencing the culture on New Year's Eve

Home for the Next Year

2010-02-26T08:59:00.002-05:00

The other VSO volunteer and I recently moved into our new home for the next year. We are extremely fortunate in that the other volunteer's line manager owns the house we are renting and she gave us a great deal. Otherwise, there is no way we would be able to afford the very nice house we are living in on our volunteer allowances!

The house is three stories with three bedrooms and four bathrooms. It is very spacious and open, complete with several balconies that offer a nice view of the neighborhood. It is situated in a quiet residential area so it is nice and peaceful. At the same time though, it is fairly close to the center of town which makes getting around fairly easy. Plus, one of my new friends lives just across the street, so I have designated him our house handyman :)

The only downside is that our home is too far for my roommate and I to cycle to our respective workplaces each day, especially during the summer months. So, we each decided to invest in electric bicycles (very similar to motorbikes, but they run on a battery and you do not need a license) as we felt it was worth it to live in such a nice facility. I will write more about my adventures thus far on my bike soon, as that is another story altogether :)

Needless to say, we feel very blessed with our accommodation.

Reconnected

2010-02-26T08:39:00.003-05:00

I apologize my communication has been very sparse the past couple of weeks. It is certainly not due to a lack of activities and adventures taking place here in Vietnam. Unfortunately, my internet access has been very limited which has made it difficult to keep you updated.

I am happy to report though that I now have wifi at my new house so my blogs will be coming much more frequently! In fact, I will be posting several over the next few days in an effort to catch you up on the many things taking place here.

But first, I promised a few photos of Hue in my last posting:

My First Week In Hue

2010-02-05T00:35:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow will mark my one week anniversary in Hue, my home for the next year. Sitting here at the computer, reflecting on the past week, it is hard to believe all that has occurred since I arrived last Saturday night.

When the other VSO volunteer and I landed at the airport in Hue on Saturday, our employers and translators were waiting outside the terminal with flowers in hand. They took us to eat at a nice Vietnamese restaurant in town and truly treated us as honored guests.

The accommodating gestures didn't stop there! On Sunday, our translators took us around the city and showed us some of the highlights of a truly beautiful and peaceful town. That night I went to a Vietnamese mass with my translator. Unfortunately, with my limited knowledge of Vietnamese, I was unable to pick up most of what was happening throughout the service, but I can say that the singing was absolutely beautiful.

My first week at the vocational training center for children with disabilities has been great as well. I have spent this week just getting acclimmated with my coworkers and the center's activities. My coworkers and the children are so friendly and accommodating. I have to keep reminding them that I am here to work alongside them and that they can treat me as a member of the staff -- they are continually checking on me to ensure that I am ok and that I have had enough to eat.

The major challenge at work will be communication. My translator is absolutely wonderful, but is it difficult not being able to communicate directly with my coworkers in a effective manner. Hopefully, the more time I am immersed in the Vietnamese culture, the better my Vietnamese will become (at least I hope so!)

In addition to learning more about the center, this week I learned how to make a bamboo basket (with a little bit of added help from some of the children at the center!), played soccer, practiced a little bit of Vietnamese and took part in a graduation ceremony at the school. I also sang kareoke and had some good Vietnamese food.

This weekend, I am going to learn how to ride a motorbike, go dancing and possibly go to a soccer match.

Now, if the other VSO volunteer and I can simply secure a house here, life will be grand.

I will post some pictures of Hue when I get better access to the internet.

Tam biet! (Good bye)

Farewell Hanoi, Hello Hue

2010-01-28T09:59:00.007-05:00

It is hard to believe that I have been in Hanoi for nearly three weeks and that tomorrow will conclude the training portion of my placement. Looking back to when I arrived on the 11th, I feel as though I have been here for a few months rather than just a few short weeks.

Tonight my current roommate and I took a bus into the city, had dinner at a nice cafe by one of the many lakes in Hanoi, and walked around a part of the city we had not yet experienced. We felt very comfortable getting on and off the buses, exploring the city, chatting with locals and crossing the streets. This is a far cry from the nervous and slightly hesitant persona that I brought with me just a few short weeks ago.

I feel as though I have grown tremendously already since I arrived (it is amazing what can unfold when you do not let fear stop you!). In my time here in Hanoi, I have begun developing great friendships, picked up a little bit of the Vietnamese language, eaten some truly fantastic food, tried my hand at Vietnamese karaoke and card games, and explored just the tip of this fantastic city. I certainly look forward to coming back and visiting in the months to come!

While I will certainly miss being in Hanoi, a city that is extremely vibrant and alive with energy, I am looking forward to getting settled into my placement in Hue. After my wrap up Vietnamese lessons tomorrow and a going away party tomorrow night, I will be headed for Hue by plane on Saturday morning.

A few final pictures of Hanoi below including yummy Vietnamese street food and downtown Hanoi at night time:

My next posting will be in Hue! Xin Chao!

More Hanoi Pictures from the Weekend

2010-01-24T19:04:00.002-05:00

Some Things Familiar, Some Things New

2010-01-23T10:04:00.004-05:00

The second week of in country training has flown by and I cannot believe that next Saturday I will be leaving for my placement in Hue!

While I am enjoying drinking in the culture here, this past week I found myself drawn to things that remind me of home. For instance, one night two other volunteers and I decided to try and find our way to downtown Hanoi using the bus system and our limited understanding of the Vietnamese language. It was certainly an adventure as we got turned around quite a few times and the heart of downtown Hanoi was bustling with motorbikes going every which way and shop owners trying to offer their merchandise to us. However, the highlight of this particular night was when one of the volunteers and I spotted a KFC and excitedly started running toward the restaurant (without even bothering to ask the other volunteer -- who happens to be a vegetarian -- whether or not she cared if we stopped in!).

Also, last night I went to see a theatre production of Beauty and the Beast which was performed by an international theatre society, largely composed of expats. The play was very entertaining and funny! It was nice to be able to see this production of a story that has been familiar to me from childhood while living halfway across the world from home.

Even though I have thoroughly enjoyed my brief encounters with things familiar, I have also been delighted with my new experiences as well -- like my home visit to a Vietnamese family today. I got to spend the day with one of the VSO staff members and her family. This included getting to ride across town as a passenger on a motorbike, learning about cooking a Vietnamese meal, practicing my Vietnamese (I still have a LONG way to go!), conversing with the family, visiting a pagoda and visiting extended family members of this particular staff member. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and can certainly better understand how important family is to the Vietnamese culture. They take the time to eat together, talk together, etc. They were also so welcoming to me and truly treated me like an honored guest in their home!

As I encounter things that remind me of home as well as accumulate new adventures, I am beginning to learn how to better weave my own cultural background and comforts with my new adventurous life in Vietnam. I am sure it will be an ongoing process as I begin my placement!

Second Week in Vietnam

2010-01-19T07:39:00.006-05:00

So, I have begun my second full week in Vietnam and it is going well so far. My Vietnamese is progressing and I am finding that the structure is fairly simple once one better understands proper pronunciation and starts to build a vocabulary. I have been practicing whenever possible and I think many of the vendors and restaurant wait staff are beginning to understand what I am trying to say. When I first began to try and speak what I had just learned in Vietnamese lessons to the locals, I would often receive blank looks in return. Therefore, I would say that being understand a little bit is great progress :)

I had my first experience on a motorbike yesterday which was quite exciting. I rode with one of my new Vietnamese friends at the office, Ngan (or Money as I have been calling her -- the literal translation -- since I have trouble pronouncing the "ng" correctly) , and she took me around for a little while. It was nice but a little bit scary (although she was driving especially slow for me, so I can only imagine what it will be like when someone is going full speed!).

Also, I have had the chance to experience a few bia hois or a Vietnamese version of a local pub. They serve fresh beer made daily and light snacks. They are quite nice, although we have received a few funny looks as most of the people who frequent these types of establishments are men.

This weekend, each new VSO volunteer will be spending a full day with a local Vietnamese family, so I am excited about that. We are also planning to go to the theatre to see Beauty and the Beast and possibly go bowling.

All in all, I am really enjoying my time here and cannot wait to see what unfolds over the next year.

Below are a few recent photos taken in Hanoi:

On the motorbike with Ngan

The other VSO volunteers with face masks, a common practice in Vietnam when riding on motorbikes

Ha Long Bay

2010-01-17T04:29:00.005-05:00

The incoming VSO volunteers had this weekend free from training sessions so Pat, my current VSO roommate, Zulekha, my future VSO roommate in Hue, and I booked a travel tour to Ha Long Bay as everyone has been talking about how beautiful it is. We booked a tour that included transportation to and from Ha Long Bay, boat travel, lodging on the boat and meals -- it was very nice to not have to worry about where we were going or what we were going to eat next!

The journey to Ha Long Bay took approximately three hours from Hanoi. Ha Long Bay is a big tourist destination in Vietnam so it was somewhat strange to see so many tourists and foreigners when we arrived (I am beginning to become accustomed to being a minority in Hanoi). There were about ten passengers aboard the ship and six crew members. The boat itself was fairly nice and included about ten cabins, an eating area and an upstairs deck.

Ha Long Bay itself was absolutely breathtaking! I have posted some photos below for reference, but I am afraid they do not quite do the bay justice. Words cannot describe how magical this place seemed. Once we got into the bay itself, we were able to tour some of the caverns and kayak around the bay. Kayaking was really neat as we got to experience the bay up close and also better see the community of Vietnamese people that live aboard house boats in the bay.

Apart from viewing the bay though, one of my favorite parts occurred when Pat and I began playing cards with all of the crew members after dinner on Saturday. They taught us how to play some popular Vietnamese games and we taught them how to play Go Fish. Even though there were some language barriers, we were still able to connect with them through laugher and fun -- it was also a great time to practice our Vietnamese, especially since we just learned the Vietnamese numbers last week.

While this weekend was very fun, I am now pretty worn out and plan to take it easy tonight before another busy week of training begins tomorrow.

Our boat in Ha Long Bay

Some of My First Vietnamese Experiences

2010-01-13T08:00:00.003-05:00

So, I have now been in Hanoi for two full days and am starting to get over the jet lag. I haven't really noticed though as I am really enjoying taking in the culture here and my excitement level is high.

The program staff has been very accommodating and so friendly; I am enjoying getting to know them much. Yesterday, they helped us obtain local SIM cards so that our phones can work here (although I am unable to call/text through to the US) and we are going to open bank accounts tomorrow. We also began Vietnamese lessons today. Our teacher is very patient and kind although I think progress will be a bit slow as the language is so tonal; if a work is pronounced slightly differently it becomes a different word altogether. However, I am determined to keep trying to improve even if my pronunciation isn't perfect at first.

The traffic seems very chaotic as there are motorbikes, buses and cars going every which way at all times of the day. It is very different from the US, but it seems to work quite well here. As a pedestrian though, it will just take some getting used to as people just begin crossing the street and the traffic simply goes around. It definitely takes a leap of faith at first!

I am loving all of the food here a lot, even though it is very different than what I am used to. Vietnamese food is so fresh and I am getting along ok so far with chopsticks. I have had shrimp and potato pancakes, crab spring rolls, Vietnamese soup and lots of fresh vegetables. The restaurant at the hotel serves noodle soup for breakfast which I really like, even though I never imagined having noodles at breakfast time. Also, many of the Vietnamese restaurants here have set prices for a given amount of people and they then just bring out dish after dish to share rather than one dish per person.

Tomorrow we continue Vietnamese lessons are planning to begin practicing our language skills in the city with our teacher on Friday.

More to come soon!

First Day In Vietnam!

2010-01-12T05:22:00.006-05:00

I just arrived in Vietnam late last night after two LONG days of traveling. While I am still very tired and recovering from the long journey, I absolutely love it here so far! The people are so friendly and hospitable and the city of Hanoi is so alive and beautiful -- I cannot wait to go exploring!

I will be based here in Hanoi, the capital city, for the next three weeks as I complete my training at the Vietnam VSO office. We went to visit the Vietnam museum this afternoon which was a very neat and fascinating history lesson and are going to dinner with other VSO volunteers based in Hanoi this evening.

Before are a few photos I have taken so far:

View from the hotel restaurant at breakfast

Vietnam museum we visited today

My roommate in Hanoi and I at the museum

View from my hotel window

I will post more soon!

Tomorrow Is The Day!

2010-01-09T20:14:00.003-05:00

So, tomorrow morning bright and early is the first official day of my Vietnam adventure!

I am getting up at the crack of dawn (or more like WAY before the sun comes up!) to begin my journey to Hanoi, Vietnam. I will be traveling from Orlando to Newark, Newark to Beijing (14 hour flight!) and then finally from Beijing to Hanoi (another 5.5 hour flight!). I will finally land in Hanoi at 10:00 pm Monday night.

While it is definitely hard to believe that the day has finally arrived and that I am actually getting onto the plane tomorrow, I am so excited to see what my life will be like in Vietnam after I have spent several months just dreaming about it.

Thank you all for your incredible support and encouragement! I feel so blessed to have such a great network of family and friends.

I will plan to post later on this week once I arrive in Hanoi for my in country training. Thanks for coming along for the journey by way of this blog.

Final Preparations

2010-01-06T19:58:00.004-05:00

I just learned on Monday that there was a bit of a miscommunication with the Vietnam Program Office concerning my expected arrival date. So, that means I will now be leaving early morning on January 10th rather than tomorrow.

While I am anxious to get there and learn more about this adventure that I signed up for, I am actually glad for the few extra days in which to get everything in order. There are so many little details involved with leaving the country for a year -- notifying my banks, making sure all of my accounts are in order before I leave, my tax forms, phone, etc, etc. Not to mention the HUGE task of packing the right items for this journey, especially when I am only able to bring ONE suitcase!! For those of you who know me well, you know that I am the world's worst packer -- I tend to prepare for any instance that might occur on a trip which usually results in me taking the largest suitcase possible.

For this trip, however, I have had to approach the task of packing a little differently. So, I am trying to fit as many clothes as possible into my not-large-enough suitcase (I've heard rolling helps, right?). This trip is also different in that I also have to prepare for a large array of medical "emergencies" that could arise on my travels as well -- vitamins, antibiotics, antimalarials, etc. etc. which also makes packing everything into one suitcase quite a feat. And let's not forget the motorcycle helmet I am also bringing since motorbikes are a common form of transportation in Vietnam.

Oh well, I guess I will manage. One thing is for sure -- packing for this trip has certainly made me grateful for all of the blessings that I have here in the US. I am sure I will learn to be grateful for many more things along the way as well!

January 7th Is Fast Approaching!!!

2009-12-27T19:54:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe that in a little over a week I will begin my overseas adventure in Vietnam by way of a couple of LONG plane rides!

On one hand, I am incredibly excited and a little in awe that God has opened the doors wide for me to take part in something that has been on my heart for several years -- to serve in business development in a developing nation. It seems as though this volunteer placement was hand picked for me as I will get to serve in a capacity that is nearly perfectly aligned with my professional skill sets. I will also have the unique opportunity to completely immerse myself in an all-new cultural experience.

On the other hand, I am also very nervous and apprehensive as I am putting myself in a situation that holds many unknown variables and immersing myself in a culture that is far from my own. I am also going to be expected to complete some very big tasks with the Vietnam Veterans in a fairly short time frame while dealing with a foreign culture and language. Not only that, but I am going to be away from my family and friends for a whole year!

Despite my nervous jitters though, I am confident that Vietnam is where I need to be for the next year and ready for the adventure to begin!