We Won't Go!

Kidding. Kind of. We just came off two nights in Lan Ha Bay. We spent our days exploring the islands by junk boat and kayaks and the evenings in a fantastic resort on its own little island. It was a fantastic blend of exploring and relaxation. 

We're heading to the airport in a few minutes and then have a days worth of travel before heading back to Utah. 

-LJP

A few photos from the past two days:

More Photos from Friendship Village

So many photos from today. Here are a few more:

Day Two at Friendship Village and Reflections

No words can adequately describe today. We again split up into two groups - one group gardening and the other working in classrooms with the children at Friendship Village. After lunch we sat with a group of veterans. Through several translators, questions were asked and stories were told. One of the first questions came from a veteran who asked what we thought of the war and them. One of our students raised his hand and told them that he thought they were brave, human beings, and that war was not good for any person, no matter who they are. (I was crying too hard to remember his exact words, but that was the gist of it.) That set the tone for an amazing rest of the afternoon. 

I am incredibly proud of our students. These past two days have not been easy - learning about the war, seeing first hand the devastating human aftermath of Agent Orange, and having serious conversations about all of it. I feel so lucky to be a part of this life-changing experience they are having.

We leave Hanoi early tomorrow morning and head to the coast for two days of exploring and fun. Two students shared below an incredible experience a few of them had today.

Goodnight from Hanoi.

-LJP

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Today was another life changing experience. In the morning I worked with kids in a classroom. I I drew with them and helped them with math. I then went to another classroom and made art work with paper. One of the girls was amazing at it! I had lunch and then talked to Vietnam War veterans. It was amazing how they didn't have any grudges. They even wished all our families good health and luck. During our free time some of us visited dorms. One dorm had a student in there crying. I sat with him just rubbing his back. The dorm mom said that he likes music. Kayla started singing and I joined in. Eventually there were 7 of us singing to him. Soon enough he was sitting up and laughing. I was smiling so much because of him. At the end of the day at Freindship Village we had to say goodbye to him which was heartbreaking. I will never forget him laughing when we were singing to him. It was a once in a lifetime experience. 

-Colleen

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"My father was a veteran. I am very lucky," our kindhearted leader from Friendship Village said through her tears. She was describing how lucky she was that she had not been affected by Agent Orange, the herbicide that Southern Vietnam and America sprayed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The side affects from this chemical is still affecting people today. All of the children in Freindship Village have many disabilities. The most prominent one was a boy who was mostly deaf, blind, and he was very unable to control his body. The boy started to cry and Colleen immediately sat next to him and rubbed his back. He started to calm down and then Kayla and Colleen sang to him softly. Gradually, more of us joined in. By the end of our jam session, Colleen, Kayla, Juan Pablo, Chandler, Dani, James, and I were all singing loudly and the boy was smiling, laughing, and moving his body. It just showed how we can all connect to music and it showed me how much we can connect with people, even when language is taken away. 

-Stella

Friendship Village and Reflections

Today we went to Friendship Village. (See first reflection below for a little more about it.) We split into two groups - one working on gardening and the other working with the Village's craft/art therapy program. The groups will switch jobs tomorrow. 

Below are a couple students' reflections on today. (Side note - I was with the art group today. I will get more photos of the other group tomorrow.)

-LJP

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The last few days have been amazing!! Today we went to Friendship Villlage. We started the day off with learning about the organization. They hold about 60 veterans of the Vietnam War and 120 children, all who were effected by Agent Orange. We learned basic Vietamiese words and sayings. After lunch we split into two groups. My group went and picked weeds around a playground and garden. When we were leaving a few kids came up and played with me. One loved to push my hat down and another liked high fiving me. I can't wait to go back tomorrow!!

-Colleen 

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Today we went to Friendship Village, working on various projects including gardening. This was rewarding because we were able to see the end product of our work. Also seeing the children effected by Agent Orange was very powerful. 

- Tim

Rest and Exploring

Our guesthouse is located in Hanoi's French Quarter - a bustling mix of old buildings, small shops, and incredible opportunities for people watching (if you're into that sort of thing). We woke up early and experienced the old city as we walked to the Temple of Literature. There was a large group of young children there on a field trip. The children were very excited to practice their English skills with us, which mostly consisted of "Hello!" (With the occasional "How are you?") After checking out the statues and exploring the site, we slowly made our way back to the hotel, stopping to check out a shop or two along the way.

For some strange reason our students were exhausted from all the work and travel we've done the past few days. They opted to spend the remainder of the afternoon resting and recuperating. Tomorrow we head to Friendship Village to begin our next service project. 

Good night from Hanoi!

-LJP 

Good Morning Vietnam

We arrived in Hanoi late last night. The group split into two categories: those who were hungry, and those for whom sleep was more important than food. The hungry crowd wandered down the street outside our guest house in the French Quarter and found some street food around 11:30 pm. 

Today we explore Hanoi. 

-LJP

More Photos from Today

Just a few more photos from today.

Goodnight from Kampong Speu.

-LJP