Some Say.

Woman making rice paper.

Airconditioning, always a highlight. I never thought i'd say the words I'm cold, ever. Glad we stayed a night, not just for the AC but we got to see a lot more. I'm considering abandoning my life and living on a boat selling fruit. Maybe.

Beauty in the Breakdown.

Lets not act surprised if I bring this kid home.
But seriously, I want to adopt one someday.

Tomorrow my friend Katie and I are going on a tour of the Mekong Delta. Its the far south part of Vietnam. Just going to tour a couple small towns and the floating market. Staying one night, so looking forward to that. Airconditioned rooms! Holla!

Waiting.

Today was my first day at the homeless boys shelter. Things at the orphanages have been good, but it was really nice to have more of a playing interaction with kids. They didnt have much at their home but we played lego and marbles. Its about 16 boys age 8-18 who all live in a house together. In the morning some go to school or work and in the afternoon its more kids and they sometimes go to the pool or play soccer. The boys were very sweet.

I go to one of three orphanages in the morning and another in the afternoon which is good, always switching up the schedule. The kids dont get a lot of interaction besides the volunteers. A lot of them can't even walk so you just take them out of bed and lay them on the floor. Just rubbing their back can bring the hugest smile to their face. Its beautiful.

My favorite boy is at the monk run orphanage. Its a little dirtier there, and they only get fed twice a day. But this boy is almost completely blind. He can see enough to get around. One nurse told me his name but i didnt really understand, she said it means small dog. Then she barked at him. So I just call him Buddy. He's probably about 4 or 5. He keeps to himself, when i spin him around he laughs and yells yay!! Today i took him for a piggyback ride outside the orphanage and he said hello about 50 times, which was cute cause I didnt teach him that. When I push him on the swing, every once in awhie he'll reach out to make sure I'm still there. Today when I left him, he obviously didnt understand goodbye. But I looked back at him on the swing and saw him reach out and realize I wasnt there anymore. It broke my heart.

Brothers on a Hotel Bed.

Vietnam is exactly how you'd picture it.

I love it. Its amazing. Everything. The people, the other volunteers, and the kids. They are so amazing! I arrived tues night, after my wait in the Korean airport... but I got here late, around 11pm. So most people were in bed already. I met a few, but pretty much went to shower and straight to bed. I was amazed at how how it is here. I thought it was hot in Korea, but this is something else. The humidity is almost unbearable. Even after a shower, you immediately sweat.

Day 2 was orrientation. There was 5 others who arrived before me. 2 aussies, Melissa and Steve. 2 Americans, Jeff and Jenn, 1 English girl, Katie, and myself. All came by themselves so we all came together nicely. We went over rules and regulations etc with the 'leaders'. Its hard to tell whos in charge... Then we had a Vietnamease lesson by some local volunteers. They taught us some basics, and its getting easier to earn more which helps a lot. That night four of us went out to a pub for a couple beers.

We got to go to the orphanges Thus and Fri. Theres 3 orphanages actually. 2 are for disabled kids, 1 is government run, the other is run by monks. The third orphanage is for homeless boys. Our day is pretty broken up. In the morning we go to one for 2-3 hours. Usually in groups of 3 or 4. We play and help feed the kids. If they dont have any volunteers it takes almost all day to feed the kids so they wont get a chance to get out of their beds and play. After feeding we all gather back at our dorm for lunch. Theres 2 dorms close by. Theres 13 girls and 6 boys so the girls is the bigger one with a kitchen, internet, tv... we take a 2.5hr break which is good. The work and the heat is exhausting. In the afternoon we go to a different orphanage so it mixes things up. Same idea, usually 2-3 hours. Supper is at 430pm. Lunch and supper are provided for us by a cook at our dorm. It feels like big brother, so many people living in one house..

Evenings are free. I haven't done too much, mostly walks in the evening, snapping photos.

Weekends too are free and filling up fast. Today, Saturday we had a tour of Ho Chi Minh. We went to a war memorial with 3 local volunteers. Best part of today was we were walking and Melissa's Flipflop brke and we were standing there figuring out what to do cause it wasnt very nice pavement she could walk without it. And a girl about 20feet away saw, and came over and gave Melissa HER flipflops, off her feet! It blew me away. Probably one of my best Vietnamease experiences. Hands down.

Anyways, we also visited a church and a market. The local volunteers are so sweet to take us around and teach us Vietnamease! Lunch was amazing! Had a traditional Vietnamease dish, pho. Its a beef noodle dish. unreal!

Tomorrow, Sunday, we're going on a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels. Tunnels people lived in durring the war. Also going to visit a temple. Next weekend is the Mekong Delta, a floating market. Staying 2 days, 1 night with my friend Katie from england.

The other volunteers are wonderful too. Its been amazing so far and I hope other people I know will do this program someday. Everythings been exactly as i hoped. Plans for travel are shapping up and i can't believe how much i love Vietnam.

Crisis 1 & 2.

Hi I'm in Korea. For now.

Currently I'm sitting in the airport. I was supposed to fly to Vietnam yesterday but had a slight set back... um yea. Not my smartest move but originally I thought I'd stay in Korea till the 14th but didn't realize the plane would only get in at 10pm that night, so I made my flight for the 13th... and didnt' change my visa. So I couldn't go to Vietnam yesterday. I felt like an idiot. I pulled a 26 hour wait in the airport. I was too stuborn to go back to Seoul or find somewhere else to sleep. I did find a quiet corner with a semi soft bench, popped two gravel and passed out for probably close to 10 hours surprisingly. It was kinda good to just read and write, and catch up on some internet. I was kinda pissed cause I paid like $4 for internet before going through security and its free on this side! stupid..

Anyways So Korea... Seoul was awesome! I had a super good time. I loved it. Which kind of surprised me. I knew I'd have a good time, but I didn't think I would enjoy Korea that much. Its never been a place I thought I'd go, but its deffinalty on the list of places to return someday.

I arrived Wed evening and met up with Tyler. The days consisted of markets, a palace tour, the Seoul tower, a war memorial museum, a day trip to a traditional folk village, a baseball game, church, an amusement park... and this wonderful wait in the airport. My favorite part was probably the baseball game. Both Seoul teams were playing so it was packed. And the people here are pretty passionate about their baseball. Lots of fans and lots of cheering. The days left me quite exhausted and there weren't many late nights.

Oh side note, I broked my laptop. I think its fried. I love life.

I have no idea what I'm doing in Vietnam. I'm so clueless and unprepared. Things always work themselves out. I found when I went to Australia I was prepared and plans always change once youre there, so I just don't have a plan. But I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

Another Runaway.

It's too late.

It's 12:48am and I have to be up at 3am, doubting sleep will come tonight. I like sleeping on planes anyways. Oh my have the last few days been crazy. Suddenly tonight I decided to actually dig up my ticket and check what time I leave tomorrow, check the weather in Vietnam and make sure I had American cash. Things you'd think I would of thought of earlier. Little did I know its been raining in Vietnam for seven straight days. Might need a rain jacket? So I borrowed one from a friend. Then realized I needed the back of my extra passport photos signed by a pastor or doctor, so i went to my pastors house at 930 at night. Oh and I just booked my ticket from Korea to Vietnam today. Talk about last minute.
And today excitment finally set it cause things started to seem as if they were actually happening. I think my family didnt really think I was going to go through with this, they seemed kind of upset today.
oh ps i'm going to be an auntie in october and i'm STOKED!
And............ I'm gone!