The festival that we put on this week was so freakin amazing. It was what definitely topped everything off for the whole semester. It made me realize how important volunteering was for these students and how, even something simple as a tiny festival, could make a difference to these students.
For the festival, we had different stations: playing games, arts and crafts, sports, and a crazy snack table. When all the kids first came out, they seemed really shy. They were just walking around, trying to figure out what was going on. It made us scared because we didn't know if they were going to enjoy the festival. In a few minutes, though, it totally changed. Everyone started rushing to the snack table, trying on wings and masks, throwing the rice bags at the water bottles, etc. At one point, the students got into a soul train and danced together to the kids music. It was so freakin adorable seeing how much the students enjoyed theit time. One student named Quang has been there for the longest time. When I asked him to say something to the camera, he said, "Today is a really fun day. How can I even describe it?" That made me so happy.
What was really interesting was to see how all the parents, nurses, and volunteers reacted. I think they were really surprised by how well the festival was going and TRUST, we were just as surprised too. You could tell that they were interested in seeing what we had to offer. I wonder if this festival will be able to transcend this one moment. I really hope that this festival gives folks some ideas on how to allow the students enjoy their time at Hoa Binh Thanh Xuan, how to change it up a bit for the students, and how to make them feel like any other ordinary child. And I hope we can put this in our letter, too and hopefully one day, see the results of our work. If not, I hope we created a good experience for the students.
They are really amazing and I don't know how I will be two weeks from now when I won't be able to see their beautiful faces. I've become so attached to them, to playing games with them, to seeing them light up at new activities...And I've also gotten to know my service learning group so much better. Overall, I'm so glad I had this service learning experience. It was truly amazing.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
I'll be back, you can count on it.
I stumbled upon old videos that I took from the first few days before I left to Vietnam, to the airplane trip, to our arrival at the airport, and through the orientation week. I couldn't even believe that it was that long ago. The fear that we had as we landed in Hanoi, the excitement of trying our first mia da drink, and meeting all of the great HANU friends for the first time. It was so intense to watch it. I kept thinking, OH SHIT. OH SHIT. HOW AM I GONNA LEAVE??! There's noooo waaaaay.
And I still feel this way. I still feel like there will be a huge part of me left behind if I left. Honestly I don't know how I'm going to cope. I may be super depressed. But while there's a part of me that will be left here, I think there's so much that I've gained here that I would be shameful if I didn't take it with me back to the States.
I've learned sooo much here. It's so unbelievable. I am so excited to finally go home and share all these experiences with friends and family. I want to blow their minds with the idea that Vietnam has skyscrapers and cars everywhere! And at the same time, critically discuss how development still leaves many poor people in the dark. I can't wait to sit down with my family and talk in Vietnamese! That is the best! I want to share with my parents the new slang I've learned, the new accent I've developed, and my new understanding of our family. I know it will take baby steps before they can even think of me possibly understanding anything of our culture and language but I'm so ready to take those steps.
Also, I think a lot about the exchanges I've had with local friends in Vietnam. They've taught me to open myself up more to different forms of thinking, lifestyles, etc. Especially through great talks with my friend Thai Linh, I can say she's taught me so much about love, family, and life. This, I value so much. I can't wait to bring these experiences back home with me.
I've grown so much as a person here. I've had good and bad experiences here, but nonetheless, it was a goddamn GOOD ASS experience. Hopefully, one day I can go back to Vietnam and work. Contribute something to the world. DO SOMETHING about the world. But for now, I know my forms of communication will be limited to chat and email. I don't know how I'm gonna feel knowing that my friends are now 293829483 miles away and impossible to call for some tra chanh. But I know that I don't want all of us to end here.
To all my Vietnam friends: WHEN, not IF, I come back and see you, you better be doing big things. I want to see social justice, babies, smiles, tears, and everything in between. And we're just gonna repeat this process of sharing and learning from one another. I'll be back. I promise.
And I still feel this way. I still feel like there will be a huge part of me left behind if I left. Honestly I don't know how I'm going to cope. I may be super depressed. But while there's a part of me that will be left here, I think there's so much that I've gained here that I would be shameful if I didn't take it with me back to the States.
I've learned sooo much here. It's so unbelievable. I am so excited to finally go home and share all these experiences with friends and family. I want to blow their minds with the idea that Vietnam has skyscrapers and cars everywhere! And at the same time, critically discuss how development still leaves many poor people in the dark. I can't wait to sit down with my family and talk in Vietnamese! That is the best! I want to share with my parents the new slang I've learned, the new accent I've developed, and my new understanding of our family. I know it will take baby steps before they can even think of me possibly understanding anything of our culture and language but I'm so ready to take those steps.
Also, I think a lot about the exchanges I've had with local friends in Vietnam. They've taught me to open myself up more to different forms of thinking, lifestyles, etc. Especially through great talks with my friend Thai Linh, I can say she's taught me so much about love, family, and life. This, I value so much. I can't wait to bring these experiences back home with me.
I've grown so much as a person here. I've had good and bad experiences here, but nonetheless, it was a goddamn GOOD ASS experience. Hopefully, one day I can go back to Vietnam and work. Contribute something to the world. DO SOMETHING about the world. But for now, I know my forms of communication will be limited to chat and email. I don't know how I'm gonna feel knowing that my friends are now 293829483 miles away and impossible to call for some tra chanh. But I know that I don't want all of us to end here.
To all my Vietnam friends: WHEN, not IF, I come back and see you, you better be doing big things. I want to see social justice, babies, smiles, tears, and everything in between. And we're just gonna repeat this process of sharing and learning from one another. I'll be back. I promise.
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