Archive for the ‘Vietnam’ Category
Monday, October 12th, 2009
It seemed fitting that on the 999th anniversary of Hanoi’s liberation from invading armies, I paid a visit to an old soldier. Viet Hong Lam Pham traded his gun for a paintbrush almost 40 years ago after being deafened during an American bombing raid during the Vietnam War, and is ...
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Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
One has to appreciate a culture that finds so much to be thankful for and celebrates it all with national holidays. When I came to Thuan An last year, we honored the teachers with wreaths, cards, and a big ceremony on Teacher Appreciation Day. This time, the focus has been ...
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Friday, October 2nd, 2009
School at Thuan An starts each week with a 7 am Monday morning flag ceremony. Students line up rank and file by age on the cement drive– bright-eyed and uniform in appearance with their pressed light blue and stark white-collared shirts and matching dark blue pants. The choice of footwear ...
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Saturday, September 26th, 2009
People are the same everywhere. Our cultures are different, our skin color, our clothes...but at the end of the day, everyone wants to feel secure, have a roof over their head, food on the table, an education for their children, connections with friends and family. What's great about travel is ...
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Saturday, September 19th, 2009
"Be careful, your head", the guide called over his shoulder as he shined his flashlight on me. "It is tight here. Also, be careful your back." He nodded at my acknowledgement before turning forward to lead me hunched over through the narrow passageway. I was huddled in the infamous Cu ...
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Thursday, September 17th, 2009
There's something about that moment when the customs official at a foreign airport takes his heavy duty stamp, and with an authoratative "thump- thump", makes the requisite entries into the passport to permit entry into his country. I've traveled all my life, but that single instant gives me a surge ...
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
During a recent volunteer assignment at the Thuan An school for hearing-impaired children in Vietnam, I learned about the significant need for more knowledge among Vietnam's teachers about how to effectively educate children with hearing loss. The executive director of Thuan An and I have collaborated on a proposal for a ...
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Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
This is a special post to call out Buffalo Tours for their efforts in providing me with a wonderful experience on my private tour of Vietnam. Not only was the trip well-planned, the people associated with Buffalo Tours were exceptional and went above and beyond to ensure my trip would be one that I will always ...
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Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
I'm one of those adventurous types who prefer to schedule their own travel itinerary versus signing up for an established tour. Sure, it takes more time and effort to plan the trip, but I've always enjoyed the freedom that comes from seting my own agenda and letting the chips fall where they may.
I think more opportunities for spontaneous travel moments are created when you ...
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Sunday, November 30th, 2008
(This is the 7th of seven subsequent posts about my volunteer experience at the Thuan An Center)
I am in the Internet cafe (the better one of the two in that it doesn't have lizards scurrying around the floor or sticky keyboard that are precursors to carpel tunnel syndrome...), sitting here with ...
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