The last time I posted, post-Florida and pre-Vietnam, I spoke about the gift of perspective while traveling. After 24 straight hours of travel time yesterday, the VALOR fellows walked off a plane (some more awake than others) and into a country and culture vastly different than our normal.
Today began with a trip to the Chuc Son Orphanage, where approximately 120 children, ages newborn to 22, receive care and education. The children are each unique and different in their abilities, with many using sign language to communicate.
After a wonderful lunch at the orphanage, we visited the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. We listened as our guide reviewed key points in Vietnam’s history as we stood by the pagoda overlooking the Ho Tay Lake.
The afternoon was filled with culture and street lessons as we explored Hanoi on foot, viewed a water puppet show, and enjoyed a wonderful Vietnamese dinner.
Only 48 hours into the trip, I hear my words from the previous post echoing in my mind as I interact with another culture. My personal goal for this trip is to step outside my comfort zone (and not in front of a moped) and embrace the gift of perspective from Vietnam.
Vô! (“Cheers” in Vietnamese)
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