I'll be headed off to Spain and France in a few days! I've been a bit busy lately, but there's nothing like living in the moment! Before I take off for the next few weeks, I wanted to leave a link to The Best Obnoxious Responses to Misspellings on Facebook, which is good for about an hour worth of chuckles.
And in the spirit of 4th of July, here is one of my favorite music videos, Katy Perry's Firework!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Snapshots in Vietnam
After the one-week trip to Phu Yen, the group traveled an additional week to Hoi An, Da Nang, and back to Saigon. Below is the rest of my trip in photos:
Phu Yen: Sunset at the beach
Cricket made from a palm leaf
Cham Tower in Phu Yen
Ghenh Da Dia in Phu Yen
Private beach in Phu Yen
Lunch stop on the way to Hoi An
Hoi An: Ancient town lit in lantern lights
Floating paper lanterns
Lantern making
Da Nang: Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)
Stairway to Heaven
Ba Na Hills Cable Car
View from cable car
Buddha Statue
1487 meters above sea level
View from the top
Saigon at Night
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Vietnam: A World Apart
I recently came back from my trip to Vietnam with Sunflower Mission, and it was beyond all my expectations (including not getting sick!). Away from the noise and chaos of the city, the countryside looked so vibrant, peaceful, and pristine. The locals and the kids I met had very full hearts and warm greetings. And for the first time, I saw the Vietnam that my parents grew up with and loved.
The first week of the trip was spent in the coastal town of Phu Yen, where the site of the school was located. Everyday, the group would take an hour long bus ride past miles of rice fields to get to the school. We would spend the day painting the walls, windows, and doors of the 4-room building before trekking back to where we stayed. In the afternoons, we would usually play with the little kids who would run around and pop their heads in to see what we were doing.
In the US, we keep our doors closed for fear of strangers or for fear of letting the cool air out of our air conditioned houses. In Vietnam, where A/C is a luxury, doors are always opened, and floors must be swept daily to chase out the dust that constantly makes its way inside. Without the walls and gates and luxuries of computers and video games to keep them isolated from one another, children in Vietnam are constantly outside running around with one another. Though they have little, their smiles and laughs are full of happiness.
The people of Phu Yen work very hard to live day by day. Agriculture is the main livelihood of the province, and as I see the farmers out in the rice paddies, I think about their backs and how they must feel stooping over the fields all day. Then, I think about the little kids that I just met. How many of them will become farmers in the future just like their parents? 50 percent? 90 percent? The thought saddens me because I see so many possibilities for these youth to live an easier life if they were given the opportunity to work towards it. I understood then, that the mission of this organization to build schools was to help give future generations in these underdeveloped areas a chance to reach a little further outside of the everyday life that they know. It is but a small step, though. To make a leap to the competitive standards in today's world, a school also needs computers, more avenues to higher learning, dedicated teachers and continuous support. This goal is bigger than any one person, but in my lifetime, I would like to help work towards this future.
On the last day of the trip, our group leader left us with a few words that stuck with me: "Most people's favorite part of the trip was getting to interact with the kids at the school. Remember that they are just like you. The only difference between you and them is that you were given an opportunity. In the future, share a little of what you have with those who are less fortunate than you." Although we may be a world apart, I love the people in Vietnam, and I won't ever forget them.
To read other people's thoughts about the trip, visit the blog we kept during our stay in Vietnam (www.sunflower-mission.blogspot.com).
The people of Phu Yen work very hard to live day by day. Agriculture is the main livelihood of the province, and as I see the farmers out in the rice paddies, I think about their backs and how they must feel stooping over the fields all day. Then, I think about the little kids that I just met. How many of them will become farmers in the future just like their parents? 50 percent? 90 percent? The thought saddens me because I see so many possibilities for these youth to live an easier life if they were given the opportunity to work towards it. I understood then, that the mission of this organization to build schools was to help give future generations in these underdeveloped areas a chance to reach a little further outside of the everyday life that they know. It is but a small step, though. To make a leap to the competitive standards in today's world, a school also needs computers, more avenues to higher learning, dedicated teachers and continuous support. This goal is bigger than any one person, but in my lifetime, I would like to help work towards this future.
On the last day of the trip, our group leader left us with a few words that stuck with me: "Most people's favorite part of the trip was getting to interact with the kids at the school. Remember that they are just like you. The only difference between you and them is that you were given an opportunity. In the future, share a little of what you have with those who are less fortunate than you." Although we may be a world apart, I love the people in Vietnam, and I won't ever forget them.
To read other people's thoughts about the trip, visit the blog we kept during our stay in Vietnam (www.sunflower-mission.blogspot.com).
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Vacation Time
It's another month, and time for something new. I have a lot of ideas/themes that I want to write about and try out, but I'm going to be leaving in a few days for a trip to Vietnam. Thus, I plan to hold off on those, and I'll be gone for a while from blogging :( I'll write about my trip when I get back at the end of this month, though, so turn that frown upside down :) hehe
Regarding the trip, I'm going with a nonprofit organization, Sunflower Mission, to help build a school in one of the coastal towns of Vietnam. It's a good cause, and I've heard great things about this program. Everyone keeps telling me to bring Pepto Bismol, so evidently I have something to look forward to...but my immune system will probably be stronger after this trip! I hope!
Because I'll be away for so long, I will leave not one, but two, youtube clips that made me smile:
Regarding the trip, I'm going with a nonprofit organization, Sunflower Mission, to help build a school in one of the coastal towns of Vietnam. It's a good cause, and I've heard great things about this program. Everyone keeps telling me to bring Pepto Bismol, so evidently I have something to look forward to...but my immune system will probably be stronger after this trip! I hope!
Because I'll be away for so long, I will leave not one, but two, youtube clips that made me smile:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Day 31 - A picture of yourself
I must say, I felt like I've been doing this 31-day photo challenge for much longer than a month. Actually taking the time out to think about each of the topics for the day and putting it down into words has made me really reflect on my experiences, the people in my life, and what truly matters to me. I would encourage others who haven't done this to try it out.
We are the same people that we were yesterday, but sometimes we forget the details of our everyday lives. And slowly we grow as each day passes by, until one day we look back, and realize just how far we've really come. At times like those, it's a nice surprise when you can look back and discover your old self again.
We are the same people that we were yesterday, but sometimes we forget the details of our everyday lives. And slowly we grow as each day passes by, until one day we look back, and realize just how far we've really come. At times like those, it's a nice surprise when you can look back and discover your old self again.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss
I miss the lovelies who made this past year the best year of my life <3
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
I do not like roaches, and if I see one, I would rather run than try to face it. If I spot one and there is no one else around to get rid of it, I throw shoes at it because I like to keep my distance. My future husband better be a man about roaches and get rid of them for me. This is a very important quality, almost dealbreaker level, that I look for in a guy.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
My cousin and I at graduation! One of my favorites!
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
My real friends, not just the tv show :) I was going to copy and paste my friends' pictures in this, but I am about to go shopping, so no time!!! I just finished my CPA tests, hopefully for forever!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
