General Impression
Overall Rating: / 10
I still remember my first day arriving in Vietnam as if it was yesterday- the intense heat and humidity, the polluted air, the crazy traffic and system of driving. I was so incredibly overwhelmed and I had no idea how on earth I was going to get through the next 6 weeks. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months I had no idea how on earth I was going to leave Vietnam- this crazy country was so completely different from everything that I know back at home but this country I had fallen completely and utterly in love with.I loved getting a taste of Vietnamese life- living in and amongst the local people, being able to walk to the markets and be surrounded by unique and different sights and smells from fresh fruit and vegetables to fresh seafood, meats and traditional foods. But most of all the part that I loved the most- Ky Quang pagoda and the beautiful souls that lived there. From day one I fell head over heels in love with every single one of the children. We could not speak the same language and some of them could not even speak at all but we could communicate in a way in which words failed- and that was in love.
Working in Vietnam was such a challenge but just being able to make a difference even if for a short time was unexplainable. I was so blessed and grateful to be able to love the children. Leaving the Pagoda was possibly one of the hardest things that I had to do. This experience will forever be etched into my heart.