Thursday, June 26, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
June 10th: Student Graduation Speeches
Vietnam Trip Reflection
Student #1
Three years, two. Nine
months, ten weeks, one week, one day until Vietnam. I’ve been counting down
forever, this trip a recurring topic of dinner-table conversations and doctor’s
appointments. Constantly a mark in my future, a dot on the horizon. But suddenly,
before I get a chance to ask, “Can we go now?” We’re back, writing reflections
and preparing for Global Studies Day. The eighth grade trip has been in the
future for so long that now that it’s behind me, it’s hard to imagine that I
was actually there, in Vietnam. And that disbelief has helped me to recognize
the value of living in the moment. Over the course of the trip and now, looking
back, I’m discovering that being fully present throughout many of my
experiences there will help to preserve my memories and make this trip a
milestone, instead of just a bump along the way.
It might be more
interesting to say that I stepped out of my comfort zone the second we arrived
in Vietnam – by trying octopus or bargaining in the language – and from there
the trip got off to an exciting beginning. But my first memorable experience in
Vietnam was just looking out the window of the bus, watching the city go by.
There was a lot to look at: run-down buildings lining the streets with bold
yellow signs in Vietnamese, people on the sidewalk sitting in small red plastic
chairs, laughing as they played cards or drank beer. Alongside us, two
kids between their parents balanced on a motorbike, an old lady wearing red
polka-dotted pajamas rode by on another, and a young couple in matching
pollution masks on another. After not even being outside for five minutes,
the heat was overwhelming, a thick humidity that tightened around me, forcing
my throat to make an effort to breathe. I was fascinated with my new,
drastically different surroundings, and I felt a rush of apprehension and
excitement slam in to me all at once. I savored this moment, absorbing
everything around me and letting those emotions sink in.
Being more aware of every
aspect of an experience helps it to stay in focus in your mind, as if it were
yesterday. On our way to the Mekong homestays, it started raining on the boat,
and Kanish, Claudia and I ran out to the un-sheltered back to remind ourselves
of the Seattle weather. And all at once, the rain was coming down harder, it
was pouring, hailing. I could feel each individual pellet of rain bounce off my
skin, slipping down the back of my shirt, running off the tip of my nose. It
hadn’t gotten any easier to breathe in the thick, muggy air, but the rain felt
exhilarating, a refreshing clarity. After just a few minutes, we were all
soaked to the skin with sore throats from laughing too hard, but we didn’t
care. Looking back on this, I appreciate even more being awake and being there,
really there and conscious of everything around me, from the sharp focus of the
river to the pounding of the rain against my skin. It makes that experience
worth reliving again…and again, and again.
I never really thought of
going one step beyond people’s expectations as being that important – really,
what comes out of that? Well, our last afternoon in Nam Sai, I didn’t really
want to journal, so I offered to help Thoy, the wife of the young couple we
were staying with. I watched her while she was slicing a bamboo stalk, and
after a few minutes, she caught on, asking me to grind the pieces she had cut
up into a type of mix. I thought this was for our dinner, so I was kind of
excited to be helping, but later I found out that it was for the family’s pet
pigs’ dinner, not ours. Later, Thoy led me out of the house and down the
street, leading me to an open area where she burned all the trash from the
homestays, including our choco-pie wrappers from earlier. Thoy and I smiled at
each other on the way back, and the next morning, before we left, she attempted
to say “thank you” to me in English, and I tried to reply in Tay, her native
language. As we left, I felt content with myself and the work I had done the
previous day. It was so interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes at
the homestays, and incredible to be able to connect with someone from a
background so different than my own. The strange thing is, if that one thought
to help hadn’t occurred to me, I would have never made that bond – and it might
be a long time before I have the opportunity to do something like that again.
This has taught me that I should make use of the time I have with people, and
to go that extra step beyond what people ask of me, because something great may
come of it.
Something Robert said on
the trip really stood out to me. In Halong Bay, he told us to remember that
when we return from Vietnam, the trip won’t be over unless we allow it to be.
There are no endings, only beginnings. I think as we move forward with our
lives, as we all go our separate ways at different high schools, we should try
to remember this. We should try to remember the trip not as something that has
passed, but instead as a collection of memories and lessons that will stick
with us. I want to remember what I learned in Vietnam – to be conscious and aware
of every moment, to absorb what’s going on around me, to make use of time,
because it’s valuable and too easily lost.
Vietnam Trip reflection
2014
Student #2
At the beginning of
the trip, I treated the global studies opportunity as a means to learn about
Vietnam and see the locations on the itinerary. As soon as I arrived, I knew
that I would want to immerse myself in Vietnamese culture.
On the last morning
of our Sapa homestay, I got up as early as I could. I grabbed a book to read,
my phone to take a time lapse and a thin jacket. I stepped down the creaky
stairway, tiptoed across the room and slipped out the side door. As I stepped
out, the cool breeze of Sapa mornings hit me. It swept through me, calming and
quieting my mind.
I hopped up on a
ledge and just sat, watching the sun’s beams gradually light up the valley.
Once again, I felt humbled at the simplicity and depth of watching. Along with
sight, I did my best to stop and take in with my other senses. As the sun made
its ponderous ascent, I took in as much as I could.
As if on cue, all
the roosters began cawing at once, an impromptu orchestra filling the valley. I
saw the light gradually fill the sky, like a piece of glass heating until
burning bright with a fiery red. As the wind passed through me, my mind was
reminded of the phrase, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” (Leonardo
Da Vinci). A wave of emotion swept over me as I realized how the smallest
actions could lead to a sophisticated understanding of an area.
In the afternoon of
our third day in Sapa, part of our homestay group went on a long hike around
the valley. The whole first hour was purely uphill. When we finally reached the
top, we were stunned to see a wide expanse of lush mountains and rolling rice
paddies in front of us. I looked around and my friends were just as bedazzled
as I.
As we gradually cooled down, I realized how powerful it was just to stop
and look over the valley. With an action as simple as gazing, one could glean so
much. Along with the beautiful landscape, one could feel the emotion of the
whole valley. One could feel the peace emanating from the tiny huts that dotted
the landscapes. With as simple an action as just gazing, I felt incredibly
connected to the valley.
As the sun set on
the second day in Sapa, we saw a lack of clouds. Excited, we knew it would be a
good night to look at the clouds. As the sun set, we prepared ourselves. We
sprayed deet-filled bug spray, we put on long sleeve shirts and we watched the
last rays of sunlight disappear.
Finally, we grabbed
our flashlights and went down to the river. We laid down on a large rock and
looked up. At first, we only saw a few stars, but as our eyes adjusted, it
seemed like a whole world had cleared. Once again, I was astounded by the
amount that could be seen by just opening one’s eyes.
Throughout this
trip, it has been my goal to just stop and look. Everywhere I go, I tell myself
to slow down and take the mere five seconds to open my eyes. Each day, I felt
more and more immersed into the culture. Instead of just a walk, it became a
movie. Instead of just a bike ride, it became a hands-on tour. Instead of just
passing, it become seeing.
Global Studies Trip
Reflection
Student #3
For months
Evergreen’s Class of 2014 studied the country of Vietnam. We learned all about
its history, its culture and its people. We planned exploration days and
researched modern sites and attractions. One could say by April we were already
pretty familiar with the country. However none of that compares to the Global
Studies trip itself. Personally, I haven’t traveled much, so this was a huge
experience for me – getting on a plane a flying across the entire Pacific Ocean
to reach a land totally foreign to me and staying there for a month. Spending a
whole month in a country really opens the curtain to novel experiences and
fresh views on things like relationships, connections and values.
Moments of realization
appear in many different situations. While receiving our letters from our
families, the understanding of the importance of relationships between me and
those I care deeply about hit me like waves against the shore. I rested there
on the beach in near-silence. Sitting on the warm, yellow sand, looking out
into the sparkling, light blue water and listening to the waves move in and out
created a feeling of paradise. It allowed me to reach into the impossibly
indefinite depths of my mind, and pull out this new-found awareness. I sat
there, my brain exploding with thoughts, and my heart beat with a new level of
love and feelings of connections. With my feet buried, I stared at the letters
from my family, slightly tucked beneath my flip flops so they wouldn’t fly away
with the wind. It’s insane. I never really realized how
important these people are to me – how much I need them to be in my life –
until I became separated from them. It’s something I need to be happy. That may
not be for everyone, but I know that I don’t know where I’d be without my
family and friends or what I’d be doing with my life. Those most often around
someone influence him. Even if it’s just the slightest thing they teach him and
influence him. I believe we learn from and gain support from those around us.
Without the tight-knit relationships – without people to talk to, to guide and
get guidance from, or to be free and oneself with – life would be much harder.
That’s what this experience taught me: tight relationships make life so much
easier to push through, and we need to cherish that right.
My second moment didn’t
come to me until at our Sapa homestays. At our homestay in the little village
of Nậm Sài, we lived the life of the poor Vietnamese farmer. But that’s not
what triggered my moment. What really prompted it was the family we stayed
with. The (pronounced “Thay”), Thuoi and Thien were the members of the family –
Dad, Mom and Son respectively. Thuoi was so eager to create a bond between her
and us as much as she could. When she wasn’t busy with work, she would come
over to us and observe our activities, and we talked and smiled and talked some
more. It was uplifting to see her try so hard to get to know us all – we don’t
speak the same language but we live on the same planet and that’s enough to
prompt the enthusiasm for friendship. Thien was also keen, but remained shy
with us at first. We all attempted talking to him and having him join us at the
table. However he refused our offers. Like most kids, it wasn’t until we
brought out things he could play with that he joined his mother in acquainting
himself with us. We brought out cards, flying toys and iPads. All I could hear
from them were English words and Thien and Thuoi laughing. It’s remarkable to
not watch, and just listen, because sometimes the sounds made are even more
powerful and revealing than the sights themselves. Hearing our group, Thuoi and
Thien talking made my heart flutter with the observation that despite the fact
that we can’t talk to each other, we’ve all become closer and made unlikely
friends with people across the world simply by sharing experiences and
emotions.
Then suddenly, the trip was
over. There I was, standing just before the plane that would soon carry me away
from the wonders of Vietnam. My toes met the edge of the tunnel, hesitant to
board. I knew once I took the next step that my trip was really over. It seemed
like just a few days ago I was standing at the door to my hotel in Hoi An,
figuring out how to shut it without slamming it. I never did. But right then I
realized I shouldn’t be solemn and defeated because the trip’s over and we were
leaving. Instead, I realized I should be appreciative that I was able to come
on this phenomenal trip. I should be grateful for all the memories that I
created, not regretful for all the ones that I could have made, or maybe missed
out on. That was my third moment.
There
were so many other significant experiences on the trip – profound or random.
But the moments I mentioned really struck something inside of me. I’ve learned
how important it is to have tight relationships with those I really care about.
I’ve learned that language isn’t necessary for deep connections. Lastly, I’ve
learned how important it is to just appreciate the extravagant things I’ve been
able to do in life because I never really get chances like this, and as soon as
I appreciate how valuable it is, I can truly immerse myself and make the most
of the experience without regret after its conclusion. Vietnam has been a
unique and thoughtful experience with amazing lessons to teach anyone. They
left their ghosts clinging to my mind.
Vietnam
Trip Reflection
Student
#4
Traveling through a country
so different from my own raised many questions for me as a student, as a
traveler and as a person. From Ho Chi Minh City to the homestays in Sapa I
learned to question my surroundings and what they mean in the broader view of
life and what they mean in the moment. Perhaps I didn’t come back with a whole
new idea of who I am but I did come back with a new perspective of the world
around me and of how I fit into this vast and expansive planet. This trip has
allowed me to learn for myself that learning isn’t necessarily about receiving
answers but about asking the right questions.
It was the second night in
Sapa and I had previously been meditating against a wall near the bathrooms on
the ground of our homestay when Eli asked if I wanted to go somewhere for some
peace. I eagerly agreed and after grabbing Lucy’s flip flops followed him. We
walked on a path I didn’t even know was there behind the homestay, it took us
by the pigs and chickens and as we walked the view was incredible. Once we
finally got to a good stopping place, on a rice paddy Eli continued on a little
further and I was left to think and enjoy the view. As I sat and stared at the
sky and land beyond I began asking unanswerable questions that frustrated me. I
wanted to know why I was born with so much privilege while others had so
little, why I got so much choice in who I could be while so many of the people
here already had planned out lives. I wondered what role I could play in such a
vast universe, what affect my actions really when there were seven other
billion people out there. I couldn’t answer these questions but I could decide
how to feel about them. It would have been very easy for me to feel guilty and
get frustrated, and although I was a little frustrated at first I also realized
that with the opportunity I got I had to make the most out of it.
On the night train going
into Sapa, after the rest of my bunkmates fell asleep I attempted to follow in
their sleepy footprints but found myself unable. After tossing and turning for
over an hour I gave up and decided to look out the window instead. We passed
shack after shack and I watched as the lightning struck the lush hills in the
distance. The train rambled on and I continued to watch what was outside through
the slightly foggy glass. I noticed most of the lights in the houses were off,
and upon glancing at my watch I realized why, most people weren’t up at 2:30 in
the morning, but that only made me curious about the people that were. Were
they staying up, asking the same questions as me or were they on the cusp of
sleep, cursing themselves for staying up so late. These things I would never
know, but I couldn’t help but to wonder. I laid back onto the uncomfortable
blanket provided and closed my eyes, I still couldn’t sleep, but I did have
something to occupy my mind with; the realization that there were so many
questions that I would never have answered and that I was just one small person
in a very large world.
I was hoping for air
conditioning as my slip group walked into the War Remnants museum on our second
day in Ho Chi Minh City. Although I had been told by a number of students
before me what an intense experience it was, I was not expecting to be affected
in such a drastic way as I was. Upon entering the museum the whole of my slip
group decided to split up and meet back in an hour and a half, Charlotte and I
moved at a similar pace, so we decided to keep each other company through the
duration of our visit.
The first floor of the
museum was rather positive and it offered exhibit after exhibit on anti-war
efforts. We walked up the stairs and viewed room after room of graphic images
and details of the war I hadn’t learned about in school. After we went through
a room dedicated to the effects of Agent Orange, Charlotte and I looked at each
other and shook our heads in disgust at what humans could do to one another.
Charlotte and I headed back down the meeting place, only to discover we were
quite a bit earlier than the rest of our group, which prompted us to take a
look outside and walk from gift shop to gift shop browsing the stores for
souvenirs.
There was only one place we hadn’t
visited, upon first entering I believed it to be a gift shop, but as we walked
into I discovered it to really be the most gruesome exhibit of them all. We
walked through, keeping our eyes on the signs letting us know of the cruel
torture endured by many innocent men and woman, every corner teaching us of a
new horrific method. As I walked out of the exhibit, my stomach did somersaults
and my mind wandered freely, question after question filling it to capacity. I
had so many questions, but the biggest of all was whether I would ever get
answers and if I could be satisfied not receiving any.
This trip to Vietnam has
opened my eyes to the role I feel I play in the universe. Although I don’t
suddenly feel I have all the answers, I do feel as though I don’t need them. I
can simply be happy asking questions and finding the answers along the way. I
realized on this trip that the answers you receive aren’t necessarily to the
questions you ask, and sometimes you just need to ask different questions.
Although written down or even said out loud, this may be hard to understand I
do feel as though the world is what you make of it. I can either live my life
frustrated at what I don’t know or I can continue learning and absorbing the
knowledge of everyone and thing around me. I can accept that I won’t ever know
everything but I won’t accept not at least trying to.
Laundry
For those of you who have followed my blog in the past, you may be wondering where the laundry shots are. For those of you new to this blog, I like to take laundry shots
 |
| Ho Chi Minh City |
 |
| Ho Chi Minh City |
 |
| Mekong Delta |
 |
| Hoian |
 |
| Halong City |
 |
| floating village Halong Bay |
 |
| floating village Halong Bay |
 |
| Hanoi, view from my hotel room |
May 25th: Seoul – What a perfect way to end our trip
May 25th: Seoul – What a
perfect way to end our trip
 |
| eating ice cream |
 |
| Eli's "make over" |
 |
| trying on sun glasses |
 |
| drinking bubble tea |
I cannot express enough how
grateful I am for this opportunity to lead your students through Vietnam. What
an amazing groups of young adults. I am so proud of their attitude of
exploration and their desire to stretch their comfort zone, of their support of
each other and their willingness to engage the Vietnamese people and culture.
I also want to express my appreciation for the
unending hard work, commitment, compassion and flexibility of the chaperones.
All 8th grade families are greatly indebted to these amazing
people.
May 23rd: Our last full day in Vietnam
 |
| Our last street food diner: Vietnamese barbecue |
 |
| Me with Ha and his wife Huong and two sons, Minh and Thanh |
May 23rd: Our last full day in Vietnam
May 24th: Farewell Dinner
May
24th: Farewell Dinner
Your
farewell dinner was in a private room on the 4th floor of a Hanoi
restaurant. It lasted from 5 to 8 pm. In between eating and celebrating Rory’s
birthday, students shared their “most important lesson,” and also each student
and chaperone received a special award and small gift representing that award.
It was quite a “love fest” as everyone was so supportive of each other. The
students’ insights which they shared were a blessing to all of us. At 8:20 pm
we drove to the airport. It was very difficult for everyone to say goodbye to
Ha and Mike, who everyone has grown to love so much – they are truly part of
the Evergreen family and we will all miss them so much.
Our flight for Seoul left and arrived
on time, which means we got a maximum of 4 hours of sleep. Asiana Air provided us with day rooms at a
hotel in Seoul. Though the kids are tired, many are already out (in small
groups with adults) exploring the city, and some, I am sure, will just hang out
at the hotel and sleep.
See you soon,
Robert
My closing lesson to
the students
I have many teachers. I learn from the books I have read,
from my experiences, from the people I meet. I learn so much from you all. I
carry around with me a few pages of my favorite quotes. Every now and then I
take out my pages of favorite quotes, for they are lessons that I need to be
reminded of from time to time. I learn these lessons over and over again. I
want to share with you four of my favorite quotes.
Parker Palmer wrote: “Wholeness
does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of
life.”
Mother Teresa said: “In this life
we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
Eckhart Tolle wrote: “Your entire
journey ultimately consists of the step you are taking at this moment. There is
only this one step.”
Jack Kornfield wrote: “We do not
have to improve ourselves: we just have to let go of what blocks our hearts.”
I believe these four quotes are all saying the same thing.
Accept what is.
You are all such thoughtful young adults. You are all going
to be so successful in your life. But success has many faces. I don’t have to
tell you all to work hard. You will do it, I know. My advice to you all is to
be gentle with yourself. You have learned so much, grown so much. Travel is by
nature the environment for growth, as everything around you is different and
always changing. You will go home soon, as I have “gone home” so many times
before, with lessons in my mind of how I will be different. Home is a different
environment with different expectations and different demands. It is sometimes
not easy to hold on to the people we have become. So be gentle with yourself.
Be kind to yourself. Accept who you are, right now, at this moment. It does not
mean you should not try to improve and grow. It may seem paradoxical, but the
more we accept what is, the more we have opportunities for growth. Acceptance
of what is opens the door to what may be. And the more our hearts open. Be
patient with yourself. Be forgiving of yourself. Walk with an open heart.
Student Sharing of their "Most Important Lesson"
After visiting our Sa Pa homestays and visiting Ha Long Bay,
compounding on my previous experiences, I have learned that in times of
emotional relaxation and silent observation the world and nature show
themselves to you. In these times, most often at sunrise or sunset, you receive
a true breath of nature, and with that comes a sense of its true nature,
including its vast size, incredible wisdom, and overpowering sense of awe. To
me, this teaches me the lesson of the understanding of the nature of nature. Among
the various ideas that accompany this realization is a second and perhaps
equally important lesson, and that is of how small each one of us is. In the
absence of urbania and the presence of nature we feel the overpowering mass of
nature, which leads naturally to awe of the environment, which compounds to
give you the lesson of size. To me, the lesson of size means that we understand
our diminishment from the majesty of nature. From these two lessons flows one
final supposition, that as in David versus Goliath, we must be careful of the
smaller subject’s control over the larger, and to realize that we must be
careful of our power and tendency to drive the figurative bulldozer over the
lands of nature and olden originality.
I have learned over the course of this trip to always make
an effort to connect with people no matter how disconnected or alien they may
seem to you. Sometimes the gap may seem large, I thought I had nothing in
common with the Zay people of Sa Pa until I had stayed there for three days,
and sometimes the gap can be as small as a difference in interests. But if you
make the effort to bridge the gap you will find that you have a lot more in
common than you may think. I believe that this is the most important lesson I
have learned on this trip.
On this trip, the most important lesson I’ve learned is that
asking questions can sometimes be more important than the answers themselves.
After reflecting on the visit to the War Remnants Museum in Saigon, so many
questions filled my mind. How could humans do that to one another? How did it
go on for so long? Could it happen again in the future? Why did it happen in
the first place? My first emotion was guilt, for what the people of my country
did, but next came anger.
I wanted answers, by the time I realized I wouldn’t be
receiving any, I also realized that just by asking those questions I was doing
all I could to prevent it from happening again.
There could be a million answers to the questions I was asking, yet I
don’t think one would have satisfied me, but by simply putting them out there I
immediately felt better. I could live without the answers, but I couldn’t live
without ever asking the question.
Set many goals
for yourself, they don’t have to be big goals, just goals, and if you want to
set a big goal set a bunch of little goals leading up to that colossal goal,
then, your goal may be conceivable. When you have a goal, you have reason to
wake up, something that motivates you to try harder, something that makes you
think and makes you push yourself, and I think we need that. I think that we
need a goal; because sometimes we need something to help motivate us, to keep
us active in the present, help us look forward to the future and to stop
dwelling in the past. Thank you.
The most important lesson I have learned on this trip is to
trust in my actions. At the beginning of the trip, I had a big decision to
make. When I asked others about it, they tried to help me make my decision.
Although it was really nice of them to offer their help, it I felt that it was
never really helpful and it didn’t apply to me. I had gotten a lot of the same
feedback and I was just going to go with what my friends said I should do.
However, after weeks of pondering my choices, I have come to a decision, the
one that I believe in, also the one opposite instruction. I now realize that I
should be the one who should make my own decisions, no matter what everyone
else says.
One of the most important lessons I have learned on this
trip is that alone time is just as important as group activities. Over the
trip, I have bonded and spent time with almost everyone. However, spending so
much time with other people sometimes drives me crazy. On these occasions, I
just want some alone time. This trip, I have learned that alone time is
important.
The most important lesson I learned that we can bond with
people who live so far away from us.
When we were back in Seattle I didn’t think that I was going to be able
to connect to the Vietnamese people, they speak a different language, eat
different foods, have different beliefs and don’t look like most of us. But
after traveling around Vietnam I realize that even when you can’t talk you can
still connect, from my pen pals to the Vietnamese man who played ultimate and
bad mitten on the street with us, I made connections.
The most important lesson I have learned on this trip is
that having a family is a privilege, not a right. At the orphanage in Hoi An, I
interacted with so many children who will most likely never have a family like mine,
big and nearby and made up of so many people who love me.
Before the trip, I took my family for granted. Sometimes,
back at home, my mom, dad, and brother would want to go on neighborhood walks
at night, and I was always reluctant to join them because I wanted to watch New
Girl or look at stuff on Instagram. Now I will never hesitate to spend time
with my family, and I will always remember to tell them I love them and
appreciate them, because having a family that I am so close with is a blessing
that some people will never get to experience.
While hiking to my Sapa homestay I was overcome by the fact
that I was in a whole new country and was surrounded by such beautiful scenery.
This experience taught me to live in the moment and to think about where you
are instead of thinking about where you could be.
After visiting the orphanage, passing through rural
villages, and seeing how people are so happy with what little they have, I not
only hold incredible respect for these people, but also have so much more
gratitude for all my opportunities and everything I have.
The most important lesson I learned over this trip was to be
gracious for what I have, and the knowledge that things that seem mundane to me
may be a life changer to someone else.
The most important lesson I have learned over the course of
this trip is very simple. Don’t just wait for what you want to fall into your
arms on a silver platter. Go and reach out for what you strive to achieve, and
only rely on others sometimes.
In Hanoi, I had the opportunity to visit my pen pal,
Giang’s, home. It was possibly the most unbelievable and surreal experience for
me. I remember feeling this sense of connection with her as she led me down the
road that she takes every day to attend school. As I tried to imagine how it
would be, walking these grounds to school, I felt drawn closer to her and her
day to day life. I got to see her home, her family’s pottery studio, and the
racks among racks - hundreds of clay tea pots. Then we entered her house, it
was so incredible to see, firsthand, the home to a Vietnamese girl who is the
same age as me. I first noticed how different her home was from my own. I found
it completely different: The structure of her house, her living room and her
simple kitchen. And I realized that although both of us live on different sides
of the world, surrounded by different people, growing up with our own cultural
norms, we were both just as content with our own lives. There was no need to
compare what she had that I didn’t, or what I had that she didn’t, we were both
happy. My lesson is: Never doubt that one who lives a different lifestyle than
you isn’t gratified.
The night before we left for the trip, my cousin came over
and talked to me about the trip, since he had gone four years prior. We talked
and he told me about all the fun things to do and see in Vietnam. He also gave
me some really good advice for the trip. One piece of advice really struck me.
He told me that in Halong Bay, when they went kayaking, he was in a kayak with
somebody we didn’t really like. At first, he was very annoyed about that, but
then he realized that he was in Vietnam, and he was in Halong Bay, and he got
to go kayaking. His parting words to me before I left to begin my journey were,
“just get in the kayak.” This has been the most important lesson that I have
learned on this trip because it taught me to not get caught up in the small
things, and instead to look around. It has also been my mantra for the entire
trip.
The most
important lesson I learned while on the Vietnam trip is to do everything you
can. I decided to take advantage of every opportunity given to me while in
Vietnam. I participated in almost every activity and now that I am back in
Seattle, I am very glad I did as much as I could. I learned to experience life
to the fullest, as you only have one, but to also know your limits and be safe
while having fun.
I have learned that one of the best ways to ensure happiness
is to graciously accept whatever is given to you, whether physical or
emotional.
On this trip I have surmounted obstacles that I would never
have though possible for me to accomplish and even discovered joy in them. I
have found that the real challenge is not the action itself, but the
willingness to say “yes” to it.
The lesson I’ve learned is to always accept the challenges
that are thrown at me, instead of turning them away, because this exact moment
will only happen once. And I have learned that that is something I need to
cherish.
The most important lesson I learned over the trip was to
take the opportunities given to me and to enjoy each moment. One particular
concept speaks to me the most.
In every moment, you can do one of three things. You can
rush by, aiming just to finish and move on. You can stop and look, meaning be
in the moment and then move on, or you can skip the moment all together. I did
all that I could to take in each moment.
When some members of our Sapa homestay group and I went for
a long hike, I made it my goal to stop and look, everywhere I went. I kept my
chin up and made the trip feel like every moment was a new opportunity for me,
not a long tiring hike. I realized that, in order to truly see a new place, I
simply had to keep my eyes open.
This trek made me realize the importance of stopping and
looking. I learned that many of the greatest opportunities to see a new place
come from simple interactions. It is just the choice of whether you want to
stop and look, or whether you just want to move on.
Every step through the mountains; Every breath in the
rivers; Every smile with the locals; They were all an opportunity to stop and
look.
I have learned to be less dependent. When I went on this
trip, my first thoughts were what am I going to eat; I am such a picky eater. I
depended on my parents to cook me good food that I liked. In Vietnam I did not
have my parents any more. I had to make my own decisions and step outside of my
comfort zone. I have now left the leash that was keeping my dependent on my
parents.
My most valuable lesson I am taking away from this trip
would probably the thrill and need for adventure. Each and every one of us has
the longing to explore, whether that means exploring the world or exploring
more down to earth things, like science or technology. This trip has brought out
my inner need for travel as a person who would like to know more about
different undeveloped countries around the world. When I was younger, whenever
my parents would take me to a country with them, I would see it like they were
dragging me along with them. Leaving home for a month has now changed my view
on travel. I love traveling, but this trip has extended that passion to include
more independence and desire.
I learned that being unable to communicate verbally does not
hinder communication and the ability to create bonds with others.
I learned that even when things seem a long way off, they
are always attainable.
Be free both physically and mentally to get lost, and enjoy
one’s surroundings, at any given.
I have found that once you can see beauty in pain and
suffering, you have seen past it. Although all of the beauty and blessings in
my life are exceptional, they used to be intertwined in an underlying guilt and
sadness I didn’t understand. This trip has handed me the remedy of appreciation
and generosity. I have become much more appreciative, aware and generous,
learning that to open your arms to the world with blissful submission is the
most cleansing, gratifying and humbling experience.
I believe everyone has a good spirit, but sometimes that
spirit is shrouded by the gift of freewill. Reflecting, I find that my inner
spirit, the person that was there from the beginning, has been veiled for
almost half of my life. I feel only now has begun to emerge once again.
The most important lesson I’ve learned in Vietnam is that
having a functional mind and body is a gift so many people, including myself,
take for granted. In Saigon, when we visited the War Remnant’s Museum, I
learned about the horrible effects of Agent Orange. But when we visited the
orphanage in Hoi An, I realized just how devastating the disabilities is causes
can be. While we may not be totally happy with ourselves, I think it’s
important to remember the people who can’t talk, can’t move, can’t think, and
be grateful that we’re healthy.
Over the course of the trip, I have learned many new things,
but the most important lesson I learned was how to be independent. Independence
is hard to learn, but this trip forced it upon me, allowing me to really BE
independent. This is the most important lesson I have learned because it is
something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
The most important lesson I learned In Vietnam is that you
must always be certain, but know when to give up on the things you were certain
about when it’s necessary. I learned that you cannot, in fact, try to see if
peanuts inside. And that even though someone reassures you over and over again,
if you have your own doubts, you need to act upon them. If you believe
something to be an unnecessary risk, much of the time it will be, but if you
think it will be worth it, you should do it, just be prepared for it all going
south.
The most important lesson I learned on this trip is to never
be afraid of doing anything. The feeling of discomfort and insecurity should be
let go. Enjoy life and do everything. Eli and Robert always say, “Expand your
comfort zone.” I’m not the greatest biker and I proved that by steering my way
into muddy water. But later that day Eli told me to expand my comfort zone by
riding a bike back to the Hoian Hotel in flip flops and in the rain. I made it.
And I think it made me a better biker. If I can bike in Vietnam, hopefully I
can bike back in Seattle.
In the beginning, I was terrified of going on this trip.
There were so many negative thoughts pounding my head. But turns out, all my
worries faded away as the days passed in Vietnam. There weren’t as many
mosquitoes as I thought there would be. The heat wasn’t the best but we did
have air conditioning most of the time. In the USA, you usually don’t bargain
for your items at the market. But in Vietnam, you do and it’s fun. And if
you’re like me and understand what the Vietnamese ladies are saying behind your
back, it’s funny. The Vietnamese people that I’ve met were so friendly. It was
nice to be able to communicate and connect to all of them. They made me love
Vietnam. They made me love the language, the culture, the food, and the people.
If my parents offered to go on vacation to Vietnam, I would definitely come
back.
The most important lesson I’ve learned from this trip is to
live in the moment. Dwelling in the past or pondering about the future will not
allow you to fully experience anything. Your mind will be clouded with thoughts
that don’t relate to the situation. This will take away from the opportunity to
experience things to the fullest. For example, by now everyone is planning what
they will do once the plane touches down at SeaTac. Especially now, it is
important to forget about the future and be present. Living in the present will
allow you to fully experience the moments that later become your greatest
memories.
I learned that things can be so different, and it can be
overwhelming, but one can become used to it easily if they put time into it.
A few days ago we were on the bus
to Halong Bay, and I was looking out the window. It’s kind of strange, but on
the buses here I keep having these really deep life discoveries and stuff, so
yeah, this kind of just came to me. I was thinking about how we aren’t awake
and we aren’t really there for so much of what happens around us. That doesn’t
really make sense…basically, our life is kind of just what we experience. So we
miss out on a lot. Therefore, the times when we are awake and the moments we do
experience, we should be completely present in. We should try to absorb every
detail, every part of every experience we have. We should make the most of
every part of our lives and try to take it all in. So I guess, overall, what
I’ve learned from Vietnam is to live every moment to the fullest.
Before the trip started, I went to church for the first time
in almost a year. When they heard that I was going on this trip, they told me
to go in peace, at first I didn’t understand what they meant. But, now I
realize that the most important thing I learned on the trip is that peace isn’t
found on a slip of paper that two leaders sign, peace is found in the people
you meet, what they say, and how you speak to them. Peace is not words on a
page, peace is found in the feelings of others, and above all else, peace is
found within you.
Throughout this trip, the most important lesson I have
learned is to never take anything for granted. After seeing how some families
must live on a daily basis, and living without the small luxuries that I have
become accustomed to has helped me realize how many things I don’t appreciate
fully in my life, and how much I have to be grateful for.
The most
important lesson I learned during this trip is that I hold myself in a box. Eli
always talks about how we hold each other in boxes, we have a certain image of
the person (the box) and we don't let them break out of it. While I'm usually
an introverted person, during the trip I found myself enjoying being around
people, and not seeking out alone time. While I am often very nervous about
performing and similar things, I did karaoke on our last night in Ha Long Bay.
The trip stretched my comfort zone, and got me to do things I don't usually do.
Because of this, I learned that I'm not always the person I think I am, and to
find my true self I must continue to try new things all the time, even once the
trip is over.
The lesson I learned on this trip is to just roll with
it. Don’t get too attached to the way
things are. If something happens don’t
complain just continue on. Change isn’t
necessarily wrong so don’t approach thinking that the way things are is
right. Also think through what other
people are saying before responding.
People don’t always make clear the meaning of the statement. It can be very easy to misinterpret the
meaning. The most important lesson I’ve
learned on this trip is to just roll with it.
I’ve found that I am always more independent than I think I
am. At home I usually avoid tasks like cooking, doing laundry, going out on my
own, ordering at restaurants, etc. Over the trip I realized that I have these
capabilities, and while I don’t think that I can accomplish these small tasks,
I can. Instead of saying “I don’t know how to” when faced with these obstacles,
I should start saying “Yes I can.”
I have taken too long to adapt to the situation when I have
traveled with my family. I have gained a new trait. I have been able to adapt
quickly. I chose to share this new trait because I feel it is better to adapt
quickly than to think about the places you’ve been. Because it is better to
live in the moment than dwelling on the past.
Over the course of the trip I’ve learned how lucky I am. I
am lucky to have such caring parents who would do anything for me. I am lucky
to live in a country that gives you so many options in life. I am lucky to have
a house; lucky to always have food on our table; lucky to have accessible
education. I learned that I am lucky to have the life I have.
Vietnam taught me many things –
some profound and some basic but all very highly valued to me. I learned how to
cross and weave through traffic-jammed streets and how to simply observe. I
learned to step outside my comfort zone and how imperative bug spray is and how
itching cream is a lie. I learned how helpful laundry places can become and how
to connect with those who I cannot speak directly with. But what I find to be
one of the most important things I’ve learned is how having little-to-no
expectations makes the best experiences.
Here, I had no idea what to expect.
However, from all the research and studying we completed over the course of the
school year on Vietnam, I began to create pictures in my mind. Vietnam is a
place very different than Seattle, or the States in general. It’s places like
these, where practically nothing is the same as home where knowing how to
completely immerse myself is how to get the entire experience – of course, I
know only to push myself to my physical and mental limitations. I learned this
progressively over the trip, and though I still cannot totally proceed in
following through with this lesson constantly, I have experienced times where I
did not have expectations and everything presented to me was an absolute joy.
In the beginning, I remember being
sort of nervous to even attempt to become one with the Vietnamese. Of course, I
was all over throwing myself into the busy streets – to my charperone’s dismay
– but I think I was less eager when it came to local interactions. There was a
part of my mind, shoved way back, which thought the Vietnamese wouldn’t like us
too much because we were Americans. And because of that, part of me hoped that
I wouldn’t be hated by them because I don’t look American or Caucasian. But the
rest of me, from listening to past Vietnam trip stories knew that the
Vietnamese were kind, friendly people. As well, I also expected to have to only
speak Vietnamese while out and about with my groups. It turned out that that’s
not the case. But, that only made it more fun to attempt to speak the local
language. Luxury was one more thing I was hoping for/expecting. I wanted to
have amazing homestays and hotels with nice, working bathrooms that don’t have
bugs and don’t stink, and to be able to sleep in a comfortable bed – and on a
bamboo mat on the floor. I was really hoping for that bamboo mat, god only
knows why. And getting to the homestays made me a little disappointed. But I
quickly tried changing my mindset and turning my attention to the family that
lives there and to the fact that we are able to kind of live out their lives.
But
now I realize that if I have no expectations, or at least too high ones, then I
won’t have walls of doubt and disappointment blocking me from seeing the world
truly as it is.
I learned
to truly observe the world. To completely take in the surroundings is to immerse oneself into the world around
them, and that is what I think a big part of this is. Being in a totally
different world and location is such an amazing experience, and I believe that
one can never know when and/or if he will ever experience such a sight again.
So over the course of this trip, I have
learned to take the time to really look at everything around me including all
five senses. I have learned to pay attention to the particular smells and
surfaces, the sounds of the location and the tastes of the food there. The
sights, however, is one of the things that truly amazes me; the sights and the
people. I have taken to spending my time, when I can afford it, to observing
the entire world around me and taking it all in, thinking and realizing where I
actually am and what I’m doing and who I see. I still am astounded by
everything I see, whether it be at home or here in Vietnam – it just happens to
be more incredible when here in Vietnam, a foreign country to my eyes.
The most important lesson I learned on the trip was how see
more than the obvious. I learned how to seize the moment by taking advantage of
the opportunities given to me on this once in a life time trip. As I looked out
over Halong Bay I did not just see the beautiful scenery, but how much this
trip has meant to me, how it has changed me, and how it has changed all of you.
In my daily life I see the same things every day and I do not usually notice
the little aspects of what makes it special. Coming on this trip makes me
appreciate the little aspects that one might not notice so that I can remember
this trip to the fullest. Living in the present is part of this. As we are
about to leave this beautiful country we are ready to have the amenities of our
easy lives at home. I learned that instead of just focusing on what I am
looking forward to, I should focus on how to experience the moment and gain as
much as I can from it. As Jen said in our homestay, it will all be there for
you when we return, as in a clean shower, your own bed, and American food.
Because of this trip I am able to see how lucky I am and appreciate what I
have. This country has taught me so much.
During this trip, I’ve learned to open myself up to new
things. To expose my insecurities and set them free, knowing that it’s okay to
feel vulnerable. Whether it’s trying to talk with a local or attempting (and
failing) a backwards dive, it’s not about having your fears overtake you but
instead concurring them.
This is the most important lesson I’ve learned on this trip: you
might not get a chance to do something again When I think of the phrase ‘Yolo’
I sometimes forget what it stands for. You only live once. This, so you should
commit fully to it and enjoy it for every moment.
Every action, and every situation lends opportunity for
positive human growth, Not only physically, or even only emotionally, but just
as a person over all. So often in life we get caught up in the moment, and only
focus on all the negative things. But with everything in life there is a
positive and negative and the most important thing is to draw out the things
that are positive and really matter, rather than to focus on the negative
things.
May 21st: End of the trip meditation on choosing to bless, and introduction to the most important lesson assignment
 |
| bus ride to Halong Bay |
 |
| feet became the theme of this bus ride |
 |
| floating village in Halong Bay |
 |
| evening meeting on the roof deck of our boat |
 |
| our boat |
 |
| I bought 10 kilos of mangosteens for our boat ride (they lasted for only 2 meals). I have many new members of my club "Mangosteens are the best fruit in the world club." |
 |
| kayaking in Halong Bay |
 |
| delicious sea food on the boat |
 |
| "robe lunch" after swimming |
 |
| sunset |
 |
| sunrise on our last morning on Halong Bay |
May 21st: End of the trip meditation
on choosing to bless, and introduction to the most important lesson assignment
Look around you.
What a blessing – being here
What a blessing – having
friends to share this with
What a blessing – the air I
breath, the lungs to breath it, the mouth to talk, the mind to think – so many
blessings in my life.
Think how far you have come.
Try to remember that first
time you crossed a street in Saigon.
We were different people.
Travel can be hard.
Being in a group can be challenging.
Being together 24/7 can be
difficult.
It pushes each of us in
different ways.
It is such a blessing being
here with you.
And I want to acknowledge you
all.
Sometimes I forget how
stretched we are, and for that I want to apologize.
The first morning after
sleeping at our homestay, I woke up early and sat outside, and was thinking,
“There are only seven days left. This is coming to an end.” And then the wind
picked up. The wind does something special to me. It is as if it blows right
through me, and cleanses me. It was as if the wind spoke to me that morning,
and woke me up. The wind said to me, “Nothing ends, for something new starts.”
The wind reminded me that nothing ends, for it just creates new beginnings.
How will you use these last
few days?
What will you take with you?
What will you leave behind?
What grows out of wind and dust?
I want to share with you a
story from the Torah.
Moses
was wandering in the desert for 40 years.
He
came upon a Moabite tribe
Balak,
king of the Moabites, was afraid of this huge hoard that entered his lands. So
he hired Balaam, a professional curser, to go to the Israelites’ camp to curse
them.
Balaam
prayed to get a really good curse, but when he saw the Israelites, he could not
curse them. He said, “Ma tovu ohalekha Ya'akov, mishk'notekha
Yisra'el.”
(How
fair are your tents, o Jacob, your dwellings O Israel.)
Balaam chose to bless. He was
commanded to curse, confronted by a potential enemy, but he chose to bless.
At every moment, we each have
this same choice: to bless or to curse. Cursing separates. It divides. Blessing
connects. These are our last days here. It is natural to think about the end of
the trip, to think about hamburgers and frappochinos. Or, we can choose to be
present. We can choose to take in each moment, and appreciate the blessings
that are right in front of us. We can choose to connect to Vietnam and to each
other.
What are the blessings in
your life? It can be as simple as a morning breeze.
Think now on the blessing
that you are
What are the gifts you bring
to others?
What are the blessings you
have to offer?
There is something about
travel that is transformative:
New insights
New ways of looking at the
world
New ways of looking at
yourself
Some lessons we learn right
away.
Sometimes we have to return
before we become aware of what has changed
Sometimes it is just a small
seed planted, and we only become aware of it years later
The lessons we learn are our
blessings. What has been your most important lesson on this trip?
Students then had the next
few days in Halong Bay to reflect on their most important lesson. Below are
their lessons they learned, which they shared at the farewell dinner. What
amazing, insightful young adults!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
