Wheaton

I am now in Wheaton, Illinois. I bought a car last Monday and drove out here. I can't believe I'm here. It's been such a whirlwind of activity since I've been home.

I arrived here Sunday about 2pm. It took me about ten hours with stops and I got turned around and missed my one exit and had to go back. I got checked in and unpacked. My roommate is Jessica and she's from Florida. She's really nice and is a grad student majoring in Clinical Psychology. Our apartment is also really nice. I have to say I'm impressed with it for being college housing. We have a big bedroom and a nice sized living room and kitchen and bathroom. Also a huge hallway closet where we can store our empty suitcases and boxes.

We went to Ultra Foods and got groceries and also Target and picked up an Iron and some hangers.

Classes start tomorrow. My class isn't until 6:30pm. I have to register my car in the morning.

I'm still looking for employment. I have one shift at the Stupe here on Sundays from 11am-4pm but that's all right now.

I interviewed with World Relief. She said she would make her final decision later this week.
I'm eligibile for Federal Work Study so their are alot of opportunities for that. I need to go check into them today and tomorrow.

I bought my books yesterday!! Expensive!! That's all I can say about that!!

Day with my students

Wedding

My Tuesday/ Thursday class in Hanoi.


They got me these beautiful seashells!! I also got these home in one piece.

My students

One of my classes in Hanoi.

More Pictures

This is a day with our students. They took us here for tea.

This was at pottery village. I bought a complete tea set for five dollars and managed to
get it home all in one piece!!!

Home At Last

I arrived home last Saturday morning. It was a long trip home. Our plane was delayed from Hanoi so we missed our flight to LA. We were suppose to leave Hanoi at 4pm. We didn't leave until 9pm and arrived in Tawain about 2am. We got our lugguage and went through customs and the airline took us to a hotel where we got about four hours of sleep. We had to check out of the hotel early. They put us up at a really nice hotel in Taipei, Tawain. We left Tawain about 4pm and arrived in LA the same day at about 2pm. My flight to Pittsburgh didn't leave until 10:45pm so I had a long wait in the airport. My flight finally arrived in Pittsburgh Sat. at 6am. I was exhausted. The time changes were confusing, I wasn't sure what day or time it was while flying. I am home at last and starting to feel more like myself. I have been very tired.

I have decided to go back to Wheaton. I will be leaving this week. Pray for me as details are still being finalized.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!!

Halong Bay

We arrived safely in Hanoi Monday night about 8:30pm. Please pray for us we had some mishaps since we've been here. Francis left a backpack in a taxi which had her plane tickets in. They have been reissued but it would be nice if she got her backpack back before we leave tomorrow. Also Eleisa fell on the steps of Sandy's house (Field director) and hurt her tailbone. She's feeling much better today but it is still sore when she moves. Pray for her on the long plane ride home.

We still went to Halong Bay without Eleisa who stayed at Sandy's. We left early Tuesday morning and just got back. It was beautiful. We stayed on a boat and took a tour of the bay and the natural wonders of the rock/cave formations. It was beautiful and relaxing. Yes, I took pictures. It's hard to believe it's time to leave tomorrow. We will go to a hotel tonight and then come back to Sandy's in the morning and then leave for the airport about 2:30pm and start the long journey back home. It will be about a 21 hour trip. Pray for us as we travel. It's sad to leave but it'll be nice to be home as well. C-ya soon!!

Steven flew to Ho Chi Minh city yesterday to spend some time with his family here before he returns to the US. It was hard to say goodbye. We all cried. We all went to the airport with him and sat with him until he had to leave. Our group is dwindling, they are now only five of us left.
We are leaving Vinh tomorrow on the noon train. Please pray for us as we travel back to Hanoi. We will stay in Hanoi for Monday night and then are planning on going to HaLong Bay Tuesday morning and staying there Tuesday night and return to Hanoi on Wednesday. We fly out of Hanoi on Thursday and I will be home on Friday morning. Lord willing.
The weather has been very rainy last night and all day today. Last night was a little scary, we went to the beach and had dinner with Ms. Yen and Mr. Quy, the administrators of the school here and it really started raining with lots of thunder and lightning. We were sitting under a metal roof but the rain was blowing in sideways. They then put the roof down so it formed a wall which kept most of the rain out. Then the electricity went out. It was pitch black. They started the generator and we had lights again. I had my little flashlight in my purse so that came in handy. After the rain slowed down we then came back home. It was another adventure.
The summer has gone by so fast. It's hard to believe it's time to come home already. Pray as I have to make alot of decisions once I return home.

Tonight is our last night co-teaching. Thanh is leaving us tonight and Steven is flying out tomorrow. There will only be five of us left.
Today we went to a wedding. It was beautiful!! We had lots of good food and took some pictures. I wore my beautiful Vietnamese dress. (Beautiful but very hot!!)
Then we went to Karaoke with the Vietnamese teachers here from ASEM School where we are co-teaching. It was alot of fun. Tomorrow we are going to the beach and then Sunday we will be packing and getting ready to head out to Hanoi.

Marsha arrived safely in Hanoi.
We went to the orphanage yesterday. It was alot of fun but sad as well as we had to say goodbye to the kids. They are so sweet and loving. We passed out some toys and played a few games and sang some songs together.
We are leaving Vinh on Monday by train. We'll stay in Hanoi for a few days before we head home. It's been a great experience. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. Pray for us as we complete the last week of our adventure here in Vietnam.