Friday in Phan Rang (Day 13, Day 3 with Catalyst)

Today was our third day working at the Catalyst community. We arrived 30 minutes earlier today, to try to gain a little ground on the remaining work. The medical team was busy seeing more families – we saw 50+ today. It’s very slow going as many of the people have multiple issues to discuss with the doctors. The dentist was also busy with check-ups and several extractions. We have one Dr., one PA, one dentist, two women working pharmacy, one social worker doing intake, and several team members to enter patient information.

I can hardly wrap my 1st world brain around the fact that these families don't have the very basic things every living creature needs - WATER! It's just not OK! We as Americans and/or as Christians, can't be ok that most in this community don't have enough water to drink, let alone cook or maintain proper hygiene.

The construction team was painting the house today, inside and out. They are working so hard and doing a great job!

The kids are really coming out of their shells with us and we are all enjoying playing with them and just holding their hands. I took my camera today and took lots of pictures of the beautiful faces we see every day. It’s sad to think about saying goodbye tomorrow – Grace has already warned us that she will cry hysterically!! She has a little fan club and really likes playing with the kids.

Family Waiting Area

Families receiving information after de-worming treatment.

Our hard working dentist.

Our pharmacy team.

Grace and her new BFFs.

Me & Lem. She's the leader of this community and my new hero!

 

 

Thanks for reading. Love, Kathy

So Long, Hanoi. Hello, Saigon (Day 6)

Grace and I were up and ready by 9:00 and instead of breakfast, she wanted to do some last minute shopping. We went back to get another backpack and a quick snack at the convenience market across from our hotel. We settled our bill, said goodbye to Gam, and headed for the airport. Our flight was delayed but we had free wi-fi so the time passed quickly. The flight to Saigon was a bit over 2 hours but seemed like a snap compared to the long flight we took to get here. Of course we were served a meal - Asian airlines treat you very well. Soon we were landing in Saigon, Grace’s hometown. She kept saying she wanted to go back to Hanoi, and she knew she was not going to like Saigon. We gathered our bags and made our way to the taxi stand and soon were on our way to our hotel.

Can I just say – OH! The heat! It is so hot and humid here, it is stifling. Phoenix hot and Florida humid. ALL.YEAR.LONG. And the construction here is unbelievable. So much going on - even a new city is being built.

We checked into the Hoang Hai Long Hotel. It is very beautiful. It is in District 1, near the Ben Thanh Market. We saw some familiar sites in the surrounding area – Circle K, Dunkin Donuts and Carl’s Jr.!! That is just crazy to me.

We headed out to check out the area, but it was already getting dark, so we stopped at Circle K for some drinks and snacks and headed back to our hotel. We settled in to our small room, where it seems our suitcases have exploded!! It will be great to unload the nearly 100 pairs of flip flops we brought so I can actually organize our things. I also will give some gifts to Thuy and her family, so that will free up some space, too. Of course, we'll be filling up what space we have with lots of souvenirs and gifts.

We turned in pretty early after showers and snacks. We’ll have another exciting day tomorrow.

 

Thanks for reading. Love, Kathy

Vietnam - Land of a Million Stairs (Day 5)

We awoke once more to the beautiful scenery of Halong Bay. The mornings are spectacular with the haze making everything look so magical. We had an early breakfast and headed off to tour a huge cave. We waited with many other tourists while Tung purchased our tickets and soon were on our way. Up, up, up the stairs. There must have been at least 100. Ok, I was dying. But I made it to the top and into the cave. There were 3 caves actually, and they were amazing. There was a stone pathway (and more stairs) throughout, but it was worth every step! We rubbed our money on the lucky turtle rock formation and were soon through the last cave. At the exit was a gift shop and there were also a few women in boats selling fresh fish. It was a very interesting side trip and very worth the time.

Back on the boat it was time to pack up and get ready to head back to Hanoi. The kids were ready to be back to the land of wi-fi and I think the adults were as well. I spent some time talking to one of the crew members, the very underworked bartender. He was young with a wife and baby girl at home and he told me about his job and his family. We had one last lunch aboard the boat and returned to the harbor.

Back in the van and on the road, I sat up front with the driver. You really see some crazy things and some even crazier driving! Our driver was very patient and never honked, which I think is rare in Vietnam! We stopped at another rest stop and all had ice cream before hitting the road again. The trip back to Hanoi took less time and we were soon back at the Green Diamond Hotel and were greeted by Mrs. Gam. We said goodbye to Tung, and made plans to go out with him in the evening. Up to our rooms for some rest and wi-fi and everyone was happy. I hitched a scooter ride from the bellman to a camera store. I was hoping I only needed new batteries for my (brand new) camera and that was the case. Back to the hotel in less than 10 minutes and I can start taking pictures again!!

Tung returned at 5:00 and we set out to see more of the Old Quarter. I’m sure we were quite a site – 10 of us trailing along behind our guide. We crossed many streets and wound our way further and further into the city. We finally arrived at our first stop, a tiny restaurant in a tiny alley between 2 buildings. Tung ordered up 2 dishes for us to choose from – pho (Vietnamese rice noodle soup) or a glass noodle bowl with chicken and pork meatballs. Grace had the pho (of course) and I tried the glass noodles. The lady came and fixed mine for me, adding fresh lime juice and chili sauce and mixed the heck out of those noodles with my chopsticks! The food was fantastic and very spicy and I was really wishing for some water or something to drink!! Our first experience with street food was fun and quite exciting and I look forward to doing it again soon!

We paid our bills – ours was $3!! – and we were off to a cell phone store to buy selfie sticks. Tung had one on the boat and all the kids wanted one. Then we headed back to our hotel and said goodbye to Tung. He is such a nice young man and a wonderful guide. We hope to stay in touch and see him again someday.

We grabbed some dessert before turning in for the night. We all have travel days tomorrow – Grace and I are heading to Saigon while the rest of our group is traveling by car to visit Jeremi’s birthmother. I’m praying for Jeremi and both of his moms. It’s going to be an emotional day for them all.

Thanks for reading. Love, Kathy

Vacation Fail (Day 4)

Today was our second day on Halong Bay. After a good night sleep, we awoke to a beautiful morning. The scenery is breath-taking. Our group slowly gathered on the top deck and waited for our breakfast to be prepared. Bacon, eggs, and toast was a good way to start the day. Soon after our morning meal, we got ready to head out on a kayak adventure. I was so nervous, but Leanne was so kind and took me under her wing, and the crew members helped me board our kayak. We paddled around the bay a bit then headed off to explore a cave. That’s when I realized I was in the middle of vacation fail #2. I wore flip flops and of course got my feet wet exiting the kayak. Then I was trying to hike up the rock path inside the cave with my feet sliding all around in my shoes. I decided to try barefoot and that worked out really well due to the very smooth rocks. I did end up hanging back while the others kept going, but I had a lovely view of a little lagoon as well as the inside of the cave. We all met back at the kayaks and headed back to our boat. I was happy that our trip was successful and I stayed out of the water!

We kicked back on the top deck and were soon called down for lunch. The amount of food they prepare is crazy! We had squid (from last night’s fishing success), fish, shrimp, and a tasty cucumber and carrot salad. The dessert is always fresh fruit and today it was dragon fruit, which Grace and I both love.

After lunch everyone went their separate ways for some rest. The hum of the motor and the gentle rocking of the boat was the perfect combination for a nice nap!

Vacation Fail #1 actually happened yesterday but is continuing on to today and tomorrow. My camera batteries died!!!! I'm at the most beautiful place in all of Vietnam and I have no camera. I was completely sick and so mad at myself. Leanne and Joanne will fill in with their pictures, which I appreciate.

While the adults have been happy to sit and relax, the kids were growing restless. They got a chance to swim and kayak some more which was good exercise and fun.

We had another huge dinner, more squid fishing and a good night sleep.

 

Thanks for reading. Love, Kathy

Bucket List (Day 3)

I don’t really have a bucket list, but if I did, I would check one thing off today. We left Hanoi at 7:30 this morning with our guide, Tung, and drove 4 ½ hours to one of the most beautiful places on Earth – Halong Bay. We stopped half way for a break and walked around some shops – embroidery, jewelry, silk, and snacks. I bought Grace a beautiful pair of pearl earrings (her birthstone) for her 13^th birthday, which is in June. We also made another stop at a pearl farm and got to see the process from beginning to end.

Once we arrived at Halong Bay, we boarded a small boat that took us to our private junk (boat) and headed south across the bay. The scenery is amazingly beautiful. The weather was perfect – sunny, with a light layer of fog in the distance, and a great breeze. We crept along across the water, passing various kinds of boats and the beautiful formations jutting out of the water. I didn’t see it for myself, but the kids said the captain was steering the boat with his feet!

 

Jeremi and Noah

Grace, Meghan and Tung

Our Private Junk

Once the cabins were all sorted out, Grace and I ended up with the VIP cabin. It’s very beautiful and has glass doors that open to the back of the boat.  

Keys to the VIP Suite!

 

The VIP Suite

Our Private Deck



Fresh Grilled Shrimp



Fresh Squid



Fresh Clams

Tung and Joanne

 

After traveling for a few hours, we loaded into kayaks and a bamboo boat and toured around a small village. We stopped and saw the school, though the kids had already gone home for the day. We loaded back into our boats and headed back. I rode in the bamboo boat which was paddled by a very small Vietnamese woman who was so strong. She made it look effortless. The kids enjoyed kayaking around and were able to burn off some energy. They’ve had a bit of a hard time being off the grid – no Wi-Fi out here! It’s wonderful.

 

Back on the junk, we learned how to make fresh Vietnamese spring rolls – my favorite. Then we were served another amazing meal of chicken soup, fresh prawns, stuffed crab, fried spring rolls, fried corn, rice with vegetables, water spinach, and a few dishes I didn’t even try. It was just so much good food and there was just no more room!!

After dinner, the kids tried their luck at squid fishing and contributed to tomorrow’s lunch. Grace got “inked” but I was able to wash it out of her new swimsuit and got most of it off of her jacket. She thought that was disgusting and was not happy with the spraying, inking squid!

It’s late now and my girl is all tucked in and sound asleep, with another amazing day under her belt. I’m still awake and still pinching myself. I can’t believe we’re here and that we still have so much ahead of us. I could not be more blessed.

Thanks for reading. Love, Kathy

Hanoi (Day 2)

Day 2 in Hanoi is in the books. We started out our day with the breakfast of champions - pho!  They serve it differently in the north, no fresh herbs on the side, just lime and those little red peppers. Good for flavor, but I was very careful not to eat one.

Grace enjoying her morning coffee.

"I'm going to have pho for breakfast every day."

Yes, it was de-lish!

After we ate, Grace was ready to hit the town. We headed out toward the lake, to the bank to exchange money. She was so excited that we became millionaires!! She converted some of her money and was ready to start shopping. She made some nice purchases - a backpack, 2 wallets, and a pearl headband. We picked up a few gifts and had a great lunch at Aubergine Café. We rushed through visited the Museum of Fine Arts and took a cyclo ride back to the hotel. Along the way, Grace suddenly realized that she had lost her flip flop. My thought was "don't panic, I have 100 pair back at the hotel". Anyway, here comes this man running up behind us waiving her flip flop. So funny.

Our friends, the Austrins, arrived today at 5:00. Grace was very excited to have some friends to hang out with. They were joined by Joanne and her son, Jeremi. Once they were settled in, we headed out to dinner at the New Day. I ordered my favorite Hanoi catfish, Chả Cá. It was prepared at my table and it was delicious and cheap, but I still love Little Saigon better.

 

After dinner, the ladies decided we needed a little retail therapy exercise, so we walked up to the lake and looked around at some of the shops. I bought some little donuts from a street vendor and we all tried them. We couldn't decide if they were not fresh or were supposed to be on the tough side. They were good either way.

We rode cyclos back to the hotel and turned in for the night. Tomorrow morning is an early start.


More tomorrow!


Thanks for reading. Love, Kathy

Hello Hanoi! Nice to Meet You!

We arrived in Hanoi yesterday, Sunday, at about noon. We made it through customs and I was more scared than either time I was here before. Something about bringing my Vietnamese-born daughter with her American passport back into her birth country. The lady was very serious looking and more than once looked at Grace's passport, then up at her. If she could have seen a full view of me, she would have seen my knees knocking. Once she stamped our passports we were off to claim our luggage. Fortunately, all three bags made it - all of our crap belongings and nearly 100 pairs of flip flops. Then off to find our driver in the sea of signs. That was easier than I thought it would be. Off through the traffic and honking horns to our hotel.

The Green Diamond Hotel is on a little side street with tons of scooter traffic and shops. It's in between a banh mi shop and a jewelry store. Ms. Gam greeted us with a big smile, making us feel immediately welcome. Our room is on the third floor, up very steep steps, no elevator. It's very small, but quite adequate. A king size bed, a desk and small closet, and most importantly, an air conditioner! The bathroom is a one room show - toilet and sink and the shower drain in the middle of the room. No tub, no shower curtain, just the shower on the wall. I think it's genius, so long as you don't use the blowdryer when you're done!

After we settled in, we headed out to explore and find some necessities. We weren't a block away from the hotel and we fell into one of the biggest scams around. I didn't see it coming, but as soon as I saw the women, I knew exactly what was happening. One lady put the pole on Grace's shoulder, the other put a hat on her head and said "Photo, Mommy". Ugh. Two non la's, a bracelet, a bag of fresh pineapple, and promise to return to buy a t-shirt later, we were on our way to find the "market".

In my very tired mind I was wanting a grocery-type store where we could by some bottled water and snacks for the room. What Ms. Gam directed us to was much like the Binh Tan Market for those that have been, or an indoor Vietnam-style swap meet, for those that haven't. Way too overwhelming for Grace on her first day and I was doing that tired kind of wandering I do when I really shouldn't be shopping. So we made a circle through the colorful maze and found our way out the way we came in (by the hats, Mom) and stood on the curb looking shell-shocked, I'm sure. A very nice cyclo driver offered us a one hour ride, which we gladly accepted and we were delivered back to our hotel in about 30 minutes which was more than fine. He was such a nice guy and we enjoyed his humor. He asked me for a tip for "more beer" which made me laugh.

We trudged up the stairs to our room and pretty much crashed until morning. To be continued...

Ready for take off. Not so ready for 24+ hours of travel.

I hope we get to fly on a Hello Kitty plane!!!

Finally! Today is the day! Grace and I leave for LA tonight at 8:00, then take off from there at 12:30 for Taipei. I have so many feelings about this trip I just might burst. First, I feel so blessed – blessed by the friends who have supported us, blessed by the people praying for us, and blessed by God for putting us on this path. I am so excited and Grace is so exited and I’m so excited to see her so excited. I am anxious to see our Canadian friends and our Catalyst friends and our sweet adoption coordinator, Thuy. I’m nervous about returning to the orphanage where Grace lived the first few years of her life. I’m nervous about how she’s going to feel after being there again. And I’m nervous about crossing the street (the first time always makes my legs shake, but then we’ll be off and running.).

I am so happy that Grace will have this experience. I can’t imagine what’s going through her mind (she’s almost 13, so I don’t always have the privilege of knowing).  I’m hoping she’ll share and allow me to share, and I’m hoping she’ll post on her own blog. I can’t imagine how this trip is going to change her and how she sees the world. It’s my hope that she will be captivated by Vietnam and will leave with the desire to return again and again. Vietnam is catchy like that. Something about it gets into your soul and doesn't let go. I don’t know if it’s the beauty, the people, the food, or a little bit of each. I just hope she catches it. And please, Dear Lord, nothing else.

The Countdown is On...REALLY ON!

We leave in four days. FOUR. Are we ready? Mentally, yes, we are BEYOND excited. Are we packed? Well...not exactly. STILL.SO.MUCH.TO.DO!!!! I always do great at the last minute, but I drive myself crazy with that. I would really love to have it all done and just throw our toothbrushes in on Friday and go. Let me have a moment to think about that! Ahhhhh.

Screeeeech! (That's the sound of a record scratching)

Back to reality and the list of things still left to do. Three 1/2 days of work and school. A handful of errands to run. Laundry. And packing. I always over pack. I'm trying not to do that this trip. I'm hoping for one bag each with one extra for all the gifts, candy and flip flops we're taking along. That's a total of 3 check-in bags, 150 pounds, and whatever we can carry on. Oh, if I could only be Jeannie or Samantha and we would just be there with everything we need!

Oh, one more thing. We are leaving on April 10th, returning on May 2nd. Somewhere in the middle of that is a little thing dreaded by every adult American...April 15th. For the absolute love of everything red, white and blue, I have to file my taxes before I leave! (Please refer to paragraph one where I said I always do great at the last minute. I do so well at it because I've been doing it for 50-something years.) Calgon, take me away!

Praying for pre-travel mercies for sure!