Last week volunteering

My stay here has come to an end  and I am so sad to leave all the beautiful faces I have come to love here.Its a heart stabbing feeling because they have brought me such joy this month. I came here thinking I was going to teach these kids a lot but honestly they have thought me so much more. However, I almost think that if I were to stay longer, it would be more for selfish reasons than selfless reasons. Don't get me wrong I think I have done a lot of good being here and at the very least I have shown the kids that they are very special but I do feel that it has done more good for me than the children.
Its funny, but when people ask you how beautiful a country is they expect grand descriptions of the stunning architecture, the breath taking landscape and the stunning fashion but to me Vietnam is the most beautiful country I have ever visited but not for those reasons. I see beauty in the orphans eyes when they see you getting out of the taxi, I see beauty watching the old women praying at their doorsteps with their incense sticks, totally unaware of their audience, totally still with their lips sealed with peacefulness. Watching one of the toddlers take her first step was one of the most beautiful and saddest image, beautiful in that I felt the pride any mother would upon such an achievement but sad that her real mother is totally unaware of this milestone. At first I found this very difficult especially when I had just arrived and discovered a 4 day old girl that I have named baby grace abandoned at the gate but now I have come to accept that their mothers may actually just be doing it for their kids sake feeling they would have a better life at the orphanage where they will be fed and given an education. So I have found the little conformation that I have been looking for, love and happiness does exist universally- People are same same!!
So I really have had the best ever last week, we had a very special day on Wednesday because we celebrated Jade's birthday at the baby orphanage and brought in 2 big cakes and all the kids put on a little show for us. We then took them all swimming, which was another huge success. At home taking kids to a swimming pool would only be average but here for kids who never get the opportunity to venture outside of the orphanage walls, its such a treat. I am so sad to leave these wonderful kids but I know volunteers come and go all the time so there will still get many kisses and hugs. Tomorrow I have to say goodbye to fellow volunteers jade, Hannah and Becca, we have bonded so well over here enjoying many long cycles through the paddy fields, its sad to say goodbye but  hope we will cross paths again. All the GVN staff had been amazing to me, the cooks "Grandma" and Mrs "Hanh" presented me with beautiful gifts today and told me "I so sad you are leaving Katie". They are such wonderful people with the biggest hearts ever, I will dearly miss their sniff kisses every morning and their amazing food.
Overall, this experience has been the best experience of my life, in this month I have learnt a lot.I will never forget the memories, the kids faces and the friends I have made for life. I am not sure if coming here as a tourist would have given me the same impression of the country and for that I am thankful to have experiences it the way I have. As a volunteer working with natives I felt just a little more part of everything. My heart will always be with you Vietnam.

Little boys need your help.........

First of all I want to say a huge thank you to anyone that donated money to GVN, with your kind donations we were able to save a little boys life who had a tumor in his throat and needed emergency surgery. He is now on the road to recovery and will have a long life to live thanks to you.....

However there are also 2 little boys that need your help. I have been fortunate enough to work with these 2 precious little boys and because of our input we have flown them to Saigon hospital for immediate treatment. as you can see baby minh suffers from hydrocephalus and a very bad skin infection. Unfortunately the "mothers" at the orphanage don't know how to look after him properly and we saw them washing him with bleach :-( He is now being treated in the hospital for malnutrition and skin infection and he will require surgery to drain the fluid from his brain.

 Baby Koah was also abandoned at the hospital when he was born. Red cross centre has been looking after him since then but could never afford to give him the medical attention he deserves as the government only give them 10,000 dong a moth for each baby for medical attention which is only 30 cent. Thankfully, when we saw him we rushed him to hospital and he has been diagnosed with a serious intestinal problem and malnutrition. Their care in hospital is very expensive so that is why I am asking all my friends and family to help me give these kids the life they deserve. I have already given 200 euro from my bank account, the way I see it is I can live without going out clubbing or without getting my hair done for a few months but these boys cant live without these operations. Please help me help them................

Weekend in Nha Trang

I had quite possibly the best weekend of my life in Nha Trang!!! It started off with a 10hr mystery bus where Oda, Hannah, Jade and i hoped we got on the right bus as we were the only white people on the bus and no one spoke any english! but eventually after 10 hrs we were dumped on the side of the road at 4am and a someone told us nha trang was 9km up the road! I was so relieved I was not dumped by myself and we eventually flagged down a taxi. It was too early to check into my hostel so I went to see the sun rise on the beach. I saw a total different Vietnam at this hour.  I always presumed that Asians were just thin because they ate so healthy but no there secret is exercising at 4am!! the roads were crowded with joggers and the beaches was full with yoga classes, was crazy!! I then spent the day chilling on the beach and swimming in the ocean, I never saw such a blue sea was amazing. For the afternoon I treated myself to a spa day and enjoyed soaking in the mud baths and hot mineral springs. I then joined Emma and Oda for dinner at this lovely restaurant on the beach. Then went back to the hostel for a few drinks and had an early enough night as i was jaded from our over night journey. The next am we took the longest cable car over water to Vinpearl island which has a really cool "hollywoodesque" sign. On the island we enjoyed the water and theme parks and then went back for dinner. I then went out to a beach party with the girls from the hostel which was pretty cool, live band on beach, cocktails, dancing on the sand!! The night did not end until a dip in the sea at 4am and to watch the sun rise, something I will always treasure!!The next am I joined some of the girls I met in the hostel for a boat trip which was great fun. We done snorkelling, island hopping, jumping off the boat and had a really cool floating bar where the 60 yr old vietnamese man served us "fucking minging cocktails"............his words not mine but ones i agree with!! Was over all an amazing weekend and I never saw such blue sea and such amazing islands. The hostel was great and I met loads of people who are travelling all around Asia so I hope we cross paths again.......

Week 2 of volunteering

This week has been a hectic one. The GVN Youth tour arrived to Tam Ky which is basically 20 teens from ages between 15-17 who have come to help out and experience Vietnam, so with that brought lots of noise, games and sweets. I think the teens are very brave doing something like this at that tender age and have pondered whether I would have turned out different if I had done it as I am sure my parents would agree that they were probably most of my selfish years. But anyways, that is then and this is now! So our day usually begins at 6.30am with breakfast served my "Grandma", who is such a sweetie with very little English but still welcomes you with a big hello and "how are you" and a big sniff kiss! It's a funny kiss all Vietnamese ladies do where they kiss and sniff you at the same time! Breakfast is usually a fresh bread roll with spreads, cheese, a big plate of exotic fruit and a Cafe saigon (which I have fallen in love with, its a traditional Vietnamese coffee that is served short and strong on crushed ice with a dollop of condensed milk). If we are lucky "Grandma" makes us her signature banana pancakes with honey and cinammon (Delish!!) We then go off at 8am for our first placement which is either working at the baby orphanage or the Disability Hospital helping the physios. We try to plan activities to do at the orphanage every day, this week involved a lot of arts and crafty things and face painting which the kids loved. We then return home for lunch at 10.30 am, yes you heard me....i usually only be considering breakfast at that time back home. Lunch can be anything from pho soup, shrimp, rice, tofu and noodles and then usually a smoothie and fruit. We have a gap then till 2.30pm which we might spend doing lesson plans, going for a walk or something we are all very fond off.......A NAP!! This week we were lucky enough to be invited by Hue to her graduation so that was lovely to be a part of. We all chipped in and bought her a silver bracelet and a cake and she cried with joy saying "I so happy". She got so much attention having 4 westeners with her and I could see that she loved all of it. We joined her class for a party after and were looked after so well. They all asked to have a photo with us so I can only imagine how many sitting rooms had my pink freckly face amongst all their milestone occasions. Our afternoon placement is usually teaching at this beach community with the nicest kids ever who greet you with a "hello teacher" song. Sometimes we head to the beach then or just go back for dinner.This week we got to take a boat out to an island and go swimming, was awesome! Our cook Mrs.Hahn is amazing and makes the best grapefruit salad and rice paper which you fill with pork and loads of veg and dip in this special satay sauce. Evening placement can involve going back to the orphanage, teaching at a summer school or home of affection. Then at 7pm its just chill out time. News for you all........I may come home with a baby............I have absolutely fallen in love with a year old girl called Nha Trang who has the biggest darkest eyes and the biggest cuddles for me every time she sees me. She is such a cutie and I really dont ever want to say goodbye.......