Note: This is a slightly vague post on purpose. Please ask me more about this month in person. I’d love to share. (That goes for all the other ones too!) Also sorry for the choppiness of it.
Final debrief is well underway, and the end of the Race is drawing swiftly nearer. While I am café hopping with two of my closest friends today, I thought I’d update y’all and give you a peak into my last month.
This month was possibly one of the most tiring months in Asia. It was a really good month, and there were great times to rest, but I think the knowledge of home affected me more than I thought it would.
Team LIGHThouse was partnered with Vision English Café. A café where local university and sometimes high school students come to hang out and practice their English. It is own and run by a sweet, wonderful Korean-American couple.
Every Monday through Saturday we would spend anywhere from four to eight hours at the café (depending upon which group you went in with, the 2:00 or 6:00). Our time was spent talking to any of the students that came in wanting to practice their English. It was trying at times to spend hours having small talk in slightly broken English, but we were able to build relationships with several students that became regulars.
Most evenings we came up with a topic (ie. sports, movies, music, education, love, etc) for discussion and games. It was always very interesting to hear some of the ideas our Vietnamese friends had, and sometimes it even got us thinking.
We were also able to to go out in the mornings and afternoons with our new friends. They would often take us to see sights around Da Nang like Marble Mountain, the Lady Buddha Pagoda, and more.
If we did not have plans our mornings often were spent at the local beach. It was only a ten minute walk from our house. You guys, that first day was momentous. It was the first time I had ever touched the Pacific Ocean! (I was excited.)
Every Saturday night we had a music night where we and the students could show off our musical talents whether that be singing, playing guitar or ukulele, or jamming to karaoke. It was a night of fun and laughter.
Sundays we attended a local church with our hosts that was completely in English!
This month was a little different in that we were only with our contacts about two and a half weeks. That made off days fall a little differently, but it turned out good. Unfortunately I also feel like, because of the time and some lack of focus, I missed out on really being able to grow close to our hosts like I have past ones.
In all though I am so glad I got to be part of their café and wish I’d had a little more time with them!
Vietnam has been lovely, and I am very, very glad I got to be here and meet the people! I am so blessed.
Through Christ,
Brooke
Proverbs 31:12, Psalm 119:20
