Da Nang. I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss walking down the street and see all the smiling faces. I’m going to miss trying to communicate with your people. I’m going to miss seeing the kitty tied on a leash outside the store where we bought water. I’m going to miss the crashing waves at the beach. I’m going to miss Banh Mi Op La and a pineapple for breakfast.
I’m going to miss holding hands with the students. I’m going to miss the students. I’m going to miss how friendly they are and how real and genuine they are. I’m going to miss there laughs and them speaking English. I’m going to miss our conversations. I’m going to miss walking to the market just to get avocado ice cream. I’m going to miss karaoke and game nights. Spoons was the best. I’m going to miss riding motorbikes with the students.
I had dinner with one girl one day. I took her to have her first burger ever. Watching her eat the burger was the best thing ever, one of my favorite memories. She was confused and looked so cute.
Late nights at the beach or getting fish cakes off the street was BOMB. Saying goodbye is harder when you have built a relationship with a group of people who you see yourself doing life with. Saying goodbye is hard when you feel like you have finally found home and are where you belong. I thought South Africa was hard, but this is way harder. The students captured my heart and I want to stay with them. I want to do life with them. I want to be with them when they graduate, get married, get their dream job. I want to celebrate with them.
I discovered so much about myself because of them. They showed me what loving people really looks like. They showed me what honesty looks like. They helped me be myself.. I didn’t have to pretend. I could be me and they accepted me.
I love Vietnam, but mostly Da Nang. I love the culture and I love the people. I want to encourage and pour into the people just as they did for me. I came to bless them, but they blessed me. Not one day went by that I didn’t have someone encouraging me. They know how to love. They took care of us and showed us their city. Their country. I love how proud they are of where they live. I am proud of this place. I want to call it home. Vietnam. I hope to one day call Da Nang home. But for now, I will continue this journey until it is time to settle down and I pray Da Nang is where the Lord is leading me.
