After 14 months and 9 days, my adventure in Hanoi is coming to an end. I have had such an amazing year+, and am finding it very hard to leave. Don't get me wrong - I'm excited to come home, catch up with friends and family, and start my next adventure, but it's really hard to leave the life and friendships I've built in this amazing city.
In the past 14 months and 9 days, I've ...
Oh - and I DID get to head home for 3 weeks in July ... and got to ...
So after 14 months and 9 days ... it's my time to go. I've made incredible memories and experienced incredible things. I'm so looking forward to being home, and super excited about whatever my next adventure may be ... but will always hold Hanoi and Vietnam in a special place in my heart.
In the past 14 months and 9 days, I've ...
- Traveled to Bangkok, Jakarta (twice!), Mai Chau, Halong Bay, Hoi An (5 times!), Nepal, the Perfume Pagoda, Van Chai, Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh (twice!), Phu Quoc and Hue. I've missed a few key places in Vietnam, and wish I'd done more regional travel, but I have absolutely no regrets - plus, I'm going to make a point to come back! Vietnam hasn't seen the last of me yet!
Bangkok! |
Bangkok! |
Jakarta! |
Hoi An! |
Hoi An! |
Hoi An! |
Nepal! |
Nepal! |
Nepal! |
Van Chai! |
Van Chai! |
Ho Chi Minh City! |
Ho Chi Minh City! |
Phu Quoc! |
Phu Quoc! |
Marble Mountain! |
Motorbike to Hue! |
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Perfume Pagoda! |
Perfume Pagoda! |
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Perfume Pagoda! |
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Perfume Pagoda! |
- Been screamed at by an angry team of Vietnamese officials ... been through hell and back with the Pathways project and team ... came THIS CLOSE to resigning more times than I can count ... sacrificed my personal life and health for a job ... and yet, somehow ... managed to get the project approved ... managed to salvage RTI's relationship with USAID in Vietnam ... and am coming back feeling extremely proud of all the work that was done here and the professional relationships I've built. Significant thanks go to David and Felicity for keeping me sane and always having my back!
Feels like I spent as much time in the VAAC's office as I did in my own! |
David, our fearless leader on USAID Pathways |
The USAID Pathways team |
Felicity, Dr. Thuy, and Uncle Ho |
- Stayed connected with family and friends in the US ... no easy feat with a 12 hour time difference! Thank god for Facetime, Whatsapp, Skype, Google Hangouts ... made Vietnam seem NOT so far away ... Missing key events was exceptionally heartbreaking, but I'm ready to reconnect and make up for lost time. Oh - and I can't WAIT to see my dog and get a mom hug.
Packages from home! |
Celebrating Kaitlin's 4th birthday! |
Spending time with the Blauch family! |
Hang with 3 of my favorites! |
Reconnect with my girls in Topsail! |
Spend time with my mom and Miss Maddie! |
Reconnect with Belle! |
- Celebrated a whole year of holidays in Vietnam ... from New Year's (twice!) to Tet (twice!) to Easter to my birthday (obviously, a holiday) to Autumn Festival to Thanksgiving to Christmas ... I've made many a happy memory celebrating familiar and new holidays in Hanoi!
Tet 2013 |
My birthday! |
Easter |
Halloween (love this pic!!!) |
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Christmas 2013 |
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Christmas 2013 |
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Christmas 2013 |
New Year's 2014 |
New Year's 2014 |
Tet 2014 |
Tet 2014
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- Explored my amazing (and often bizarre-o) adopted hometown of Hanoi. A LOT. Did the "Hanoi Loop" more times than I can count, and feel like I did pretty good justice to the Old Quarter. Oh - and I DEFINITELY contributed to the local economy, as my 8 pieces of luggage and 11 packed boxes being shipped to the US can attest.
Zipper street in the Old Quarter |
Flag Tower |
Uncle Ho watching over Hoan Kiem lake |
Mascot for Vietnamese nasal spray. Awesome. |
Butcher "shop" |
Temple of Literature |
St. Joseph's Cathedral |
Tet Decorations |
AMAZING art display along the Au Co. |
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Homeboy pissing into the corner of the water tower. |
- ... but perhaps the most rewarding experience I've had in Hanoi was meeting the amazing friends I'll have for the rest of my life. Dar, Dames, Nathalie, Lamont, Monae, Watson, and Max - you have made this entire adventure for me. Thanks for always being there for me ... for the amazing times we've had together ... and to many, many more!!
First girls' night out with these 2 lovely ladies! International Women's Day 2013 |
Me & Monae @ Spring Festival |
Spring Festival with the Grun-Wynns! |
My buddies Max and Watson! |
The girls at Perfume Pagoda! |
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Throwin' up gang signs @ Perfume Pagoda. Fitting. |
Grun-Wynn's in Hoi An! |
Grun-Wynn's in Hoi An! |
Cheese face! |
Beers with Lamont! |
Apocalypse now with the D'z - HCMC |
Dar @ reunification palace - HCMC |
Happy hour with Damien! - HCMC |
Night out on the town! - HCMC |
Tay Ho Palace ... EPIC - HCMC |
Nat celebrating Movember! |
Monae getting that coconut! |
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All dolled up for the Marine Corps ball! |
Me and Dames - MC Ball |
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The girls @ Marine Corps Ball! |
Dancing Queen! |
Love these two! |
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Love these girls! |
Nat's 30th! |
Russian booth @ HIWC Bazaar - AMAZING |
Dar was a Canadian Mountie! |
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Lamont's onesie! |
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Christmas gifts! |
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Christmas shopping with my girls |
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Santa Monae! |
We sure do like an excuse to get dressed up in Hanoi! Burns Night 2014! |
Lamont and his whiskey! |
Dames, Lamont and Dar enjoying dinner - Burns Night 2014 |
Another set of D's - David and Dames |
Monae sharpening her motorbike skills - Tet 2014 |
Nat & me in Ninh Binh - final girls weekend getaway @ Emeralda! |
Nat, Joshie and Haggis - Burns Night 2014 |
The late crew @ Fusion Oi! |
Cheese Face - Hoi An |
Love these two! |
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Looking dapper @ the Marine Corps Ball |
I think Ozzy Osborne puts it best ... "Momma - I'm comin' home!"