12 Months in Hanoi: 2014

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 ...

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!

Jakarta!

Hoi An!

Nepal!

Van Chai!

Ho Chi Minh City!

Phu Quoc!

Marble Mountain!

Motorbike to Hue!

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!

Oh - and I DID get to head home for 3 weeks in July ... and got to ...

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!!!)

Christmas 2013

New Year's 2014

Tet 2014

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.

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!

Throwin' up gang signs @ Perfume Pagoda. Fitting.

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!

All dolled up for the Marine Corps ball!

Me and Dames - MC Ball

The girls @ Marine Corps Ball!

Dancing Queen!

Love these two!

Love these girls!

Nat's 30th!

Russian booth @ HIWC Bazaar - AMAZING

Dar was a Canadian Mountie!

Lamont's onesie!

Christmas gifts!

Christmas shopping with my girls

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!

Looking dapper @ the Marine Corps Ball

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.

I think Ozzy Osborne puts it best ... "Momma - I'm comin' home!"

12 Months in Hanoi

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Leavin' on a jet plane ...

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