Free to Follow Him

JANUARY 25, 2011 --- I have just over 2 weeks left in Vietnam. I'm done with teaching and am spending my last few days here wrapping up the life i've had here for the past 5 and 1/2 months.

A week from right now i will be on a night train north to Lao Cai - a smaller city near the China border. Jeremy, Dakota and I will be spending a couple of days there celebrating Tet (Chinese New Year) with our friend Phuong's family. I'm excited to see how the real Vietnamese celebrate this important holiday. I'm preparing by collecting bills of small denominations to put in the famous red envelopes. In case you didnt know, at Chinese New Year, children are given red envelopes containing money by older family members and visiting family friends. I've already received two such envelopes myself, and i must say, i highly approve of the tradition!!!!

After the holiday, we are headed west to Sapa, near the mountains. While it is a touristy place, there is a lot of history and culture to absorb that you don't come across in Hanoi. It's also the only place in Vietnam that sometimes gets snow, so i'm half-heartedly crossing my fingers....snow = cold.... :o( ......

Once we return to Hanoi, there will only be 2-3 days before Jeremy and I fly back to Malaysia.

I will do my best to update during or just after Tet....check back in about 10 days!!!

Love to you all!!!!