Going Forward

We've been overwhelmed with the generosity of the people of Vietnam. Even more the generosity we've been overwhelmed with the amount of food they've fed us. On Saturday we had quite an adventure in Ho Chi Minh City.We spent the first half of the day exploring the beauty that is Ho Chi Minh by walking all the way to the river. There is so much beauty in Vietnam. Beauty in both the people and the landscape. After our little adventure in District 1. We went to a dinner party at our friend Alan's house, which also is the location of his English center.

After sitting in on one of his advanced classes, I saw just how hard some of these individuals have worked to improve in a language that we take for granted.Dr.Sama shared some information about GLOBE all his students listened so carefully, some even taking notes. One of Alan's students is a well renounced doctor in Ho Chi Minh. He travels all over to give talks on medicine, and he expressed that if it weren't for Alan, he wouldn't have the confidence to share his medical expertise. He couldn't even stay for the dinner which also served as a birthday party for Alan. All his students were invited to the party and the gratitude they had for their teacher was overwhelming. They all started pouring one by one armed with gifts. Even though their parents barely make enough to survive. The hugs,cheers, and laughter were many. It was hard to hold back the tears when students young and old came up to all of us and asked us questions in near perfect English.

While talking about his English center with Alan, his wife, and his students it was obvious the passion that was the driving force behind it. His love for Vietnam is also very obvious. When we explained how hard it was to walk the streets with all the motorbikes, he told us to remember that the people in Vietnam are always looking forward. This is their attitude when driving, working, studying.Sometimes it's hard to believe Alan was even in the war because he is so positive and optimistic, as are all people in Vietnam. History can't teach someone to look forward. People have to want to do it on their own. Looking forward isn't usually practiced in America even though we say it is, we're often looking back at our past mistakes and reliving them. Poverty Alleviation would be easier if we look towards the future. I've seen what looking forward can do for the people in Vietnam and hope this can teach something to the people in the U.S.