Dear Everyone at home,
Over the past few days I have witnessed ways of life that before I never knew were existent. I have explored beautiful parts of the Earth that truly are a gift from god. I have experienced a culture in which a communist government dominates the society.
Never in my life had I ever visited a third world country; in fact, this trip is my first time overseas. Yet, recently I have been fortunate enough to be able to learn and understand how the people in these poor nations go about their everyday lives. Until now I had only known one way of living: the American way. For the people of Viet Nam, the only way of life they know is the one they have experienced their whole lives. This is a culture where men work hard in rice fields and fish farms; where women walk for miles with heavy baskets resting on their shoulders; where children beg people to buy a product for any small sum of money. This is a culture where people don't drive cars, but motorbikes. A culture where the people live in houses that lack both a roof and a floor. My first reaction to this lifestyle of poverty was how lucky and fortunate I am. However, I have noticed that the natives here seem to be just as happy as I am. We live two totally different types of lives, but we all enjoy life with what God has given us. For example, last night our group all went dancing at a club in Ho Chi Minh City. There was one particular group of locals who we hung out with most of the time. Chances are that none of them had ever received any form of formal education, they probably don't have more than three rooms in their home, and their daily salaries probably don't reach minimum wage in the States. Though we all had a great night and enjoyed each other's company even though we live contrasting life styles. It makes me wonder if these people should change the way they live. What would happen if all the children did receive an education? Would they be smiling as much as they do now? Seeing children spend their lives working and begging on the streets when they could be in a school was one of the saddest things I have ever had to witness. But the kids don't find it sad, most of the time they seem full of joy. I have came to the epiphany that life really isn't about what a man holds in his hands, yet what joy he can pursue in his heart.
Besides the Vietnamese people's way of life, I have also seen some of the most beautiful parts of this Earth. It's a shame that this amazing nation has gone un-recognized by most people in the world. I consider myself very lucky to have the privilege to see one of God's "hidden" gifts. The other day we explored the Mekong Delta which was very different from what my eyes had ever seen. We rowed down small rivers and canals with leaves from the banks hanging over our heads. We went on to islands where you could hear the wind blow and smell the fruit that hung above us. And today I'm living on a beach which one could call paradise. However I'm still a little confused. I wonder how a war of hell could have ever been fought in this nation of heaven. When the leaders of both nations sent their men to battle, did they not understand the beauty of the Mekong? When soldiers marched through the land could they not feel the wind and smell the fruit? Could the pilots flying high above the Earth not see the gorgeous beaches? I can only assume that if they did take the time to notice the beauty of the world, wars wouldn't be fought anywhere.
One of our tour guides told me that the motto of Viet Nam is "Independence, Freedom, Happiness." This man, who is a veteran and is looking to come to America, told me that he doesn't understand why that is the motto. Considering that this is a communist nation, I don't understand the motto either. A red flag with a yellow star in the center dominates people's lives here. The people who were born here in the last twenty-five years don't know anything but communism. We drove by a schoolhouse yesterday where children were standing around talking and laughing, yet towering above them was the red and yellow flag. Inside that school they are probably taught that communism is the right way and the only way. They won't have the chance to experience what their own motto really means. Then they are also the people who lived in the South before the war, and had to change from freedom to communism. They had the opportunity to realize what freedom is, but had it taken away from them. Just like when an innocent man ends up in jail. The fact is, neither the pre-war nor post-war people can now know what true independence and freedom is.
Chris Harnisch
I am coming to my birthplace for a second time. Things have not changed since I was here this time last year except the main road to the village. After spending 4 days in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) visiting friends some of whom I have not seen since I left VietNam 20 years ago by boat. All of them were happy to see me again. Some become very successful and some are on the bottom of a society. I met Hap (a friend from high school) who just lost his mother through illness. He lived in a small house with his wife, and sisters' family. His daughter who was born beautiful and now retarded because of the lack of proper medical care. Each month, he had to spend a half of his salary on his daughter's medications. When I met her at his house, I thought about my daughter Miranda who had no idea how fortunate she was to be born and raised in America.
This morning, I got up at 5:30. I took a long walk to the fishing village where I met so many children who were 7 and 8 years old whose parents did not have money to send them to school to get a decent education. They were all so happy to receive candies that I brought from the States.
I am happy to be here and sad when its time for me to leave but these memories will stay with me in my heart forever.
Vinh Dang
