We're Coming Home

Hello Everyone!

Some of you may have noticed that we've been a little quiet recently - thats partially because Chris and I have been debating leaving Vietnam. We have reached a decision and will be traveling by bus to HCMC tomorrow (Tuesday), and flying out on Wednesday morning. After 24 hours of flying we will arrive in St. Louis on Wednesday evening. (The international date line messes with your head!)

We have nothing bad in particular to say about Vietnam. We merely feel that the costs have come to outweigh the benefits. While Kim does enjoy teaching here, Chris has had trouble finding ways to contribute. Originally we were meant to go to Can Tho, about three hours south of HCMC. There we would have been teaching in a diocesan seminary, but we also would have been close to the Spiritans and their programs as well as an AIDS clinic. Unfortunately, because of the unexpected death of a Filipino sister at the AIDS clinic (she had a stroke), the local government there forbade any further foreign volunteers. As such a last minute spot was found for us in Nha Trang where we are teaching at a diocesan seminary. In Nha Trang there are little to no opportunities for involvement outside of teaching. Furthermore there are already three other English teachers here who are far more qualified than us. While the seminary certainly doesn't mind putting us up, we are in sort of a make work situation.

Given the above the daily annoyances of living on the other side of the world have come to bear. Taken each in their own right the early mornings (mass begins at 4:30a and its noisy from there on out), the lack of sleep (the bed is essentially bamboo tile), the unfamiliar food (fish and rice every day for lunch and dinner), the isolation (we have yet to have a conversation in Nha Trang with anyone other than a student), and the omnipresent gastro-intestinal discomfort would be manageable. However, taken together, and in turn with our lack of purpose we have proven not up to the task of living here.

Both of us underestimated the challenges of living here, our experiences studying and volunteering abroad did not prepare us as we thought they might. Volunteering as a couple where there are no other volunteers is radically different from studying abroad as a single person. Perhaps we should have known better, but it has certainly proved a humbling experience. We have learned a great many things about ourselves and each other, and we do not regret the experience in the slightest. We have decided, however to take what we have learned and return home, where we will return to working and living in a society we can fully participate in.

We hope that you will keep us in your prayers. And we hope we have not discouraged anyone from volunteering abroad or visiting this beautiful country. Thank you all for following our journey.