Greetings From the South East

I’m back in Saigon and I’m exhausted. I haven’t written for a couple of days because its been too difficult. There’s still plenty of funny stories that’ve taken place but I’ll save those to share with you in person. This has been the most amazing journey of my life so far. I’m sure we all knew that was inevitable, but its also been one of the most challenging. I am physically and mentally spent.

Yesterday I had to say goodbye to my family in DaNang. I’ve had to say goodbye to a lot of people in my life but so far this has been the most difficult. My heart feels like its been wrapped tight with rubber bands and they’re squeezing tighter with no release. Sometimes my chest physically hurts. I can’t believe I have to leave them behind. I’m so thankful and so fortunate to have made this connection with them still in my youth, but there’s also an injustice there because now I have to separate myself only after spending two very short weeks with them. I was just getting to know them and they were just getting to know me. I worried so much that they would think I was strange or weird but in the end I found that they really just love me because I’m their family. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over this whole trip, its just how important family is to the Vietnamese. In some respects, they’re all they’ve got. What a great gift I’ve been given to finally embrace this notion. I know this has changed my outlook on my relationships with my families back at home in Texas. To my friends, the Medrano’s and most importantly to the O’Connor’s. I love you all so very much and would like to make things better wherever we can, because in some respects, we’re all we’ve got.

To my family in Vietnam..You are beautiful, you have changed me forever, you’ve brought me new life. All my love..

Its all starting to come together for me and I’m realizing how hard its going to be to leave. I still have some time, but before I know it, I’ll have to leave all of these people behind to go back across the world. The thought of it makes my eyes fill up every time. I don’t think they know how much they’ve affected me. I fall in love with them more everyday.

Family Portrait