Column: Abroad in Vietnam, coming home
After nearly three months abroad in Vietnam, I am home. Every time I open my front door, the mountains and the quiet roads remind me that I am no longer in Da Nang, Can Tho or Hanoi but back in Utah. There are no bustling streets or motorbikes here, only the familiar sounds of my dog at the door and fields of grass in the wind. It has been quite the change, to say the least.
It is hard to believe my life abroad is already over. It feels as though it was yesterday I got on a plane and left the country for the first time, but looking through my photo gallery, it is obvious time passes much more quickly than I would like. I have already been home for over a month, but so much of me remains in Vietnam that coming home has left me a little bit scattered and unsure about where my future is headed. I guess that’s what I signed up for when I agreed to live on the other side of the planet for a semester, right?
Before my trip, I remember hearing coming home can be just as much of a culture shock as arriving in a new place, and having experienced culture shock in Vietnam, I thought I would have been prepared for the come down from our adventure. I can say honestly, however, I have struggled to fit back into my old life, habits and routines. So much about life is turned upside down when you are gone for so long, and yet, it is almost like nothing at all has changed. It can be lonely and strange sometimes to adjust and feel like yourself again, and it has even taken me some time to feel ready to write about what I experienced in Vietnam. I think I am ready now to unpack. Figuratively – I unpacked my suitcase weeks ago!
I suppose it is also about time I wrap up this blog that has also, in some ways, become my journal and my way of processing what I learned and experienced while I was away. It will be weird to see it come to an end, but it is high time I give you an update and begin to move on to a new chapter of my life.
For starters, the last few days of our study abroad were filled with many emotions. I was so ready to be home, unpack and finally wear something that wasn’t one of the 20 items I packed. That need to come home was also matched with a fear of leaving what I had built behind. I didn’t want to leave my new friends, community or even the fresh fruit at every meal. I was conflicted and confused yet ready for something – new whatever that looked like.
I certainly got my wish when our last week flew by. We met with Chuck Searcy and Lady Borton, two key players when it comes to reconciliation with Vietnam. We also had the opportunity to visit Ha Long Bay and relax on the water among monolithic islands. Before I knew it, we were crying and saying our goodbyes over our last meal as a group.
The study abroad group poses for a picture with Chuck Searcy in Hanoi.
That was quickly followed by a whirlwind flight to Thailand, where Lindsey McBrayer and I spent most of our time in a tuk-tuk or our hotel room. It was fun, but we were exhausted and so ready to sleep for longer than 6 hours at a time! After many temple tours and fun new foods, we were finally on our way back to Utah.
My view from the back of a tuk-tuk in Bangkok, Thailand.
The flight home, of course, was brutal, but we made it safely and were greeted by our families at the airport. It was surreal to see everyone again, especially when I had been up for nearly 24 hours and my back hurt from sitting too long. Nonetheless, it was great to see everyone and be able to read all the street signs without any questions.
After that, all I had left to do was empty my suitcase and think. After I slept all day, I had lots of time each night as I waited for the jet lag to wear off to reminisce about my life in Vietnam and all the memories I had made. My room and my house feel so empty without my group to share them with, and my days feel long now that they aren’t occupied by schoolwork, classes or new adventures. It is crazy how normal life can feel so foreign.
The girls and I pose for a photo on one of our last days in Vietnam.
Now that it has been a few weeks since I have been back, I have adjusted and am feeling more like myself again. Upon reflection, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the experience I got to have abroad. I will forever be impacted by the people I met, the things I saw and the lessons I learned. Vietnam will always have a special place in my soul, and I am so glad I got to go on this adventure and even more thankful I got to share it with you along the way.
Until my next adventure, tạm biet – although I highly recommend you go out and experience one for yourself.
Landri, signing off.