March 15, 2012

Heading to Vietnam TOMORROW - with the support of family and friends, I raised over $27,000 in 3 monts and have opened a new orphanage in DaNang! There are 7 kids in it so far. The funds are enough to support 24 children for an entire year. The costs include the building rent, on site staff, food, clothing and access to an education!

I named the house Mary's House after my grandmother who inspired me to travel, meet people and enjoy life. All the fund raising we do under the umbrella of Project New HOPE will go toward orphanage programs that Giving It Back To Kids, our non profit, will manage. Eventually we will have a link on the www.givingitbacktokids.org web site that will show more photos and have stories of each of the kids.

.... stay tuned for photos and updates from the trip.

Back Full Time (Sort of) In San Diego

Well gosh has it been that long?? Ok, a brief recap.... I left Vietnam and my Operations Manager position in June of 2010. Came back to San Diego and started working with my best friend Dean in the Land Banking business for Velur Enterprises. Why?? Because I can make good money and you can't tell whether I'm working or playing at this job! My new career allows me to continue to help the kids in Vietnam, the US and Mexico - in fact, I leave on April 8th for a month to go back to Vietnam. I'm organizing and riding in a 400 mile bike / fund raising ride - it's going to be a challenge - my biggest physical challenge to date, but I'm looking forward to it.

On a personal note, my nephew Ambros is almost 5. I'm back working in the US because I'm committed to paying for his college and I'm confident that my investments in land will allow me to reach that goal.

I'm happy to be back to San Diego and reconnect with my former financial planning clients, friends and family here. I'm working out 6 days a week not only to get back in shape overall but to prepare for the loooooong bike ride next month.

Hope you are all well and LIVING THE LIFE, like we are.
All the best!
Jen

Update from USA Dec 8 2009

Boy oh boy have my plans changed....Did you hear about the girl who jumped on the trampoline...successfully. Then she tried jumping OFF the trampoline. Didn't have quite the same result,unfortunately! Surgery, a plate, 8 screws and staples later, I've had to rearrange my plans! I was suppose to be flying back to Vietnam today to pick up where I left off in September when I started my vacation / fund raising trek. However, I'm now back in Connecticut, recuperating and resting for 4 - 6 weeks.

I missed my friend Tomie's very first Ironman race in Perth, AU. The plan was for me to be there with the crew to cheer her on. I was able to track her online but it certainly wasn't the same as being there!

Ok - well trying to keep a good attitude about all this (and daily asking myself, Why Did This Happen???), I will keep in touch with the team in Vietnam via email and Skype and I'll get to enjoy the holidays with my family!

Vietnam is changing rapidly - resorts are being built along China Beach from DaNang to Hoi An - it looks like a mini Las Vegas rising up from the sand. The two typhoons that hit in November did a tremendous amount of damage to village areas and we were able to raise over $6,000 USD to help rebuild homes and lives.... It's amazing when you think about how torrential the rain, wind and flood waters can get - and this happens EVERY YEAR!! I've been lucky to be out of the country for both rainy seasons.....timing is everything.

We have former volunteers now in VN and other coming back to do extended stays - basically, we're waiting more western management to help the staff we currrently have in place and to support the new volunteers. Kerry Flynn is in DaNang and Shae McDonald is going to Tuy Hoa in January. They'll both be kept quite busy with the regular program PLUS new projects like the medical clinic in TamKy, potentially running Malnourished in DaNang as our very own foster home and overseeing several sponsored kids in Tuy Hoa.

Also, in May there will be a mobile dental clinic going to TuyHoa to treat 400 local kids - this will be staffed by East Meets West and GVN, and funding is currentlybeing spearheaded by vols in New Zealand.

The volunteers from the last 2 months have been great for the program - a lot of fundraising and brainstorming has taken place. Sometimes it's a bit tough to manage expectations but I guess that comes with the job. We just can't save every sick kid or get the cheapest deal on supplies at the drop of a dime. We're in a developing country and their is a system - it's not 'our' system and certainly not the best system but it's the system we have to work within......

I hope to be back in Vietnam in early Feb but it's up to the doctors to decide. In the meantime, I'll get back on to fundraising here for the regular program needs, plus to fund Malnourished - literally to keep it open! The vibe will be different when I go get back - my 2 other long term volunteers whom I became really good friends with (Carrie and Eadaoin) have left. Although they'll be back, it won't be quite the same without our regular chats and bottles of wine at the beach!

I'm committed to the kids in our program though and doing whatever we can in 2010 for them. I want to open a vocational school to teach ESL, Life skills and vocational skills. Maybe find someone with ESL experience to create, implement and oversee an ESL curriculum so we can measure our progress. And that's just the beginning!

Sept 09 From America

Been back in the US for 2 weeks now and it's still an adjustment. I'm not sure what to do with all this time - I know I should be relaxing but it's more like a working vacation: time to recharge my batteries for the return to Vietnam and also time to set appointments to recruit volunteers or find donors for our program. All in all, I'm lucky! I'm spending a lot of time with my nephew Ambros and my parents who are (mostly) in good health.

I'll be going to Boston and NYC, then PA before going back out to CA. Still have lots of friends and family to see and a former vol has me booked in to speak to the Asian Club at Columbia U this week! So far I've spoken to Sedgwick Middle School and the local Red Cross - both have an interest in donating to our kids!

Back in Vietnam last week there was a 3 day typhoon that devasted some villages just south of our placement in TamKy. Viet and other vols have just put out an urgent plea to fund raise on First Giving site. Our goal is to raise $20,000 to help the families who lost homes and are still without fresh water and power.

Before I left - things were much calmer. We had a couple of kids who needed hospital care but one was adopted in Aug and the other should be going to Cananda this week! Otherwise, we still have our staffing issues at the orphanages - but our volunteers are working extra hard to help out. In fact, we've had 2 nurses as return volunteers recently who have begun training for the carers and actual nursing staff.

We have a lot going on with the day-to-day operations but we're also starting to think long term about how to build the program. A few ideas are to have long term western volunteers in each city to help the Placement Managers and also to fund and build our own foster home and / or vocational center. Any way we can reach out to more kids - the better. We've seen so many street kids and orphans just waiting for thier fair shot at an education or job training - we hope we can provide for them soon.

So since everything is running well- I'll be back in Vietnam for 2010 - My current plan is to travel back to America in the spring and fall versus just in the fall like this year. It's a bit too long of a gap between seeing family and friends....Plus if the recruiting and fund raising works out well on this trip, I'll have another good reason to return twice per year!

People ask if I'll stay in Vietnam. Well, for the time being I will. The kids need me and I need them! Thanks for all of your support - it means a lot to me to know you're out there reading my blog and newsletters and sending good karma out our way.

Another Hot Summer

With temps in my bedroom often over 85 degrees, it's tough going in the summer but last month I broke down and bought an airconditioner. Running it about 3 hours a day Sun - Thur (when I'm home before bed), it's so far only cost about $10 to run. I had heard horror stories of $100 power bills from locals and wanted to avoid that since my darn rent is only $75 per month! Remember, I'm living on $300 a month here so a $100 power bill is not in the budget. ha ha ha Gone are the days of $210 Electric bills from SDG&E!

One of the highlights since I last wrote was the night I went to Social Support with Minh Chau. She had 'a suprise' for me and when I got there, I received 9 Mother's Day cards from 9 kids that I used to teach. It was wonderful! They all asked me to 'be their mom', told me they loved me and wished me a Happy Mother's Day. I keep one card hanging in front of my laptop, just to remind me why I'm here because - Some days I forget -

Most days, I'm lucky. Lucky to have volunteers with big hearts and some with equally big wallets. Volunteers who might be only 18 but committed to recruiting their friends and family to volunteer or committed to fund raising when they go home. I'm grateful for all the interns who look after the volunteers by taking them to the market, to the beach, to placements, to the bank, to the pharmacy - so I can keep managing projects and fund raising.

I'm happy to be planning a trip home for 2 months. Although it'll be a working holiday because I'll be fundraising and recruiting - it'll be worth it. I have been told by more than one adult volunteer that I could so much more for GVN if I can get abroad and get the message out. Actually 'speak' to people vs. email and tell them about the wonderful kids and opportunities here.

I miss some things from home. It goes without saying that I miss family in CT and friends in CA. But I also miss Mexican food, a gay community, the gym, my mom's cooking, home made wine and Grey's Anatomy. But, I'm not ready to trade in my $3 movie tickets, my 35 cent coffee, the neighbor kids who make a mad dash at full speed down the street to give me a hug, the kisses from the carers when I bring them shampoo or diapers, the spring rolls, the motorbike rides to HoiAn or the friendly "Hello" I get as I walk down literally, any street. Nope - not ready to trade that in just yet.

In the meantime, I'll go home, fund raise, eat, drink, travel, enjoy, relax, play and rest......

Summer is here

Well a lot has gone on in the past 4 months! Suffice to say - we're keeping busy. On the down side, I lost of friend of 20 years to cancer about a week ago. She leaves behind her partner and 2 wonderful kids. In addition, we lost a 6 year old girl in our TamKy program this month - she had cerebral palsey all of her life and finally succumbed to an infection and fever.

On the positive side, one of the 4 kids who ran away from our DaNang Social Support Center is back. Viet and I are trying to move 5 boys to a different home in TamKy where they can be kept busy and learn a vocation. I found a Vietnamese pediatricain and nutritionist; both have visited an orphange and will work with us to provide better care for the kids.

Dad arrived about 2 weeks ago for a 1 month vacation. I kept him busy up north in Sapa where the ethnic minorities live, then Hanoi - Vietnam's Capital, and in Halong Bay which is beautiful. He's now resting in HoiAn and loving it there. He has at least 5 women doting on him every day. He also went with me to a wedding in Saigon last weekend so I think he's set for beach and sun time for now. Oh and he came to 3 orphanages and was terrific with the kids - especially the disabled ones. He picked them up, gave them hugs, took them for walks, played with leggos - I might have to sign him up to volunteer for a month!

My 2 best friends: Sofi and Eadaoin left this week to return to Spain and Ireland. We had several months of fun and memories together. They kept me going when I lacked focus or energy and I want to thank them for the ongoing inspiration! Carrie is back to stay - from AU - although she has a boyfriend now, I'm sure I'll see her lots!

It's getting hot - about 85 (32 c) during the day / night - I am renting a house now, near the GVN House but there isn't any A/C yet. I'll be shopping for some soon though! It's just really tough to regenerate w/o the cool air!

I've been driving a motor bike regularly and the car or van sometimes. I find it pretty easy to drive here but then I've driven in Rome and THAT was insane.

I want to begin a bi monthly meeting with other NGO's in DaNang so we can share information with each other. Recentley we've made improvements with teaching the mothers English, working on feeding practicies and hygiene. East Meets West provided dental care to over 95 kids. (I finally lost count). I was really happy with their program and the care - they will also go to Tuy Hoa in May 2010 and provide care for another 500 kids there.

I'm getting asked a lot about my plans for after Dec of 2009. So far, no decision yet. I'd like to go back to the US for a visit though. I miss a lot of friends there. Might have to plan around the latest epidemic of Swine Flu though! Jeez do we have problems! In the meantime, I'm loving the simplicity of life here - I have a very modest house that I split with a 26 yr old guy from France. We each pay $75 per month plus utilities. I'm living on the $300 per month GVN Vietnam is able to pay me - plus all my meals are included. So, I really can't complain.

I don't shop when I'm bored. I read. I don't research the latest cars, fancy vacations or rental properties. I'm happy helping volunteers from around the world, help kids in Vietnam. It's that simple really. I would like to meet someone to date though. That's quite a challenge in this country - it doesn't help that I'm not really attracted to Asians - plus, the local women here are not as independant or confident. I'll have to find a western woman in an Asian world!

6 Weeks Later.....

I've been back in Vietnam for 6 weeks now and I've been fortunate to have participated in: Christmas, My Birthday, New Years and the Tet Holiday commonly known as the Chinese New Year. Whew - it's been lots of fun and lots of work. The fun part was being inviting to local homes for a meal or a beer, celebrating Vietnamese style. They truely are warm people who treat us like family.

As for work - we've been busy - as normal. Loads of new infants have arrived from the hospital - no idea why they are left at orphanages.....I'm trying to get the government to help us spread the kids out over several places so the mothers have a chance at keeping an eye on them all. Viet and I will meet with officials who might help us next week.

Orientation for Feb is tomorrow. We'll have 7 volunteers in Danang, 5 in Tamky and 6 in Tuy Hoa. There are so many plans in the works now - both large and small. Several volunteers around the globe are either returning to help out or fund raising and brainstorming from home. The support is fantastic. I'll need to prioritize and continue to delegate and seek help in order to keep up with everything. Seems like Viet and I are busy weekly with day-to-day issues and rarely have time to discuss larger plans for funding or maybe even building a foster home.

On a personal note, I'm doing really well. Although I feel like it's a transient (sic?) lifestlye with my little room, small amount of personal possessions and volunteers who become friends only to leave after a month or two - I'm still feeling like this is where I am meant to be for now. I often think about 'what's next' only to realize ' this is it' the here and now. And it's perfect, just the way it is. I worry less and less about 'retirement plans', owning another house, keeping up with the Joneses and my favorite TV shows. I'm appreciateing more of 'being in the moment' - enjoying riding a motorbike on a sunny day, through miles and miles of rice fields with mountains in the background and farmers in the fields. I also enjoy the neighbor kids who are never far from our front door - who call out to me, 'Miss Jen!', as they walk past. They come by with their siblings and we give them a carton of milk and let them play with our stash of toys, paints and books. They range in age from 2 to 8 and they're some of the most beautiful kids, inside and out.

The hard part about being in Vietnam (aside from missing my family and friends) is knowing that so much can be done to improve the lives of kids and families, yet we have so little resources. It's not just money. It's manpower, government cooperation, out of the box thinking and getting a society to believe in more than just day to day survival. The impact that several recent wars (in just the last 60 years) has had on Vietnam and it's people is still clearly evident. They tend not to plan for the future much - not surprisingly after reading so many books and listening to stories - everything can all be taken away in an instant. Bank accounts, homes, possessions, even loved ones can be gone tomorrow. So in our program, we deal with loads of pre teen and teenage kids who don't see much of a future for themselves beyond the orphanage or being a motorbike mechanic or tailor. They are surrounded by short term mentality and lack of self worth. Rarely do they have someone - especially who can speak their own language - who inspires them to go beyond themselves as they currently know themselves to be.

I so wish I could insert a disk in to my brain and learn this language overnight! I would use all my past training in the military, my careers, Landmark, life experiences and how I was brought up to inspire these kids to be powerful, compassionate contributors to their country and the world! Boy do I need to learn Vietnamese. The kids love me - they respect me and trust me. But we cannot communicate beyond the basics and that's what they need from me. More than being able to say 'hello' or 'how are you?', they need inspiration in their own language. They need adults to tell them about the world to encourage them to dream and to finish high school or college.

So, I'll close for now. I must go study my Vietnamese.