Goodbye Vietnam!

I didn’t sleep too well last night..I think because I spent yesterday afternoon napping! After a typical morning routine I headed out to do my LAST load of laundry here! Wahoo! I also wanted to wash my backpack (it is DISGUSTING) so I had to go to TWO different places. Oh and good news I got ALL my laundry back last night. It was more expensive but hey I had NOTHING else to wear. So anyway the guy said my backpack wouldn’t be ready until 4:00pm tomorrow, but I said I needed it in the morning -- so 9:00am it better be ready!

Cell phones amaze me. Since I have been volunteering by myself this week I have been using the 45 minute bus ride to make some phone calls! It is just so CRAZY to me that I can be on a bus in Vietnam and quickly talk to my parents in New Hampshire, my brother in North Carolina and my boyfriend in Ecuador! I just love it!

Anyway I got to the orphanage but since I had to walk extra this morning for laundry I didn’t think I had enough time to clean up Thuong’s knees and take him outside before eating. So I just cleaned his knees. I was happy to see he had definitely taken a shower since yesterday (you never know at these places) and he still had one Band-Aid on. His cuts weren’t open anymore but starting to scab over. So nurse Wilson went to work! I took off his old Band-Aid and cleaned both his knees with antiseptic pads. Then (this was his favorite) I put Neosporin on all his cuts. He LOVED it and wanted in on the action. So I put some on his finger so he could help. To top it off I put three Band-Aids on his knees (he helped) AND he sprung for a fourth one! I don’t know if he thought they looked cool or wanted his knees to be equal (I don’t blame him) but we put a Band-Aid on skin with no cuts!

By then it was almost time to eat and today I fed Carrot..the little chubby girl. She is adorable and while it took some time I managed to get her to eat everything!

Normally after lunch they are supposed to nap, but I was a rebel and took Thuong outside. I helped him get on his sandals and then explained to him about the Ace bandage. I had to cut it in half and I used it to wrap up his knees (I think the staff was laughing at me) and off we went! We spent a lot of time near the little man-made ponds at the Temple. He found a fishing pole and loved putting it in the water and watching the fish and turtles swim by. It AMAZES me how mentally he is completely there. I love watching him watch the world go by with such wonder and amazement. When we were walking back (I knew I couldn’t keep him out too long) he did fall..but no broken skin! Woo hoo I was so happy!

It was heartbreaking to have to bring him back, mostly because I knew he just wanted to stay outside. But I knew I couldn’t keep him away from nap time forever.

It was really hard leaving, mostly because I know I won’t have any way to keep in touch with him. Nobody there speaks English so there isn’t a way of calling to check in and I don’t think they have email access. I guess the best I can do is keep him in my prayers.

I spent the afternoon starting to “clean out” this place! It is amazing how much stuff I have accumulated in just a month! I also started to organize my bags a bit. I have NO wiggle room..and I try to have them weigh about the same, but honestly it is TOO much work..and exhausting! Hopefully I won’t have any trouble checking my bags in at the airport!

Somehow I managed to pass the afternoon and then it was time for dinner. I think I have mentioned Bobby Brewers, the place that shows movies and all you have to do is buy something for a ticket. I saw they were playing; “Shrek the Halls” so I thought it would be fun to go! Khaly and I showed up and ordered dinner, but within 20 minutes it was over! I couldn’t believe it..we hadn’t even finished eating yet! Haha! It was a cute Shrek Christmas movie, but it was literally like watching TV! We did enjoy it though!

I picked up some more laundry and came back here to pack! Sometimes I really wonder WHAT I have in these bags! Oh well..I am off to pack!

Hugs and kisses from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!