Joining forces

A month or so ago, the organization that is handling the logistics of our volunteer trip got me in contact with another single mom who was contemplating spending some time in Viet Nam orphanages, as well. She lives in New Zealand and has a daughter a few years younger than mine. So, we've been chatting and she decided that she is going to go and will be heading there at the same time. -doing a happy dance- There are tentative plans to meet up in Ha Noi on 29 December and take the overnight train to Da Nang together. We don't know, and won't until December, whether we will be at the same orphanage/school, but just having another person there that we know (even if it is over the Internet until then) should prove comforting.

There are ony two weeks left in the Spring term, that much closer to finally graduating. I was hoping to take what my university calls a Capstone course this summer that has participants volunteering in the Hmong community, but since I have to take another class on Marxist theory in English Lit criticism (doesn't that sound thrilling, boys and girls?) and work almost full time, there is no way to fit it in and ever spend time with my kids (which will, in turn, make them angry and no fun to be around when I do find the time). So, I'll take the theory class, possibly one American Sign Language course, too, then there will only be two more classes that I must take in the Fall. It's so close I can almost see the diploma.

Bought 'em!

-deep breath-
I pushed the "book flights now" button and lived to tell about it, despite my worries of a panic-induced heart attack. We fly out December 26th on a 24 hour trip to Hanoi via Seattle (WA, USA) and Taipei (Taiwan). The kids' excitement at having both passports and tickets took (most of) the fright out of it for me.

I've been emailing with the volunteer coordinator in Da Nang; his name is Viet and he took a couple of the photos on our main page. He said that we could request a location and I'm quite interested in Hoi An. There is an orphanage and community center that volunteers work at and I think I would enjoy both. The orphanage is for older children (11-20 years old), many of whom are not actually orphaned, but rather that their families are too poor to feed and school them. My second choice would be the House of Affection in Hue which is the home to orphans and streeet children, 4-16 years old. The orphanage also runs a school for children in the area, so it might be better for my kids (the kids will be the same age).

Preparations are beginning for our garage sale next month and I am amazed at how much stuff I actually own. I'm glad I'll be weeding out so many of our belongings; who needs all these serving bowls, placemats, candleholders, picture frames, sheets, sewing patterns, etc.? I keep shaking my head in disbelief at the sheer volume, knowing full well that we don't own nearly as much as "the average American family."

Got 'em!

The passports have arrived and we're all quite excited. When the last one arrived yesterday, A said "Now, if we had lots of money for the plane, we could just go to help now." Theoretically: yes. But we've lots to do still.

doing it for oneself

"A woman who is willing to be herself and pursue her own potential runs not so much the risk of loneliness as the challenge of exposure to more interesting men -- and people in general" --Lorraine Hansberry, American playwright A Raisin in the Sun

A friend of mine sent me this quote a couple of days ago, meant to inspire my drive for changing life (especially given the fact that we'll be moving abroad among people who do not speak our language). My initial reaction was thumbs-up... yea! for women pursuing their own potential... but it quickly went downhill when the pay-off is "exposure to more interesting men." Yes, I suppose it's true. But if I could just use my red pencil on her quote and and make the payoff "exposure to more interesting [people]" I'd definitely get behind it.

But why is it that the focus of making improvements or changes in oneself is too often to get a man, a husband. It frustrates my inner "I am single, hear me roar" voice. As a woman, I cannot, and should not, spend my life focused on how I can find a husband. I can't even imagine such a goal (though there are those in my family who wish I would spend a little more time focused on it). Thing is, I don't recall seeing inspirational quotes for men telling them to embrace life and follow their dreams so that they can get a wife.

I may well end up single for the remainder of my life and there's no way in hell I'm going to spend the next 40 years tweaking with my life so that some unknown man will find me attractive enough to marry. That doesn't sound any more appealing than my married years that I spend tweaking my life for some man to stay married to me.

So, I will take Hansberry's quote and manipulate it slightly. I will pursue my own potential, teach my children to pursue theirs and who knows what the benefits will be, but I'm sure it won't be loneliness.

I love good mail

When I opened the mailbox and saw the return address of U.S. Government Official Mail my heart did a momentary, panicked stop. What now?! Then I opened, saw my tattered birth certificate and realized that my key to leaving this place was inside. Oh yes, it was my passport! I'm unneccesarily excited, but after all the hassle to get the filing done, it's nice to see that it was all worth it; I have a passport for the first time in my life.

The kids were hoping theirs were hiding within the mailbox, too, but since we filed a day later for them, I'm expecting that theirs will be at least one day behind. Perhaps a bit more, though, given all the divorce papers that had to be sent along with each application.

On the learning front, I found a super deal on Colloquial Vietnamese through Amazon (and a local seller, to boot). $13.99 for the cassettes and the book; the book alone cost $45 at my college. So now I have two copies of the book (I'd thought I was buying the cassettes only), but hopefully can send one over to K for him to use. A friend of mine bought us another "learning Vietnamese" book that came with a CD. Man, hearing it sure does make a difference in pronunciation. Of course, we're probably not even understandable at this point, but we're trying.

glad it's not me this time

We've got a new baby in the family! My youngest sister had her second child yesterday--a boy they named Alexander Paul. I'm an auntie 8 times over now. How fun is that?!

To make it blog related.... I will have to figure out a way to see the babe before we leave the States.

snail's pace

We have received a few donations now (latest from an internet friend-$75); sure does make me feel better about the whole idea, especially since family support is none too strong. I also managed to score another big sewing job, so that certainly helps. Of course, it leaves me with little time to finish homework, which I'm having a hard enough time wanting to finish anyway.


I find myself wavering between frustrated and hopeful. If just one thing in my life was going smoothly, it sure would help, but life is overall chaotic right now. It's bound to get better though, right?