Crab and white fungus soup

Sounds delicious, eh?

I had a lovely morning with Kerry in Ho Chi Min City. We had breakfast on the roof top of our hotel (complete with crab and white fungus soup) and then Kerry treated me to an amazing massage in District 1. After that we hurried back to the hotel to get our things together and headed to the airport. Our flight was delayed due to the most torrential downpour I have ever seen, but we eventually made it to Da Nang safe and sound. 

I have already fallen in love with some children, and they weren't even the orphans. I saw my room at volunteer housing and got a bit settled and then Kerry took me to her home right up the street. As we were walking, we were bombarded by absolutely adorable and completely poverty stricken street children. They have houses that are completely open to the road and just run around as they please. These children are so full of love. They ran up to immediately, jumped into my arms, and started to hugging me with terrific smiles on their faces. I started crying. Typical. We went into Kerry's house and they were waiting right outside for us when we came out. We took them to buy some candy and promised many more visits. Its all becoming very real. What I am going to be doing here is all becoming very real.

We then went into town to grab a bit since all of the volunteers were already out for dinner and Kerry took to me an amazing place run by a westerner who only employs deaf Vietnamese children and adults. They serve a western menu so we enjoyed some pizza. We then returned to the volunteer housing and all of my roommates were there. I am sharing a room with two others girls, one from Australia and one from Vietnam. We have a nice sized room with mattresses on the floor and big windows. There are two others girls living in a separate room both from Australia and a guy living on his own from Arlington. Yes. Arlington, MA. He has been here for five months and will return to the states on Friday to finish school at Northeastern. Small, small world.

We went to do karaoke afterwards which was...interesting. It was definitely fun. People here seem very friendly. They have all been together for a few weeks, so I will need to break in to the group, but it seems promising. And if not, I'll just stay at the orphanage and hang out with babies. Not really, but I am excited to meet the babies tomorrow. I'm going to try to wake up early and run before the heat really sets in. We'll see how that goes. I can't figure out my camera, so no picture tonight, but I will get it sorted out tomorrow.

It is now almost midnight. I'm lucky my parents get up so early in the am or else talking to them would be a challenge. 

Have a great day over there, and I look forward to letting you know how the first day of work goes.