by Montana Tamny, Elizabethtown College student and Brittany’s Hope volunteer

My trip to Vietnam came about as an accident at first. By that I mean that I did not intend to go to this country; the thought had never really crossed my mind. In fact, I was planning on spending my three week start of summer break on a trip to Japan. However, I saw a flyer advertising the Vietnam excursion, and I decided to check it out. As a social work major, I possess a strong desire to help others in any way I can, and after attending the meeting, I knew Vietnam was the place I wanted to go. Not only would I be able to see a country and experience a culture unfamiliar to me, but in addition to travel, I would get the opportunity to help those in need through the volunteer work at various orphanages.

Our first day, in Ho Chi Minh, we visited the Cao Dai Temple and had the opportunity to watch the resident monks perform a ceremony. I had never experienced anything like this, and I found it both fascinating and beautiful. Another aspect I remember vividly is the architecture. Being in a country with a history that dates back thousands of years gives one an amazing opportunity to see the remnants of that past. That same day, we visited the Cu Chi tunnels outside of the city. I remember feeling a little nervous being an American because of the historical context of these tunnels- they were where Viet Cong soldiers lived during the War. To my relief, the tour guides, like everyone else I had met in this country, were extremely nice and made everyone feel very comfortable. The Vietnamese embraced our culture as well as our differences just as we did theirs.

The next day, we started early and were able to visit four different orphanages. Each orphanage was unique in its own way, and each had its specific challenges that were initially difficult for me to witness. The first orphanage hosted many children with a variety of special needs; the second served children with HIV of all different stages, and the last orphanage was for children who all had special needs. At each place, we were able to interact with these children, and we gave them all little toys and sweets. This experience had an enormous impact on me, and I realized my initial sadness, or "pity" was ill founded. Despite the fact that many of these children were burdened with various physical or mental disabilities, they were just like every child I knew from home, happy and lighthearted. The only thing I still felt sad about when leaving was the fact that so many people at home remained ignorant of these wonderful children's attributes.

Dalat is where we visited beautiful temples, palaces, and gardens, but the thing I remember most is meeting the kids from Cam Ranh orphanage. Some of the overall cost of our trip went to bringing these children to Dalat to share the amazing sight-seeing and other adventures with us. This is also where I got to meet my sponsor kid, Ti. It is impossible to put into words what an enormous impact this had on me. Not only was Ti the sole, most important and special part of my experience in Vietnam, but he continues to be a significant part of not only my life, but now, my family's lives as well.

Throughout the rest of the trip, I continued to meet countless other remarkable and unforgettable children. We assembled twenty-five cribs that were graciously donated from various, benevolent people and organizations, painted rusted playground equipment, planted mango trees in an orphanage's courtyard, and started a garden that will continue to thrive for years to come at the Red Cross orphanage. The work we did and amazing people we met at these orphanages was definitely the most fulfilling and memorable part of the trip. However, I will also never forget the beauty of this country. From the mountainous hills of Dalat, the breathtaking beaches of Nha Trang and Danang, the quiet beauty of Hoi An, and the rapidly developing city of Ho Chi Minh, this diverse country and its people welcomed us with open arms wherever we went. I would encourage anyone and everyone to take advantage of this eye-opening opportunity to see a beautiful place and culture and meet wonderful people, while simultaneously helping all of the unique and amazing children who need us.