Day 2: Hello from Buon Ma Thuot

hello dear, how are you? miss you loads.

After being on a car ride for 11 hours (from 10am to 9pm including the breaks), I am writing from this place called Buon Ma Thuot in central Vietnam.

The trip leader gave me my own room this time, when she handed me my key, she chatted with me very briefly and asked if I could share more because she wanted to know if she needs to take extra care of me. I told her I can usually manage myself as long as I have enough time to rest. It just so happen my period is also almost here so this usually is the worst time during the cycle. I would also be much better if I was mentally prepared for the room sharing.

She said she understands but she also wants to stretch me a little bit, so she would want me to share room with the other two girls for the last two nights when we are at the other hotels, and I said okay, I will manage it.

This is actually the first time I had to talk with someone in person about my mental situation. Even though our trip leader is actually really nice, and I can feel that she is a kind and compassionate person, it was still very uneasy for me to say anything when she asked about my situation. It goes back to the feeling that I don’t really know how to put my situation in words without feeling triggered or nervous. She actually didn’t push me at all even though all I could say was I can manage if I have enough space to, but even saying that out felt like a stretch for me.

In fact this trip so far has been quite a stretch for me in many ways, mentally and also physically. I guess the mental part is still the most stretched for me, but it’s also really hot here and doesn’t have much AC, there’re also many insects, not very hygienic everywhere as you can imagine etc. But I guess this is also part of the service/mission trip, to have a taste of how it is like to live here first when we say we want to come and get to know them.

We will be starting our day at 6:15am tomorrow and head to the mountain to host a children camp, so I should really sleep soon and can’t write too much details here.

Miss you dear, I miss you comfortable home and pinky dog too, but I also want to sharing more that I see and experience here.

A photo of me with my Banh Mhi breakfast this morning, taken by my Filipino teammate.