Xin chào, classroom!
It is time to say goodbye, for now. I will still be living and serving in Việt Nam as a Peace Corps Volunteer until November 2027, but our virtual exchange is coming to an end. I am so thankful I got to share this part of my journey with you.
This exchange has been very special to me. I feel lucky to be partnered with a classroom where I once learned how to become a better teacher. Your teacher was my mentor teacher, and she is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Now, as a Peace Corps Volunteer myself, I get to share my journey with you. That feels like a full-circle moment.
This journey is also personal because I am Vietnamese-American. Growing up in the United States, I learned about Vietnamese culture through my family, food, language and traditions. Living in Việt Nam has helped me understand that part of myself in a deeper way. I am learning not only about another country, but also about my own heritage.
There is a Vietnamese proverb I love: “Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn” which means, “Traveling one day brings a basket full of wisdom”.
