In the spirit of Thanksgiving (though a week late) and as my time here draws to a close, I would like to appreciate some of the most unexpected and outrageous things I've experienced during my time in Vietnam. There are much too many instances to note, so instead, here is a list of my top five most ridiculous experiences: 1. Pet Squirrel - Now I should preface this by saying that I have not once seen a squirrel since leaving Chicago back in mid-May. This is not ...

Today marks the end of my ninth week in Vietnam. During that time, I have had plenty of ups and downs as we started classes, spent time with our partners, took our 10-day excursion to the North and Central Regions of Vietnam, and got settled into a routine. Overall, I've been enjoying my time here, but the last two weeks have brought around that mid-semester slump - ya know, the one where free time with friends becomes non-existent due to midterms and projects an...

As I continue to settle into my new norm here in Saigon, I find myself reflecting more and more on the traveling I did before arriving, particularly the 6 weeks of travel I planned - and paid for - entirely by myself and my one travel companion. I had traveled enough prior to leaving in May to understand that when travelling, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Even still, there were a few mistakes made that could have been avoided. I have taken them ...

One week ago, I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, fully unpacking my backpack for the first time. It was a surreal experience, but one that had to take place eventually. I had grown to love living out of my pack, even if it meant sometimes (or always) wearing a wrinkled t-shirt or getting frustrated because the way things fit perfectly meant having to dig deep for my contacts. It became my home away from home, and packing it - each time with a little something...