An early start today. We hit the road at 6:30am to travel to the next project area - Phuoc Son - which is about a 6 hour drive from Khe Sanh.

The drive was some time of much needed relaxation and just stopping. We've been on the go for nearly a week now and it's really tiring! It was great to stop along the way and get some fruit!!! My diet has been so carb heavy and when I'm lucky, getting a bit of tofu here and there, but mostly rice and some green veggies so I was so thrilled to get some beautiful fresh fruit!!!

While we were driving, I realised why it takes so long for communication between sponsor and sponsored child - all letters from sponsors are sent to Hanoi and translated there (as they use a professional translator and it's cheaper in Hanoi) before being sent to the ADPs. And then it has to do it all again in reverse!!

When we arrived in Phuoc Son, the 'relaxation' was over. We had a quick 30 minute break to check in to our hotel room and then meet downstairs before we went to meet the local Project Management Board (the government representatives). At 3:20pm, there were motorbikes waiting for us out front the hotel and we rode for a few minutes to the government building and went into this huge room with table and chairs set up in a U shape. There were about 8 members of the Project Management Board (PMB) - The Chairman and members from the Education, Health, Agriculture sectors. Also there were ADP staff. Along with the evaluation team, there were about 25 of us in the room. We (the evaluation team) sat opposite the PMB members and it all felt very formal!!!

The Chairman of the PMB welcomed us to his district and reflected on how the project has improved the lives of PWD in his community. Then Thurza spoke on behalf of the evaluation team to thank them for their contribution to the project and explained about how we are here to evaluate the project.

With the formalities over, we broke into a few separate groups with members of the PMB to discuss their relevant area - I interviewed the Education representative. Once this was over, Julie and I went to the ADP office and conducted a mini-workshop with staff in the ADP about what they believe has been achieved during the project as well as what will and won't continue when the funding has stopped.

After all this it was about 6:45pm and then we walked back to the hotel before heading out for dinner. It's an early night for me (again!!!) - we have three interviews tomorrow as well as a visit to the home of a CWD. We have Saturday and some of Sunday in this area before moving onto the final project area on Sunday afternoon.