School, structure and some suffering.

It is September 7th and a Sunday. The significance is the day before Michael and I begin a very intensive four week course to become teachers which will involve serious structure in our lives, a cold, hard slap of reality and some suffering I am sure. Also, less frequent blogs and communication.....patience please.

I would be lying if I was not nervous about what is ahead....the journey of the unknown. We are both ready for the new, but that comes with some fear. Personally, this is good for me and I need it. We desire to be teachers and we are not sure where that journey will take us. Ultimately, though we do not have concrete goals set up, we both want to start up a business of some kind. From a financial perspective, teaching is a means to money faster (after having no jobs for what will be three months) and an opportunity to connect with a culture in Vietnam or elsewhere. It should be said that our path is also to benefit others in some way, to give back, to be more...selfless.

It has been three weeks that we have been in Hanoi. I would love to say that this place is inspiring me, encouraging me and filling me with joy. Michael and I are much like our dog Liu Ce observing without much communicating or understanding. Clearly to become part of a new culture and to learn and love, one must participate, connect with the people and not judge too much without clarity. It is still very soon, but it is vital that where I live inspires me and excites me. It is not so much about the little things, but the big picture. If I wanted to play it safe and keep comfort, I would have kept my life in Seattle. I need to decide how much comfort I am willing to live without and if Vietnam is the place that I want to commit a life to for a while.

I have realized that the challenges I have been facing here are small compared to most. I have an incredible person in my life, Michael, food to eat every day, a place for shelter, relative safety, ability to make choices and family/friends I can call upon to help if all goes to hell. I am a very lucky person indeed. It is easy to let your mind wander to the self pity and forget how many around you have a really tough life, especially here. I cannot complain about the heat, the effort to walk Liu Ce or an overly priced, bad tasting meal. I get to eat.

This is not a lesson for all of you in being a better person. This is a lesson for me. I want to be a better person and get out of my comfort and wake up to reality. Whatever amount of life I have left, and I hope it is much, I want it to be full, exciting and with purpose. I do not know what that picture looks like, but I hope it will be beautiful, colorful and perhaps a masterpiece.

Thank you all for reading and showing interest in our lives. I speak for Michael and Liu Ce in saying that we are safe, hopeful and on a path to greatness.