Highlights: Although the whole trip was great, I think that working in the orphanage was the most rewarding. As soon as you come in they flock around you wanting some kind of attention. Another volunteer and I bought tee shirts with the words I Love Vietnam on them and had the children put their hand prints on them after dipping them in watercolors. It’s a beautiful souvenir that I will always cherish.
Overall, I would say that volunteering there was one of the best things I have ever done. Everyone, from the staff to the local people, was fantastic. I am still friends with most all of the volunteers and a lot of the locals on Facebook. I will definitely return there in the future. I have already booked my next trip with IVHQ to Guatemala in March of 2013.
Morning: Volunteering in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam was great! Peace house 7 where I stayed was located in a rural part of district 7. Days start off about 7:30 am with breakfast. There was always with fresh fruit from the market. I was doing both childcare and teaching English, so my day was varied. I would catch the bus from the peace house around 8:15 to Bin Than (downtown) change busses and arrive at the orphanage about 9:00 or so. Interacting with all the children was amazing. Although there was a language barrier, it really never created a problem. All the kids want is for you to play with them and be loved.
Afternoon: We always help feed the children lunch. Most of the children do not speak at all and all have some kind of disability. It was so heartwarming to see them smile. After their lunch was over, we helped put them down for a nap, then would typically ride the bus back to the peace house and have lunch and sometimes a little nap. In the afternoon, it was back on the bus to my teaching locations. I went many different locations during the week to teach, and all were great. The kids were very friendly and appreciative of what we were there for. And yes I usually took the busses back to the house, although sometimes I would ride on the back of a motorbike. With the lack of driving regulations this option is not for the faint of heart.
Evening: Everyone would get back about the same time, 6:00pm or so. Dinner would be on the table and we would help ourselves. Evenings were very relaxed. Usually a group of us would go to a local spot and have a couple drinks and get to know each other and the locals. Every volunteer that was there while I was, were so friendly and open that it made you feel like one happy family. On the weekends, most of us would split up in small groups, take off and travel to different locations, and enjoy the culture.