Out and about in Ontario

I often find that by the time I get to the end of my week that I am utterly exhausted (our friend Pat says you can only use the word exhausted if you’ve been in a war… but regardless, I’m wiped). While Jeff is usually looking to get out and fill up our weekends, I’m quite content to waste away the weekend days surfing the net, watching TV and dreaming of knitting (I’m just not as motivated to actually pick up my needles as I was when I was freezing in Mongolia last winter…)

The one activity that we have both been dying to do is to get out cross country skiing. The past two years we spent abroad with no snow while Ontario was dumped with the white stuff. Now that we’re home, we’ve only been able to get out skiing once because there has been no snow!!

I leave you with some pics from our only outting so far this year… here’s hoping for more snow in February! (I think we’re the only ones in Ontario hoping for snow…)

Jeff hitting the trails close to our house.

My sister and her hubby enjoying the
sunshine on the trails.

Cross country skiing is hard work!

Happy to be back in Ontario.

How to Build GLOBAL Community

Thought nuggets (I didn’t write it, but I do support it).

HOW TO BUILD GLOBAL COMMUNITY

Think of no one as “them”   Don’t confuse your comfort with your safety   Talk to strangers   Imagine other cultures through their poetry and novels   Listen to music you don’t understand   Dance to it Act locally Notice the workings of power and privilege in your culture   Question consumption   Know how your lettuce and coffee are grown: wake up and smell the exploitation   Look for fair trade and union labels   help build economies from the bottom up   Acquire few needs   Learn a second (or third) language   Visit people, places and cultures — not tourist attractions   Learn people’s history   Re-define progress   Know physical and political geography   Play games from other cultures   Watch films with subtitles   Know your heritage   Honor everyone’s holidays   Look at the moon and imagine someone else, somewhere else, looking at it too   Read the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights   Understand the global economy in terms of people, land and water   Know where your bank banks   Never believe you have a right to anyone else’s resources   Refuse to wear corporate logos: defy corporate domination   Question military/corporate connections   Don’t confuse money with wealth, or time with money   Have a pen/email pal   Honor indigenous cultures   Judge governance by how well it meets all people’s needs   Be skeptical about what you read   Eat adventurously   Enjoy vegetables, beans and grains in your diet   Choose curiosity over certainty   know where your water comes from and where your wastes go   Pledge allegiance to the earth: question nationalism   Think South, Central and North — there are many Americans   Assume that many others share your dreams   Know that no one is silent though many are not heard   Work to change this.

The Mekong Delta – Taking a step off the beaten path…

After travelling along the well beaten path in Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City (HCMC), we decided to veer off and see if there were parts of Vietnam that had been left untouched (or at least, less touched!) Before heading deeper into the Delta we took a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels which are located in a northern district of HCMC. The tunnels were built by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The Viet Cong hid in the network of tunnels which also served as communication and supply routes. Jeff is not a big guy, he was able to easily slip down the hole into the tunnels.

I didn’t even try. I realised when we were in Korea that I am a bit claustrophobic when it comes to tunnels…. the Cu Chi tunnels were way tinier than the tunnels we explored along the North/South Korean border so there was no way I was going down there!

I did however pose with some new Viet Cong friends that I made when at the tunnels. The trip was quite educational though, it was also bias – the “center” totally supported the Viet Cong and taught us about how evil the Americans were. I must admit though that if the tunnels were in America I’m not so sure that they would present information that wasn’t supporting the US.

Day trip options abound from HCMC. Instead of doing a day trip from HCMC to My Tho (a small town about two hours south west of HCMC) and back, we decided to just stay in My Tho and make our way west from there. We joined a tour and spent the day exploring the canals and the mini islands of the Mekong Delta.

Canal house on stilts. The poverty of Vietnam
became even more apparent as we moved
deeper into the Delta.

We took a “speed” boat to a small island and wandered around. After exploring the island we hopped into a small canoe and were ferried around by a lovely lady who spoke no English. I must say that the scenery as we wove through the canals was amazing!

Our day trip came to an end and we were pointed in the direction of a hotel. As the bus drove away we hoped that we had made the right decision. We found the hotel (it was a dump… but it was a place to sleep) and were able to express our desire for a room. We tried to find out when and where we could catch a bus to Can Tho, a larger city in the Delta, and our next destination. We were told that we could catch a 5:30am bus – that was the only way out of there. The town of My Tho is very small, and staying another day was not an option. The town was definitely off the beaten track – the English that had been so common everywhere else we visited in Vietnam was not so common anymore. We couldn’t find a place to eat, we ended up buying Happy Cow cheese and Ritz crackers for dinner. The big decision was whether or not to wake up early, or risk not catching the bus and hope that there was something a bit later. We decided to take our chances and woke up around 6:45.

The next day we wandered around the town, looking for a travel agency, or a bus station or something. We found a guy on a motorcycle who spoke English and told us he and a friend could take us to a gas station where we could catch a bus. We decided to go for it, so we jumped on the back of the motorcycles and hoped for the best. It was halfway into the trip that I realised I had absolutely no id on me and no money. I had long ago given up wearing the money belt which made Jeff responsible for keeping tabs on everything. As we sped along the road I kept looking back, hoping to see my husband to make sure that I wasn’t being kidnapped. I couldn’t turn my head because I was wearing my huge 60 liter pack on my back. Luckily we were okay. We arrived at the gas station safely and were shuffled into the back of a small, cramped van full of locals. Vietnamese techno blaring, we made our way towards Can Tho with hopes of finding a place to stay and things to do upon arrival.

Happy New Year!

Wow, has this pas year gone quickly. When I think back to where we were last year at this time I can’t really believe it.

Mongolian prayer flags in the countryside.

The past year has held lots of adventures, ups and downs, new friends, old friends, travelling, and adjusting to new surroundings.

Jen trying to stay warm at the Eagle Festival
in February, 2009

At this point last year Jeff and I were freezing our buns off in Mongolia. The temperatures there stayed around -35 Celsius for most of the winter (read: the beginning of November to the beginning of April). Add the wind-chill on to that and you never want to leave the house. Lets just say that I was able to get a lot of knitting done last winter. Winter back in Ontario is quite refreshing and not so bad compared to winter last year.

Mum & Dad Dawson riding camels in the
Mongolian countryside.

Some of our family came to visit us in April. We were lucky enough to have my parents and Jeff’s sister travel halfway around the world to see what our lives were like in Mongolia. The trip into the Mongolian countryside was definitely a highlight.

Jackie climbing rocks with a Mongolian child.

After our contracts with our school in Mongolia were completed we spent eight weeks travelling around South East Asia. I’ve never been one for travelling, odd, I know. I love living in different countries and taking short side trips, but the idea of living out of a backpack, sleeping in different beds, and not being able to cook for eight weeks didn’t really appeal to me. See more of Asia and learning more about the continent did appeal to me though, so we made the trek. There were rough times, but it was really fun and totally worth it in the end. The experiences we had and the things we saw were amazing. Not to mention the neat people that we met along the way!

House on the water in Halong Bay, Vietnam.

Arriving back in Ontario at the end of August meant looking for work and trying to get into the swing of things in terms of being back in Canada. Jeff began work as a tutor and snuck in some much needed ultimate. I was able to find work at a school teaching Core French. After that contract was finished I found another. I’m still trying to adjust to the school system back in Ontario. While there are many things that are the same (in terms of the actual teaching), there are also lots of differences that I have been trying to sort through. It’s nice to be employed, but I must admit that I madly miss my class from last year. They were so precious and enjoyable.

December was certainly a busy month for us. Our first Christmas home in two years meant that we had a lot of catching up to do! Christmas parties, hanging out with friends, shopping, and working filled up December. It was certainly lovely to have our families around this year for Christmas. The past two years we decorated our plants (Norman in Korea, Oliver in Mongolia) with Christmas lights and the two decorations my parents sent us and put presents under them. This year it was nice to have a proper tree!

I’m sure that the next year will hold lots for us. I’m excited to see where we will end up.

Adjusting to Life at Home

Well, we’ve been back for about four months now. Things are starting to settle down a bit and life is getting a bit easier. The most frequent question that people ask me is “So, how are you adjusting to life back home?” I’d say I’m adjusting well. I think that the biggest amount of culture shock I’ve had in all my travels was when I came home from England. I wasn’t expecting any major culture shock, but it was certainly there. I think that the biggest adjustment that I have had (and continue to have) is going into stores. The stores all seem HUGE and packed full of stuff. I often feel overwhelmed by the decisions that I have to make about everything in the stores here. My brain goes into sensory overload as I realise that I can read all the labels and I don’t have to guess at what I’m buying. The variety of food that is available here is crazy. Asparagus, spinach, zucchini, eggplants, avocados, bananas, apples, strawberries… the list goes on. I’m trying to slowly eat my way through all the foods that I’ve missed over the past two years!

I must admit that I miss Asia. I miss Korean food (mmm… kimbap, duengjong jiggae, bi bim bap…), the Seoul subway and the ease of getting around. I miss the relaxed lifestyle, less choice, and  the adventures that come with living in a culture where you don’t speak the language. I don’t miss the pushing (though I’m trying to stop doing it myself!), the inability to communicate basic ideas/needs with others, and the last minute things that were thrown at me.

There are certainly things that I miss about living abroad, but I am happy to be home. It’s been great spending time with friends and family. I’m looking forward to feeling a bit more settled as we find permanent employment and finally have a home of our own.

The Heat is on in Saigon

I first encountered Saigon when I was in eighth grade. I went to see the musical Miss Saigon and fell in love with the story. As we made our way down the coast of Vietnam towards Saigon, I couldn’t help but burst out into songs from the musical. (The title of this post is based on one of the songs from the musical… my feet are tapping as I write this post!) Though I loved the idea of Saigon, I wasn’t really that interested in the city itself. Word on the backpacker street was that Saigon was like any other major city – okay, but nothing really special. I went into the city with low (or no) expectations.

We ended up spending more time in Saigon (now officially called Ho Chi Min City or HCMC) than we had anticipated, but that was mostly because I ended up getting sick!

Ho Chi Min’s bust and a Vietnam flag found
in the Reunification Palace.

Once the sickness had subsided, we decided to head out and explore the two main tourist sites in HCMC. We started off at the Reunification Palace. This palace was built in 1966 and served as the presidential palace. The building is probably most famous for the role that it played in the Vietnam War. On April 30, 1975 a North Vietnamese tank drove through the gates of the palace and the war was declared over.

In the basement of the palace are the war
rooms. They reminded me a lot of Winston
Churchill’s war rooms in London.

“Don’t touch the object!” Oops…
I just couldn’t help myself…

The tanks moving into the yard of the
Reunification Palace on April 30, 1975.

In addition to the Reunification Palace we also visited the War Remnants Museum. This museum aims to collect and display artifacts from the Vietnam War. It was certainly an interesting museum with a very pro-Vietnam stance. While there was lots of propaganda to surf through (not more than what you might find in an American equivalent though), the museum also provided lots of moments for contemplation about what had happened to Vietnam during the war. The Agent Orange that was used destroyed many lives and continues to affect the population today. The information that was displayed about the use of this pesticide during the war was heart-breaking.

In addition to spending time at the more touristy places (we checked out a local market and just wandered around the city), we discovered a lovely little café in downtown Saigon. Sozo serves delicious baked goods, something that can be hard to come by in Asia. We were delighted to stumble upon this little oasis in the big city. Sozo was set up with the aim of providing people with low (or no) income with the skills necessary for them to find work. Sozo’s vision statement is “Restoring hope, Changing lives”.

During our second visit to Sozo we ended up participating in an English exchange program. Every Tuesday night (I believe….) foreigners and Vietnamese people come together to build community, with the aim of providing a place for Vietnamese people to come and practice their English with native speakers. We ended up chatting with a bunch of locals for the evening. I think that this was definitely one of the highlights of our time in Saigon. It was nice to just spend time talking to people, and to learn more about Vietnam.

Our new friends. What a great night!

Though we never had the opportunity to completely devote ourselves to volunteering during our travels, it was nice to be a part of such a neat vision. I’d certainly recommend others to stop by the café if you’re in the area.

How to Build Community

Turn off your TV.

Leave your house.

Know your neighbors.

Look up when you are walking.

Greet people.

Sit on your stoop.

Plant flowers.

Use your library.

Play together.

Buy from local merchants.

Share what you have.

Help a lost dog.

Take children to the park.

Garden together.

Support neighborhood schools.

Fix it even if you didn’t break it.

Have pot lucks.

Honor elders.

Pick up litter.

Read stories aloud.

Dance in the street.

Talk to the mail carrier.

Listen to the birds.

Put up a swing.

Help carry something heavy.

Barter for your goods.

Start a tradition.

Ask a question.

Hire young people for odd jobs.

Organize a block party.

Bake extra and share.

Ask for help when you need it.

Open your shades.

Sing together.

Share your skills.

Take back the night.

Turn up the music.

Turn down the music.

Listen before you react to anger.

Mediate a conflict.

Seek to understand.

Learn from new and uncomfortable angles.

Know that no one is silent although many are not heard.

 

I didn’t write this, but I do believe that it speaks the truth… Do you do this in your community?

Walking for a Cause

Back in 2004 I moved to Uganda to work with Rwandan refugees. I implemented sport and play programs in the refugee settlement with the hope of helping to build community and to help with the development of the children. It was an amazing experience that I’m sure will stick with me forever. I still remember my people, the Rwandans (and Ugandans) who touched my life and my soul. When I returned home I worked with an organization called GuluWalk. GuluWalk aims to raise awareness and funds for the people of Northern Uganda. There has been a civil war happening in Norther Uganda since the late 1980s. Thousands of people have been displaced, thousands of children have been kidnapped and forced to become soldiers. The situation is not great. While I didn’t work in Northern Uganda, I have a heart for the people there. For three years I worked with GuluWalk, raising money and organizing a walk in my hometown. This year there is no walk in my city, but I’m hoping to join one of the other walks in a nearby city. I’m hoping that you might consider walking for the children of Northern Uganda.

I’ll leave you with the top 10 reasons for joining the GuluWalk this year (as posted on the GuluWalk website).

#10: Ashton Kutcher, Ellen Degeneres and Britney Spears all have more than 3 million followers on Twitter. That is slightly frightening. But also a good lesson in trends – can we change them? Let’s prove that we actually DO care about less superficial things.

#9: We are all global citizens.

#8: While serving as the United Nation’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Jan Egeland called the LRA conflict in northern Uganda ‘the world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis.’  If you don’t know the history, learn it.*

#7: Scars from 23 years of war do not heal overnight.

#6: When GuluWalk began in 2005, thousands of children were walking each night to seek a safe place to sleep; a place where the risk of abduction by the LRA would be low. They were known as ‘night commuters.’ Night commuting has stopped. There is a tentative peace in northern Uganda. But these children are still growing up, having known only war for the majority of their lives. They need support, they need a voice, they need leadership.

#5: There are close to half a million people still living in IDP and transit camps in northern Uganda.

#4: The LRA continues to wreak havoc in the region, mostly in the Congo, Sudan and now Central African Republic. It’s history in northern Uganda is a big piece to this puzzle and its impact there must not be forgotten.

#3: You still have an extremely high chance of earning an all-expenses paid trip to northern Uganda. Become a ‘founding builder’ (one of the first 500 people to raise $500 online) and you could receive that trip, see first-hand the need for programming and gain a deeper understanding of the conflict.

#2: This year, by walking, you will be raising awareness and funds for the Gulu Youth Cultural Centre: a home for much-needed youth leadership training; arts and cultural programming; rehabilitation and rebuilding.

#1:Take real action. Because as easy as it is to click a button or join a Fan Page or change our Twitter profile picture, I think we are still capable of being roused; of feeling inspired; of using our free time, our voice, our combined effort, to act. Your voice will be heard.

Home

As we have begun to adjust to life back home things have been busy. I’ve started working – teaching at a school in the region for eight weeks. Jeff’s been working on various projects, from staining homes and decks to bookkeeping to tutoring. We’re slowly figuring out how we fit back into life in Canada.

It’s nice to be back home. I feel a sense of pride when my national anthem plays on the announcements every morning. It’s funny, for the past two years I’ve stood for the national anthems of two other countries and never really thought about how I felt about that. Being back home I get goosebumps listening to the Canadian anthem.

We’re still sorting through our pictures and will post more about our trip soon.

Homeward Bound

Well, it’s been an absolutely fantastic eight weeks through Indonesia, KL, Vietnam, Cambodia, and a little of Thailand.  We didn’t have the time to make it to Laos, but that just means that we’ll have to return someday.  We’ll continue to blog about the rest of our journey once we return home, but for us, it’s the end of the line.  Our flight leaves in less than 12 hours, so it’s time to get a little rest before an early morning departure to the airport.

Thanks to all who have joined us for the ride.