GIEU VIỆT NAM 2010

Our Final Post - The Mekong Delta cruise and more of the South

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 29 May 2010 14:24:00 +0000

This past week, we have traveled throughout the southern part of the country. We started with a 22 hour train ride from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) formerly Saigon. We arrived extremely early in the morning and had a city tour! Saigon/HCMC is the business capitol of Vietnam, some GIEU students have equated it to New York City. There are many tall building, historical places, and shops!

Our Saigon/HCMC Tour started with a visit to the War Remnants Museum. This museum was formerly called, Museum of American War Crimes. This museum had many exhibits showcasing the lasting effects of Agent Orange and UXOs in Vietnam. There was an entire section devoted to the anti-Vietnam Protests around the world. Finally, there was a section graphically explaining the details of the torture and other American atrocities committed within war prison systems and POW camps. After the Museum, we traveled to the Reunification Palace. This Palace housed the President of South Vietnam before the War started. It has perfectly preserved the way the Palace was before the war. We then moved on to the Post Office which is situated adjacent to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The post office can be seen in the movie, "The Quiet American." Both buildings are renowned for their beauty.

We then got an a bus to head to Chau Doc. On our way we stopped at a Communist Secret Hideout in the Mekong Delta.
This secret hideout was tucked away in the canals of the Mekong Delta which is hidden from overhead planes. We were able to go on small boats and float around the secret grounds. We then drove for what seemed like forever and arrived to the hotel (a very nice hotel). In Chau Doc, we climbed Sam Mountain. Imagine the ultimate Stair Master on steroids in 100 degree weather with high humidity. Yes, we conquered that climb! In the end, it was completely worth it. We could see out for miles and even a glimpse of Cambodia!

On the top of Sam Mountain in Chau Doc

Can Tho was another stop on our Mekong Delta Tour. We were adventurous and ate snake, coconut worms, and tried hot cup massages. In Can Tho, we got on another boat and saw the floating market, feed catfish at a catfish farm, and saw the Cham village were we visited a Muslim Mosque.
Finally, we were able to experience true life in the Mekong Delta during our home stay on Green Island. We stayed in a place with mosquito nets, cots for beds, and no electricity until after 6pm! We were able to bond, nap in hammocks, and drink Ca Phe Sua Da (Iced Coffee with sweetened condensed milk). We ventured to the markets, played pool, and participate in campfire games including the Umbrella Club and the story game.

The bike ride to the homestay

Today is our last day in Vietnam as a group. We traveled back to Saigon/HCMC after seeing workers pop rice and then taste it! Our last day has been nice, we were able to have lunch on our own and had a few hours of free time.

Our final meal was filled with great conversations, memories, and gifts. The students prepared gifts for our fearless leaders Thuy'Anh, Rocky, and Truc. Julie and Brandon made "paper plates" (they do not sell paper plates in Vietnam so they used paper) awards! There were awards like Chi's Bridge Builder Award, Yen's Undercover Comedian, and Thuy'Anh's Mom Award. The 4 students from Hanoi University made wonderful cards for the American students! They wrote individual notes about how the American students have impacted their lives, memories they shared, and inside jokes!

Well, this is our last post in Vietnam. It has been a great time filled with life changing moments, life long memories, and great friends.
Tam Biet (good bye) Vietnam, we will miss you!
We will all be heading home whether that is Saigon for Truc, Hanoi for the 4 spectacular girls, or a very long trip back to America for the GIEU students!

GIEU in Danang and Hoa Mai center

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 22 May 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Hai Van Pass - on the way to Da Nang

The first day at Hoa Mai center
Hoa Mai center has around 40 orphans age from 3 to 18 years old and they are supported to go to public school. During 4 days working in the center, we focus on planting trees and drawing the mural due to the limit of time and huge amount of work. However, we also had great time to interact with the children: drawing pictures, teaching them some English songs or playing sports. Language barrier or local dialect was not a matter and we have seen big hugs, hands in hands, big smiles of sharing and caring among GIEU members and people in the center.

Drawing time with children

One of the projects that we worked on at the Hoa Mai Center was to plant mango trees, flowers, and hanging garden. The flowers were just for scenery but the mango's will hopefully be able to provide shade and fruit over time and have a lasting impact.

Planting trees

Working at Hoa Mai orphanage center.

Another project that we worked on was creating, designing and painting a large and colorful mural together. The mural was about 12 feet high by 18 feet long - so there was a lot of work involved! It was one of the biggest murals that GIEU Vietnam has ever done so we knew we had to work efficiently in order to get it done. As a group, everyone first drew some ideas down on a piece of paper and collaborated afterward. Every person had a say in what they wanted on the mural, and we ended up with a beautiful piece of work, commemorating both Vietnam's and U of Michigan's culture. We primed the entire wall with white paint on the first day and then proceeded to trace the design on. Then, the colorful (and messy!) painting started and as everyone helped out - we finished the entire mural within just a short period of 3 days! Our theme behind the mural was "Reach for the stars" and we wrote this inspiring quote in both Vietnamese and English on the wall. "Vuon toi uoc mo", a translation for "Reach for the stars" was displayed proudly in Vietnamese over the top of the mural.

The completed mural

Our last project was a performance performed by the Hoa Mai Center kids, and GIEU students. The performance included Vietnamese and American songs, games, and a performance of Snow White organized by Paul, Ngan, Chi, and Linh. The ceremony was a success and after presenting the kids with books, and two bikes, then saying goodbye we left.

Here is the video clip of "Snow White and the Seven dwarfs.

On Friday we spent the day exploring My Son and My Lai. My Son is the site of temple ruins from the ancient Cham kingdom, Hindu people that held power in south Vietnam. The temples were used by the Cham people between the 7th and 15th centuries. However, the area was used by north vietnamese during the war and was therefore heavily bombed by the United States, so today many of the temples have been partially or completely destroyed and parts of the area still haven't been cleared to visit due to UXO (unexploded ordinance) contamination.
After exploring My Son we headed to the site of the My Lai massacre and memorial. The My Lai massacre resulted in 504 civilian deaths, many of which were women, children and elderly. There is a museum on the site which has pictures from the massacre; many of us felt that the the pictures selected and subtitles given were particularly anti-American in nature, not merely highlighting the tragedy of the event itself. In addition to the pictures of the massacre they also have pictures of the recovery that has occurred since the village was destroyed. After burning incense in front of the memorial we walked around what remains of part of the village, mostly just a few cement foundations.

Keep learning more about the Central Part of Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:09:00 +0000

We were able to visit the demilitarized zone of Vietnam which surrounds the old border between North and South Vietnam. We saw an influential military base at Khe Sanh as well as a battle site at Hamburger Hill. The battle at Hamburger Hill proved important in fueling American anti-war sentiments during the Vietnam-American War. We were also able to visit a series of underground tunnels that the Vietnamese constructed near the shoreline of the South China Sea in the demilitarized zone. Many civilians hid in these tunnels for many years to escape bombs (and some craters can still be seen on the surface).

Hien Luong bridge at Ben Hai River (Between North and South during the war

We went to two different mausoleums in Hue: one for a great Vietnamese king and the other for a Vietnamese puppet king who was controlled by the French during the colonial period. It was interesting to see the differences between traditional Vietnamese architecture and that which was French influenced. It was interesting to learn that after a new dynasty took power in Vietnamese history, the mausoleums and ancestral worshiping sites of the previous dynasty were destroyed. This was done in an attempt to reduce the good fortune of the previous rulers enough so that they could not recapture the throne.

Hue Citadel

In the past few days we have spent a lot of time on our caterpillar bus. We have gotten many fantastic pictures of the beautiful scenery of Vietnam both in the highlands near Laos and near the shoreline of the ocean. Although the ride can be nauseating at times, the view is always breath-taking. We have spent a lot of time bonding on the bus through mafia, clapping games, songs, and conversations. Our Vietnamese friends have taught us a lot of useful words and phrases including "kem" (ice cream)and "nong qua" (it's very hot). They taught us how to flirt in Vietnamese which we all consider to be a very useful skill. We have also used the bus rides to catch up on our reading, writing, and sleeping. Look for pictures (of both the scenery and everybody sleeping on the bus) on the blog and on facebook shortly.

Play Mafia games on the bus

Today we arrived in Da Nang. We will be spending a week here working at an orphanage. We have many plans to utilize our individual talents to help the kids here. We have all been brainstorming ideas for a mural that we will be painting. Julie and Evan hope to use their artistry skills to make it as beautiful as possible. Paul hopes to write some poems for the kids to help them learn some English and to make them smile. Chi hopes to use her experience with children to help make the kids at the orphanage comfortable while we are there and to help foster our relationships with them. We are looking forward to making it happen in the next week!

At Hoi An, the Ancient town near Da Nang city

We all miss Danielle very much and are glad to hear that she is safely back in the States. Get well soon!

Great Times in Central Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:22:00 +0000

At the Khai Dinh Mausoleum in Hue

We have been in the old capitol of Vietnam, Hue (pronounce ha-way), since yesterday. This city is situated on the perfume river (which Sam came up with a great story about why it is called that). It has been very hot and humid, but we all are enjoying our time in this historical town. We had a chance to visit the citadel yesterday and enjoy some of Vietnam's great history. Today, we went to many different spots including Thien Mu Pagoda,, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh Mausoleums. We got to ride on a boat down the perfume river and visit the sites.

At Thien Mu pagoda

Earlier this week, we were able to help plant trees at kindergartens in A Luoi, Thua Thien Hue in the Central of Vietnam. We planted about 90 trees total at 3 different kindergartens.We worked together in the heat to finish the job. After we finished planting, we were able to interact with the kindergartners. We played games with them, heard Vietnamese children's songs, and even sang the U of M Fight Song.

Planting trees in A Luoi

Having fun with the kids

Brandon and Julie came up with a fight song for Hanoi University. Since Hanoi University does not have a fight song, colors, or a mascot, they decided that the Green and Brown Geckos would be best suited. (there have been some small lizards here and there!). Here are their lyrics to the tune of Hail to the Victors:

"Hail to Hanoi University,
Hail to the Green and Brown
Hail, Hail to Hanoi the place for us all!

Hail to Hanoi University,
Hail to the Green and Brown
Hail, Hail to Hanoi, hear the Geckos call

Go Gecks!"

Singing along

More great times to come soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hamburger Hill

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:32:00 +0000

This is the picture of Hamburger Hill, Vietnam during the battle of Dong Ap Bia, May 1969

And....., Gieu 2010's members at the same spot and angle of view 41 years later.

Truc

Hi my name is Paul Rink.

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:55:00 +0000

Hey everybody! I think I finally figured out how to work this blog thing. Here's a little about me:

My name means "That which is better than Danielle"

I went to Ha Long Bay three days ago and it was one of the top five experiences of my life.

I like to write limericks.

I can do the charleston, salsa, and swing dancing.

I like thunderstorms, sunsets, mountains, mountains, and bridges. I especially like when clouds eat mountains.

I don't sleep. I just blink.
Turtles and otters are my favorite animals.

I have one sister who goes to school in the upper peninsula. She is a special lady.

I will have a complicated love life, torn between three lovers. I will have three kids, a lackluster career and a long life. I will get married at 26 to a woman whom I love greatly, but who has little talent, moderate levels of attractiveness, and lots of money.

I am from northern Michigan where they grow them conservative.

GIEU Vietnam 2010 is the best experience of my life.

Have a good night everybody.

-Paul RInk

1st Week - The beginning in Ha Noi

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 08 May 2010 11:48:00 +0000

Xin Chao (Hello)!

From GIEU 2010 - First week in Hanoi

This week we spent in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. We've done a bunch of crazy and exciting things such as visiting the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and even shopping in the Old Quarter.

From GIEU 2010 - First week in Hanoi

We traveled outside of the city to Ha Long Bay experiencing the beautiful scenery that Vietnam has to offer.

From GIEU 2010 - First week in Hanoi

We've gone to several lectures ranging from culture to the economy.

From GIEU 2010 - First week in Hanoi

One day we spent in a village donating books to a new library in Bac Giang.

From GIEU 2010 - First week in Hanoi

We also visited the "Hanoi Hilton" prison where prisoners of war were held during French reign and during the Vietnam war. This evening we're departing to Dong Ha in central Vietnam on an overnight train. Keep looking at the blog for updates of our travels.

Tam Biet (Goodbye)!

GIEU Vietnam - a quick hello from Hanoi

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:59:00 +0000

This is a virtual postcard from TA in Hanoi:

So GIEU Vietnam is the first GIEU site to start this summer.
Everyone has got to Hanoi, Vietnam, safe in one piece (though one piece of luggage was missing, and then was collected on Monday)
The first part in Hanoi is more of exploration and getting to know Vietnam but it seems everyday is fully packed.
Hanoi is hot and humid, in comparison with temperate weather in the States. Vietnam has Monday off as the extended day of the long weekend holiday.
After a long and busy day, I could find some peaceful moments as the day ends to think of the charming Hoan Kiem Lake. There is a always tranquil place in the middle of the bustle and crowded city that one can find peace.
We will update with more real activities and thoughts from the students.
- Thúy Anh-

First of May in Hanoi

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sun, 02 May 2010 06:44:00 +0000

Some cool articles about Hanoi, the starting point of May in our journey
- Introduction
http://travel.nytimes.com/frommers/travel/guides/asia/vietnam/hanoi/frm_hanoi_0197010001.html
- 36 hours in Hanoi : http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/travel/05hours.html
- The awakening of Hanoi: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/travel/18hanoi.html?fta=y
- Bites in Hanoi: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/travel/08bites.html
- Hanoi's Cafe society : http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/travel/hanoi-s-cafe-society.html?scp=1&sq=Hanoi%27s%20Cafe%20Society&st=tcse
- Phở, an old love on the streets of Hanoi: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/13/dining/13HANO.html?pagewanted=1
-

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:55:00 +0000

Hello!

My name is Rocky Block and I am a GIEU Teaching Fellow alongside Thuy'Anh. Currently, I am a graduate student in the School of Public Health and did my undergrad work in History and Ancient Civilizations. This will be my third trip to Viet Nam with GIEU and fourth overall. In my spare time I like to read, because I am a nerd. Favorite books include Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire, The Tao of Pooh and the autobiography of Nelson Mandela "Long Walk to Freedom". What does one need when reading a book? A good cup of coffee. I drink lots of coffee. I also like to listen to lots of music, ride bikes, hiking and take naps outside. Oh, and traveling.

I have had amazing experiences in Viet Nam and know that this trip will be wonderful for all of the students! Just keep an open mind, be flexible and ready to sweat. I look forward to learning from all of you.

Our destinations in Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:53:00 +0000

Here are the links of some organizations that we are going to meet and work with in Vietnam:

North:
Faculty of International Studies, Hanoi University: http://fis.edu.vn/
Hanoi University : http://www.hanu.vn/
Library project of Vietnam: http://www.libraryofvietnam.com/
Vietnam Green Generation Network : http://www.thehexanh.org/

Central:
Kids First Village Vietnam: http://www.kidsfirstvietnam.org/default.aspx
Project Renew: http://www.vvmf.org/RENEW
Hoa Mai Center, Hòa Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn District, Đà Nẵng

South:
Ann Tours: (the Travel Agents that helps arranging our travel and activities in the program) http://www.anntours.com/

6 days to kick GIEU off

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:09:00 +0000

Hello Vietnam - Pham Quynh Anh

Good luck on your finals and GIEU will officially kick off in 6 days ( Vietnam time)

Julie Sherbill

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:05:00 +0000

I am a going to be a sophomore in college next year, and I am from Potomac, Maryland (which is just outside of Washington, DC). I am SO excited for Vietnam, and to meet everyone! I love to travel... last year I spent two months in Israel, and I have also been to Spain and France. I am especially excited for Vietnam, though, and am really eager to experience the culture there. I also love to eat, so I am excited to eat lots of Vietnamese food! Here are some facts about myself:

Birthday: April 6, 1991

Favorite movie: Pretty much any romantic comedy, Ferris Bueler's Day Off

Favorite book: Harry Potter

Hobbies/activities: Reading, arts and crafts, running, cooking, hiking, politics, eating

Academic major: I am applying to the School of Public Policy, but if that doesn't work out, then I will major in International Relations.

Katherine Marion

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:36:00 +0000

D.O. B.: September 26, 1991

Hometown: Canton, MI, USA

Major: Physics and International Studies

Hi all! I'm Katherine Marion and I can't believe I'm only a little over a week away from boarding a plane to Vietnam. It will be my second time outside of the United States :) I love exploring new places and trying new things and I'm really excited to spend a month with all of you in Vietnam!

Interests and Activities:

dance, gymnastics, foreign languages (I have about six I hope to be fluent in one day), reading, social justice, coffee, drawing, photography, making collages, running, bubble tea, politics (politics and I have a love-hate relationship), saving the environment (I'm definitely a tree hugger).

Favorites:

pastimes: I love exploring the outdoors and getting to know new people

food: I love spicy food :)

book(s): Brave New World, The Kite Runner, Black Like Me...(I could go on forever.)

music: I listen to an eclectic mix of everything

Hi guys

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:19:00 +0000

Name-Demilade Adefunke Akin-lewis(I'll teach you how to pronounce it when we see ;-) but in the mean time, you could just call me Demi like everyone else does.

Interests-
Dancing, Reading and just hanging out with friends and family. Dancing's always been a part of me. I've been dancing for years and it's just something that I love doing. Although I'm not as serious about it as I used to be, play a song and you'll see me busting my moves (: Reading is more of a hobby, because I love books. Alot of the knowledge that I have on certain topics, comes through me reading. Give me an interesting book, and it does not matter how big it is i'll be done the next day, at most in 2 days. I do not have alot of friends, but the ones that I call friends are mostly family. Precisely my mother and sisters, because you can always count on them. The other view that are not related by blood are really just selfless people whom I can learn from each day. One of them said this to me the other day "do no see the challenges in opportunites, but see the opportunities in challenges". Or it goes something like that. I have not known this person too long, but I can already tell that I will be learning a great deal from her the more time I spend with her.

More interests-
As much as I hate flying, travelling is something that I love to do. Learning new things about people, their culture and values is something that interests and facinates me. It is scary stepping out of your comfort zone, stepping out of that box, but in the long run, these experiences gotten change alot of our perceptions on life. It broadens our horizon, it awakens us to the other side of life. It makes us realize that there is more to life that what we are accustomed to and it makes us much wiser beings at the end of the day.

Hopes for GIEU Vietnam

I'm looking forward to learning not just about the people of Vietnam, but also learing about the people in the group. I'm looking forward to embracing every experience and applying each to my life outside of Vietnam. I'm looking forward to making friends and just being a support system fro everyone on the trip. I'm looking forward to alot of things, some of which I do know yet. But i'm just looking forward to the experience and wondering how it will affect me and shape me on My return to the U.S.

Introduction from UM- Ann Arbor

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:48:00 +0000

Jessie Baker
D.O.B.: May 15, 1990
Hometown: Grayling, Michigan, USA
Major: International Studies- Political Economy & Development
Nationality: Irish American

Hi everyone! I'm super excited about Vietnam... only 12 more days! This will be a crazy adventure and I'm excited for every minute of it!

Interests/Activities: Sports, economics, politics, religion, family, outdoors, coffee, the color green, reading and exploring crazy parts of the world!

Favorites:
TV Show- Grey's Anatomy
Movies- V for Vendetta, Charlie Wilson's War
Book- Cry, The Beloved Country
Music- Jack Johnson, Brett Denin
Food- Sushi

Introduction from UM - Ann Arbor

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 06:28:00 +0000

Brooke Sara Suskin

DOB: July 21, 1990

Hometown: East Meadow, New York, USA

Nationality: Russian, Polish, Greek, Turkish

Hey guys! So nice to get to know you all, I'm SO excited for Vietnam (so soon!!) and I can't wait to spend a month with all of you :) Here's a few things about myself...

Interests: Drawing, art/architecture, badminton, tennis, swimming, football (playing and watching), photography, reading, sleeping, traveling, going to the beach, people-watching

Loves: Laughing, coffee (ANYTHING coffee), looking through old pictures, funky sunglasses, cereal, Noodles & Company's mac & cheese, New York City, roller coasters, FOOD in general, sweatshirts, the colors blue and green, watching the Food Network 24/7, awkward moments, bubble tea, long car rides, big hugs, sneakers

Favorite Music: Billy Joel, Queen, Jack Johnson, Lady Gaga, Dave Matthews Band, Oasis, Aerosmith, the Beatles, Spice Girls (since 1998 and still going strong)

Favorite TV Shows/Movies: 24, LOST, Friends, Seinfeld, Project Runway, Law and Order: SVU, the Food Network, any reality TV show, Forrest Gump, Fight Club, Billy Madison, Pretty Woman, Back to the Future, Austin Powers, Knocked Up, The Breakfast Club

Fun Facts: I can spin a basketball on my finger for three minutes straight, I can ride a bike with no hands, I know American Sign Language semi-fluently, I live 15 minutes from the beach (the Atlantic Ocean) and 30 minutes from New York City at home :), I'm a camp counselor over the summer for 4-5 year old girls (I love kids!), and I'm beyond excited for Vietnam!!

What to eat Where in Hanoi

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:24:00 +0000

I was not born in Hanoi so this city always has something new to me to discover, though I've been living here for over 2 years. I love food and enjoy tasting new flavors.

This is a website which covers some pretty good info about Hanoi food (though the current price is a little bit higher).
Take a look (then you may give street food a shot!)

See you in 2 weeks! :)

Yen.

Introduction from UM-Ann Arbor (gals!)

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Mandie Maurer
DOB: October 21, 1989
Hometown: Perry, MI, USA
Major: Psychology
Email: maurerm@umich.edu

Interests(a couple of these will be horribly abstract):
Psychology:
I study psychology at UM and work in two research labs in UM's Psych Dept. I am specifically interested in social psychology as well as the crossover between philosophy and psychology in terms of areas like morality and happiness. Though I'm also interested in modes of experience and meaning, though that gets pretty abstract. Philosophy is another great interest of mine, and I also love relating to these ideas through literature. I can't get enough of this stuff!

Art:
I love all forms of art! Some of my most prominent interests are photography, theatre, orchestra, fashion, film, and literature. I love to dabble in photography when I have the chance - which is usually when I travel (to places like Viet Nam!).

Academia:
I absolutely love being in college specifically because of the constant intellectual stimulation and variety of experiences it offers. I plan to spend the rest of my life in academia in one form or another, through graduate study, and then research and ultimately a professorship.

Favorites!:
Music: I like such a wide variety, from Simon & Garfunkel, to Animal Collective & CocoRosie, to Sufi world music, to more recently some pop like Lady Gaga and M.I.A.
Films: I enjoy films by Ingmar Bergman, Woody Allen, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Hayao Miyazaki, Darren Aronofsky, and many others.
Food: Middle-eastern food in general ice cream are probably my favorites :] I'm also addicted to coffee (and tea to an extent) - Turkish coffee is the best!

Introduction from UMF

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 01:59:00 +0000

Hey!! I guess I'll just jump right into this introduction...

Full Name: Danielle Rae Arnold

DOB: 08/25/1988

Interests:

Soccer: I've played soccer since elementary school. Unfortunately I haven't got to play much since college, but I have got a few chances to coach. Currently I am helping coach a group of girls 12 and under. I absolute love coaching and my team! (I'm going to miss most of their games during the Vietnam trip :( )

Taking Pictures: My camera is with me everywhere I go. Everything is a photo opportunity! I'm even buying a special 8GB memory card just for this trip so I can take as many pictures as I want. I'm addicted!!

Travelling: This will be my first real trip out of the country. I have gone to Canada a couple times, but the areas I've been in are so much like the U.S. that it hardly counts as leaving the country. I've been many places in the U.S. Washington state (the northwest part of it) is one of my favorites. I wouldn't mind living there one day.

Some recent travel photos:

Other Interests: Reading, Singing (Not Well!), Movies, Basketball... I like a lot of things.

You can add me on Facebook and we can talk more if you want! I'm really excited to meet you all! See you soon...!

I will post again soon with pictures and info about University of Michigan - Flint

Introduction: Greetings from UMD

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:52:00 +0000

Hey! My name is Evan and I thought it was about time for a long overdue introduction... So with no further adieu:

Full Name: Evan Zachary Belknap
D.O.B: Oct./06/1989
Nationality: Irish American (no accent :/)

Interests:

-Volunteering: I truly believe that service to others is the key to fully developing oneself as a person.

-Travel: I don't get to travel nearly enough (so far). However after our adventure together in Vietnam I am headed to visit my brother in Los Angeles, California for a week. A few short months later I will be doing a study abroad in Versailles, France for a semester.

This is a picture of some of my best friends and I joking around on my birthday after eating.

-Activities: Generally I love anything that's outside and exhilarating, new experiences, learning, teaching/mentoring, things to push me outside my comfort zone... More specifically:

Sports/Games: Basketball, Swimming, Pool, Dancing (I'd love to learn break/swing/ballroom dance), Skiing (Snowboarding next time I get out there!), Cliff-Diving, Speeding, Public Speaking, Intelligent Argument, recently I've been getting into Muey Thai a bit... At times: Soccer, Tennis, Darts, Ping-Pong, Some shooter video games
Movies/ TV mini-series: I love movies! Recently my latest obsessions have been- Spartacus, Californication, Dexter
Reading: Social Science/psychology focused reading. Fiction. The Count of Monte Cristo is by far my favorite book, if I had more time, I'd start reading it again tonight
Music: Love Dirty Electro House music, open to almost any other type

To the Left is a picture of me at D.E.M.F. (Detroit Electronic Music Festival). It is an annual weekend-long event that features DJ's from all over the globe held right in Detroit Michigan- only 15 minutes from where I live!

I hope this short profile was helpful in learning a bit about me. I'm so excited to meet you all in person and start our adventures in Vietnam!!!

-Ev

...P.s. If any of you use facebook and want to get to know me a bit more feel free to send me a friend request

Introduction from UM- Ann Arbor

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:55:00 +0000

1. Michael Williams

DOB: February 11, 1992

Hometown: Detroit, MI, USA

Major: Architecture

Minor: Urban Studies

E-mail: rulermw@umich.edu

Hey everyone. I'm Michael, one of the freshmen joining you guys on the trip. Our final semester @ U of M Ann Arbor ends in 1 week :) and I can't wait to hop on the plane and head to Vietnam and leave America

behind for a while. Listed below is a little info about me. Can't wait to meet all of you!

Interests:

Architecture - I live, eat, and breathe architecture! Not really, but I am obsessed with it. I love traveling to different cities and places and looking at all of the buildings and unique homes. I can't wait to go to Vietnam to see all of the cool pagodas and assembly halls; I'm gonna go crazy with my camera.
Art and Design - Besides architecture I like all types of design like fashion, cars, interior design, and even product and graphic design; they're all the same to me and I couldn't imagine life without them. The same goes for art; I really like going to museums and exhibits to see all kinds of art and I'm a big photography fan, I like taking photos of whatever I find interesting on the streets or right around me.
Music - I also really like my music. I listen to a little bit of everything like pop (Lady GaGa fan), hip hop (Common and Kanye West), r & b (Alicia Keys), a little rock, classical, and maybe some country; but my favorite is soul/ r & b music such as Lauryn Hill and India Arie. I really want to find out what type of music Vietnamese college students listen to; we'll have to exchange iPods.
TV + Movies - I'm a big TV and movie buff because of my dad. This year I hardly watched any TV and I went to the movies a lot less, and I'm starting to watch a lot of things on the Internet. Some of my favorite TV shows are LOST, Project Runway, Jeopardy, Family Guy, and Law and Order : SVU. My favorite movies are Avatar, I Am Legend, Gladiator, The Bourne Series, The Dark Knight, and The Devil Wears Prada.

Other Interest + Activities:

Tennis - I play it almost everyday in the summer
Talking - I admit I like to talk and laugh a lot
Musicals and Plays
Volunteering
Eating - I love FOOD!

See you guys in a few weeks!
2.Brandon William Ebenhoeh

DOB: April 29, 1989

Hometown: Roseville, MI, USA

Interests:

Theater~ I have been involved

in theater productions since high school and have continued in college. I get to sing, dance, and act. I recently was in a show called "HAIR."

This show is about a group of friends in the 1960's dealing with the Vietnam War draft and protesting the war, discovering themselves, and having fun! That's a picture from the show.

Soccer~ I love soccer. I have been playing since I could walk!

American Sign Language~ I currently am learning ASL at UM. I really enjoy learning about other language and cultures! This helped spark my interest in becoming a Speech Therapist after college. I can teach you some signs while we are in Vietnam!

Traveling~ I have been to places all over the USA including New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Maine, Tennessee, Maryland, Alabama, Disney World, and many more. My favorite place to go on vacation to is Pentwater, MI! It is this awesome small town on Lake Michigan. My entire family goes here ever August. My other favorite place to travel is Washington D.C. I love the city and the people. I want to live here once I finish college!

My other interests are:

~University of Michigan Football!

~Being a resident Advisor

~Dogs!

~Chess

~Working at Summer Camp

~Baseball

~Driving in my Car!

~Trying new foods :]

~Cooking and Baking

Favorite Movie: The Blindside, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Sandlot

Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese

Favorite Music: Acoustic, pop, rock, really anything! I do enjoy Lady Gaga and John Mayer

Favorite TV Show: I am obsessed with reality television!

This is from my summer job!

Feel free to add me on Facebook.

3. Sam Philip West
DOB: May 17, 1991
Hometown: Marquette, MI, USA

Interests:

Stuff I do for fun-I really enjoy playing soccer, skiing, and running, and I hope to be able to run while in Vietnam in order to explore the areas where we will be staying. I also like to learn and play other obscure sports, activities and games such as video, board, or card games.

On Campus- I've been involved with a lot of community service or social justice organizations on campus this year. I've had a lot of fun being able work with other students and community members to work on some task. I have also enjoyed being able to work and learn from community members whom I may not get the chance to talk with if it wasn't for the community service event. I also enjoy going to various sporting events, shows, and movies on campus.

General Stuff- I like to be outdoors and enjoy nature. I'm also willing to try most new things whether it is food or some game.

I'm really excited to meet everyone and if you want to become friends with me on Facebook you can find me under the email address samwest@umich.edu

4. My name is Paul Rink, and I am a junior at the University of Michigan. I am excited to meet and to get to know all of you whether you are from the United States or Vietnam.

Introduction from FIS - Hanoi University- Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:12:00 +0000

HI FRIENDS!!!
We are students from Falculty of International Studies, Hanoi University. We will join the University of Michigan students to make the GIEU Vietnam 2010 Team . Hope that we will have LOTS of FUNS together!!!
Here is a brief introduction about four members from Vietnam:
1. Nguyen Phuong Chi
My full name is Nguyen Phuong Chi

D.O.B: 23/05/1989
Cell phone: 098.282.3589

Interests:

- Volunteering (I always try to take chances to contribute for community and have fun being an active volunteer :) )
-Travelling ( I did travel to almost every famous places in Vietnam as well as other countries like U.S., Peru, Japan, China and must be some more in the near future :D)

-Reading (social science and romance)
- Shopping
- Creating shapes with cookies (like Lucy in the movie "50 first dates" :D )

My favorite quote: " Smile, it enhances your face value"

More than nice to be friend with all of you !!!!!
See you all in May (also, my birth month :X ) !!!!

2. Do Phuong Linh Nice to meet you!
I’m Linh , 3rd year student of FIS, HANU, and I will welcome my 21 this April :x Beginning the plan of my newly beautiful age is my awaiting journey with you. I’m very much looking forward to meeting with you, and sharing our joyful time with you in my lovely hometown :D
There’s something about me:
- Full name: Do Phuong Linh. My family and friends call me with many “kute” nicknames. (To each person, I have one particular impression-> that may be the reason :p ) I’m happy to be called by nickname, and you can give me one :X
- Birthday: April 13th, 1989
- Email me by dophuonglinh08@gmail.com
- Interests : a lot :D
Travel: Traveling and exploring other regions, getting more knowledge and deep understanding about culture and identity of other areas in the world.
Volunteer: I enjoy the true happiness of doing something for others, and sharing with them happiness.
Friends: I love making friends, chatting and team-working
Book: I like reading and collecting books. And I also dream of writing a book of myself :D
Film and film making ^^
Lake: I love enjoying the pure air and walking along the lakeshore everyday. I love seeing the lake as the heart of every region and community
Cook and dance: I love Food and Music-one can nourish my body, and the other cherishes my soul :D
- My favorite quote: Winners never quit, quitters never win!

3. Pham Thuy Ngan

Hi guys,
I’m Ngan, a 3rd year student of FIS ( Faculty of International Studies). In another word, you can call me FISER. It’s exciting to be part of GIEU Vietnam 2010. We are here, cheerfully waiting for you to be here in our home, Vietnam. Hope that we will have great time together.

Then, here are some lines about me:
Name: Pham Thuy Ngan.
I live near West Lake, which is the largest and most beautiful lake in Hanoi.
Cell phone: 0902 060 389
Interests:
Travel It has become part of my life from which I can find myself
Volunteer: It came to me by chance but attracts me until now and I know it’ll attract me always, cause I love to do something with all my heart and my ability. It brings me to real life somehow.
Basketball: My favorite sport for a long time, although I haven’t played anymore I still like it
Baseball I like its concept, not just the game only
Dance I even don’t know how to dance but I like to move with the music so I’ll learn asap :D
You can find me in crowd by my smile. The characteristic which makes me different is curiosity. This one also makes me love to pursue new ideas :p
Finally, my quote is “ Nothing is impossible” :X

4. Phung Thi Minh Yen

Hi GIEU team.
I am Yen, 20 years old, a 2nd year student of Hanoi University. I am so excited to be a part of GIEU 2010 and cant wait to start. I like meeting new friends, discovering new things, traveling as much as possible to keep my eyes open and get more real experience. My favorite sports are badminton and chess, I would be thrilled if any of you is crazy for chess!!! Apart from interesting programs mentioned in our itinerary, I love to go to the post office in every province to send postcards to families and buddies. Hope my few words can help you know more about myself, I am looking forward to seeing you all. Let’s make GIEU a success and lots of funs!

Some photos of campus - Hanoi University

Entrance from gate

View from C Building

D Building

Library

Welcome to Khoa Quoc Te Hoc.

FIS:

If I were now in the senior year of high school and still deciding what program I should apply, I would still choose Faculty of International Studies (FIS). The program offers students a wide variety of knowledge such as economics, social science, mostly focus on cross-culture and international relations. I have to admit the heavy load of so many assignments, full schedule all week that make many Fisers stressed but at the end of the day, what we’ve got is experience and confidence. We are taught by multi-national qualified and enthusiastic lectures, study with very up-dated syllabi and reading materials. Our motto is “learn hard, play smart”, FIS teaching staff encourages students to join many interesting activities and exchange programs, and GIEU is among them.

Welcome all of you, our hearts are always open!

GIEU Vietnam - VIET journey (May, 2010)

noreply@blogger.com (GIEU Vietnam) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:25:00 +0000

GIEU Vietnam 2010 – VIET journey '
(May 3 – May 29, 2010)
Volunteer - Take part in community service in various locations in Vietnam to help young children and people in need.
Interaction - Make more friends in Vietnam, take part in collaborative volunteer projects.
Education- Learn about education system and various aspects of life in Vietnam.
Travel - Travel throughout the country from North to Center and South of Vietnam to experience life from many parts of the country

While many students are aware of the ways in which the Viet Nam war has permeated American politics and culture, very few are cognizant of the rich cultural traditions in Viet Nam or that it is among the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia today. Accordingly, this project intends to study the dichotomy between tradition and modernity as Viet Nam becomes further connected to the global economy. In addition, through service work with several NGOs, it will expose Michigan undergraduates to the human consequences and lasting legacies of war while promoting a greater understanding of Viet Nam’s growing importance to today’s global economy.

Xin chào!

My name is ThuyAnh, I am GIEU Teaching Fellow, one of the leaders of the group. My name often goes by TA, which I can come up with some nice names such as The Ambassador, True Adventurer, etc.

I am from, Hanoi, Vietnam. So it's always great to show other people my country. I am also happy that we can travel and do some meaningful work in Vietnam through our community service as well. This is going to be my third trip with GIEU. I hope I can tell more later about the trip. But I think my picture from Dong Ha tells more than I can say with a thumb up. I sometimes like to Take Action. That is what TA could possibly mean :)

GIEU VIỆT NAM 2010

Our Final Post - The Mekong Delta cruise and more of the South

GIEU in Danang and Hoa Mai center

Keep learning more about the Central Part of Vietnam

Great Times in Central Vietnam

More GIEU stories from Yến (Hanoi University)

Hamburger Hill

Hi my name is Paul Rink.

1st Week - The beginning in Ha Noi

GIEU Vietnam - a quick hello from Hanoi

First of May in Hanoi

Our destinations in Vietnam

6 days to kick GIEU off

Julie Sherbill

Katherine Marion

Hi guys

Introduction from UM- Ann Arbor

Introduction from UM - Ann Arbor

What to eat Where in Hanoi

Introduction from UM-Ann Arbor (gals!)

Introduction from UMF

Introduction: Greetings from UMD

Introduction from UM- Ann Arbor

Introduction from FIS - Hanoi University- Vietnam

GIEU Vietnam - VIET journey (May, 2010)