So I’m sure most if not all of you have told your close and some distant relatives about this trip we are going on together. I’ve told a fair amount of my own relatives and they all have the same question, “Why”? And I just respond with, “Why not”? This trip to Asia is a once in a lifetime chance to experience a totally different culture. I believe we will all learn something very valuable from this trip and from one another.

I have a close family friend named Wendell that actually fought in the Vietnam War. And when I told Wendell I was going to visit Vietnam, he about fell out of his chair. This is a man with PTSD. I understand every bit of his concern, but I don’t want his opinion influencing how I should look at this venture. I can’t wait to finally leave Springfield and see the world in a different light. I also can’t wait to come back and tell Wendell how beautiful and wonderful Vietnam and its citizens are.