Southeast Asia Study Away Program

A blog about participants’ anticipations and apprehension before, during and after the program.

Going to Sapa

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Last night I road on my first overnight train and it was an interesting experience. The beds were small, we couldn’t figure out how to shut the overhead light off, and it was very shaky but overall I slept pretty well. When we got off the train we started the morning off with a market tour in Sapa which was very neat to see the handmade items and fresh meats and crops that the … [Read more...] about Going to Sapa

Day 1 in Vietnam

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Today, Wednesday, May 23 has been an exciting first full day in Vietnam. Starting the day off at the American Center we had a briefing with two US diplomats and they shared their personal experiences working for the US government while abroad. I was shocked to learn just how difficult it is to become a US diplomat and how often they are required to change post. Following our … [Read more...] about Day 1 in Vietnam

Day 2

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Day two in Ho Chi Minh City has been exciting but also long and hot. We started the morning off bright and early with a tour of Heineken brewery. Heineken was really neat to see with all the different sections that keep the business operating. At Heineken they brew and package the beer onsite as well as provide a tasting room for visitors. We finished the tour off with sampling … [Read more...] about Day 2

Last day in Sapa

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Aside from constantly being woken up this morning by rosters and construction, today was the first time on the trip that I was able to sleep in past 9am. We started our morning off with a massage which was definitely needed after all the walking yesterday. The massage was very relaxing but a lot different than a massage in the US. The massage therapist was climbing on the table … [Read more...] about Last day in Sapa

Hanoi day 1

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Today has been a busy day with several tours around Hanoi. We first visited the presidents palace and got to learn the history of President Ho Chi Minh that lived and worked there. Located by the presidents palace was the One Pillar Pagoda which is a beautiful Buddhist temple. The One Pillar Pagoda was one of my favorite places visited because of the beautiful architecture … [Read more...] about Hanoi day 1