"Wait, did everyone get a Mai Tai?"

It's our first day on the beautiful island and a couple of things have definitely stood out to my family:

• The weather is similar to Vietnam's!
• These flowers and trees grow in Vietnam too
• It's really laid back and as easy going as in Vietnam
• There's also a significant number of Vietnamese people here.....

In other words, my parents are pretty happy here! 

Our view!

I'm back!

Hi world.

It's been a while. Unfortunately, I don't remember the details of the trip anymore, but I still do think about it often. I'll definitely write about it whenever I'm feeling nostalgic and I'll tag it as such. Needless to say, the Rome 2011 chapter of my life will remain incomplete. 

To summarize, it wasn't the best trip that I have ever been on. I did not always have fun. In fact, I cried quite a bit. But it was a journey I needed to take. 

It has been more than a year since then and I have not had any time off! I had a busy year of Peer Ministry and schooling and getting my life in order. And now, I'm tired. 

With that, I am all packed for my weeklong family vacation to Hawaii! My family has not been on vacation together in twelve years -- we're all finally at the same-ish chapters of our lives. On our last family vacation, the kids were all in grade school. This time, we're all working. That's what you get for spacing your kids out a little too much I guess... 

I have a couple of trips planned for myself, as well. In November, I'm going to Boston, I have some conferences to go to for work some years down the road, and I'm going to Rio for World Youth Day! Yay! I actually got the travel itch again a couple of months ago but didn't have the time nor the funds to make it happen. But anything and everything is possible with my happy new place in life! 

I'm really excited. And tired. It's past my bedtime. 

Hien

(A longer) gelato break!

I am leaving tomorrow morning for my program's second and last field trip of the quarter! We are spending two days in Assisi and two days in Florence. Then our professor is letting us loose until we meet again during quiz section and discussion on Wednesday. Yes, that is correct, we are being given eight whole days to be away from Rome. Don't get me wrong, Rome is a wonderful city, but the novelty of being here has worn off and I can finally see how touristy and tacky some neighborhoods can be. So I'm going to take this opportunity to try on some masks in Venice and hike through Plitvice National Park in Croatia.

On another note, Pope John Paul II's Beatification mass this morning was absolutely INSANE. I took a nice long nap right after the mass and it's already eleven o'clock, but I have barely recovered since then. More on that at a later date. I'd rather not relive it right now...

Anyway, after several visits to the Vatican I have developed some new life goals:

• Have every single surface of my future home covered in frescoes or gilded with gold
• Read the second reading at a Papal mass
• Read a prayer of the faithful in Vietnamese at a Papal mass in an áo dài 
• Receive communion from the Pope
• Marry a Swiss guard 
• Have my Swiss baby kissed by the Pope

That is all. 

hd

Quattro e Cinque: "....yeah. I know."

"Yeah, because you totally look 

like you would shank someone." 

--to Erin being waved off 

by the security even though she made

 the metal detector go off on our way

 to mass at St. Peter's Basilica.

Tre: Villa Borghese

"Miss Hien, Italy is such a beautiful country with warm & welcoming people... 

You are going to fit right in. You are going to have an amazing time. 

You should take Kasorn's advice & make a side trip to Spain. 

Travel safe, travel often, bring back pictures... we'll wait here. Have fun!" 

--Tracy Love, in my going-away card from the UWMC Service League.