Experiential Travel Course to Viet Nam
Dr. Kathie Shiba
My journey, which has led to the reality of this Maryville College experiential trip to Viet Nam, began in 1999. That is the year that my husband, Jeff, and I adopted our son, Jacob Nguyen Dan Brooks. The adoption story is a long one – full of ups and downs – but the process led us to our first trip to Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in December 1999. Prior to the trip, we researched and read as much as we could about Viet Nam, especially its culture, geography, arts, history, foods, and people. It is interesting to note that there is a wealth of information available regarding the Vietnam War, and only a much smaller selection available addressing culture and life in Viet Nam.
What a fascinating and amazing experience that first trip was! Not only was it remarkable to become parents of a nine-and-a-half-month-old infant, but the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Viet Nam were very intense. This was the first international trip for my husband, and one that the both of us will always treasure. We feel fortunate to have traveled to two different regions of Viet Nam (south and central), because, as is true for Tennessee, the regions are very different from each other!
My connection with Viet Nam continues to deepen. I traveled in July 2001 to both the northern and southern regions of Viet Nam with a faculty seminar group, led by CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange). We visited Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta region. In addition, I became acquainted with several faculty at Hanoi University of Technology and Hanoi College of Foreign Languages at Viet Nam National University. We met on several occasions while they were in the United States (as students and visiting faculty at Maryville College). While visiting in July, I was able to deepen my friendships with several of them. In addition, students from their English language learning classes regularly emailed several students of mine at Maryville College. It was a fascinating relationship, and when Dr. Bunde and I led students on a January 2003 travel course to Viet Nam, they became friends with students at Hanoi University via email and met with them for one day during the trip. It was a wonderful opportunity to look at college life in a very different institution and culture; both sets of students benefitted.
Dr. Andrew Irvine and I are very excited about the opportunities that await us all during January 2012 and our travel to Viet Nam!
Do you enjoy adventure, trying new things, listening to wonderful music, eating delicious foods (for example, fruits that we have not tasted or even seen here in the U.S.), and experiencing other cultures? Do you want to learn about Viet Nam’s religion and spirituality, impact of U.S. involvement, gender issues, and environmental sustainability? Do you want to leave your mark on Viet Nam by participating in a service learning project and interacting with local business people, students, and families? If your answer is yes, I invite you to join Dr. Irvine and me on this great trip to the other side of the world! I guarantee that you will not regret it! And, I truly believe that you will fall in love with Viet Nam, as I have!
Kathie E. Shiba
February 2011