I'm off to Hong Kong tomorrow! It's insane to think of how momentous the month of May has been and will be for me. I graduated from Michigan on May 2nd with a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a minor in Gender and Health. I haphazardly packed up my room in Ann Arbor, shipping some boxes and loading up my cousin's car that my parents drove back to California (they wanted to do it!). I unpacked my belongings at home then left for a weekend trip to visit my sister Stacey just outside of Yosemite. This past week has been a whirlwind of birthdays, celebrations, doctor appointments and packing! I don't think it will officially hit me that I will be in Asia 2.5 months till I arrive to my guesthouse in Vietnam next weekend.
Itinerary (Subject to change!)
-Leave the US for Hong Kong Tuesday afternoon (May 20th)
-Arrive in Hong Kong Wednesday evening (May 21st) where I will be meeting my friend Eliza Bara! She will be a senior at Michigan in the fall, is from Palo Alto, and has been studying abroad in Hong Kong since January.
-Hong Kong Wednesday May 21st - Saturday May 24th
-Leave Hong Kong for Yangon, Mynmar (Burma) with Eliza Saturday afternoon (May 24th)
-Arrive in Yangon Saturday evening (May 24th)
-Mynmar Saturday May 24th - Thursday May 29th (Yangon, Bagan, and Inle Lake)
-Parting ways with Eliza (she heads back to the US) - Leave Yangon for Ho Chi Minh Thursday afternoon (May 29th)
-Arrive in Ho Chi Minh Thursday evening (May 29th) - stay a night or two
-Bus to DaLat!
-Vietnam Thursday May 29th - July 11ish
-My sister Stacey is flying to Ho Chi Minh on July 9th
-Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Hong Kong with Stacey July 11th - July 31st
-Leave Hong Kong for US July 31st!
Why will I be in Vietnam for 6 weeks?? And where will I be?
I have an internship at the Pasteur Institute and Polyclinic in Dalat. This clinic receives over a hundred patients a day that come in for consultations, examinations, and testing. Additionally, this clinic provides vaccines for the hospitals in Southern Vietnam. I'm not completely sure on what my daily tasks will entail but I will be assisting the doctors any way I can. I will be staying in a "guesthouse" in Dalat. Guesthouses are basically an upscale hostel for long term visitors. I will have my own room (I believe!) which will be nice!
I chose to intern in Vietnam because of all the wonderful things I have heard about the country and its people. I know I will in for a bit of a culture shock but I remember how it took some time to adjust when I first arrived in Prague two summers ago for study abroad.
Dalat is about 6 hours Northeast of Ho Chi Minh in Southern Vietnam. It is considered the "highlands" and it is a bit cooler than the rest of the country - this will be quite lovely since I am going during monsoon season! From what I've read, it seems like the city is resort area for people throughout the country.
Feelings? Thoughts?
I'm excited, anxious, eager to explore, and a bit nervous but this luggage tag my Aunt Suzanne (thanks so much) had made for me says it all! I am ready!
Itinerary (Subject to change!)
-Leave the US for Hong Kong Tuesday afternoon (May 20th)
-Arrive in Hong Kong Wednesday evening (May 21st) where I will be meeting my friend Eliza Bara! She will be a senior at Michigan in the fall, is from Palo Alto, and has been studying abroad in Hong Kong since January.
-Hong Kong Wednesday May 21st - Saturday May 24th
-Leave Hong Kong for Yangon, Mynmar (Burma) with Eliza Saturday afternoon (May 24th)
-Arrive in Yangon Saturday evening (May 24th)
-Mynmar Saturday May 24th - Thursday May 29th (Yangon, Bagan, and Inle Lake)
-Parting ways with Eliza (she heads back to the US) - Leave Yangon for Ho Chi Minh Thursday afternoon (May 29th)
-Arrive in Ho Chi Minh Thursday evening (May 29th) - stay a night or two
-Bus to DaLat!
-Vietnam Thursday May 29th - July 11ish
-My sister Stacey is flying to Ho Chi Minh on July 9th
-Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Hong Kong with Stacey July 11th - July 31st
-Leave Hong Kong for US July 31st!
Why will I be in Vietnam for 6 weeks?? And where will I be?
I have an internship at the Pasteur Institute and Polyclinic in Dalat. This clinic receives over a hundred patients a day that come in for consultations, examinations, and testing. Additionally, this clinic provides vaccines for the hospitals in Southern Vietnam. I'm not completely sure on what my daily tasks will entail but I will be assisting the doctors any way I can. I will be staying in a "guesthouse" in Dalat. Guesthouses are basically an upscale hostel for long term visitors. I will have my own room (I believe!) which will be nice!
I chose to intern in Vietnam because of all the wonderful things I have heard about the country and its people. I know I will in for a bit of a culture shock but I remember how it took some time to adjust when I first arrived in Prague two summers ago for study abroad.
Dalat is about 6 hours Northeast of Ho Chi Minh in Southern Vietnam. It is considered the "highlands" and it is a bit cooler than the rest of the country - this will be quite lovely since I am going during monsoon season! From what I've read, it seems like the city is resort area for people throughout the country.
Feelings? Thoughts?
I'm excited, anxious, eager to explore, and a bit nervous but this luggage tag my Aunt Suzanne (thanks so much) had made for me says it all! I am ready!
I am excited to get to know myself better and discover what I am truly passionate about. I went to Hong Kong and China when I was 8 years old so I am thrilled I have the opportunity to explore Asia again. I can't wait to share all of my adventures with you all!
I'm so thankful I have such supportive family and friends and am especially thankful for my amazing parents that are excited for me even if they are nervous about me being on my own!
If you know of anyone who will be in Southeast Asia, please let me know! I'd love to chat with as many people as I can to figure out travel plans.
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Keep me in your prayers!
-Whit
So excited for you, Whitney! I'll be looking for updates from you on your blog...can't wait to see pix and to read about your adventures. Trust your instincts and stay safe! Will be praying each day for you. XO XO Suz
ReplyDeletewhitney! so exciting! what a great opportunity. southeast asia is special to me -- i studied abroad in thailand for 4.5 months & it was the best thing. i still have wonderful friends there, so let me know if you're going to Chiang Mai at all! safe travels!
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