Addenda

Dear Mr. Mike Stricklin,

I am Tran Hong Chi, project coordinator of Clear Path's Vietnam office.

I am writing to you today on behalf of CPI Vietnam as Ms. Toan is on her

maternity leave.

I would like to inform you and your friends, Marilyn and Edward

Stephens, that your kind donation value US $200 have been granted to the

hands of people in need.

A total of 7 students, who are affected by explosive remnant of war

(ERW), have been selected to receive these educational scholarship

grants. Each grant values VND500,000.00 (approximately US $28.00).

These seven students come from four unfortunate families north and south

of the former DMZ: one family from Le Thuy district, Quang Binh

province; one from Hai Lang district, and the other two families from

Trieu Phong district, Quang Tri province.

On October 30, we delivered directly the grants to six students in Quang

Tri province and we will send the last grant via post office to the

student in Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province.

Please find photos of the 6 students attached; and to help you

understand more about the ERW situation here in central Vietnam as well

as the families circumstances of these students, the links below will

tell you more.

last entry

On the late train from Hong kong to Kowloon...a very crowded one...we were lucky to get these seats. And as we tiredly sit down I take my camera out...signal non-verbally to a man standing nearby...hand him the camera...he nods in acknowledgement...and voila.

what a long, wonderful trip it's been!

Epilogue

So we now have arrived home. Since the last posting we have flown to Hong Kong, visited a giant buddha via cable car, spent the evening in the Kowloon district...the old city across from Hong Kong metropolis. It has been exhausting these last several days but the encounters have been well worth the adventure. It will now be time to digest this experience, sort the photos, and resume our lives here in Rhode Island.

Many years ago as I was ending an Outward Bound sailing experience in Maine... as a team we engaged in processing our 30 day sail along the coast line. The trip was impactive in many ways.

Our team leaders facilitating this process would pose the question..."so what...you've been on this trip...how will it make a difference in your life...?" Over the years there have been many instances where that particular experience wove its way into my life, my work, my role as a parent, husband, and friend. And now I begin to ponder how this trip...the return to 'Nam will weave its way into my contemporary world.

What will be everlasting will be the encounters, the faces, and the interactions with the people of Vietnam. We had not one negative encounter. We experienced a population that seems to have resolved any ill feelings towards the states. As Americans we seem to be in good standing in the eyes of the people. Quite an irony really considering our role in their recent history.

That is about as prophetic as I can be for the moment. What just comes to mind now are Bob Marley's lyrics.."one love, one heart...let's get together and feel alright..."

I think these lyrics initially sum up what we shared with the Vietnamese people.

tam biet- goodbye

hong kong buddha and beer