Submitted by Catherine Gamble on the 2014 winter session study abroad program in Laos and Vietnam sponsored by the Department of Leadership…
Hi there! Just an update on the Laos/Vietnam LEAD trip. We’ve been having a blast so far from a scavenger hunt to the night market and all sorts of delicious new foods. We’ve ridden elephants and explored caves and climbed waterfalls unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The group sickness held off until last night with now more than half of our friends now feeling the wrath of Laos. We’re sad to be leaving Laos with it’s laid back atmosphere, but excited to see what Vietnam has in store for us!
What a change of pace from Laos to Vietnam! We went from a touristy town in Luang Prabang to a busy city here in Hanoi. The group went to Sapa this past weekend for hiking and adventures, however I’d been feeling sick with some sort of upper respiratory/bronchitis issue which forced me to stay behind to focus on my health. We had another scavenger hunt here in Hanoi and got to explore the whole city. We met with a group called Hanoi Kids who showed us around and we even had an etiquette lesson at a nice restaurant. Classes have been SO interesting and our issue groups are even talking about working together to solve problems! I’ll try to update again soon, but wifi after Hanoi may get a bit more spotty!