Special Thanks

I wanted to take this time to thank a few key people who made this trip special for my mother and I. Without them, this trip would not have been possible and we could not have had the experience of a lifetime.

Nhe

From the moment we stepped out of the airport and into the waiting crowd, I met Nhe with her big smile and knew that we would be friends. She is my second-cousin on my mother's side. Our mothers grew up together and love each other like sisters. Nhe consistently helped me throughout the trip - from coming over at 10pm to give me a USB rocket stick so I would be able to blog to lending me her cellphone for three weeks so that I wouldn't have to pay the ridiculous international roaming fees on my Blackberry. She was my source of transportation - driving me around on her moped/scooter all around Saigon from house to house, market to market, to and from everywhere I needed to go. When we shopped, she helped me bargain. When we were on the tour, she called to check up on us. She scheduled the glamor shots for me and picked up the pictures. I could not have asked for a better friend throughout this trip - and I honestly think that without Nhe, I would have not have been able to survive with my mother alone! She was my source of comfort and support for the entire trip and I am forever grateful to have met her!

Uncle Hung (Cau Hung) & Di Mo

Cau Hung and Di Mo were both such a great help for the weeks that we were in Vietnam. Cau Hung drove us around on his tour bus and literally helped us with everything that we needed. They both fed us with great lavish meals and I could tell that they took pleasure in feeding the entire family - including their brothers/sisters/nephew/nieces. They were both a pleasure to be around and made me laugh so much. Without Cau Hung, we would not have been able to get a refund for our botched tour and we would not have been able to go see Thu Duc the first week we were in Saigon. I was sad that he could not see us off at the airport but am grateful that we got to share one last meal together before we left.

Mom's Family

My mom's entire family of aunts/uncles/cousins - to my aunts, who helped me shop for an ao dai and for driving us around town. Special thanks to Di Chien who was my mother's confidant and best friend throughout this trip. Thank you for loving my mother like a sister and for showing me that good people do exist. To Co Hai who shared her understanding of Vietnam and took the time to explain things to me. To my cousins - all of them! - who took the time to go out with me - for coffee, food, movie and fun. They kept me entertained and showed me that Vietnam is a special place. Thank you for everything!!

Uncle Tung

Although my uncle wasn't physically in Vietnam, he gave us full access to his condo and my mother and I were incredibly grateful for this space. We had our own space in which to relax during our entire trip - and I honestly believe that without it, we would have gone insane! He called us a few times to check up on us and to make sure we had everything we needed. I am grateful for his generous heart and to have had the opportunity to stay in the heart of Saigon, close to my family.

Tour Friends: Ha Truong and Hiep & Chau Lam

I met Ha in the first leg of the tour while we were traveling through Northern Vietnam. She was with her 82 year-old grandmother and we found comfort in each other. When our grandmother/mother couldn't climb the stairs, she took my hand and made sure I was never alone.

Hiep and Chau Lam were a surprise connection. They were so generous as they offered to help my mother and I as we climbed the hills of DaNang. Hiep held my mother's hand and her water bottle and Chau fanned my mother to make sure she didn't overheat and lose control. They both showed extreme patience and I can't thank them enough. Without them, my mother would have never made it to the top of that hill and seen the most beautiful sights of Vietnam.

Readers of the Blog

I know that there have been a few avid readers of the blog because every time I logged on, there were an extra 50 hits or so. Thank you for keeping me motivated to write because I knew that you were reading and coming back for more. Google Analytics showed me that there were people reading throughout Canada, US, UK, Vietnam and Denmark. Every blog that I've written, I've felt humbled by the amount of friends and family who follow me along my journey of discovery. You keep me writing.

SS

I know that I am lucky to have married right - to a man who never stands in my way and encourages me to be a better person always. In the three weeks that I was absent from my home, he took care of the house, entertained my father and even went out of his way to fix my closet in order to surprise me when I returned. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for him and his love.