my first post on my first blog...

i feel like i've officially reached that age where here i am, so excited because i've finally caught up with technology, and 12-year-olds are rolling their eyes at me and calling me a geezer... stings a bit.

it's just past midnight on saturday morning just a few days before i take off for vietnam. while making a list of things i needed to pack for my trip (bug spray and pepto bismo being prominent on the list), i realized that i had promised several people that i would create a blog to stay in touch with everyone. lifelong member of the procrastination club, i finally realized that i would probably need to create one before leaving the states.

i keep getting the, "are you so excited for your trip???" question, which i always think is funny, but yet would certainly ask if it was the other way around. so yes, i am very excited. "thuper-duper exthited." it's been 15 years since my last trip to vietnam, and the changes there are supposed to be drastic. but hey, the changes that i've undergone in 15 years are pretty amazing, too. so here is my quick mindy vs. vietnam breakdown for you (not in any particular order):

vietnam: us embargo lifted in 1994
mindy: braces removed in 1994
vietnam: fastest growing gdp in southeast asia
mindy: gained 10% of my body weight in a year, resulting in dr. telling me i have a problem
vietnam: cities have undergone amazing urbanization - mother's childhood home now internet cafe
mindy: underwent expensive academic growth, stunted and traumatized by employment in financial services, now officially unemployed and pursuing "the arts"
vietnam: largest producer of cashew nuts in the world
mindy: largest consumer of cashew nuts in the world

ok, that last one may be an exaggeration. As you can see, both vietnam and i are much different than at our last meeting, and i am exhilarated at the thought of our next encounter. i will be volunteering in orphanages in da nang starting august 1st for one month. i don't think i am at all prepared for what i'm in store for, but i am illuminated with hope. for your enjoyment, though: i was naively surprised when i received an email from a current volunteer advising me not to worry about bringing my own lice medication for the children, as they have plenty there...

so yeah, i swapped my high-paying job in finance to instead pay to delouse orphans in vietnam. you know what? best damn decision i've ever made. and no, it's not a quarter-life crisis. it may just be a life-crisis, or a humanity-crisis, though.

i am so lucky and blessed to have such an incredible support network giving me the confidence to take that leap towards true happiness. thank you friends, thank you family, and thank you so much, Chris. i used to say, filled with disgust, "i can't believe this is my life." now, i truly can't believe that this is my life... and i mean that in the most disgustingly, exuberant way:)

much love,
mindy