Help Hannah visit the motherland!

Dear friends and family,

Before starting my second year with MCC Vietnam, I was greatly looking forward to visiting home in August, seeing family, and getting some much needed rest. Unfortunately, I have recently been told that MCC will be unable to pay for this visit.

My choices are to either forgo this trip or to pay for it myself. Since my finances are limited, I am appealing to you for help. Below are instructions on how to make a donation in my behalf.

Rount-trip tickets usually cost around $1,300. That's a hefty sum for one person, but if 13 people donate $100 each, or if 26 people donate $50, then I would be set!

Once again, thanks to all of you who have been praying for me and responding to my e-mails with encouragement.

Online donations (must use credit card):

Go to http://www.mcc.org/donate/donate.html and fill in all the necessary information.
When you get to the section "Designation," choose "Other." It should look like this:

Amount

Designation

$ *

Where needed most Palestine Emergency Assistance Iraq Relief Kits Coming home: Sudan International Hurricanes Food for all Sudan Congo emergency assistance Giving Projects Peace Care for Creation Central States New Orleans Program Generations at Risk - HIV/AIDS Projects Generations at Risk - Bikes AIDS. Care Now. Global Family Program Kits and Material Resources Meat Canning Penny Power Resource Catalog postage Other

$ *

Where needed most Palestine Emergency Assistance Iraq Relief Kits Coming home: Sudan International Hurricanes Food for all Sudan Congo emergency assistance Giving Projects Peace Care for Creation Central States New Orleans Program Generations at Risk - HIV/AIDS Projects Generations at Risk - Bikes AIDS. Care Now. Global Family Program Kits and Material Resources Meat Canning Penny Power Resource Catalog postage Other

$ *

Where needed most Palestine Emergency Assistance Iraq Relief Kits Coming home: Sudan International Hurricanes Food for all Sudan Congo emergency assistance Giving Projects Peace Care for Creation Central States New Orleans Program Generations at Risk - HIV/AIDS Projects Generations at Risk - Bikes AIDS. Care Now. Global Family Program Kits and Material Resources Meat Canning Penny Power Resource Catalog postage Other

$ *

Where needed most Palestine Emergency Assistance Iraq Relief Kits Coming home: Sudan International Hurricanes Food for all Sudan Congo emergency assistance Giving Projects Peace Care for Creation Central States New Orleans Program Generations at Risk - HIV/AIDS Projects Generations at Risk - Bikes AIDS. Care Now. Global Family Program Kits and Material Resources Meat Canning Penny Power Resource Catalog postage Other

$ *

Where needed most Palestine Emergency Assistance Iraq Relief Kits Coming home: Sudan International Hurricanes Food for all Sudan Congo emergency assistance Giving Projects Peace Care for Creation Central States New Orleans Program Generations at Risk - HIV/AIDS Projects Generations at Risk - Bikes AIDS. Care Now. Global Family Program Kits and Material Resources Meat Canning Penny Power Resource Catalog postage Other

Add/Remove
designation (max. 5)

When you get to the comments section, please put "donation to PDA of Hannah Forsythe, MCC#613428." It should look like this:

Comments regarding your donation

Donations by check:

On the check memo line, please write "For PDA of Hannah Forsythe, MCC#613428"

Make your check payable to MCC and send to:

Mennonite Central Committee
PO Box 500
Akron, PA 17501-0500

Disclaimers:

1. Since this is my personal request to you, and not an official donation to MCC, it is not tax deductible.
2. If I happen to receive more money than I need for a plane ticket, the remaining amount will be used towards language study.

Just for fun:

A few weeks ago my host sister invited Rosie and me to go to Hải Phòng for her friend's birthday. There was a flower festival in full swing, as well as a carnaval.

My lovely host sister Thanh enjoying the flowers:


She and her friend (also named Thanh) on a carnaval ride. Their expressions are fairly representative of my own feelings when I realize yet again that I am living halfway across the world. What a ride!

Top ten things I like about Vietnam.

As mentioned previously, I have been considering staying in Vietnam for another year. Now it looks quite certain that I will. I have had my fair share of culture shock and loneliness while here, but it can't shake the certainty that I love this country! Thank you to all of you who have prayed for me and responded to my e-mails, letters and posts; you have been a great support.

When you really like a place, it's a good idea to write down the reasons why. Then later on, when culture shock comes back in full force and you question how you got yourself into this place where nothing makes sense...well it can be a helpful reminder that even if you don't understand anything, there are still some things you like.

So here is my top-ten list of things I like about Vietnam.

10. Naptime is a must.
9. In the Old Quarter, there is a coffee shop about every ten meters.
8. Disney channel is NOT just for kids, and vegetables are NOT just for grownups.
7. Escargo can be had for pennies.
6. On the side of the road on a typical day you can buy the following: bunnies, goldfish, jackfruit, lottery tickets, cell phone stickers, roses, and haircuts.
5. It's totally okay to burp. And pick your nose. Seriously, everyone does it!
4. Purple jeans are normal.
3. It's okay for people of the same sex to hold hands in public.
2. Bún bò, phở cuốn, avocado shakes, pork rolls, yogurt coffee (or is it coffee yogurt?), and bún chả, i.e., the reasons I gained five pounds my first week here.
1. In the city of Hanoi, you can go just about anywhere that's worth going to by bike.