Sara's Blog

Sobering Experiences in Vietnam

Hello Lovely Followers!

So I have been in Indochina for a little less than a week now! My first visit was to Cambodia (likely my next post) and now I'm in Vietnam and wanted to share a sobering day with you. As high schoolers, many of us learned about the US-Vietnam war; however, being here, and seeing the tunnels and memorial contextually is incomparable to how we learned (books, powerpoints, etc.). As many of you know, I'm a strong believer in figuratively trying on someone else's shoes for a greater comprehension. And that is what today was. An American girl, born into a military family, wanting to learn about the war and see the remnants from the Vietnamese standpoint. 

Events/Facts from today:
1. Went to Co Chi tunnels to see where the guerillas hid and functioned during the Vietnam War
     *This was the most amazing tunnel system and I found myself floored by the creativity of the Vietnamese people. Some of the traps they used were so deathening that I couldn't help but think of all the people who died in them or trying to be rescued from them. The entries to the tunnel system itself were quite intriguing because the holes were so small that one's body must be fully extended to get in or out. This was the Vietnamese people using their typical body-size to their advantage and since the tunnels were crafted so deep underground with a clay-like surface, even a bull-dozer couldn't collapse them. 

2. Went to see a lacquer art demonstration and somehow ended up buy too much of the store
       *Lacquer is a traditional Vietnamese art that consists of a lengthy process to embed an artistic varnish on a piece of wood, clay or bamboo. This work is completely stunning and watching parts of it be hand-done sent me over the moon because I deeply appreciate the value of hand made pieces of work. 
      *Examples: https://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&q=laquer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=_fbhTtz_DamjiAfB2Ny2BQ&biw=1378&bih=699&sei=D_fhTrmLCeeSiQeppay2BQ

3. Went to the War Remnants Museum 
      *I can't really describe my feeling towards this. For a person who studies genocides and wants to go into the trauma field, I was confused as to why I had a weak stomach in this exhibit. Warfare is always something that's been challenging for me to grasp even though I come from a military family and my Grandpa Quay was a commander of a helicopter squadron in the Vietnam War and had three separate incidents he was lucky to survive. I think what really put my stomach in knots was seeing the after-effects of Agent Orange on children. The agent lead to more of biological warfare when considering the impacts it had for generations after the war. Many children of parents exposed to Agent Orange were born with severe birth defects, most of which left them bedridden or subject to a short life. I've known this about Agent Orange for as long as I can remember, but seeing photos of the deformed children broke my heart. For the first time since the Holocaust Museum, I felt my stomach churn, my eyes fill a quarter way with tears, and my heart ache. It was just so sobering. 

 

Photos from today:

Demonstration of how to enter & exit the tunnels 

The tunnel. For scale, my shoe size is 6.5 in women's 

One of the traps

Me going through the tunnels

Life after college

College affords us the opportunity to create our own path....and there are HUNDREDS we could take. Now that I'm in my senior year, I've been plagued with the question, "what are you doing when you graduate?" This is a question that every senior will inevitably experience and the frequency increases rapidly as graduation draws closer.

For me, I've been working towards a Ph.D. in clinical psychology; thus, I have been trying to breathe under a pile of applications. Those of you who are also applying to competitive programs (grad or undergrad), try not to look at the acceptance rates. Doing so will only lead you to feel as if Mt. Everest is a hill. Trust in what you have done thus far and if you still have time, know that work on the forefront always pays off in the long run. 

After college, many people apply to graduate programs because having that extra degree makes an individual more competitive in the job market. However, it is important to remember that grad school is NOT the ONLY "next step." There are majors or career paths that do not mandate a degree was a BA/BS and if that's the case, you will find yourself being thrown into the real world faster than expected. Through all of this, the only thing that has been keeping me sane is confidence in the work I do, knowing that a Ph.D. is worth fighting sleep for, and having people who believe in me to unwavering lengths. 

I do have A LOT of friends who plan on taking a year or two off and just traveling or going into the Peace Corps. This is a wonderful option if this is in line with your personality and I would suggest looking into these options in advance. Part of the reason for this is because there seems to be an application process with almost every "NEXT STEP" post-college and it is important to start considering who you will elect to have as letter writers, how you could add to a program, and what you will gain from this experience. 

If you ever feel overwhelmed, hit the gym to get some endorphins and make sure you vent to friends…these both help.

As a fellow “next-stepper,” I open my e-mail and blog to anyone who needs an extra ear or alliance through this process.

Good luck! Education is ABSOLUTELY worth it!