May 2/3

Today we started on our journey to Vietnam. Leaving the wonderful Litchfield Towers complex shortly after 6:00 AM, we headed to Pittsburgh International Airport for our flight to Chicago. Everything went smoothly all the way to Chicago, and we ate our last meal in America before heading onto the daunting 16 hour flight to Hong Kong. The flight went much better than I think anyone predicted. Movies courtesy of United kept me entertained for a large portion of the flight, and I was also able to sleep a little on the plane. After arriving in Hong Kong, we got some dinner and turned around for our last leg of the journey to Ho Chi Minh City. Around 11:20 PM local time, we touched down in Vietnam, ending our long travels and starting our new adventure. Clearing immigration and customs, we met Dr. Berman outside the airport and got on the bus to head for the fantastic Victory Hotel. Traveling through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, we got a glimpse of the sleeping giant that we now belong to. We saw storefronts that were simply garage doors, only a few feet from the street, soon to be filled with customers. We saw a family of four riding the same moped. We felt the 84 degree heat and over 70% humidity (actually feels kind of nice to start). All were just signs of life in the new and exciting place that we can call home for the next two weeks.