memo14g

[memo14g]

Hi, it’s khue from CardiacLife:) i just woke up when i found out this blog from chị Connie’s instagram. I have been reading for 1hr straight and created an account to leave a note:) ill continue after i have sơm breakfast or else my mom will kill me for being on the phone for so long :) i got all emotional by your words. I swear this is the best materials to learn english reading :) textbooks can never compete:) i begged anh Kevin from CardiacLife to lemme join next tear from the start to end :) and ill come back with less broken english next year hehe see you soon!

Again, thank you so much for all the love and support during and after the trip hehe.

M.E.M.O x CardiacLife Foundation is the best partnership 🔛🔝

Hello Khue, this is Kat! Thank you so much for taking the time to make an account and read our blog, you are so sweet<3 We really want to see you again next year so hopefully Kevin will agree to it! Thank you for being our lovely honorary 14G member :) Keep us updated on what you're up to throughout the year hehe (and don't worry, your English is very good!)

[memo14g]

MEMO 14G

Above: MEMObers and MEMO Providers cheering for the start of the 14G MEMO Mission Trip

[memo14g]

Flight back to US (7/15) || Henry Le (USC)

The familiar sound of the alarm pierced the melancholic air at 5:30 am. That sound means so much different now: the sound of an end rather than a beginning. I do my last wake-up call and accidentally wake up Elaine LOL even though she is staying in Vietnam. Jeffrey, Meagan, Thu, Michelle, Charles, Elaine, and I are staying in Vietnam (hopefully I didn’t miss anyone else 😕). The people leaving Vietnam all gathered their luggage in the lobby by 6 am.

Afterward, some people head for breakfast on the 12th floor. As we sit amidst the company of familiar faces, the bittersweet reality washes over us - this was the last time we would all share a meal in Vietnam and despite all the extremely early rises for clinic, shadowing, and orphanage, we all knew it was for a meaningful cause. Someone joked that this was the “Last Supper.”

I got to the lobby a little early and helped Sam get coffee down the street that she kindly bought for everyone. We broke the "three-people" rule 😯, which seemingly signaled the end of the medical trip. When we got back to the lobby at 6:45 PM for call time, team leaders did their last team check, tippy-toeing and side-stepping to find their members, and giving the thumbs up one last time. In the meanwhile, everyone exchanges their last goodbyes and remarks to each other. Some laughed, while others shed tears, but we all shared the same thoughts that day. Of course we would see each other again, but it was the realization that it would never be in this same setting that made today a little more difficult.

Soon, a familiar call echoed in the air, once traumatic but now carrying the weight of nostalgia and recollection: "BUS 1 IS HERE!!" The bus, a vessel of separation, loomed before us. The people leaving Vietnam hastily loaded their luggage and soon entered the bus. We exchanged our final last-second goodbyes outside the Acnos Hotel. The people staying in Vietnam look towards the loaded bus filled with the other 14gers and providers. Through waves and smiles, we bid our farewell. The distance between us grows as the bus moves further, watching it blend into the chaotic streets of Vietnam, swallowed by the clamor of honks, traffic, and crowded buildings. The bus shrank smaller and smaller along that busy street, until there was no more.

When we look back at this trip, we will remember the friendships (and possibly romances) we made whether between our group or within the local Vietnam community. We will remember the fun times and explorations we made in Vietnam whether it be the many karaoke nights or…nvm. We will remember the opportunity of shadowing in Vietnam’s hospital. We will remember the memories we made with the orphans and seeing their resilient smiles and energy despite challenges. And we will remember the times of collaborating with a list of organizations to provide the community of Soc Trang with free and high-quality health service. It’s crazy how much we did within these 2 weeks: all the impact, fond memories, and new friendships we made along the way. These are unforgettable memories that we will hold on to with tight grip. But these present memories, now etched in our hearts, would soon become mere echoes of the past.

The present morphing into the past is daunting. Goodbyes are always challenging, but think about it this way: “How lucky am I to have something so special, that makes saying goodbye so hard.” - Winnie the Pooh.

______________________________________________________________

Above: 14gers getting ready to leave Vietnam

Above: Bus leaving to the airport.

[memo14g]

Flight back to US (7/15) || Sarah Kang (UCSD)

"Before we knew it, departure day had arrived… Per usual, our wake-up time was the crack of dawn and our call time was 6:45am. It was like another clinic or orphanage day, except this time we all had our luggages and were getting ready to leave ACNOS hotel for the final time (except the few of us that stayed in Vietnam longer). It was the last time Sam and Jenny yelled “Bus is here!!!!” </3 It was bittersweet to be leaving the place we had called home for the past 2 weeks… But soon enough, we arrived to the airport, scouted out the shops for last minute souvenirs and to spend our remaining money, and waited to board the plane to Taipei (for layover). The turbulence was turbulencing on that plane ride though. Once arriving to Taiwan, our 6 hour layover felt like minutes as we searched the airport for boba, some people got fried chicken, and Dr. Bui and Dr. Alexis let us into the premium lounge area with free food and showers and comfy chairs!!! So fun. Then, it was off to the plane again (pictured below is my plane buddy for both flights, Sarthak! Also Sarthak, I think you got me sick…) and this time, the turbulence was for real turbulencing!!! I heard everyone was fearing for their lives and Calvin started to pray during the turbulence(??), but I was sound asleep for most of it. I did wake up once to find Dr. Bui had walked all the way over to give Sarthak a paper cup of chicken jerky. Yum. Once the plane hit the ground, we all filed out down some stairs and into a random building (“Where is the airport??” -Sarthak) that was connected to the airport to pass through customs and baggage claim. Our family and friends and guardians and rides claimed us after, and before long, we had all parted ways.

The highs were high and the lows were low on this trip, but memories and experiences (and trauma bonding) we all shared on our 14G mission trip is something I’ll always hold near and dear to my heart. I’m so happy to have met many of y’all on this trip and spent so much time providing for the Vietnamese communities and children alongside MEMO. To all the dedicated MEMObers on this trip, the providers and advisors who took the time to join us, to all of BOD and especially to Sam, Jenny, and Dr. Bui, thank you so so much for making 14G happen and for making it unforgettable. Oh, and see y’all at reunion!!!"

Above: Kat, Mathew, Vivian, and Calvin munching on the lounge foodies

Above: Sarthak and Sarah as plane buddies!

[memo14g]

Flight back to US (7/15) || Tuyen Nguyen (UCSD)

And here it was... our last official day in Vietnam, marking the end of our 14G mission trip. Waking up at 5:00AM was a lot harder today than most days, since it also was attached with the feeling of nostalgia knowing that by the end of the day, I would be parting ways with the rest of my fellow 14gers... </33. We loaded all our stuff onto the bus at 6:00AM and I was sad to say goodbye to some of the 14gers that were staying in Vietnam for a bit longer. Sam got all of us coffee, which was sweet and a nice way to get our last Vietnam Bac Xiu on the trip.

The bus ride to the airport was filled with a feeling of sadness in the air. We checked in, and prepared for our flight to Taiwan! As I found my seat, I was delighted to find out I would be seated with the one and only CALVIN MA! for both flights! Calvin was trying to bother me to get some gossip about my life, but I was too sleepy so I put on my noise-cancelling headphones to cancel him out. I slept the entire flight to Taiwan! :-)

Once we landed in Taiwan, it would be another 6 hours before we would board the plane back to Ontario. To pass the time, a lot of 14gers walked around the Taoyuan airport to look for food or other activities that we did not get the chance to explore when we first arrived. During this layover, I was blessed by our ever-so generous CEA Dr. Timothy Bui who took me and other 14gers to the AMEX premium lounge, where there were showers, private sleeping rooms, and free food for members. It was a very nice lounge, and I got to experience all. My most favorite part was getting to know Dr. Bui better and finding out about how he and Co Kay fell in love! Their love story is epic!!!! I mainly stayed there for most the layover until it was time to board our flight.

Once we got on the plane, it would be a 12 hour flight to get to Ontario. Calvin asked me for tea again, but I was feeling motion sick, so I unfortunately was not able to provide him with any gossip! When we landed back in Ontario, it was a process of customs and security, and before I knew it, we all quickly said our goodbyes before other 14gers had to leave because their parents were already here.

I will forever be grateful for the privilege of being able to attend this mission trip through MEMO and with this specific group of 14gers. Thank you for the laughs, loud karaoke singing, late night swims, and jokes. We have done so much together, and I know everyone is going to change the world in their individual ways. Please keep in touch in the 14g meme-o chat!!! I will forever remember all of you and this trip <333

Above: just landed in Ontario Airport!

Above: selfie of me and my flight bestie! for both flights!

Above: everyone catching their zzz's on the flight!

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 3 (7/14) || Ben Quach

Ben's blog post linked

Above: first photo was a picture of the medical group in Vietnam I believe

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 3 (7/14) || Elaine Tran (UCI)

It was an early morning wake up for all of us—the last official day of our Scholarship Program and of the MEMO 14G trip as well. After Breakfast we headed off to Binh Hoa Nam Elementary. Unfortunately we had to make two bus trips, as only the smaller bus could travel across the more narrow bridges to the Vietnam. Eventually everyone arrived and we organized the backpacks and brought banh pia. After Sam and Jenny introduced themselves with Thu and Kat, Jules and Tuyen shared their welcome speech with all the students, parents and faculty. The students went to the stage and MEMObers knelt down to face them to give them backpacks and their scholarship money! We also ended up giving some banh pia as well to the students! Afterwards, the students were released from the principal, and we all said our goodbyes and the students hopped onto their parents’ motorcycles out of the gated school. The school treated us to an amazing lunch and afterwards the rest of the MEMObers went back to Ho Chi Minh City while other BOD members stayed behind to tour another school that we could potentially support during next year’s mission trip! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year! Later in the afternoon, it was free time for the students to shop and pack up before leaving the next day! We ended the evening at Lang Nuong Nambo restaurant where we ate some really great food and karaoke-d (ONCE AGAIN) the night away. I went to bed that night feeling so relieved, but sad that this experience with everyone and MEMO was coming to an end this year. Although these past two weeks were long and hard, I felt that I had learned so much about MEMO’s mission statement and it really re-defined what MEMO already meant to me. MEMO is a passionate and dedicated community with a purpose to serve the underprivileged locally in Southern California and abroad in Vietnam in their medical and educational needs. This was 14G. This was MEMO, and I love you MEMO. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to help carry out your purpose and goals.

Above: MEMObers and students in the auditorium at Binh Hoa Nam Elementary

Above: Group photo in front of Binh Hoa Nam Elementary

Above: Picture of Justin N., our MEMO 14G photographer!

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 2 (7/13) || Kristy Le (UCSD)

Yet another of our many long, but good days. It’s our 2nd to last day in Vietnam, and we visited a school today to hand out scholarships, backpacks, and meaningful times with the kids. After this, we all ate lunch at a buffet before we got to spend time around the area for shopping and exploring. It was a good time for me to bond and get to talk more with some of my fellow 14Gers whom I hardly got to talk to on this trip. I was happy to get to speak more to Meagan and Haley and Max haha! The day continued as we Grabbed (like Uber) back to the hotel and prepared for our fancy cruise dinner. That night was memorable because of the near Titanic moment everyone experienced. Somehow our boat got hit with a small boat and it sent everyone tilted to the side or fallen on the floor. Luckily, the captain took us back to the dock because I definitely wouldn't have wanted to stay longer after that incident. But then again, the terrible winds and overall thundering weather was already a sign that we shouldn't have even gone out for the night. Once we all returned to the hotel, BOD gave out awards to everyone and we all finally got to go sleep and end our day.

Above: We learnin

Above: Spot the KO’d ones

Above: Escaping from a near Titanic situation

Above: Awards made Thu frown from joy

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 2 (7/13) || Connie Tran (UCI)

It was very difficult waking up today, but I got to nap on the bus ride to our first school for the Scholarship Program, Trường Tình Thương Ái Linh. There was a teacher who was making sure that all the kids were on their best behavior. All of them were elementary school students so they were all so small and cute. Seeing the teacher engaging with kids really hit me with the nostalgia of being in elementary school. She was using different techniques to calm the students down so that they could focus before Meagan and I went up to say our speech for them. They also showed us a video about their school and Sam and Thu helped facilitate a game of Simon Says in Vietnamese for the children. While explaining, Sam translated Simon Says as “Si môn nói” which I thought was really funny since I never heard it being called like that before. We ended up with two winners and gave them bánh pía that we got from the province Sóc Trăng. The school principal helped organize the students into lines so that we could give them the backpack of school supplies that we raised so much money for from the scholarship program. The principal also said there was another gift from us to the kids that she would give to their parents once they register again for the school year, which I believe was probably the scholarship money we raised for each student. We also got down time to play with the kids after Meags and I presented our speech, and two little girls immediately ran up to me. I asked for their names, but to be honest it was hard for me to pronounce and remember so I don’t recall their name but I won’t forget their faces and how much fun I had playing with them. I was able to teach them how to play slide, which was very hard for them to do at first but they managed to get it by the end of our play time and I almost cried when I hugged and said goodbye to them. I think today was the most meaningful and fun experience for me so far in the mission trip. Especially as a sponsorship chair this past school year, it was heart-warming to witness that the money we raised during gala was going towards a school that clearly cared for its students.

Later that day, we had a buffet lunch at a different hotel. Towards the end of lunch, Mari and I stepped away for maybe 3 minutes to go to the restroom only to return back to the restaurant seeing barely anyone left from our group. We were very confused but luckily a few BOD members were standing by the exit and let us know that the bus wasn’t coming and that we were free to walk back to our hotel nearby or explore the area. However, we were a little confused and frustrated that no one waited for us when we only stepped away from lunch for a short period. Seemed like the majority of the group went to explore an underground mall. Luckily, Rakesh came back for me and Mari and we all walked back to the hotel together to rest up. Rakesh, Cesar, and I later walked together to Chợ Bến Thành so that they could buy souvenirs for their family. It was my first time there, so I was a little thrown off by the amount of sellers who were determined to sell us something from their stall at a scammy price. While I was too afraid to look at or buy anything, Cesar and Rakesh luckily had no issues finding what they wanted and bargaining for what they wanted. Cesar got a Saigonia shirt, while Rakesh got a Prada bag for his mom! That day, I was wearing a pair of long, tan pleated pants that I just bought from Uniqlo the other day we went to the mall, and it just so happened that a lot of the vendors were selling pants similar to mine in different colors, probably even cheaper than what I had bought it for, so a lot of them were trying to target me. I didn’t dare speak Vietnamese to them and just ignored all of them out of fear. After walking through the entire market, Rakesh, Cesar, and I still walked back to the hotel early enough with an hour to spare before dinner call time. Sam then messaged the 14G Officer chat asking if anyone was free to get some last-minute gifts for the advisors, so I quickly got ready to go to minigood with Rakesh, Elaine, and Jenny to buy some small goodies for the advisors to recognize them at the cruise dinner later that night, which was another wild event in itself.

At the cruise, the veggie table had an okay dinner. A lot of us finished eating early, so we went up the boat to take pictures by the railings with the city lights in the background. Just as I was about to take photos with my Koopa Troopas, the sky decided to pour down and we were all drenched in the rain in the midst of our photo. A lot of us returned back to our dinner area once it started raining. Sam went up the stage and was about to start the banquet portion of the night when the entire boat suddenly jerked and tipped, sending a bunch of dishware clattering to the ground. We clearly had hit something, but we weren’t sure what. A lot of us were shaken up, including me, after the sudden bump, while others were making light of the situation in the 14G group chat, blaming the crash on Sarthak’s supposedly bad steering?? We tried to evacuate the room but the workers told us the best course of action was to stay put and they didn’t allow us to go up the ship for a while. I tried to distract myself by playing Wordle with Mari, but despite the distraction I was still very shaken up from the incident. After what seemed like ages of waiting, we noticed a lot of the guests had left, and that we were finally allowed to leave as well. Weirdly enough, no one announced it to us though that it was okay for us to leave; we just figured it out once we noticed the room was mainly just our 14G group left along with some staff who were cleaning up and clearing all the tables. It was heavily pouring outside, but luckily we were able to all get back to the bus safely and ride back to the hotel. Somewhere along these events, we found out that the captain had lost control of the boat due to the waves from the rainstorm and accidentally hit the dock, which was the impact we suddenly felt. We also found out the cruise dinner was Dr. Bui’s idea LOL. Our second to last night in Saigon really ended with a bang, but it’s also safe to say that there will be no more cruise dinners on future mission trips.

Above: selfie with Meags right before we went up stage to do our speech for the school!

Above: picture with the two sweet girls who immediately ran up to me at the start of our free time and played with me :)

Above: Koopa Troopa picture in the rain on the cruise ship

Above: Video of Sam and Thu explaining and playing Simon Says with all the students of Trường Tình Thương Ái Linh

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 2 (7/13) || Justin Nguyen (UCI)

Another bright and early day in Vietnam 😴. Today is is one of our scholarship days, where we get to interact with the students at the school and give them school supplies. I knew today I needed energy, so I went with Jules, Dr Kyra and Tuyen to get coffee at Ang-E Coffee. We got the 8 o'clock coffee drink, and it was honestly one of the better coffee places I've visited in Vietnam! At 7:30, we left to go to the school. It took about an hour to reach our destination. When we arrived, we started with introductions. I was taking pictures and this one kid tried to photobomb all of them 😤. We played a series of Simon Says with the kids until only 2 kids were left, in which case they got a whole pack of Pia bread. The kids at the school are really obedient and well-mannered. Afterward we got to play with the kid! I was talking with some kids before I ran around with the kids to let them use my camera. It was really cute because they learn pretty fast and looked like they were having fun. #futurephotographers Once we played with the kids, we started handing out individual backpacks containing pens and gave each student a piece of Pia bread to take home. Once that was done, we got to eat some of the fruits they provided. Next up was lunch! We got to eat at a buffet which had a variety of options to eat from. I was able to try a little of everything I wanted and got fully pretty quickly. Then, the rest of the day was free to us until dinner, which was a banquet. We split into groups depending on where we wanted to go. I first went to The New Playground. It was a really cool place with different clothing, but nothing really caught my eyes. I also didn't have any money to spend 😔. Since I didn't have money, I asked Cesar and Henry to go back to the hotel to exchange money with me. After we got to the hotel, Cesar decided to stay back, while Mari came with me and Henry to exchange and go back to the Vincom mall where everyone else was. I was able to buy a polo button-up that I was eying from Uniqlo since day 1. As dinner approached, we all went back to the hotel to get ready. We were going to have dinner on a cruise, and it would've been nice if it weren't for the rain. Everyone looked really good as they dressed up formally. It was another buffet style place that reminded me of the buffet from the morning. After eating, we went upstairs on the cruise to take pictures! It was a nice view. Today was a pretty chill and boring day. UNTIL...Titanic almost happened 😨 The strong waves pushed our boat against another boat which caused all of the whole ship to shake. It was really scary and everyone was on edge until we were able to move away and finally land. Something always has to happen during this mission trip, and it was an interesting way to end the night. I just remember early in the day telling someone that there isn't much to blog about today, and lo and behold something happens... 😶‍🌫️

Above: Next year's Gala spon packet?

Above: A picture of everyone at the school.

Above: Almost Titanic - Everyone processing what had just happened after the crash.

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 2 (7/13) || Henry Le (USC)

On day 2, we arrived at Trường Tình Thương Ái Linh, which was approximately a 45-minute drive away. Similar to the previous day, we had to walk a bit to reach the school. Upon arrival, we were greeted by masses of kids lined up in front of the main speaking stage, all dressed in their matching uniforms. At the beginning, their teacher had them perform a cute little kid's song for us, and witnessing the joy on their faces was truly amazing. Soon after, we all took our seats behind the children. I ended up sitting behind two funny kids who bantered playfully with each other.

The principal delivered a speech to express gratitude for our presence, and Dr. Bui shared some remarks about MEMO while introducing all the doctors. We then engaged in a fun group game of "Simon Says," Vietnamese style. Once the speeches were over, we had the opportunity to interact with the kids and play games together. I had the chance to meet a very shy child who turned out to have some kind of attention-deficit disorder. Despite his tendency to drift off, I could tell that he was genuinely enjoying the moment and our interaction. Eventually, he became comfortable enough with me to let me give him a piggyback ride. It was a heartwarming experience that I truly cherished.

Watching the kids play and participate in various activities was a delight. They were jumping up and down, playing patty cake, spinning in circles, and so much more. Near the end of the visit, we all lined up to give each child a backpack, and the looks of appreciation on their faces were priceless. Finally, we said our goodbyes and hugged the kids close to us before leaving.

After the visit, we had plenty of free time, and some of us decided to explore a street clothing store called The New Playground, which offered a fantastic selection of unique and stylish clothes. Later, we returned to the hotel to freshen up before heading out for our dinner cruise.

This was my first cruise, and I was genuinely excited about the experience. After boarding the ship, we were shown to our tables, and since it was a buffet, we all headed to the food area to serve ourselves. The night proceeded quite normally, with us chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. Once we finished eating, we, the 14gers, moved to the deck to take some beautiful pictures. However, the rain started pouring heavily after 20 minutes, so we had to go back inside the cruise.

Tonight was actually a banquet night for MEMO, where we were supposed to hear awards and closing remarks about the mission trip. Just as a MEMO student began giving the opening remarks, the cruise suddenly shifted to one side, catching everyone off guard. Some people were knocked down, and plates slid off the tables. Chandeliers rocked back and forth. Even the cruise workers looked confused by the sudden shift. For a moment, we feared the worst, thinking the cruise might be sinking, but it turned out to be a minor bump against a nearby dock. Still, I could see worried and scared expressions on some of the faces around me. Looking back, the rain, in a way, saved us. Without it, some of us might have still taken pictures near the ledge of the cruise during the sudden collison. But let’s not think about that :/.

The banquet was cut short, and we patiently waited until the cruise was ready to depart safely. Eventually, we made it back to the hotel, where MEMO continued the banquet. We heard closing remarks about the trip, received certificates and superlatives as awards. Once the banquet at the hotel lounge was done, we left to our rooms in peace.

Above: Having fun with the kids!

Above: Picture of the best team, objectively!

Above: Titanic 2.0 Jules is shocked!

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 1 (7/12) || Meagan Luong (UCI)

Today we are resuming our mission trip in Saigon with visiting 2 local orphanages to donate the toys that we have collected during our toy drive. We started the day by visiting one of the Ky Quang temples that was home to 150 orphans. We were welcomed at the temple’s gates by the very kind monk and he gave us a tour. We all settled into the common dining area where we were able to meet our first group of children. They were all super eager and excited to play with us. All the MEMObers grabbed toys, bubbles, and stickers and passed them out to all the children. We spent the next hour playing, drawing and connecting with all the kids, and even though there was a language barrier between some MEMObers they founds ways to play and build a meaningful connection. I was able to play with a group of girls that were drawing and enjoying their new stuffed animals. We had also brought bubbles, which was a big hit among the kids. Sadly it was time to leave and we took a photo and said our good byes and we were off to the 2nd Ky Quang temple to meet a group of disabled children. We visited them in a smaller group to be respectful and not overwhelm them. We approached the children gently and being mindful to give them space and let them approach us a bit before initiating. A small boy approached me and lifted his arm, beckoning me to left him. I made sure that it was ok with the caretaker and I proceeded to lift him and bounce him around. He seemed to really enjoy it and we ended up dancing to the music of the kids show that was playing in the room. Unfortunately we could not interact with all the children as they were more doing their own activities or resting, but it was a very meaningful experience for the small group of us that visited the disabled children. Our next stop was lunch and we all chowed down and I was able to try “Sting” which is a Vietnamese energy drink which was really interesting and gave me a bit of a boost for the rest of the day. Our final destination was the Long Hoa orphanage for boys. We passed out the toys and some MEMObers and the older boys at the orphanage played a friendly game of soccer. The rest of us played ball games or shot water guns with the younger boys. We were greeted by the orphanage master and he gave us a tour of the orphanage. All the boys were very well behaved, some a bit shy and overall just amazing, bright kids. We ended the day off with a pit stop to get some refreshments and ice cream and a lovely dinner at a very hip restaurant in the city!

Above: MEMObers playing with the kids of Ky Quang

Above: Quick refreshment pit stop

Above: Mathew posing with a girl who drew him a picture

Above: Playing a friend game of soccer with the boys of Long Hoa

Above: A personal drawing I received from a girl from Ky Quang

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 1 (7/12) || Hyesung Yun (UCI)

The day I was looking forward to the most: orphanage day! We departed to Ky Quang Temple II, with boxes full of stuffed animals, toys, stickers, and candy for the children. Once we arrived, we got off the bus and took a short walk to the temple. We were welcomed to a majestic golden temple with greenery. Once we settled in, we began to unpack the boxes of stuffed animals, toys, stickers, and bags of candy. We each held 2 stuffed animals in our hands and began to pass them out to the kids. The kids thanked us for the animals with a smile on their faces. We spent time with them by drawing, playing with toys, blowing bubbles, and talking with them. All the kids were so affectionate and loving and showed us lots of love and care. After about 30 minutes, we visited Ky Quang Temple I were children with underdeveloped brains, missing and deformed limbs, and other defects. Only a few of us were able to visit. I was able to spend some time with them. One of the girls introduced herself and explained to us a bit about the orphanage then the children. She was so nice and loving. After visiting the children, we visited the other part of the orphanage where it was separated by men and women. We met 2 girls from the women’s facility and they were so sweet. After having a short conversation with them, we left for lunch. After lunch, we visited the Long Hoa Cổ Tự which had an all-boy orphanage. We opened the boxes full of toys, stuffed animals, and candies and began to pass them out. After passing out all the toys and candies, we spent some time with them by playing soccer and playing with water guns. Despite the heat, we had a lot of fun playing with the children! After spending some time with them, we saw the cafeteria and library. Then we all said goodbye to the children and left for the day. It was a very heartwarming and meaningful day. The children were so welcoming and adorable. Their positivity brought us joy. I am so thankful to meet all these children and am blessed to spend time with them.

Above: A group of us playing soccer with the children.

Above: We are saying goodbyes to the children.

Above: A group of us spending time with the children at the Ky Quang Temple II.

Above: We are passing out stuffed animals and toys to the children at the Long Hoa Cổ Tự.

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 1 (7/12) || Marianne Aquino (UCSD)

To the person reading my entry, Hello there!! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ To see my full entry of this day, please refer to this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1osrvYHCUsYLTrzPv1WdAHjoS4u5MUXWSOWvxK0B49_s/edit?usp=sharing For Scholarship/Orphanage Day 1, we visited 2 orphanages. In each orphanage, we were able to interact with the orphans and gave them plushies and supplies! In the first orphanage, I was seated next to Sarthak, and although neither of us spoke Vietnamese, we came up with our own ways of communicating with the orphans (such as putting stickers on their faces, giving them fistbumps, and putting Sarthak’s hair in small ponytails HAHA). At some point in time, Dr. Bui called 8 MEMObers at a time to join him in a separate area to see some orphans that had hydrocephalus. According to Dr. Quach, hydrocephalus is a condition in which fluid in the brain builds up and causes the swelling that we saw in the heads of those children. If not treated right away, it leads to many complications and organ failure. Most parents of these children unfortunately couldn’t afford the treatment for their kids, causing them to make the difficult decision to leave them at the orphanage. :(( The second orphanage was an all-boys orphanage! There was a soccer match between some MEMObers and the orphans, with the orphans absolutely DESTROYING the MEMObers. To make it even more swag and impressive, these orphans didn’t wear any shoes!!!! (just as Calvin suggested, here’s to hoping we can do a shoe drive in the future 🤞) We were also given a tour of the orphanage and got a better understanding of their living conditions. Visiting the orphanages and seeing the orphans having a smile on their faces was such a heartwarming experience and I’m truly grateful for the interactions I had with them all. It put a smile on my face when we were able to give them plushies and supplies and I hope that we can provide more things for them (such as shoes from potential shoe drive) in the future!! 💗🫶 Mari (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:· ੈ‧₊˚ p.s. If the doc doesn’t open or work in the future, feel free to contact me at mbaquino.wk@gmail.com!!

Above: Walking into the first orphanage

Above: Sarthak and I have stickers on our faces!

Above: 🫶

Above: Second orphanage!

Above: Veggie Tales table at dinner

[memo14g]

Scholarship/Orphanage Day 1 (7/12) || Jules Hoang (UCSD)

Today was the very first day of visiting orphanages in Vietnam! Our first orphanage was Long Hoa Temple, a Buddhist temple where parents dropped off their children they could not take care of. The temple was hard to miss, when walking towards it, it was an immense outdoor complex painted yellow with big statues of the Buddha and other Buddhist figures/symbols. It was a beautiful temple on the outside and on the inside. When walking in, it was spacious with multiple buildings and a courtyard where we saw some children lining up. Once we got into our designated area, one of the temple's monks briefed us on the history of the temple and the children/orphans that reside there. He explained that they get new children each year but the amount varies with one year having 1-2 new children and another year having 7. He then when on to describe what the lives of the children look like in the temple with the children doing school in the temple and local schools around the area. Once they are adults, the children can leave the temple to get a job, or they can go to college and the temple will help fund their schooling, or the children can work for the temple to give back. It was engaging to know what the lives for these children are like and made it more surreal that these are the children that our contributions are going towards and it made me grateful for M.E.M.O. and everyone's hard work. Then the kids came out! To be honest, I am not the best with kids but these kids were really cute and fun to interact with! I was with two girls for most of the time and they put stickers on my face and arms while I put stickers on their face. Then we played bubbles together and it was fun! After some time, I got the chance to visit one of the rooms in the temple that housed disabled children. Dr. Quach explained some of the disabilities of the children such as, hydrocephalus, autism, down syndrome, and more. I observed workers who were doing around the clock care for these children. I appreciated the workers who are able to provide these children with the love and care they deserve. This made me appreciate M.E.M.O.'s contribution to the temple even more.

We then visited a second orphanage, Ky Quang Temple, a Buddhist temple and an all boy's orphanage. Because the kids here ranged more in age with some people four to teenagers like sixteen, we shifted some activities to suit everyone's interest. We played soccer with the older children and played with water guns with the younger kids. Even though the temperature was hot, it was still fun being a kid again and playing with water guns and soccer with the children. After playing, we were given a tour around the temple and the orphanage. There, I saw the living quarters of one rectangular, large room housing around 15 boys. Here, I really saw how close living quarters that the boys live near each other and the scarce amount of toys in each bunk bed. I was happy that we brought toys, stuffed animals, and pokemon cars to the boys so they have something to call their own on their beds.

I hope that our visits to the temples and orphanages brightened the children's day up, even just a little!

Above: Sammy Quach and I looking cute with our stickers that a lovely girl decorated us with at Ky Quang Temple.

[memo14g]

Exploration in Soc Trang (7/10) || Caitlyn Kim (UCSD)

Ok deep breath here we go... EXCURSION DAY!!! Just looking at my camera roll, today was the most eventful. Our day started bright and early at 6am (woo we got to sleep in!!!). The boat to the mayor's island surprised me because I wasn't expecting motorcycles and cars to be able to travel across too, but we made it across with no problems 🙂. The garden was super pretty - there were dogs following us and so many fresh rambutans and jackfruits. I'm really gonna miss having all of the fresh fruit just readily available in Vietnam :'). The mayor's wife made really good banh xeo too, that we ate while fending off wasps and mosquitos. A group of us went on a walk through the garden and someone (I think it was the mayor's wife?) had us take pictures amongst the trees. I'm not sure what happened to those pictures. Next on our excursion day list was the Soc Trang Vincom Center and massage. My group got boba across the street first, but then it started POURING until the street we had to cross to get to the mall was flooded. We quickly ran across, but we were all soaked without even being in the rain for a minute. In the mall, I tried Jollibee for the first time! The fried chicken was ok, but apparently it's better in the US. Then it was time for the massage. Haley, Sammy, Sarah and I got the hair and shoulders massage which felt sooo nice especially after the garden (which was still the same day btw) and the sudden downpour. For dinner, we had a banquet with the Soc Trang leaders. Somehow it turned into a karaoke and people started lowkey raving to the Viet music. Eventually though, we got to back to the hotel for some much needed rest and to pack for our next days in Saigon.

Above: Boat that would take us to the island

Above: Cute dog posing for his photoshoot

[memo14g]

Exploration in Soc Trang (7/10) || Samantha Quach (UCSD)

What I initially thought was going to be a restful free day ended up being a packed day full of fun and memorable experiences around the city of Soc Trang. We had the privilege of being taken around Soc Trang by our tour guide Co Muoi, the principal of a boarding school here in Soc Trang. Our excursion first started off with going to a banh pia market. Banh pia is a famous cake snack originating from Vietnam and they come in so many different flavors! Co Muoi let us all pick out a pia cake and I ended up getting the pineapple and green tea flavors. Afterwards, we headed to Co Muoi’s rambutan garden at her house. Her house was on a private island, so we had to take a boat to get there! The garden was in the middle of the forest and we were welcomed by amazing hospitality form Co Muoi and her household. The rambutans were sweet paired with fresh coconut water and banh xeo for lunch. After a lovely lunch in the middle of the garden surrounded by the rambutan trees and dogs, we headed back to get a massage provided by our providers! Since we were such a large group, we had to split into two so my group went to go get boba and walked around the mall while the first group got a massage. Kat, Chance, and I stumbled across a claw machine which helped us pass the time quickly before our massage. After continuous tries, we each were able to win a stuffed animal! I won one that was a cat dressed up as a frog and named it Pia. The massage I got was a hair massage including the arms and upper body area. The massage was so relaxing and one of the first times I got to properly relax on this trip. It was a well-deserved massage for all of us 14gers after three days of hard work at clinic! Once we got back to the hotel, we only had 20 minutes to get ready before dinner. The dinner included Co Muoi and other important Soc Trang leaders and representatives from the organizations we have been working alongside on the mission trip. In the classic Vietnam style, the dinner wouldn’t be complete without karaoke that would end up extending the dinner 2 hours longer than it should’ve. Dr. Bui and a microphone is a match made in heaven! Of course Rakesh serenaded us with his famous Vietnamese song while Dr. Hoang was his backup dancer. Our table sang “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. Jules and Tuyen were our main vocal MVPs! Co Muoi and Dr. Bui’s wife sang slow dance songs and I slow danced with my dad Dr. Quach while my brother danced with my mom. It was very wholesome seeing everyone get up to dance together and overall it was a great way to end the night to such an eventful day.

Above: Haley, Charles, Michelle, Elaine and I sample pia cakes!

Above: Boat we took to get to the island where Co Muoi’s rambutan garden was

Above: Enjoying our banh xeo and coconut water in the rambutan garden

Above: Haley, Sarah, Caitlyn and I dressed to get our hair massages