A last look out my window

Well, this isn't exactly out my window -- it's actually from a whole different district in front of a swanky hotel -- but it's the view I feel from this country. It is a gracious and growing place, morphing discernibly into a fully developed member of the world. Our last meetings confirmed our earlier themes -- they need a more educated work force, and need help to do it. Just today, on the front page of the newspaper, the Ministry of Education announced all university faculty need masters degrees, and the Ministry of Health announced all hospital administrators will need one as well. Given there is only one MSN program and no doctorates in the entire country, they are desperate for help.

Sara and I have a lengthy conversation and come up with four areas of focus to explore. She kept the list and my brain is full so we will share when we get home. We brainstorm our dream team to help. We may be calling you ;)

Myths have been busted, replaced with fondness for this culture and its people, and an odd sense of wistfulness in leaving. So I depart with ten things I learned in VietNam:

1. Always carry toilet paper with you, even in fancy places.
2. Even if a million bucks is only $5, it still feels pretty darn good.
3. If you want to lose weight, try using chopsticks exclusively for a week.
4. Don't touch the monkeys, even if they are listening to something mellow on the iPod.
5. When you cross the street, hold hands with two people and just keep moving.
6. Any food that looks like worms probably is.
7. Putting soy sauce on rice is apparently like putting ketchup on steak.
8. People universally smile back if you smile first.
9. Humidity means never having to say you're chilly.
10. Learn to say thank you in as many languages as possible; you will need it, particularly in this country.

Amazing trip, early flight, signing off. Stay tuned for the next adventure.