Vietnam is incredible. We arrived in Danang yesterday and drove to Hoi An for some shopping and an incredible Vietnamese lunch (I'm in love with Vietnamese food). The architecture is really great, lots of French influence. After lunch (and more shopping) we went to a school opening. The 43rd voyage of Peaceboat raised a lot of money and was able to help this school build new classes (the old ones were falling apart). Lay Li Hayslip helped to organize the whole thing and we went as representatives of Peaceboat. The school was nice and new and the kids were sweet and excited. We passed out presents of notebooks and pencils to them. It was amazing though because the school was really simple, big classrooms with nothing but a chalkboard and 3 kids crammed into every desk. Yet they were excited and happy by it. Americans really don't understand how the rest of the world lives.

After the school opening we went into Danang to chat with students from the University and take part in a demonstration against the US government. It was a demonstration asking the US government to give reparations and apologies to the victims of Agent Orange. It was the first demonstration in Vietnam that has been given a permit by the goverment and was legal. It was really amazing to be taking part in something that revolutionary. After the rally we went back to Hoi An (my favorite city ever) by motorbike. There was a group of 10 of us on the back of these motorbikes and it was hilarious as we raced eachother. The trip took about 45 minutes and while motorbike may not be the most comfortable way to travel it is definitely one of the most fun (right behind elephant rides, bamboo rafts and piggy back rides). We stayed in an incredible hotel that was $5 a night. They loaned us bicycles and we rode around town.

Today was shopping shopping shopping. I had a dress, a shirt and an Aozai (traditional clothing) made as well as some shoes. I can't believe we only get 2 days here, I can't wait to come back!