“Brave, Not Perfect”
The blog title is inspired by the book “Brave, Not Perfect” written by Reshma Saujani which was used to help frame our week of adventure, wellness and leadership in Cat Ba, Vietnam.
WELCOME TO VIETNAM by Dr. Jason Hearn
After a long day of travel, our students awoke early to the bustle of Hanoi city. After a delicious breakfast, we boarded the bus to the ferry. The landscape quickly changed from urban to rural as we approached the short ferry ride to Cat Ba Island. We arrived at the eco lodge around midday. After more delicious and plentiful food, the ALIVE programming officially started with a wellness and reflection circle overlooking the lake. Our girls reflected on what wellness meant for them and what steps they could take to thrive. A short hike through Butterfly Valley was our adventurous challenge today. There was a lot of thoughtfulness, cheer and encouragement from the girls as we carefully threaded our way through the trees and bushes. After a rest with snacks, everyone took part in a solo walk, and were encouraged to listen and look around them, without the distractions of everyday life and to become closer to their natural surroundings and their thoughts. The hike ended with a walk through a local village. After supper, our local guide, who had prepared bouquets of local flowers for each dinner table, presented a cake in recognition of Vietnamese Women’s Day celebrations. Wellness, our main theme for today, carried on into the evening, where the girls relaxed and socialized with each other after our first day in Vietnam.
NEW PERSPECTIVES by Juah and Bisong
When writing journals and walking independently at Cat Ba island, we were able to take some valuable time to deeply engage in the present moment, identify meanings of the trip, and reflect on the gratitude with silence.
- Throughout these experiences on the island, our perspective on silence has changed, as we could realize the irony in which silence wakes different inner voices.
- Silence does not necessarily block one from expressing oneself, but it has the power to evoke a multitude of emotions.
- With this new perspective, we are looking forward to appreciating each activity and time at different places, giving us time to reflect on ourselves without any external distractions, and being honest with our inner thoughts.
A WELCOMED SURPRISE -by Chaeyi and Sihyeon.
Today’s hike was more challenging than expected. A recent storm had downed a few trees, making us change our route and take a different path. Still, despite the challenge, reaching the end filled us with a strong sense of accomplishment and taught us that the joy outweighed the challenges. The moment of arrival was more meaningful—an unforgettable reminder that the hardest paths often lead to the most rewarding experiences.
GRATITUDE – by Sooyoung and Anungoo
We are grateful for having the opportunity to visit Vietnam. We also want to add onto this to show gratitude for our parents and caregivers who support us back at home. We are grateful that we get to experience an authentic and unique opportunity in a new country. Being away from Jeju brought a new perspective, and we are grateful for having a welcoming culture in Vietnam.
