And the first team to arrive is......

Although we were not geeted by a hansome American actor and local stating "You are the first team to arrive.....we hae good news, you have been upgrades to firts class on your way home........", the good news is that 30 hours after leaving Bradley Airport in CT, we touched down in HCMC (Saigon). We were met by te Eurkas representatives, the in country group working with Catalyst managing all of the "ground work"  for us volunteers.

The travel was long, but fortunatly unevenful. We traveled from CT to Detriot, to Tokyo, to Saigon. The kids fantastic.Jesse earned the sleeping award, Maya (my friends daughter) came in second with 3 hours, and The ever ready bunny (AKA) Noah, last place with with all of one hour. I did happen to wake up just in time to fnd Noah, in true big brother fashion about stick a coffee stirrer ito Jesse's ear. His reply was "what, I was trying to see if she wanted on". WHY would you wake a sleeping child over a coffee stirrer.......Ok, best  do not dewll on that.

Arriving at midnight made getting through the airport and to our hotel much easier, less crowds and traffic. Now we can acclimate to the hussle and bustle of Vietnam a little slower.

Today's plan, in true American fashion is shopping, and according to Martha, aot of shopping we will. With Maya, the queen negotiator at th helm, bargains ae just awaiting our arrival at the Ben Than market. Then fresh, delicious food awaits us.

We have ventured away from the higer end hotel are and are staying in the backpack section of Saigon. How our comfort levels and budgets have changed since my fist arival 11 years. Amazing what becoming a Mom cand to ones need, or at this point I should say lack of needs.   

More to come later......