The dreary gray and smoggy days here in Mianyang persist into March, as the new semester continues. Forthcoming posts about recent activities in the works, however in this post I take a fond look back at the warm winter vacation I spent with two of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers in three sun-filled countries: Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. I returned to places I’ve been as well as experienced the new. I’d been to Bangkok before, but nevertheless enjoyed the massive city; I took a new mode of transport between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia–a speedboat, which was definitely worth it; and ventured into Vietnam, all three of us for the first time.
Below are a few of the photos. I was especially enamored with Vietnam. My time there was short, on a few days, but from the sights of Ho Chi Minh City to the food to the beach at Vung Tau–I thoroughly enjoyed it all.
Megs the Wanderer 
2 responses to “Winter Vacation”
Dear Megan,
Sten and I are sitting at the kitchen table, where we’re looking at your splendid pictures (your pictures are always so beautiful). It looks like you’ve had a good vacation, and with some good fellow travelers, I hope? Sten has been in China, and has hoped to travel to Vietnam.
Here it’s raining, raining, raining, making our usual Pacific Northwest winters look like dry spells. Our yard looks like a mud bath. I guess I’d always rather have too much rain than not enough, but this is starting to feel like we might need to build an ark.
I continue to see people for spiritual direction, lovely people, all. I’m so grateful for this work that doesn’t feel like work. At this unsettling time in our nation, I’m glad to be able to be a listener as people process what’s happening here. We pick up our grandboys after school once or twice each week, and it’s good to offset more serious things with some romps and laughter. I hope you have people around you with whom you can share some good laughter :*).
Our supervision group continues to meet monthly, although only Pat Shaver and I are left from the original group, and there are now two others whom you haven’t met.
I hope you’re taking good care of yourself, dear Megan, and doing those things that feed your soul. May all be well.
With a prayer for much blessing and peace and joy,
Jackie
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Thanks for keeping in touch, Jackie. There are brief moments of sunshine here and there, and the warmer weather is coming I’m promised. The winter has largely been without rain, and that’s something I’ve missed. The past week reminded me more of Seattle. Perhaps you could send some of that rain my way? :)
I’m glad you like the photos. I have a lot more, though sometimes the bandwidth is low so I only upload a few photos at a time.
Send my greetings to Pat. I’m sure your directees are blessed to have such a compassionate listening person.
Blessings
Megan