Less than 2 weeks and counting!

Hi family and friends! As most of you probably know, I graduated this December, and I've got some time off before trying to go get my Masters in Social Work in the fall.....so I'm going to Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam from Jan 21st -March 18th. For the first 6 weeks, I'll be volunteering at a shelter for street children and an orphanage for children with disabilities. Then, I'll be travelling around with my mom and sister for the last week and a half! I'm going through a program called WLS International, and they've helped me set up housing and connect me with the agencies (there program website is http://www.gapyearinasia.com/). Here's some info about the two agencies I'll be at:

Shelter for street children: This is a shelter for street children in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The charity provides education, recreational activities and opportunities for street children so they can get a job when they grow up and go back home to integrate with their own families.Volunteers will be conducting English classes and offering support to the children whilst being a positive role model for the children, through involvement in a variety of activities, including teaching English, outdoor activities, arts and crafts activities, games, songs and social education.
Orphanage for Children with Disabilities: The Orphanage for children with disabilities cares for abandoned children with mental or physical disabilities and agent orange victims and helps to educate them to the fullest extend of their capabilities, both physical and intellectual, and to help them, as much as possible, towards independent living. There are about 400 children. Volunteers can talk/play with the children, help the physiotherapists when they do the therapies for the children, feed the children and teach some children to feed themselves and take them on their wheel chairs for a walk in the orphanage’s front garden.

I leave in less than 2 weeks, and as it gets closer and closer I'm getting more nervous and excited at the same time. I think I'll have an incredible experience, and I know this is a once in a life time chance I couldn't pass up! I have all the shots I need (from Semester at Sea), will go pick up my visa from the post office tomorrow, and then it's almost time to think about how to pack and what else I need..ahh!