January 15, 2003 - page 3

Soon enough, we were all back on the bus headed toward Hue once again. This drive was perhaps the most exhilarating of the trip, as it took us through a natural geographic barrier between the northern and southern parts of the country, called Hai Van Pass. I now have a new respect for the skill and courage of Vietnamese drivers. I would never want to drive on such winding roads with mountain to one side and ocean a long way down on the other. Riding wasn’t that much fun either, but we made it.

On the way into Hue, I experienced perhaps one of the most touching moments of the trip. My father was stationed at Camp Eagle between Phu Bai and Hue during the war. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity this afternoon to walk down a side road of Highway 1 to near the location where Camp Eagle once was. It was remarkable to see that what was once a devastated and barren area, accustomed to the trials of war, is now home to a village of Vietnamese people carrying on about their daily lives. It gave me hope that war wounds can heal and was just one more example of how resilient and resourceful the Vietnamese people are.