My first day in Vietnam was spectacular! We were greeted with the warmest welcome by the UEF students and faculty. Some highlights included the multiple photo ops, the games, the dancing and singing performances, and of course, meeting everyone! After the wonderful opening ceremony, we went on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour to sightsee around Ho Chi Minh City. During this tour, I connected with a UEF student named Hebe. She was so welcoming and kind and I am so grateful for the memories we made together. We talked about our lives, life in Ho Chi Minh City and at UEF, life in America and at Pitt, and we took many pictures together. We even made a few Tik Toks 🙂

During the bus tour, I learned a lot about Ho Chi Minh City and the recent development that took place after reunification. I was talking to one of the UEF faculty members about the renaming of Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City as we passed by the statue of Uncle Ho. She explained to me how the city was renamed in 1945 to honor Ho Chi Minh and his role in gaining Vietnam’s independence. Ultimately, this day was truly incredible and I felt so welcomed by every single person at UEF. I can’t wait to continue these friendships and learn more about fellow students, faculty, and the city.