Unlike our usual schedule with site visits, today we took a religion and history detour as we learned about those parts of Vietnam. First, we went to NgocHoang pagoda, a Buddhist temple located in the city. This was a very enlightening experience, pun intended. Learning about Buddhism as a religion was a shock to a lot of people, but I had taken a world religion class in high school so I knew what to expect. Seeing a temple like this, it is surprising to see the figures and the monks who reside there. I am not the biggest fan on Buhhist philosophy, although their worshipping habits and temple designs are extremely unique. There was a gift shop inside of the temple that had a monk working the register. I don’t know if I will ever be able to top that sentence in my list of craziest sentences, but that dynamic is something so unfamiliar to me. I think that being exposed to this religion and its features gives a great perspective on global culture. The more I know and experience about the religion, the better I can communicate with and collaborate with its followers. Sometimes Americans are threatened by non-western religions, but I think studying and examining them forces you to gain a global perspective.

Our afternoon was not as enjoyable. We attended the Vietnam War Museum. The hour I spent in the museum was an unforgettable one. Growing up, I never understood why we do not discuss the Vietnam War as much as other wars. I now know why. The images, stories, and accounts were some of the worst things I have seen and read in my life. There is not a place in the United States that talks about Americans like this. I was feeling a lot of things walking through this museum, the main one confusion. I don’t understand how all of these things happened, how they were not stopped. I was talking with one of my peers, and he told me that sometimes instead of researching something then visiting, it is more inspiring to visit something then research it. I know that my summer will be filled with books, movies, and documentaries about the Vietnam War to find out what went wrong and where it went wrong. Overall, I am happy that I was able to be given a different perspective of America. It is hard to accept some things due to the pride I have for my country, but in the grand scheme of thing’s having a global perspective, even about my own country, is something that will benefit me for the rest of my live. Being able to experience these moments that further that perspective is what I desire, and I am lucky to be here on this trip.