07/03/2025
Another great exchange of in ๐จ๐ฆโค๏ธ๐ป๐ณ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ: ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐๐ + ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐
โ๏ธ๐๐ฆ: ๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฬฬ๐ ๐โ๐ฬฃ ๐ป๐๐ฬ๐ ๐๐ฬ๐, 2๐๐-๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ก ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
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When I found out I had been chosen to join the student exchange program with friends from NSCC โ Canada, my first feelings were joy and honor. This was an opportunity not everyone gets, and I knew I was lucky. My initial goals were simple: to improve my English, gain more knowledge, and make new friends. But alongside that excitement, I also carried many worries. I wasnโt sure if I would be able to communicate well with the Canadian students โ my English was still very limited, my vocabulary was small, and my reaction time wasnโt fast. I wondered: Would the language and cultural differences make it hard for me to fit in? But my desire to meet new people, to learn, and to grow helped me overcome that fear. I told myself: โJust be sincere. If you canโt speak well, listen, smile, and be kind.โ
On the first day โ June 9th โ when I met the Canadian students, I was truly nervous. I greeted them first, and they happily replied. That small exchange made me feel welcomed. The first person I connected with was Jen โ she was so kind. We talked, took photos, and started getting to know each other. That moment โ breaking through the language barrier, even just for a few sentences โ made me incredibly happy.
Day by day, I slowly let go of my hesitation. I learned how to open up, how to be proactive, how to accept myself โ even if I wasnโt perfect. There were times when I couldnโt understand everything, or when I didnโt know how to express myself in English. But I didnโt give up. I asked questions, I learned from my teammates, and I allowed myself to make mistakes. And gradually, I felt myself growing โ little by little. I still remember the look in little studentโs eyes during our workshop on Energy at Victory Center โ so shy, yet so curious. I felt a bit helpless when I couldnโt help her feel confident enough to speak up. But I believe that even small acts of encouragement can make a big difference in someoneโs future.
Iโll never forget the days in Gia Lai โ from our sustainability presentation at Gia Lai College to my very first time climbing a volcano, Chu Dang Ya. At one point, I didnโt think I could make it โ the path was steep and exhausting โ but thanks to everyoneโs encouragement and my own determination, I reached the top. Standing there, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, I realized that overcoming a physical challenge was also a way of expanding the limits within my heart.
I also cherish the time we spent cooking together, trying local Gia Lai dishes, and walking under the tall pine trees by the peaceful lake. And Iโll always remember the moment at the airport โ when we exchanged paper hearts with heartfelt messages written on them. We didnโt say much, but in every look and hug, I could feel the affection and connection we had built. There are three moments that touched me the most:
โข The surprise graduation for Kip and Colleen โ where I witnessed tears of joy.
โข The 10-year celebration between TVU and NSCC โ where I truly felt the value of long-term collaboration.
โข And the goodbye at the airport โ when we handed each other paper hearts with warm messages.
There werenโt many words, just teary eyes and long, silent hugs. June 20th โ the final day โ was filled with emotion. My roommate Nhi and I gave ๐ฒ๐๐ฬ๐ ๐น๐ฬฬ๐ (a traditional Vietnamese scarf) to our Canadian friends. It wasnโt just a gift, but a piece of our hearts โ a farewell from Tra Vinh, a wish for peace, and a gentle goodbye. I could see the emotion in their eyes, and at that moment, I realized: itโs always the sincerest things that touch us the deepest.
When it was time to say goodbye, I hugged every single person โ without holding back. Because I knew this wasnโt the end. It was just a pause in our story โ a moment for us to carry each other in our hearts, with gratitude and love. Maybe one day Iโll forget the exact words I said in English, but Iโll never forget the looks, the laughter, and the feeling of walking this journey together.
If someone asked me: โWhatโs the greatest thing you gained from this program?โ I would say: It opened my heart. More than just improving my English or gaining new knowledge โ I learned how to love, how to listen, and how to appreciate the people around me, no matter where they come from. And I believe: Goodbye is not the end โ itโs a promise of reunion. One day, somewhere in the world, weโll meet again โ with the same smiles we shared today.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the teachers, organizers, and friends who made this journey possible. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and for sharing each unforgettable moment with me. I truly hope this program will continue to grow, so that more young people will have the chance to open their hearts, push beyond their limits, and create lifelong memories โ just like I did.
