Breathing out, I am calm

Most of the sisters at my village were Vietnamese. On a few occassions I listened to their stories of hardship back in Nam. I know some of us don't think about it much but the VN war had and still has a major impact on these people today. I know my friend Brian has mentioned a few in his blog having traveled there but the extent is, I think, forgotten back in our American lands unless you go see for yourself. However, I found it fascinating to hear some of the sister's stories so moving as well as issues I could relate to. Words about money, jobs, parents, it's all there just like we have or perhaps used to have in our lives. The emotions were flying for everyone at one point or another and this was a safe place you could let them go. I mean, if you can't do it here, where can you? Yah, safe. That's a word I left out. Safety was felt everywhere here. Not just emotionally either. I noticed myself just leaving stuff out, my camera, books, whatever. It was as if I were home. In fact, leaving was especially difficult. The real world is scary.