Going Back
A Small Journey to a Forgotten Place, A Lesson That Stayed
Some of the best lessons don't come from moving forward — they come from going back.
Late dinner. My family and I sharing a meal on a quiet riverbank, ten years after I last sat at a table like this one.
Recently, I travelled back to Vietnam to visit my hometown after a decade away. I thought that I no longer had any connection to this place and that everything was just a distant memory, but when I stepped into that old French colonial-style house, memories flooded back into my heart.
The first thing I noticed was how incredibly welcoming my distant relatives — my aunt, uncle, and cousins — were. The distance hadn't made the relationship grow cold; it felt like we'd just picked up the conversation from yesterday. The conversations were so much more meaningful, and it was amazing to see what they'd been working on over the last decade. The time I spent with them during this trip made me appreciate my family more and reinforced my desire to reconnect with my heritage.
The country moved fast. Some habits did not.
Vietnam has changed so much over the last few years — high-rise buildings, new metro lines, you name it. I was amazed by the country's development and the speed at which they've accomplished it.
But with all this technological progress, people are still holding onto some old habits I remember fondly: waking up at 6 a.m. to grab coffee with friends, exercising in the park, and heading to the local market early to compete for the freshest ingredients for their family. Despite all the change, people still appreciate the small things that make their lives unique, instead of chasing the convenience of fast food. They still make time to sit with friends at a coffee shop before work and keep up a healthy lifestyle.
What I brought home
In a way, the Vietnamese people have taught me how to open up to the people around me, how to connect with friends and family over coffee. I am now trying to wake up at 6 a.m. and do a little exercise — this makes me a bit more productive and makes my day feel a little longer.
The lesson is: no matter how busy you are, and no matter how fast the world around you seems to be changing, keep doing what makes you happy and be kind to everyone around you. That is enough to make the world a good place.