Returning again to my homeland, Quảng Ngãi. Looking at the Trà Khúc River, my heart stirs: “The scenery is here, but where are the people?”
Just 2 weeks ago, the Journey took place in Quảng Ngãi, also right on this sacred river, with nearly 240 entrepreneurs learning enthusiastically through the night. The Ambassador teams from Đà Nẵng and Saigon came, devoted themselves to service, and successfully supported Quảng Ngãi in “giving birth.” This is a beautiful cultural practice initiated by the Yuppie community, from Đà Nẵng to the whole country: when a region is about to “give birth,” people from other regions nationwide came together to help and guide the ‘newcomer’ through the dark night to greet the dawn.
An overnight session with more than 200 students was not enough; I also spent nights with the ambassadors a few days later. So many shared memories.
Yet now, landing at Chu Lai and driving to Quảng Ngãi City, I feel stirred and wistful, no longer seeing those familiar faces and dependable backs. Oh, that feeling of finishing the final Journey of 2018 in my Homeland, like the end of the 2017 National Gathering: a certain poignancy in knowing the endpoint has arrived, an ending that makes way for a beginning and new beautiful things arriving with the dawn. And indeed, 2018 was a year ‘full of light’ for Yuppies nationwide.
I suddenly remembered, “Ah! We have already empowered them.” We came, supported, helped through the difficult birth, and empowered. Now in Quảng Ngãi I will not see the familiar ambassadors from 2 weeks ago. But Quảng Ngãi has been empowered, and I will meet its own local ambassadors more often. In time, they will become familiar to me.
Smile.
The Quảng Ngãi Yuppies would not let me dwell on my feelings; I had no chance to remain wistful. YUP! FC Quảng Ngãi invited me to play football. Legend 1: Yuppies really can meet and play Football across the country. As usual, I had not anticipated it and brought no kit. They asked my shoe size. This story was becoming familiar: just as in Hanoi, Đà Nẵng, and Cần Thơ, they bought their teacher a pair of shoes and a football kit. Legend 2: every region really does have a separate pair of shoes for TMT. I only need to turn up and play.
Success means doing what you love for those you love, and receiving their sharing and empathy.
