Lan Thanh is a recent graduate of Hunter College in English Language Arts. Lan Thanh escaped from Vietnam at the age of 5, with her father and oldest brother; lived in a refugee camp in Japan for 2 years before arriving in New York in 1985. Around 2001/2002, Lan Thanh, her sister, and cousin decided to journey back to Vietnam. It was their first time back since the escape. Their two weeks voyage was not what they expected. It left an indelible print in their hearts. They were not the same coming back. Lan Thanh felt she had to do something, so that led her here, to volunteer 6 months with Hong Bang, beginning in September 2005. Lan Thanh’s initial intention was to teach English in Vietnam, since she is aspiring to become an elementary teacher. But her course of study has not given her any classroom experience yet. As in her words, “..I hope to broaden my experiences, be it in or outside the classroom by becoming an OV. This experience will give me the opportunity to grow both personally and educationally. I look forward to learning more about Vietnam and our people.”