You returned to Vietnam for your recent sabbatical. Please share what your goals were for that trip and how you spent your time there. What was most meaningful/transformative about this trip? My goal was to reconnect with the country I was born in and lived in until I immigrated to the U.S. at age 12. I was grateful to be living again in the culture that has influenced my values and sensitivity. Living in two different cultures has allowed me to have a broader experience and perspective. It was also meaningful to visit and connect with my parents. Part of your sabbatical included biking through Vietnam. Tell us about that experience, what was the purpose behind it, and what you gained from it. I biked over 2,800 miles and 138,000 feet of elevation. I wanted to do this bike trip to reconnect with the country and learn more about it. Originally, I planned to do 1,500 miles, but after reaching the Chinese border, I found myself enjoying it so much that I decided to keep going. Biking allowed me to slow down and connect with the environment and the people. When I am biking, I feel like my mind is aligned with the rhythm of my body. My original plan was to ride half of the trip along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, however, I found the coast to be overpopulated, and trash was everywhere. I decided to ride toward the mountains bordering Laos. I feel more at home in the mountains; seeing the trees is like meeting old friends again after a long time apart. For the most part, people were kind and generous. The children were curious, open, and playful. Throughout my journey, I was able to connect with so many people and learn about their life experiences in different parts of the country. I came away from this experience feeling a deeper connection to the country where I was born, and more pride for that part of my identity. You are currently working on new art inspired by your sabbatical. Please explain. I was inspired by the human connections I made in Vietnam and the nature I was surrounded by as I biked across the country. One theme inspired by the sabbatical is the dichotomy between kindness and fear/hate. Another theme is humans’ connection to nature – nature’s capacity to heal us both physically and mentally, and how it can inspire us to become more humane. I feel more at home in the mountains; seeing the trees is like meeting old friends again after a long time apart. 21 www.lycoming.edu
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