The Occupations of Vietnam - June 2018 Occupational Therapy Trip

San Jose State University Occupational Therapy Students, Professors and Friends, Ninh Bin Province

I recently returned from spending three week in Vietnam. I was there for school. One of the requirements for my master’s degree in occupational therapy at San Jose State University is to participate in a faculty led program abroad. We could choose between Vietnam, Taiwan, Finland, and Malta. I have wanted to visit Vietnam for years, so the choice was simple for me. 

Squid Boat, Ha Long Bay

In the following series of posts titled “The Occupations of Vietnam” I will share photos and memories of my time in the hot, beautiful, chaotic, and delicious country of Vietnam. I will be writing about my experiences through the lens of “occupation.” The World Federation of Occupational Therapists defines “occupation” as, “the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to do”  (http://www.wfot.org/aboutus/aboutoccupationaltherapy/definitionofoccupationaltherapy.aspx).

Alien foods at a buffet we visited the first night of
our program. We all ended up sick!

We presented to Hanoi university students in a physiotherapy program who are enrolled in one of the first Occupational Therapy certificate programs in Vietnam, met with parents of children with special needs in Hanoi, and volunteered at a daycare for kids with special needs, which is part of Children’s Hope in Action (CHIA) in Hoi An. We also observed occupations (such as Zumba classes, street vendors, and farming) as we navigated the three areas we visited together as a group: Hanoi (a northern city), Hoi An (a central historic trading port), and Dalat (a “honeymoon city” in the highlands).

Hoi An

Some of my posts I pulled straight from my journals, as the writing was a fresh depiction of my experience. Other posts I reflected and polished. It depended on how tired I had been when I wrote in my journal, whether I felt it needed more editing. Some days were like bootcamp, with biking, hiking, swimming, and boating all in one day. Other days we had to ourselves completely, and could choose our own adventure, sometimes (but not always) giving me more time and energy to journal at the end of the day. 

Hoi An

Hoi An

Hibiscus Everywhere