When are we planing to come home?

Steve and Natalie went to visit the Banh Mi lady today and got some delicious sandwiches. She normally charges 15,000 dong (89 cents CAD) per sandwich. When we come, the price magically becomes 20,000 dong ($1.19CAD). We point at the sign that says 15,000 dong and then given them 20,000 dong plus a little more. The first time I tried to give a little more, she would not take it. Now we have an understanding. These sandwiches are even better than they look- you don't see me eating bread very often but with these....you must just go for it!



The few have asked “When do we plan to come home?"

What I can say is that we don’t know at the moment. A few things factor into the decision....ultimately won’t know until more time passes. Some things on the top of my mind are:

1) The timing for the adoption and the time it takes to complete the immigration paperwork.
2) How Piper is adjusting as far as being ready for the long trip back to Canada.
3) Our visas end on June 24th. Before they expire, if we want to stay, we will need to fly to Bankok get new ones and fly back to Vietnam (thankful that our friend Gioi Nguyen has a travel company Vietdreamland travel and can take care of the arrangements for us).
4) The conditions at home compared to the conditions in Vietnam- if everything is open and there are fewer lifestyle restrictions in Vietnam, staying here and enjoying this opportunity for an extended stay in our children’s country of birth is an incredible opportunity.
5) The quarantine restrictions in Canada...if it turns out, that if we wait a little longer we might avoid 2 weeks of quarantine when we land, or could quarantine at home, we will wait. It seems that maybe we would quarantine at a Vancouver hotel currently, not at home. Given all the change that Piper will have been through, minimizing change where we can is best.
6) If we can stay until things are really well in hand with COVID, we may be able to visit with Natalie’s birth family. Currently, there is a new baby and grandparents in the home- rightfully so, they don’t want to visit with us now.
7) If we stay, we can see my dear friend Linh in Da Nang (to the south). It is hard to wrap my head around the idea that we are so close and not visiting.
8 ) Natalie starts grade 6 in September...can she be away? Can we home school if we stay? Is there an international school here she could go to?
9) Steve’s still recovering from his concussion and off for many many more months. He is doing well but has to come quite far before embracing the busy cadence of his work place. I don’t know what the requirement will be for medical reports. He is finished all of the rehab available. We are in touch with his occupational therapist and can connect if needed. Our amazing family doctor and her team is also just a call away.
10) I will be on leave from work until May 2021...no rush for me to get back.
11) Brady....we miss him like crazy. He is living the life with his buddy Rusty
12) Our NGO runs a small sponsorship program in Lang Son Province here in Vietnam. I would like to check in with some families in the program and/or visit the school that supports us in connecting with the families.
13) If we stay we can visit our friend Manus Campbell and meet his new wife in Hoi An...and go to Reaching Out Tea House.



Here is a picture of Brady and his pal rusty and one of Brady in one of Rusty's rain coats.