Meeting The Trees In The Forest

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The redwood trees are the tallest and strongest trees in the world, living for up to 2,200 years and reaching up to 380 ft. in height. Yet the root system of the redwood tree is surprisingly shallow, there is no main root. The way in which the trees are able to remain upright and strong for millennia is by growing close together with other redwood trees, intermingling and sharing root systems.

Lifestart continues to grow on all levels. Karen's workload is shared by many others, adding to the success of the organization. Thank you to everyone who has gone above and beyond in contributions.

Dr. John Sherman, aka "Dreamboat Johnnie"
Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 3 Weeks
Karen picked up both John and I from the airport the same night. Within minutes John had me laughing out loud and continued his cheery comic relief straight up until the day he left. We're all most grateful for the much needed medical advise/treatment/assessments of both Dr. John and Dr. Josh.

Miss Molly, World Class Jazz Singer
Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 4 Weeks
Doubling my laughs, Miss Molly, long-time good friend of Karen's, was a tremendous moral support and on hand helper for the millions of misc. odd jobs. Whether it was to "borrow" magazines from hotel lobbies, spend time with Nguyen, or finger patrol during cutting class, Molly was the gal. She is also responsible for ALL of the latest Hoi An gossip and BOY did she do a good job. We miss you Molly!

Mr. Greg Holman, Retired Principle
Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 5 weeks,
Although geographically challenged (Danang is the OTHER way!), Mr. Greg brought much to the table. With superb managerial and adminstrative skills, Greg worked on visas, applications and research for Lifestart. Greg also served as a "lifter" at the workshop, lifting those who couldn't walk in and out of their wheelchairs in and out of class and to the bathroom.

Mr. Ghi
Vietnam
Mr. Ghi, everyday my life is in your hands! Yes with amazing reflexes Ghi is my motorbike driver. Poor Ghi has put up with long hours of countless errands and translating, but he does it all with a smile, THANK YOU GHI! Ghi (along with Miss Thanh) is leaving next week for a special 3-year traineeship in Australia with a leading fashion designer. Good luck Ghi and Thanh!

Mr. Tu, aka Mr. PERFECT!
Vietnam
Tu is one of Karen's adopted sons and my goodness is he a gem. When we say Mr. Perfect, we mean it. Tu can do pretty much anything, he can fix anything, he can cook anything, he can make anything...and he can sing anything! Another one who kept me smiling the whole time.

Miss Lone
Denmark
Duration: 1 year (?)
Lone (pronounced LONE-Y) is an absolute delight to be around. She jumped in the day she arrived to help with the workshop. With a textiles background, she is continuing the quality control of the bags/scarves at the workshop.

Robin & Peter
Melbourne, Australia)
Duration: 1 year(?)
OK, these 2 are trouble! Although it's been brief, I'm quite happy to have met this lovely couple from Melbourne, even if they do make fun of me every 5 minutes! Peter is currently teaching the English Class and both will be helping to "supervise" the workshop over most of the summer (gulp!).

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Photos

Me And Karen
Taking the boat back from Thanh's engagement party on the island. I am well loved and cared for in Vietnam. THANK YOU mum for everything!

Dr. John
Impromptu check-ups!

Good Golly...
Miss Molly can sing! A forced Karaoke night with the kids. WOW, and check out that 80s decor, nice...ISN'T IT?

Carnegie Hall?
Dr. John (with sidekick Greg) knows that karaoke is serious business.

Dr. John Farewell Dinner
John, Greg, Leigh, Molly, Ghi, Tu, Karen, Josh...

Mum And Tu
Karen's not playing around, that's a serious helmet!

Mr. Perfect In Action
Cooking Dr. John's farewell dinner.

Salad Valentine
Just one of Tu's beautiful courses for dinner.

Dinner #2
Tu cooks Greg a farewell dinner. (Ghi, Greg, Peter, Lone, Tu, me). Not the same without a few people!

Pool Sharks
Sure, Ghi and I will bet you lunch. Thanks Greg, the mozarella salad and spring rolls were delicious!

Modeling Lieu's Bags
I make poor Ghi do everything. Fetch me an iced coffee when you're done?

All Grown Up
Attending Thanh's engagement party on the island. Thanh was one of Karen's original Lifestart recipients. I met her 2 years ago when she was studying to be a masseuse. Back then she spoke barely a few words in English. Now she works as a translator for Karen

Giving It A Whirl
Catching Greg outside class on the push-me-pull-me bike for some of our disabled

Love From Tam
The ladies are sad to see Greg go!

Peter
Robin and Peter strongly recommended I take half a day off at the beach with them. Sure, I can do that. I'll just bring my work with me and now you can help!

Robin
"Thank you very much" will never be the same.

Comments

[Greg]

YOUNG LOVE
Great blog Sherry however there were just a couple of omissions. You forgot to mention the young love at Third sight that developed before our eyes with Sherry and ???????. It was so nice to see. Also the Salsa dancing class with the locals after Karaoke night. Sherry had them all up moving their hips, well done. Good luck with planting trees in Scotland

[leslie jane]

what a crew!
this is sooo wonderful to meet more of the other volunteers. i did not realize there were so many people involved. it helps to round out the scene, so to speak. how very fortunate for all of you to have all of you! and i mean EVERYONE! kids and adults, givers and receivers...i am sure the giving and receiving goes both ways on many levels. i can't believe you are now in scotland.