My Address

Hi Friends!

A longer note is coming (hopefully) soon, but I just wanted to write you a quick note about my address here in Thanh Hoa so that if you've got a spare minute and feel like spending it writing a quick note to a girl in Vietnam, you can make that happen!(Also-- if you write a note to me, I'll definitely write you back!!)

My address is:

Hayley Robb
c/o International Education Center
307 Le Lai Street
Dong Son Ward, Thanh Hoa City
Vietnam

I do have a quick disclaimer about sending me notes and things, however:

The postal system in Vietnam is really rather horrible, and there is an unfortunately good chance that I may never see the letter, or that you might not get my return letter-- Many of my friends have been fairly lucky in terms of receiving mail, so I'm hopeful as well.

Secondly, if you want to send me a "care package" as some of you have mentioned, you'll need to be careful when filling out the customs forms at the post office that are required to ship anything into the country. I have to pay an import tax on packages I receive based upon the value assigned to the items in the box and the dollar goes a long way here so the advice we've been given is to have you all way undervalue the items on the list that you write (you can buy shoes here for the equivalent of $2-3 USD, so if you send me a shirt and say that it is worth $10 USD, thinking that is cheap, I'll be paying a lot in taxes) There are also other "fees" associated sometimes... we're not sure where those go, but like I said, they sometimes appear and sometimes don't. Finally, there is apparently a "purpose" or "condition...i.e. new, used, etc." section for each item (I haven't actually seen the forms, so I'm sorry that this isn't more helpful) either leave it blank, or just put "personal use."

Really, while care packages are amazing, I'm totally thrilled just to get letters from you all, which do not have to be accompanied with forms, etc. if you feel like staying in touch with me via the "snail mail" route... I also love emails, short or long and about any subject whatsoever... basically, I love you all and hope that we'll remain in touch during the rest of my time here.

Well, it's back to work, but like I said, I'll be in touch again soon. Stay well and warm (I'm definitely doing the latter... and the former too!)

Much Love,

H