Bringing Love home

In May of 2015, I embarked on a 7 week adventure to Vietnam. The only confirmed dates that I had were my entry and exit dates, (I didn't even have a hotel room booked for my 1st night) and a very vague outline of where I wanted to explore and experience whilst I was there. At the recommendation of a friend that suggested a particular hotel, nothing fancy, but comfortable, in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. I stayed there for a couple of days, then started touring, 1st to Ha Long Bay for a couple of days, back to the hotel, then to Sa Pa. The morning after I returned from Sa Pa, having breakfast in the hotel restuarant, I meet a woman (An An)who totally turned everything upside down (in the best possible way), An An's english was limited and my Vietnamese was non-existant, but in some way, we both knew what each other was saying, even to the point of laughing at each others jokes. From that time onwards, we became inseparable, falling passionately in love. I made my base Hanoi, her home, became mates with her twin sons (27yr old), and from that point on toured around together. I had the time of my life. My only dread was the time that I had to fly back home. Leaving An An behind was one the hardest things in life I have had to do. We made Facetime our friend, messaged each other via Messenger, Facebook, Zalo. Within a month of arriving back in Sydney, we had started organizing an Australian visa for her to visit Australia. An An arrived late August 2015, we travelled locally, I introduced her to my family that live in country NSW, they love her as well. Late September, I asked An An to marry me, she agreed (YES!!!!!!!!). Mid October we both flew back to Hanoi, first thing was to visit the “Ministry of Justice” to organise all the requirements for a marriage certificate, paperwork, medicals etc. 23rd October we got married, became husband and wife. I have never been happier, and An An was (and still is) so radiant. A few days later,  I had to fly back home. February this year, back in Hanoi to celebrate New Year, I was introduced to the rest of the extended family, I think I made a good impression, particularly when An An and I are together, the way we look at each other, the way we gently touch each other, the way we are playful together, the way we are patient with each other when we are trying to explain a point in a conversation, language skills are growing. February 22 we submitted An An’s visa application to the Australia Immigration Dept, so we can live, love, work together here in Australia.

Facetime is a great application, but it has nothing on being able to sit across from the one that you love, look into her eyes, to hold her hand, to smile together, to laugh together.

 

This brings me to the reason for this Go Fund Me project, I am seeking assistance in returning to Vietnam soon (visa should be approved sometime in the next 6 – 10 weeks). In returning to Vietnam I will be assisting An An packing her former life and shipping it to Australia, and returning to Sydney as Husband and Wife, to live our lives together. Whilst in Vietnam we will need to celebrate this move with the whole family.