I lived in Saigon, Vietnam from 1961 to 1965 as a dependent with my family. My father worked for USAID and I attended the American Community High School there. We loved our four years in Vietnam although it was the beginning of the buildup of the war and we lived through some rather harrowing times (a coup d'etat to overthrow President Diem that lasted three days, the bombing of the presidential palace, and twice being in places where bombs were found just before they were to go off!)

My mother, brother and I were evacuated from Vietnam with all the American dependents in February of '65 and my father was able to get a direct transfer to Luang Prabang, Laos in January of 1966. Luang Prabang was the royal capital of Laos and an incredible place in which to grow up.

In November of 1966 my older brother, who was taking a year off from college and visiting my parents, was killed by Communist Pathet Lao forces while visiting a village with my younger brother. My younger brother was also badly wounded, but survived. Two years later I lost the first love of my life, when the plane, that he was flying, was shot at. These two events forever marked my life, and some 30 years later I still find myself struggling with them. But I loved Vietnam and Laos, and hope very much to return there some time soon.

I have lived overseas almost all my life and have been teaching on and off for the past 15 years. I have two daughters who are 26 and 18, and two beautiful grandsons. We moved to the United States 3 years ago and now live in the Washington D.C. area.