Commute by Motorbike!
Back in the homeland, motorbikes are being utilized every single day in the village to get to work. The villagers regard it as a valuable means of transportation. My brother-in-law owned his motorbike for over 18 years. The motorbike carried with him numerous trips of heavy crops. It had been on many beaten down paths to the farm, funerals, weddings and the market. So many nights he drove home from the farm without any safety headlights, risking his life because he couldn’t afford to replace them. He continued to fix it over and over, again and again. It constantly needed new tires and various other parts replaced. It became a money pit. After nearly two decades of putting it to rigorous work, the motorbike finally had it.
This was back in May 2016, when my then partner Teresa traveled with me to Vietnam. It was her first time in the country. She felt moved by this diverse and beautiful country. She had meals with the community and connected with everyone in a deep and meaningful way. Without a pause, she said, “I’ll buy him a new motorbike.” Just like that, the next day, we all walked to the market. My sister and brother-in-law were overflowing with gratitude and joy. Teresa generously donated $1000 USD to support my brother-in-law. My sister Rebecca pitched in an additional $200. The total cost of that motorbike included tax and interest was $1200.
In March 2021, my sisters Nina & Rebecca (who are living in the U.S.) bought a new motorbike for my sister in Vietnam. Now, she has a way to get around, such as dropping off and picking up my niece to and from school. She normally had to share one motorbike with my brother-in-law and that presented with many difficulties. She stays home to care for the household while her husband goes to work for several days, sometimes even for a week. But now, she is able to get around independently. Each of my sister Nina & Rebecca donated $1000, and including tax plus interest rate total to $2200 USD for this second motorbike. Thanks to their generous donation, both my sister and brother-in-law now have a reliable motive of transportation.
There was one aditional difficulty with this new motorbike for my sister. The government started requiring that everyone who operates a motorbike must pass exams and have a license. Without it, they can pull you over and give you fines. My family members have been riding motorbikes for years, but some do not know how to read or write. Like my sister, who knows how to ride the bike without issues, but never went to school to learn how to read and write, which makes it very difficult for her to pass the exams. Fortunately, she is currently working towards getting a license with the help of her best friend.
Because motorbikes are a great way for villagers to get around, it is one of the causes that Across the Sea Foundation is proud to support. Many thanks to Teresa, Rebecca and Nina for their generous donations!
