American guy with a heavy heart for Nghe An land
(Baonghean.vn) - Halfway around the world, having set foot in 20 large and small countries, but for Dustin, the land and people of Nghe An always hold a special place in his heart, as his second homeland.
Second Home
 |
| New York boy Dustin Gerding returns to Vinh to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2019. Photo: NVCC |
Dustin is an explorer, loves to participate in many community development volunteer programs, non-profit projects that help improve health, opportunities and lives for many groups in need around the world. This is also what brought him to Nghe An.
Dustin said that in 2014, he wanted to work directly with citizens of a developing country, where people were trying to find better living opportunities by learning English. Dustin then chose to come to Vietnam to teach English, a decision that turned a big corner in the life of the New Yorker.
“Choosing Vietnam was not a coincidence. The first time I learned about Vietnam was in college. At that time, I was fascinated by this country. I admired the strength, determination and perseverance of the Vietnamese people,” Dustin said. “They may be poor in material things, but they are rich in tradition and always live happily. This is what inspired me to choose to live in Vietnam to understand more about the people here.”
After living in Vietnam for a while, Dustin believes that Vietnamese people are the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world.
"Previous life was Vietnamese"
 |
| Dustin and Vietnamese friends. Photo: NVCC |
In Vietnam, Dustin chose to live and work in Vinh city. Here, Dustin met many friends who, he said, later became his second family.
Dustin admits that family is one of the important factors that connects him to Vinh city and Nghe An. "Thanks to the enthusiasm and hospitality of Nghe people, I quickly integrated into life in Vinh," he said.
 |
| Dustin celebrates Tet 2019 in Vinh with friends. Photo: NVCC |
During the period from 2014 to 2017 living and working in Nghe An, in addition to teaching English at a center in the city, Dustin also developed classes for English teachers, established Dustin's Study Abroad Corner to provide free advice on how to hunt for scholarships and life studying abroad; and co-founded the international volunteer organization Let's Do It branch in Nghe An specializing in environmental protection activities.
It is also because of his love for the people and the land of Nghe An that Dustin is determined to learn Vietnamese. Dustin said that both he and his friends firmly believe that Dustin was Vietnamese in his previous life. When they met Dustin, many of his friends treated him as a relative, a Vietnamese person, not a Westerner in our country, which made him feel comfortable.
“My parents definitely want me to live near New York, but they also say that if I'm happy, they'll be happy too, and support my decision to come to Vietnam to live, work, and find my true love,” Dustin confided.
