Tour Of Peace From a Participant Perspective

Introducing a good blog read related to the Tour Of Peace:

The Vietnam Tour: Choosing to Go and How

It is a first-hand account from one of our recent TOP travelers, Michele McNair.

Readers of Michele's blog series will learn that a Tour Of Peace begins long before boarding planes to Vietnam (albeit, perhaps decades ago in a different time). Participants must qualify as either Vietnam veterans, family members and sometimes by meeting goals of our Education Program.

Michele gives an applicant's perspective of the arduous pre-trip process which poses many questions about trip issues, includes a physical examination, interview with a TOP representative and puts the focus where it needs to be.

Participants receive an in-depth handbook, are required to participate, and be responsive to, learning much about themselves, the Vietnam War and Vietnam before they travel with TOP. This is often done via informative e-mail which requires participants to regularly respond to TOP on the Internet. The TOP program is Internet driven.

Groups are selected based on many factors, including their responsiveness to the process, commitment to our program, emotional & safety considerations; enthusiasm toward helping others, as well as being receptive to receiving help from their fellow trip members. Not all are selected to go. Additionally, the pre-trip process is designed to help applicants decide whether a Tour Of Peace is a good fit for them. Also, because of the limited numbers allowed on the trip, each group selected is carefully scrutinized.

Blog author, Michele, is pictured below on the left, May 2009 Tour Of Peace Zero Hour, Day 1, next to just having met two fellow travelers who are all about to become as family. Many unknowns are about to unfold beyond this "Kodak moment." Please enjoy Michele's account about her pre-trip and trip experience.