Candice leaving

Returning home late on the Saturday night after the Xuan Thuy field trip, Candice had some sad news. She's returning home. She received news on Tuesday night (after returning from the trip to Tra Co beach) that her mum will completely lose her hearing within 12-18 months. And while her mum has hearing problems, and has been known for more than two decades that she will eventually lose her hearing, it has been confirmed that it will happen soon.

The cost of getting cochlear implants is incredibly high - apparently 60,000 for one - and so Candice has decided to return to Australia to be with her mum and help save to pay for the hefty medical bills that they face.

So I lose my flat mate - and just as we've settled into living together as well!

I feel so bad for her that she's facing the return to Australia after only being here for three months. The ironic thing is that she, out of anyone, is the last person I thought would be going home first. She's studying international development, she's been over in Africa volunteering and has also worked for World Vision in Brisbane, and while her there had been many issues at her work, always assumed she'd work through it.

Life has many twists and turns.

So next weekend might possibly be her last full weekend in Hanoi. I was quite shocked by the news, but then again not so shocked. A difficult decision, but also one anyone who loves their family would make.