Episode 8 reveals a startling turn in our story– but one we’ve known about for a long time now. Dan Vandermark, one of four cast members of Jet Set Zero, left Saigon and the show in October. We have mentioned so many times before on this blog that this company– cast and crew– have grown to be something of a family. We’ve shared the stress of long Seattle workdays, the trials of establishing ourselves in a new country, and have experienced the most personal and candid moments together, and so we don’t find it easy to let someone go. Dan was as much a part of this team as anyone, and his wisdom and caution often balanced our typically impulsive tendencies. Dan helped us make “good” decisions, when, much of the time, we wanted to make “fun” decisions.

Dan’s departure came on top of the mounting stresses of our life in Vietnam. He never did quite make peace with Saigon– a harsh city of hectic streets, noise and pollution. More importantly though, Dan had a deep sense of responsibility toward his students, and felt that the indifference and lack of organization in many of the private language schools betrayed his values. I will never forget the conversation I had with him where he first expressed this idea– a deep insight into the source and abuse of our privilege in Vietnam– and I consider it one of the seminal enlightenments of my time there.

Dan was eminently reflective and among the funniest of us and I know that these traits will continue to carry him forward in life, from this adventure to the next. After Dan left Saigon, he traveled to Australia, chasing clean skies and burden-free adventure. While there, he made friends that opened him to new experiences in different parts of the country and ultimately took him to Fiji. He is now back home in frigid Oswego, where I am sure that his sense of humor and good stories warm the windows of The Raven Tavern and inspire others to seek their piece of the jet set life.

Dan is a friend like no other, and while we miss him daily, we wish him the best.