Celebrations with my International Friends- Tingting’s University Graduation
Tingting entering for her graduation ceremony
This morning I had the opportunity to share in a celebration with my friend Tingting and her friends. Tingting graduated from the University of Nebraska this morning with her Bachelor’s in Business Administration. It is an impressive accomplishment not only because she studied in her second language, English, but also how she did it. She accelerated her graduation by taking 27 credit hours one semester while excelling in all of her courses.
Tingting with her Diploma
It seems like only yesterday that I first met Tingting in the Lincoln airport after she got off the plane when she first arrived here. It has been a wonderful two and half years of friendship with her. We have shared a lot of fun times with our friends whether at Mongolian Grille, picnics, trips to places like the Omaha Zoo, or in my Sunday class. There were times she came to my Sunday class barely able to keep her eyes open because of a long week of classes and studies. She is very dedicated in her studies and I am certain she will be highly successful in her pursuit of a Master’s degree and throughout life. I am so proud of her.
me with Tingting
There are people who come into to our lives and we have a special connection right away. Tingting has been one of those people in my life. I have learned more about China and Chinese culture from her. I have met many new friends from China through her. That night in the airport when I first met here, I knew we would have a special friendship. She calls me Matt Dad. Today I felt like a proud father when I saw here get her diploma. I am sure her parents are proud of her. They could not be here for the ceremony, so I am glad I could be there with her. She has been a bright cheerful person in my life. I will always remember how Tingting and some of our Chinese friends we there for me when my father died. There are many reasons I could list of why she is a special person. I am sure her boyfriend will attest to that 
When I saw here outside after the ceremony, I gave her a big fatherly hug and told her how proud I am of her.
She will move to Buffalo New York later this summer to work on her MBA. After that perhaps a PHD. I hope to road trip to New York to see her graduate from her MBA program. One thing I am convinced of is that she will be a huge success where ever she goes and whatever she does. Congratulations Tingting!!!
Goodbye Lunch for Daniel from China at Ruby Tuesday
Finals weeks at the University of Nebraska begins Monday and that means time for some of my friends to go home for the summer. Daniel will go back to China for a few months on Thursday, so we wanted to have lunch to send him off with a blessing. We decided to go to Ruby Tuesday which was appropriate since that was where we went for lunch the first Sunday Daniel came to church last August.
me with Daniel and Brandon
Daniel with Yoshio
Lunch was a full circle moment since it was the first place we got to know Daniel. It has been good to see how well he has done in school and also living away from home. He has been able to mesh not only at the University but also at church. Brandon and Daniel hang out often. Brandon’s family has welcomed Daniel and will be storing his stuff while he is in China.
Daniel has also participated in projects that have helped others. He helped with moving day Friday for a family from Iraq. He has also helped with a packing party for supplies going to a ministry in Mexico and helped to take Operation Christmas Child boxes to the drop off location. He is a credit to his family and home country. I will miss his questions over the next few months in my class, but know it will be great for him to be back with family and friends.
International students have a unique experience in that they go to school across an ocean in a culture that s strange for them, so every day brings new adventures not only in school, but also within the culture. If we reach out to them, we can learn more about the world and at the same time make their lives a bit easier while they are far from home. It will be good to see Daniel again in a few months. It will also be good to find out who I will be able to meet next school year that is new to Lincoln and America.
at church
Moving Day- Friends from China and Vietnam Help My Friends from Iraq
This afternoon and evening I had the pleasure of watching my friends Daniel from China and Phung, Tram and Khiet from Vietnam help a family from Iraq move. My friends from Iraq have only been here for a little over a year. The husband/father has a disability and could not help with the move. I told my Sunday and Saturday friends from my classes about the need and they were a big help today.
My home church paid for the truck rental from U-Haul. We loaded the truck twice with furniture and other stuff including a refrigerator and washer/dryer. Daniel and Phung helped me with the first load. They also had an opportunity to taste some Iraqi food. Khiet and Tram helped me with the second load. Daniel will be flying back to China Sunday to visit his parents during summer break from UNL. He pitched in today even though he had a good bye evening with his friends at the University. Phung joined us even though she is busy preparing for finals. Khiet came after work with his sister Tram who had school today. I was proud of my Sunday/Saturday friends for giving of their time to help my Iraqi friends.
I meet with the husband/father on Thursdays to help him with his English as he prepares for the TOEFL test. We have fun joking together but have also shared some deep conversations. He has overcome a lot and is still able to laugh and joke with me about studying and homework. I enjoy teasing his children and seeing them laugh. His wife is a wonderful woman who works hard to take care of her family. They are a special family.
We were also joined by two brothers from Iraq who are good friends of the family. It was great to see how my friends interacted with each other. I commented to my Iraqi friends that it was a truly international moving day and they smiled. We had one American (me), one friend from China, three friends from Vietnam, the two brothers from Iraq and the family from Iraq. I hope to have a pizza party for all of us to have a better chance to have conversation and get to know each other in the future. Until then my friends from Iraq have a nice memory of people reaching out to help them.
Sunday Fun with my International Friends- Welcome Back Yoshio from Japan
When Yoshio left for Japan in February to visit his family, my prayer for his safety was for his flights. I had no idea at that time that an earthquake and tsunami would hit Japan while he was there. It has been heart wrenching to see all of the devastation and suffering in Japan. I have some friends who went to school here and are now living and working back in Japan. I have been trying to find out how they are and rejoice when I hear from one of them that they are okay. All of my Sunday friends wanted to know if I had heard from Yoshio. I was glad to be able to tell them last Sunday that he was okay and on his way back.
This morning we had a special welcome back morning for Yoshio. We shared about how God is with us even when hardship strikes. We also took turns sharing about how God was with us and helped us in difficult times in our lives. We then gathered around Yoshio to pray for him, his family and for Japan. It was a meaningful time. In class we had Daniel from China, Phung and Yen from Vietnam, Brandon, Carol, Kirste, Mike, Rex, Robb and Shawn from America. many of our other international friends are currently traveling for Spring Break.
me with Yoshio
At the end we had fun taking pictures. I had Yoshio go around the room and sit or stand next to different people kind like the old Where is Waldo game.
Yoshio with Yen
Yoshio with Daniel
Yoshio with Phung
Yoshio with Mike and Carol and their daughter Kirste
Yoshio with Shawn
Yoshio with Rex
Yoshio with Brandon
It was a fun ending to a poignant morning. I know Yoshio would rather be home in Japan with his family at this time, but he had to return for work. His city was not hit hard by the earthquake and was far from the tsunami, but there are other problems arising. It is a time for compassion, so I plan to donate to Samaritan’s Purse because they do such a great job of getting aid quickly to places hit hard by disaster. Hopefully all who read this will also give to the organization of their choice to help the people of Japan.
We were all happy to see Yoshio safe back here in Lincoln. He came back to a very busy work week and hopefully this morning was a bit of an oasis for him in his crazy schedule. Welcome back Yoshio. My prayers are with your family and with Japan.
Weekend Fun with my Sunday friends- Happy Birthday Brandon and TIngting
A few weeks ago we had a surprise birthday lunch for Brandon and Tingting. They had their birthdays a few days apart. Brandon’s mom called and asked me if our group could come to their house for a surprise lunch for Brandon. Brandon has been a part of my Sunday class for several months and has made friends with our international friends. They were glad to participate in the surprise.
The surprise was that we came for lunch. He wanted to go out to eat, but I told him we couldn’t that day but maybe the next week. We showed up at the house while he was in the basement and he walked up to see all of us in the living room. We had a delicious lunch prepared by his mom. It was great to surprise him and also awesome to see my international friends enjoy some fun in an American home and have a brief break from their busy lives as students.
Brandon with Daniel from China and a friend from Korea
The surprise did not end with Brandon. When Brandon’s mom Diane called me about the lunch, I shared with her that Tingting’s birthday was two days after Brandon’s and she told me she would put Tingting’s name on the cake. She went even further and gave some flowers to a young woman living far from home that she had not met before. Diane was very gracious.
Diane and with Tingting
Tingting wiht her "grandmother" Pat
Brandon’s parents Diane and John were both very welcoming to our international friends. It was a blessing how they opened their home to us and combined Tingting’s birthday in with Brandon’s.
Diane and John working in the kitchen
It was a day of little surprises and fun. I look forward to more little adventures with my international friends. Seeing them enjoy life is one of my biggest blessings. I was also pleased to see Brandon have fun. He has been a good friend to many international students. Opening our friends to people from other countries blesses them, but it also blesses us in return whether those friends are refugees, immigrants or international students.
2011 China Night at UNL- Celebrating Chinese New Year with Friends
The first time I went to China Night at UNL it was out of my interest in other cultures and going to China Night gave me a glimpse into Chinese Culture. I have been able to observe and participate in cultural celebrations from various cultures and experiencing them has been mostly out of my desire to learn. In the past few years China Night has taken on a different meaning for me because I have some friends from China who are students at UNL. I have been able to see how important New Year is for them and also how they feel to be so far from home and family during their most important holiday. For us Americans it would be like living in a country where Christmas is not a big deal far from home at Christmas time. I was pleased to be able to sit with my Sunday friends at China Night.
Johnny and Tingting
Tingting was the first one in the group that I met in January 2009. She asked me where my suit was and I had some fun pointing out all of the other men who were not wearing a suit. Johnny came here in the fall of 2009. Johnny wore a suit I think mostly due to Tingting
Nancy and Kevin
I had the privilege of helping Nancy and Kevin study for the TOEFL test last June and was thrilled when they both passed the TOEFL.
Alex
Alex had the red carpet movie star look as he walked in. We have had some fun times and laughed at our mistakes. He is a great cook and now that I think of it, it has been a long time since he cooked for our group.
me with Huiyan
Huiyan was reading something on her cell phone that was in Chinese. I kept peeking at it and acting like I knew what it said.
The entertainment was in Chinese with a little translation at times. I may not have understood what they were saying throughout the night, but I did not need to because I understood the most important part which was that my friends who live so far from home and family and friends had fun and were able to celebrate their holiday with each other. The blessing for me was to see my friends laugh and be happy.
2011-China Night at UNL Welcoming the Year of the Rabbit
Last week was the beginning of Chinese New Year which is a celebration that can last for a week or two not just one day. Each year the CSSA-Chinese Students and Scholars Association- hosts China Night at UNL to celebrate Chinese New Year. I have had the privilege of attending China night several times and each time has been special in its own way. Last year I sat up front and was able to get some great pictures. The entertainment was awesome. This year was special because I was able to sit with my friends from my Sunday class more on that tomorrow.
When I first arrived, I noticed the welcoming line and a young woman giving them last minute instructions in Chinese. As I walked through the line I surprised them by saying Happy New Year in Chinese. They had the women on one side and the men on the other.
One of the greeters, my friend Daniel, showed me my seat. After I sat down a nice young lady name Ming came by to bring some items to the table. She was our server for our table for the evening. I surprised her by wishing her a Happy New Year in Chinese and we talked a little when she stopped by a few times.
The entertainment was fun to watch. It was a mix of traditional Chinese and contemporary music. There was also a Kung Fu performance and a comedy sketch about a man who was unlucky in love. The finale was amusing. They had children dressed like the Von Trapp children from Sound of Music and sing so long farewell. Then the all of the performers joined them on stage. It was a fun night and I look forward to going again next year. The best part for me was sitting with my friends- more on that tomorrow.
Mongolian Grille- is it my Cheers?
The old sitcom Cheers had a theme song about a place where everyone knows you name and they are always glad you came. I am beginning to think Mongolian Grille is kind of like that for me. When I walk in, most of the workers know me. I have had conversations with some of them. Some are Vietnamese and some Chinese and we talk about English classes. Some are Hispanic and I practice my español with them. One young man at the grill smiles at me as soon as I walk up because he remembers me.
I had the opportunity to go to Mongolian Grille twice last week and both times someone took me out for dinner and paid for me. Actually it was last Friday and last Saturday, so I had a great weekend. I went on Friday evening with my friends Johnny and Tingting which I wrote about on Saturday. On Saturday evening I went to Mongolian Grille again and that time it was with my friends Kevin and Nancy.
Nancy and Kevin at Mongolian Grille
I enjoyed spending time with Nancy and Kevin and catching up on how their course work is going at UNL. Last summer we studied together to prepare them for the TOEFL test. They both passed and went on to become students at UNL.
Nancy went to a school in sunny San Diego before she came here. It seemed ironic that when I first arrived for dinner, it was gently snowing and by the time we left it was snowing heavily and there was a cold, icy wind. We walked out to our cars and quickly said goodbye due to the wind hitting us. If it was hard for Nancy, it must have been even harder for Kevin who is from South China where they don’t have harsh winters.
The cold weather outside could not dampen our fun inside the restaurant. We had a wonderful time. It was great to catch up on things with Nancy and Kevin. Because of their generosity, I had dinner for the second night in a row at my favorite restaurant. It was an awesome weekend.
Sharing Milestones-My friend Tingting
Milestones are times when we enter a new phase in our lives. I love to share milestones with my friends such graduations, passing the TOEFL test so they can go to college, getting a job etc. Yesterday I shared a milestone with my friend Tingting from China. It was only a short time ago, two years, that I first met Tingting when she first stepped off the plane in Lincoln having arrived here from China to go to the University of Nebraska.
My Friend Tingting
Tingting has been a very motivated student. She was able to transfer credits from her University in China, but that does not explain why she will graduate this year. She has taken an extremely heavy load of classes. One semester she took 21 credit hours and an online course. There were Sunday mornings when she came and I thought she would fall asleep before my class finished because she looked so tired. She was able to pull if off with an excellent GPA.
Tingting with Johnny
The milestone we talked about was Tingting applying for Graduate School for an MBA. I have no doubt about her being successful in graduate school after what I have observed the past few years. I am sure she will tackle graduate school with the same dedication and excellence that she has had while obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree. We celebrated this milestone in her life by having dinner at Mongolian Grille with her boyfriend Johnny.
me with Tingting
During dinner Tingting shared with me her long-term goals of getting a PHD and having her own business. I am confident she will succeed at both. We joked about me editing books for her It was a wonderful way to spend my Friday evening, but I have to admit part of me is a bit sad to think that my friend Tingting may soon move to another State for her MBA program. Watch out world a human dynamo is coming
Saturday Fun- Friends from China and Vietnam Helping People in Mexico
This morning I felt so proud of four of my friends for coming out on a cold day and helping pack care packages for men in a Drug Rehab in Ensenada Mexico. That may not sound like big deal, but when you consider three of them are from places that either receive no snow at all or very little. My friends who came to help are Brandon who is a student st SCC and a member of my church, Daniel from China who comes to my Sunday class, and Phung and Khiet from Vietnam. Phung comes to both my Saturday and Sunday groups and Khiet comes on Saturdays.
Phung, me and Khiet
Phung and Khiet sorting
We sorted out Candy and Toiletry Items to place in nylon sports bags. The bags will go to men who are in Drub Rehab in Ensenada Mexico when a team from our church goes there in March. Each bag will have a towel, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a comb, socks, a hat, gloves, candy and snack crackers. The Drug Rehab is for men who have been living on the streets and have drug problems. My home church First Evangelical Free Church partners with the Drug Rehab ministry.
Brandon and Daniel with the gloves
I was proud of my friends for helping people they may never meet in a country they have never visited. I was also proud that Daniel, Khiet and Phung each separately asked me a question at different times this morning. They asked what about people in Lincoln. I shared with them about places like Matt Talbot Kitchen and The People’s City Mission. It was a blessing to be able to share time with them this morning while packing the bags for the men in Espigas Nuevas in Ensenada.
We also had a chance to talk via skype with Javier and his family in Ensenada. Javier is the pastor who has the Drug Rehab ministry. I had a chance to speak with him a little in Español. It was great to see Javier, his wife Silvia and their daughter Isabel thru video on skype. I am looking forward to seeing them again in person on a future trip to Ensenada.
It was a wonderful way to spend a post holiday Saturday morning in January with my international friends and also some of my American friends at church.
About
I teach English Second Language and have a ministry for internationals at my home church First Evangelical Free church in Lincoln Nebraska. I have had the pleasure of traveling in Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Romania and Switzerland. My hobby is to learn words and phrases from other languages. I have learned how to greet people in 30 languages.
My blog is about my experiences with international friends, my travels, and people I meet along the way. My international friends’ stories are fascinating to me. Experiencing other cultures makes life rich for me.
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