Chuc Mung Nam Moi Party at Andre Dung Lac Church
This afternoon a Vietnamese Catholic Church here in Lincoln had their Vietnamese New Year party. It was my privilege to be able to join them for their special celebration. It started with the Lion Dance to welcome the New Year. The Lion was decorated in bright colors of red and gold. We stood in the hallway together to watch the Lion Dance.
After the Lion Dance we went into the party. There was plenty of delicious food to sample and some fun entertainment. The lunch began with presentation of the flag of the U.S. and a Vietnamese flag with the National Anthem of the U.S. playing.
The entertainment included some singing and also some dance routines to music. It was great to see one of my former students in a dance portraying Vietnamese farmers. There were a few dance routines of children. The entertainment started with some men dressed in traditional Vietnamese clothing making what seemed to be some proclamations. One of them seemed to be humorous based on the response of the audience. I only know a few greetings in Vietnamese, so I am not sure what they were saying, but it was a lot of fun anyway.
Performers of Vietnamese Dance about Farmers
cute kids 
more cute kids
The entertainment was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the highlight for me is always being able to see my friends and students and in a small way bless them in their lives here. I try to remember when I go to special functions that it is not about me at all. It is about my friends and students and being a blessing to them. It is about trying to reflect the love of God to them and others gathered for the occasion. One thing my father instilled in me was “be nice to the older women and help them”. It was meaningful to me to be able to greet some of the senior citizens with Chuc Mung Nam Moi, Happy New Year, Chuc May Man, Good Luck, and Chuc Vui Ve, Be Happy. It was meaningful to me to do so since I am very aware of the fact that they have lived through the horrors of war and lived through the refugee experience. If my simple greetings can bring a smile to their face, it makes my time worthwhile.
When I see my former and current students with their families, I like to share my simple greetings in their language to show my respect and admiration for them. I also try to take a little time to express to their families how proud I am of my students. It is a blessing for me just to be able to see them have fun, laugh and smile. With all of the stress they have in their lives, I am glad for them when I can see them experience a special occasion with their families.
Today is the last day of Tet, Vietnamese New Year, and I am blessed to have been able to spend time with my friends and their families. I would like to say CHUC MUNG NAM MOI to them and all my readers
Kim Bop- Lunar New Year Gift of Korean Food from Vietnamese Students :)
One of my friends from Vietnam in my Saturday group has some Korean friends. Linh and I have shared about out mutual appreciation for Korean food. She has been able to enjoy some Korean food with her Korean friends. For three years I helped with a Korean church on Sunday afternoons. I would teach the children bible in English while their parents worshiped in Korean. Afterward we would sit down together to dine on various Korean dishes. On Saturday after our study group Linh told me she had made some Kim Bop for me.
my three chefs
Linh told me the Kim Bop was from her and our friends Thao and Tram. The simple gifts made by hand many times have the most meaning. It was a blessing to receive Kim Bop because I love it, but even more so because my friends took the time to make it for me.
Kim Bop is made of of rice and vegetables rolled in seaweed and cut into small round pieces. Some people will put fish, meat or egg inside. I tried to make some once myself when I was at a Korean friend’s house, but it fell apart. My Kim Bop chef days lasted all of 10 minutes as my friends and I laughed at my inept chef skills. I was proud of my friends Linh, Thao and Tram for being to make Kim Bop.
Kim Bop
Thanks for the Kim Bop Linh, Thao and Tram. Happy New Year to all of my friends from China, Korea and Vietnam. Or as they say in Vietnam- Chuc Mung Nam Moi, in Korea- 새해 복 많이 받으세요, in China- 新年快乐.
Vietnamese New Year Party with my Saturday Group- Chuc Mung Nam Moi
our group today
This morning in my Saturday group we celebrated Tet, Vietnamese New Year, for our class. My Saturday friends all come from Vietnam. I appreciate them so much that I wanted to try to bless them a little for their biggest holiday of the year. They are diligent with their studies and in building their new lives in America, so I try to find ways to create some fun for them and give them a bit of a break from life.
We had pizza, tiramisu, and ice cream cake. Chuong one of our newest members brought the gift basket of snacks. It was a blessing to watch my friends laugh and have some fun. I know how hard they work in school and to learn English. That was why I wanted to surprise them with a cake. I went to the bakery in the HyVee store and asked them to write Chuc Mung Nam Moi in red and yellow on the cake. Chuc Mung Nam Moi is Happy New Year. The colors red and yellow are for Luck and Money, so I asked them to use red and yellow, closest to gold, for the cake.
I also bought some special envelopes at the Vietnamese Market to give them Lucky Money. The idea is to put some money inside and expressing wishes and blessings when giving the envelope to the person. I put a $2 bill inside each envelope and one by one walked around the table to say to them Chúc Mừng Năm Mới -Happy New Year, Chuc Vui Ve – Be Happy, and Chúc May Mắn- Good Luck. I also shared with them what I pray for when I pray for them and wishes for them to grow with God.
some of my friends with their Lucky Money
Being a blessing to my Vietnamese friends at Tet is something I look forward to each year. I was glad to share Tet with my friends a little this morning. It actually begins on Monday January 23rd this year, so if you have any Vietnamese, Chinese or Korean friends wish them a Happy New Year. I would like to say to all of my Vietnamese friends Chúc Mừng Năm Mới
Chuc Mung Ngay Phu Nu Vietnam- Happy Woman’s Day in Vietnam
October 20 is Woman’s Day in Vietnam, so today I would like to say Happy Woman’s Day to the women I know who are from Vietnam. I have had numerous Vietnamese women as my students and have enjoyed helping them with English. I have also enjoyed the opportunities I have had to meet their families and spend time with them. The times I have been invited to their homes to eat some Pho, the times they have given me some egg rolls, and seeing how their children thrive in school because of their moms encouraging them are some of the fond memories I have.
my friend Duyen and her husband- I had some Pho that night
As students women from Vietnam tend to be diligent and motivated to improve. As mothers they give their all to their children. As homemakers they devote themselves to their families. As cooks they make the best egg rolls
Chin in her new kitchen
I have also learned from some of the Vietnamese women who are my friends. I used to meet my friend Thu Huong at the library to study. We would sit in the ELL room and sometimes use the computer. She patiently showed me how to use Power Point and other things.
So out of gratefulness for my many friendships and what they have meant to me I would like to say Chuc Mung Ngay Phu Nu to the women from Vietnam who are my friends. I would also like to REMIND the men from Vietnam to buy your mother, wife, girlfriend, or sister flowers today. Don’t forget!! lol
Beautiful Silence- A Wedding in Sign Language
Yesterday evening I went to the wedding of two friends of mine Amanda and David. David is one of the Pastors for Spring of Life Deaf Church and is the son of the Pastor for Ministerio Manatial de Vida. The ceremony was in sign language with translation in English. The Pastor performing the ceremony did the whole ceremony in sign language. Amanda and David exchanged their vows in sign language. It was a beautiful ceremony which I call Beautiful Silence. It was silent only in sound though because feelings and thought were expressed beautifully throughout the ceremony. As I watched I realized how expressive Sign Language is. This was especially evident when David sang to Amanda in Sign Language. It was a very poignant moment.
It was interesting to watch as they wove cords together. Normally I see people light the unity candle together. Amanda and David wove cords together to symbolize that they are joining together with God in the center of their marriage.
The reception was fun and there was some delicious food. During the reception I thought how awesome it was that three cultures came together to celebrate the marriage Amanda and David. There were Sign, Hispanic and American cultures joined together to celebrate the joining of Bride and Groom in marriage. It was a wonderful picture of the perfect unity of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We also had fun during the reception. At my table I practiced my español with my friends from Ministerial Manantial de Vida and we had a lot of laughs. The line for cake was long, but I found a way to get a piece quickly when I asked a friend at the front of the line to get my piece.
Congratulations Amanda and David and may you always remember the message on your cake
Piñata in the Park- Could it be an Olympic Sport?
This afternoon I joined my friends from iglesía berea for a festival in the park at Cooper Park in Lincoln. There was live music, hot dogs, face painting, an inflatable jumping gym, a info table for free medical help, and an ice cream truck. At the end it was Piñata time and it was fun to watch.
The intensity and focus the children displayed reminded me of athletes who compete in a sport. They were all determined to obliterate the Piñata because of their mutual goal. I saw swings of the stick that would have made any Major League Baseball player proud and thought- “It could be dangerous to get between the Piñata and the child with the stick” lol
The look in the eyes of the children brought to mind the look in eyes of Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals, or Tommie Frazier when he played Florida for the 1995 Championship. It was the look of sheer determination. The Piñata was colorful and beautiful and was also made well out of paper machete, but no matter how well a Piñata is made, it is no match for determined children with an eye on the prize much like a star athlete focused on winning a championship.
The prize is the candy that is inside the Piñata and when it finally breaks it is a mad scramble for the candy which conjured up memories of football players scrambling after a fumbled football or perhaps of a Rugby Scrum. You definitely do not want to get caught in the middle of the mad dash for the candy.
There is some compassion for those who cannot get to the candy. There were women standing close by with candy for unfortunate kids who did not get candy. It was a blast to watch the joy of the children as they battled the Piñata and especially as they gathered their bounty after it broke open. I wonder if Piñata time should be an Olympic Event lol
3 Languages + 2 Churches = 1 Meaningful Service at the Lake
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of joining my friends from Ministerio Manatial de Vida and Spring of Life Deaf Churches for a worship/baptism service at a lake outside of Lincoln. It was a simple yet profound service under a tree and at the beach of the lake. It was a wonderful contrast to the every detail planned and choreographed services on most Sunday mornings in American church services.
For part of the service Pastor Rogelio spoke in español while his daughter translated into sign language. Candice from Spring of Life Deaf church translated the sign language into spoken English. It was a service of 3 languages in a joint service for 2 churches. Later Pastor Rogelio spoke in español while his daughter translated into sign and my friend Fidel translated into English. We were there to join as one group in a simple yet profound worship service under the shade of a tree.
We were led in worship by Jezharela and Maritza while two young men played acoustic guitar. After worship we went down to the beach of the lake for three baptisms. It was a poignant time that was reminiscent of how Christians would have worshiped when the church first began two thousand years ago. Pastor Rogelio of Ministerio Manatial de Vida and Pastor David of Spring of Life churches performed the baptisms. Alex is a young man who was baptized that day. His grandfather was able to come and I found out his grandfather fought in the Philppines during World War II. It was awesome that his grandfather could be there to watch. I wondered how it must have felt for him to see his grandson at such a special moment.
There was a lot of fun and food as well. We enjoyed some grilled meat and tortillas, salads and fresh fruit. I still wonder how they cut the mangoes. I love mangoes but can’t cut them very well. I walked around and took pictures while people were eating and mingling. One woman is expecting a baby this week and she joked about how someone suggested she swim in the lake to induce labor. Of course she didn’t follow that advice.
Before I left, the “soccer” ball made an appearance. The men played some futbol. Pastor Rogelio demonstrated his skills for me. There was a lot of laughter during our day at the lake. After I left, I thought about how often the most profound moments are ones that are simple. Perhaps simplicity itself gets rushed by too quickly in our desire to busily prepare every detail of life.
My First Time at a Quinceanera
Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending the Quniceanera of a special young lady at the Hispanic church I go to on Sundays Ministerial Manatial de Vida. A Quinceanera is the 15th birthday party for a young woman in Mexican culture. It is an important moment in her life and a rite of passage.
The Quniceanera I went to was for a special young lady named Natasha. It was wonderful to see how the whole church came together to help her celebrate. It began with her friends walking together down the aisle. Then Natasha came in escorted by her older brother. She sat down under an arch that was decorated in blue and white. She stayed seated while her father spoke a blessing to her and while we sang some worship songs. The pastor shared with her about the significance of the gifts. One aunt placed a ring on her finger to symbolize purity. Another aunt gave her a bible for her to learn more about God. A cousin gave her an embroidered pillow. Another aunt placed a crown on her head to symbolize her position with God. The pastor’s wife placed a watch on her wrist. It was a beautiful ceremony.
What made it so meaningful was to see the outpouring of love by her family and also their friends at church. After the ceremony we enjoyed some delicious food. I had an opportunity to meet some new friends and also to spend time with those I know already. Of course we had cake and I won’t say how many pieces I wanted to eat. I actually had one the next day because I was busy walking around taking pictures for the family.
I do not know how other Quinceanera’s are celebrated, but based on the one I went to it is obvious how significant a Quinceanera is for the girl and for her family. It gave a little better understanding of Mexican culture and of my friends. I am definitely glad I went. Feliz Cumpleaños Natasha and Dios te Bendiga.
Weekend Fun with my Hispanic Friends- Father’s Day at Ministerio Manantial de vida
On Father’s Day I joined my friends at Ministerio Manantial de Vida for their worship service and a potluck dinner afterward. The worship service was full of poignant moments as the church celebrated Father’s Day or Día de Padres. Women in the church came up and read from the bible in español to the congregation. The children performed a drama that the church created. At the end of the service fathers came forward to the front and their children prayed for them. I got a kick out of the message by the Pastor’s wife. She shared about what it means to be a father and a man from the bible while using a tool box and tools as props. I listened with a smile while I wondered how often she used the tools.
the women reading
the children's drama
fathers being honored
After worship service we had a potluck dinner at the church. There was a lot of delicious food such as barbecue chicken, papusas, barbecue ribs and much more. During dinner I sat for a while with a family that has three girls who go to an elementary school where I teach Family Literacy. Then I walked around and took pictures for families. It was a wonderful way to cap off my weekend of fun with my Hispanic friends. I also had a chance to go for ice cream with Pastor Rogelio, his wife Chayo and daughter Jezharela in the afternoon.
The day reminded me of how important family is for our Hispanic friends. The weekend was full of fun, food and friends and also gave me many opportunities to practice my español, see how former students are doing, and appreciate the diversity of God’s creation especially when it comes to people. God loves all people of all cultures. I had a chance to observe that at different Hispanic churches this weekend.
Weekend Fun with my Hispanic Friends- Fiesta at Cristo Rey on Saturday
On Saturday my weekend adventure with my Hispanic Friends continued when I went to a Fiesta at Cristo Rey church. I actually went twice, one time around noon and the other in the early evening. I went around noon to watch the children dance some traditional Méxican dances which were fun and lively. I made a special point to go watch because a friend told me about it. A friend who helps teach the children how to do the dances, but she did not come due to her husband’s birthday. Nevertheless, I had fun watching.
Méxican culture has a lot of rich tradition, which I do not presume to know much about, but I certainly enjoy observing and sharing with my Hispanic Friends. The music, dance, and colorful costumes were an experience I enjoyed thoroughly. Watching children perform is always fun and it is cute when they make a few mistakes, but then I have to admit they certainly danced better than I could. The dance was just the beginning of my fun. I also had the opportunity to walk around and see some of my former students and my friends. It was great to catch up on how they are doing in their lives. I was also able to enjoy some delicious food for lunch.
my friend Roxana made Papusas
Torta table
My lunch began with a delicious Torta which was a sandwich with meat, avocado, tomato and some other toppings although I passed on the jalapenos. The Torta was very tasty and I thought about having a second one, but then I remembered the Papusa table, so I went there too. I had two Papusas which my friend Roxana was cooking. I asked her if she needed my help and she just gave that look I get sometimes when I try to joke around. I was full after a Torta and two Papusas, so I went to a table where they were playing a form of bingo.
The game cards had pictures of different items with their names in español. I played mostly to practice my listening skills, but had fun as well. I was not concerned with winning and in fact was elated when some children I gave tickets to won in a few games. My friends Yolanda and Elizabeth helped me with some of the words when I missed them. My biggest thrill at the table was watching the children have fun.
I left to go sit in some air-conditioning and get some things done. I returned around 5pm to enjoy some more food and see if I could run into anyone I knew. I ran into several people I knew as I walked around. I had opportunities to practice my español and find out about my friends. I also had corn on the cob Hispanic style which is rolled in butter, then dipped in grated cheese and red pepper sprinkled on it. It was awesome!! I also had another torta. I then found my way to the flavored drinks and had a lime drink. I finished my indulgence of good eating with a ice cream bar of mango and creme.
It was a full day of fun, food and friends. It was especially a blessing for me to see my friends having fun and enjoying themselves. My Hispanic Friends tend to be maligned and face discrimination. Life is hard for them and they work hard. Seeing them have a day to have fun with their families was very meaningful to me. I also gained even more appreciation for the work that some of my friends such as Yolanda, Elizabeth, Olga and many others do to help my Hispanic Friends in their lives here in Lincoln. I look forward to next year’s Fiesta.
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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