Cinco de Mayo- Colorful Dances Performed by Students of My Friend Rossana
On May 5th or Cinco de Mayo I went to a performance of traditional Mexican dances performed by students of my friend Rossana. Rossana loves working with children which was obvious when I saw her bright smile as she interacted with the dancers. I enjoyed the performance because it gave me a little glimpse into Mexican culture. The music was lively and the dancers outfits were quite colorful as the ones worn by the woman and girl in this first video.
The children danced several traditional dances they were taught by my friend Rossana. Rossana’s desire is to help keep Mexican culture alive among the children and youth. I appreciate her vision for doing so because it concerns me that wonderful aspects of Mexican and other cultures are being swallowed up by current day influences which may be less artistic. The children performed well for their age and I am sure their parents were proud of them.
One young woman who danced solo, did so with noticeable joy and enthusiasm.
It was great to spend Cinco de Mayo with my Hispanic friends and appreciate more of their culture. It was certainly a more authentic was to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than simply buying tacos on sale at a fast food place 
It also gave me a greater appreciation for the richness of Mexican culture which is something I have had an interest in since I wrote a report about the Aztecs when I was in elementary school. Next year I hope to go to another authentic celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
Mother’s Day with my Karen Friends
This is a picture of me with my friend Star Ee a loving Karen grandmother. I first met Star Ee in 2008 when I spent a lot of time with a new refugee group in Lincoln called the Karen who are from Burma. I first met a few in some ESL classes that I teach in the early Spring of 2008. I had a few women in my class who talked about their Karen meetings on Sundays. They invited me to come, so I joined them one Sunday afternoon and saw how new the Karen were to America. It was my privilege to spend my Sunday afternoons and many other times with them for several months in 2008. Their Sunday afternoon meetings were held in apartments since they were not yet fully connected with the church they have become a part of now which is First Baptist Church in Lincoln. During my months with them I heard their stories of the hardships they had overcome. Star Ee was one who caught my attention as I heard about how she looked after the children in the refugee camps. In many ways she is a mother and grandmother to many of the Karen people in Lincoln.
In this picture is Pa Saw whose family was one of the first ones to arrive in Lincoln. She was one of the first Karen people that I had the pleasure of meeting. I had three Karen women in my class. They asked me one day if I had children and I told them that I did not. The Friday before Father’s Day in 2008 they came to class and after class finished and the other students left, they each came up to me and placed a lei around my neck. They told me that I was a father for them because I helped them. It was a moment I will never forget.
The Karen people have a special place in my heart, so I wanted to spend my Mother’s Day afternoon watching their Mother’s Day program at First Baptist Church. It was a poignant afternoon as they blessed the grandmothers and three American women who have given of their time and hearts to the Karen people. There were several songs shared and readings shared. It was wonderful to watch as young people escorted the grandmothers to the stage to be seated for their blessings. They were escorted in while a young girl sang in Karen.
Towards the end of a song in Karen by two young men, children came in with leis to place around the necks of the grandmothers.
The grandmothers also received flowers and more leis from youth
I can’t even begin to imagine what these wonderful women have experienced and endured in their lives having fled their country to seek refuge in the camps in Thailand. It was a rich moment to see them be blessed by the young people in the church. Then their family members gave them flowers and gift bags. The other mothers seated in the church were also given flowers for Mother’s Day. I appreciate how they honor their elders. I look forward to going to their Father’s Day celebration in June.
My Favorite Easter Memory- Romania April 2005
In April 2005 I had the privilege of spending Easter week with my friends in Constanta Romania. Their pastor was in South Africa going to seminary there, so I went to help my friends with their Easter service. It has been my best Easter week experience so far. It did not begin well when my carry on bag was stolen off the plane, but I was able to replace the items I needed. The rest of the trip more than made up for that.
My hosts for the week were young couple Cristi and Alexandra. They had an a nice apartment in a building that had a store on the ground floor like many apartment buildings in Romania do. It seemed like we laughed constantly. We certainly had a lot of fun. Each morning I would have coffee with them and each morning they would ask me if I wanted milk and sugar. I would say no and that I liked to drink my coffee black. One morning they expressed their concern for me about not having milk and sugar in my coffee and that it could be bad for my health. I got a chuckle out of that.
This picture is actually from my trip there at Christmas time in 2005, but it gives an idea of how small the church building was that they met in. This is the actual worship area for the church. I share this photo because it reminds me of the beauty of simplicity. In America we get so caught up with having the latest program, the newest technology etc for our worship experience. We met in a simple building and used an overhead projector to display the worship songs. There was nothing fancy at all but there was genuine community and fellowship as we gathered together.
I was able to learn some more expressions in Romania such as:
Isus a Inviat- Jesus is risen
Adeverat a Inviat- He is risen indeed
At the end of our Easter worship we walked around with decorated eggs and tapped each others egg. The one whose egg was still intact won. My first try I destroyed both my egg and my friend’s egg. He was disappointed. I was also able to spend some time with a college group at the University of Constanta. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and worship together.
I will always remember that Easter with great fondness because it helped bring me back to the essence of Easter which is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with friends and not let the meaning get lost in Easter candy, and other trappings we can get lost in here in America. I will also remember my time with my friends there. It was an awesome Easter experience for me.
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
2011- New Friends at Ministerio Manantial de Vida and a New Hobby
I celebrated New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day last year with a Hispanic Church Ministerio Manatial de Vida. I had never been there before, but was invited through facebook, so I joined them in their celebration. That night led to meeting many new friends at la Iglésia Ministerio Manatial de Vida. I also bought a new camera last year that allowed to me to explore my new hobby of photography. My new friends and my new hobby combined for some memorable moments in 2011.
my friend Fidel at Father's Day celebration with his family
My camera and I were able to join in on some holiday celebrations such as a Father’s Day lunch, Labor Day Buñuelos party, and Christmas Day services. Perhaps to the relief of my friends at my weekend group I had a new outlet for my fun with photography. It has been a joy to be able to snap some photos for my friends at Ministerio.
1st worship service at their new location
It was a meaningful moment when my friends at Ministerio were able to celebrate having their own building to worship in and no longer need to rent a facility.
Pastor Rogelio teaching before baptisms at the lake
My camera and I were able to join in on some events that were celebrations for the church such as a baptism celebration at a Wagon Train Lake. We were also able to join in on some salient moments such as a Quinceañera, 15th birthday party, for a young lady at the church.
My new hobby led to me being asked to take pictures of a wedding at Ministerio Manatial de Vida. That has led me to another new hobby which is using my iPhoto to produce slide shows etc.
It is my belief that we are never too old to try new experiences and to meet new people. In 2010 it was studying Español. In 2011 it was meeting my new friends and my new hobby. I look forward t seeing what 2012 brings. In 2011 my camera and I had many fun moments with my new friends at Ministerio Manatial de Vida. This next picture that I end with shows how much fun we had. I helped to make buñuelos and my assistant stood in awe of my ability lol.
me with my assistant buñuelos maker Ely
Christmas’s Past- Sharing a Living Nativity with Friends
My home church used to have an event for Christmas called Once Upon a Village which included Bethlehem shops and a Living Nativity. One year stands out in my memory because it was a year that friends from Brazil, Belgium, China, Germany, Japan, Peru and Vietnam joined me for the Living Nativity. It was a blessing to spend time with my friends and to share the Living Nativity with them. For some of them it was the first time they had experienced a Living Nativity while others were happy to be able to experience one here in Lincoln too.
The Bethlehem village area included some animals such as sheep and goats. We walked through the village which had people dressed as shopkeepers and Roman soldiers. Then shepherds came in and announced what they had heard from the angels and how they had seen the baby Jesus. Then we walked to the Living Nativity.
After out time at the Living Nativity, we went to another church that was having a concert. Once Upon a Village and the concert at New Covenant Church were part of a collaboration called Christmas on 84th Street. The concert included some brief dramas, Christmas music, and readings from the bible about the birth of Jesus.
After the concert, we were invited to go to the home of our friends from Germany, Jochen and Julia. We enjoyed some good food and great company. It was a great way to cap off the evening.
This Christmas memory is special to me because it illustrates to me what Christmas is all about,which is a time to remember God gift to us the first Christmas – His Son Jesus- and spending time with friends and family. May you have a truly blessed Christmas this year and experience the love of God in your lives.
Christmas Past- Sharing Christmas with My Friend Trang
with Trang at Christmas Eve Service
In the story A Christmas Carol by Dickens the character Scrooge is visited by three spirits, Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. The visits change Scrooge for the better. I would like to share the next few days about Christmas’s Past that have been meaningful to me and have helped me to grow as a person.
It seems fitting to begin with my friend Trang. She came here from Vietnam with her family. She had not experienced much of what Christmas is about before coming to America. I met with Trang, her brother Trieu and three other young men from Vietnam Dnag, Do and Tu at the library to study English for a few years. We had a lot of fun at times and I would share with them about American culture especially when we had a holiday coming.
Trang, Trieu, Dang, Do and Tu came with me to church to experience a Christmas Program that we used to have called Once Upon a Village which included a Living Nativity Scene. They also came with me to a Christmas Eve Service to see what it one is like. We took pictures in front of a Christmas tree in the church. We held candles as we sang Silent Night. Trang sat next to me which gave me a chance to share with her about why we held candles when we sang, who Mary and Joseph are and who Jesus is. She asked why we had Christmas Trees and why we had a big Nativity Scene. it was an honor to explain such things for her. It was the first time Trang had been to a Christmas Eve service and it was my privilege to share it with her and the young men.
I learned a lot about teaching young people through our weekend classes and will always appreciate Trang as a special young lady. One of my fondest memories is the Christmas Eve Service we shared and sitting next to each other, so I could explain aspects of the service to her. Such moments should be embraced and valued because they may be our only opportunity.
Sadly Trang passed away a few months ago in September. I am grateful that I met her and that she was my student and friend. I am even more grateful that I was able to share what Christmas is really all about with her. How it is really about God loving us so much that He sent His Son Jesus. That Christmas Eve Service will always be a special memory for me. One that I will always treasure.
Thanksgiving Day with Friends from China
Alex, Nancy and Huiyuan
I celebrated Thanksgiving Day with my friends from China, Alex, Nancy and Huiyuan. I told them I would prepare dinner for them and bring with me. The preparation consisted of buying the food from HyVee Deli. I promised them a taste of an American Thanksgiving, so we had Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing and Pumpkin Pie.
Thanksgiving is an American Holiday, so it does not have emotional attachments for my international friends. For them it is nice to have time off from classes or work depending on their situation in life. Alex, Nancy and Huiyuan were glad to have time off from classes at the University of Nebraska. They have holidays that are important times to be with family and friends in China such as Chinese New Year’s or Fall Moon Festival, but Thanksgiving is mostly time to relax or travel for international students. Some may feel lonely if they are stuck in their dorm rooms with no one around. Many travel to see the USA.
Nancy getting her food
They were curious about why we eat certain foods for Thanksgiving, so we talked about the first Thanksgiving and what the Pilgrims ate such as Turkey, Cranberries, Pumpkin etc. We also talked about why Thanksgiving is a Holiday and the meaning behind it.
Huiyuan getting her food
In a way it was a fitting way for me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The first Thanksgiving the Pilgrims, who were new to America, had a celebration dinner with the Americans living here who were the Native Americans. Likewise I was the American having dinner with newcomers to America. The difference was that I prepared the food for them. Another difference would be the fact that there were no Delis to buy food from at the first Thanksgiving. The main similarity was that I had a chance to share with my friends and show my appreciation for their friendship
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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