Inspired to Write Again by a 5 year old Vietnamese Girl
I have not written the past few weeks due to the wind kind of being knocked out of my sails due to the death of my friend Trang. I ignored writing in my blog mostly because I did not feel like it and had writers block. This afternoon I had a phone call from a friend from Vietnam who is now living in Florida. My friend Thu Huong lived in Lincoln for about 4 years. I helped her with her English and with preparing for college. It was wonderful to hear from her today. We reminisced about fun times and studying together. It was uplifting to realize that she is so happy now. She is married and now has three young children. One of my fondest memories is going to her graduation ceremony from Southeast Community College.
me with my friend Thu Huong
While we were talking, she put her 5 year old girl Angelina on the phone. I used to meet Thu Huong at the library to study with her and she would bring Angelina with her. At that time Angelina was a toddler. She liked to “talk” with me and play games. Angelina is now 5 years old and goes to a Catholic Elementary School. Angelina recited the Pledge of Allegiance for me and also sang some songs she has learned. I especially enjoyed her song thanking God for many things.
me with Angelina when she was 18 months old
Thu Huong and I talked about me possibly visiting her and her family in Florida. That would be a great trip. A chance to see one of my first friends from Vietnam and how she and her family are doing now.
After we finished our phone conversation, I felt the writers block lift and felt like writing again. It is only a hobby for me and a small way to share with others about the richness and diversity of cultures we have in Lincoln and about the world God has blessed me so greatly to experience and explore. Thank you for the call Thu Huong and thank you Angelina for your song 
This Weekend We Say Goobye to Trang
This weekend we will say goodbye to our friend Trang by going to see today her by going to her funeral Sunday afternoon. It is sad to say goodbye to a dear friend, but as we do so let’s remember a few things that can help as we go through this weekend.
There are those with us who will need our ongoing friendship and support. Let’s not forget Trang’s loved ones in the weeks and months after this weekend. The business of funeral preparations and family coming can keep our minds occupied. It is afterward that the real need to friendship continues on.
When we see her let’s remember that who she really is, her soul and spirit, is with God in heaven. Her body is here, but she is in a better place. She is in the arms of a loving God who can forgive everything if we come to Him in faith such as Trang did when she prayed with me a few years ago.
Let’s remember the feelings, the ups and downs, the high points and valleys of despair, the sadness, the anger, the confusion, are normal to feel. We need to make sure we do not keep those to ourselves but have people we trust that we can share those with not just this weekend, but also in the weeks and months to come. Grieving is a time of sorrow that can lead to healing in our souls and the process of grieving is different for each person. We do not arrive at the same stages of grief at the same time. We extend grace to each other and allow each other to grieve and be patient with each other.
We also remember that we have a purpose here and our lives will continue on to a future. Just yesterday I introduced a young friend of mine who wants to be a Pediatrician to one of Trang’s uncles who is a Pediatric surgeon. Our lives go on and we will recover and move on to our futures. By doing so we we will truly honor our friend Trang in the best possible way.
We also remember that all of the feelings we have we are experiencing because of our love for Trang and her loved ones. We are not alone in our feelings. There are others around us feeling the same way. Stay together with our friends and remember that as impossible as it may seem, we will recover and we will get better. There will be brighter days ahead and there is HOPE. I believe I will see Trang again. If any of my friends want to know how and want to talk Mr. Matt is always ready.
We Choose Which Memories to Focus on- Trang a Joyful Young Lady
When a friends passes away, it can feel like so many things are beyond our control. There is one thing we do control which is the memories we choose to focus on and cherish. With my friend Trang there are so many good memories for me to focus on such as her joy at discovering new things about her new country and how she would share them with me. How she made others feel welcome and her caring heart.
me with Trang in the ELL room at the library
The first few years of my groups with young people from Vietnam the groups consisted of 4 boys and Trang. She was the one who would always remember my birthday or other special times. She would bring me some candy on Valentine’s Day weekend, a card for Christmas and other special items. If it had been left to the boys to remember, I don’t think it would have happened, but Trang made sure.
me with Trang and the guys in the ELL room
The guys will probably be a little frustrated that I put this picture in my blog. They might say “we look like kids” or something like that. However, I wanted share memories that are meaningful to me at this time. The memories of laughter filling the ELL room as we studied and as my friends shared their experiences of their new lives in America. Memories of Trang helping me keep the guys in line Memories of Trang being the one to finish her homework and of me rubbing it in with the guys.
At this time I want to encourage my friends to focus on the positive memories of our friend Trang. She is a special young lady.
In Memory of My Friend Trang- One of the First Group of My Vietnamese Young People
It doesn’t seem that long ago that one Sunday afternoon I saw a friend from Vietnam with three young men in the ELL room at the library and offered to help them with English. That group of three soon grew to five with the addition of a brother and sister from Vietnam. We met on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for a few years. Trang was the sister. She was a joy to have in the group and I could see how smart she was from the first time I met her.
me with Trang at a Christmas program at my church
It always amused me when my young friends would playfully hit each other on the shoulder. I always took Trang’s side and would say “men never hit women” and when the young men would complain I would side with her. We would laugh about it. She was the one who always completed the homework I assigned. We made a joke out of it by saying there was a $1 penalty for those who did not do their homework. Trang had $0 accumulated compared with the young men. Of course I never collected since it was only a game.
me with several of my Vietnamese friends and my van from Jesus
In many ways it is because of Trang and the young men that my effort to help young people from Vietnam continues to this day. Now on Saturdays I meet with a group of six young people, some in high school and some in college. I have been able to help people to prepare for college, gone to New Student Enrollment with friends, and helped in many other ways.
Sadly my friend Trang passed away yesterday, Tuesday September 20th at a young age. However, she does leave behind a legacy each time I meet with my other young friends from Vietnam. I learned a lot in those first few years about helping young people from Vietnam and about their culture. I am not sure if the other young women would have felt comfortable when they first joined if Trang had not been there. I am thankful that she was part of my effort in the first few years and thankful I can say she was my friend. We will miss you Trang, but we will always remember you with fondness.
Weekend Fun- Birthday Brunch at Valentino’s
On Sunday we celebrated Mindy’s birthday after class by going to Valentino’s for brunch. It was great to have time to catch up on things with my busy friends Mindy, Alex and Daniel. They are all University students with a full load of courses. The best was being able to wish Mindy a Happy birthday. International students live far from home and family, so occasions like birthdays are times I try to keep track of to help them feel
Mindy with her Happy Birthday lollipops
A lighthearted moment was when Mindy made me promise not to tell them it was her birthday because she did not want the servers to come sing to her. When our server came over, Yoshio told the server it was Mindy’s birthday. I was off the hook and we managed to embarrass her for her birthday anyway
Mindy with Yoshio
I had my camera ready for some fun photos such as friends at the buffet area and at the table.
Alex giving me the what are you doing look
It capped off a great morning with my friends in class and after. It was then on to be with my friends at Ministerio Manatial de Vida where I began a new adventure of teaching the youth bible class. Now I have 2 Sunday classes to look forward to each week.
End of an Era- Uncle Yoshio Will Move Back to Japan
In my Sunday morning class Yoshio my friend from Japan shared that he will move back to Japan in November. Yoshio has been working here in Lincoln for a Japanese company that has a production facility here. His nickname is Uncle Yoshio which he was given by the young people who come to my Saturday and Sunday groups. The nickname began on a cool Saturday morning when a group of us were waiting for Yoshio for an Omaha Zoo trip in the late Spring 2009. I suggested the young people yell “Uncle Yoshio” when he got out of his van. When Yoshio arrived, our young friends yelled “Uncle Yoshio” as soon as he got out of his van.
me with Yoshio
The nickname is fitting because Yoshio has a big heart and enjoys doing things to help our young friends. He has anonymously helped when I asked him to, helped drive our group on fun excursions such as the Omaha Zoo or Mahoney State Park, and treated people to lunch. He has stored boxes and other items for International Students over the summer while they are back home. The way I would say it is that if Japan would send more people like Yoshio to work here, it would be wonderful. In many small ways he has been a great Ambassador of his culture. I also know he has done a lot to help Japanese students living in Lincoln.
Yoshio at lunch with friends from China, Russia and Vietnam
Yoshio moving away represents the end of another era. There was a stretch of time that my weekend groups had friends from Belgium, Brazil Congo, Germany, Japan, and Korea. All of my weekend friends then were either Graduate Students or Post Doctoral from UNL or were working here. That era came to end when Isis moved back to Brazil in March and Jochen and Julia moved back to Germany in early August. Yoshio was the first one in that group and will be the last one to leave.
me with Yoshio, Brigitte from Belgum and Julia and Jochen from Germany
The one constant in life is change. Transitions come and we can choose to embrace them. Yoshio embraced the change of the makeup of my weekend groups as friends moved away and younger friends from China and Vietnam started coming. He has helped them to feel welcome and has been a good “Uncle”. Yoshio- thank you for being a good friend
Yoshio with his young friends from China
Yoshio with some young friends from Vietnam
Sunday Fun with my International Friends- A Class of Sharing Highs and Lows
Yesterday in my Sunday class seemed like a microcosm of a season’s worth of Sunday classes. We shared memories of September 11th regarding where we were that day and what we thought. We talked about how we can have peace in our spirit because of God even when it seems the world has gone crazy. Some of my Sunday friends were only children at that time ten years ago, but remembered hearing about it at school in their country.
We also celebrated Mindy’s birthday in class. That was our high point being able to celebrate our friend Mindy’s birthday. We sang in English and gave her a card. It is always a pleasure to celebrate a birthday in class because in essence we are celebrating our friend when we do so and Mindy is a person who deserves to be celebrated.
me with Mindy
Yoshio shared with us that he will be going back to Japan in November. He has been great to have as part of our group. My young friends will miss “Uncle Yoshio”. That was a low point for our group yesterday. We have said goodbye to friends that are important to us this year. First we said goodbye to Isis when she moved back to Brazil. Then we said goodbye to Tingting when she left for her MBA program in Buffalo New York. Now we are preparing to say goodbye to Yoshio in a month and a half. That is the nature of my friendships with internationals. When I first meet them, I know the day is coming that we will say goodbye. The times in between first meeting and saying goodbye are well worth it.
me with Yoshio
So it was a morning of highs and lows shared among friends from America, China, Japan, and Vietnam who come together in friendship each Sunday. Our focal point is studying from the bible and talking about who God is during class time. My hope is that I live that out as we spend time together.
Seeing Friends and Making New Friends at Welcoming Back Party at UNL
Friday evening I went to an event at UNL called Welcoming Back Party which was put on by Asian World Aliance and Vietnamese Student Association. I chatted with a friend on Facebook and asked about going without giving an RSVP because I wanted to surprise some people I know. I am glad I went because I was able to see a few friends that I have not seen in a long time and I met some new friends.
Game Time
There was plenty of delicious food. I love Vietnamese Egg rolls. While we were eating, I had the opportunity to meet Nhung the current President and Nhat the new incoming President. I also met the two UNL staff members who work with the group. I am delighted to know that my Vietnamese friends have a student organization on UNL Campus. In my weekend groups I have young people from Vietnam. Some of them are Seniors in High School who will go to UNL next year. It is great to know there is a group they can participate in, so they do not get lost in the busy shuffle of UNL.
I also met a young family that just arrived a few weeks before UNL started its Fall term. Phuong is a PHD student in English. She is married and has a six year old girl. We discussed possible lessons for her husband Loc. I had a chance to share with Trinh a wonderful young woman who wants to help High School students prepare for UNL. I met several other quality students at the party as well.
Of course I watched as they had a lot of fun playing games which my friend Tai led. The room was filled with laughter and smiling faces beaming with joy. I couldn’t help but think about how behind each smile is probably a fascinating family story. Many of their parents work hard, so their children can go to college. Many of them probably came here as refugees. All of their families are newcomers to America and yet there they were at a party at UNL. University Students working toward a bright future
A Few Years Ago They Were Newcomers to America/Now They Are Helping Americans- Linh and Tram
I have two young women from Vietnam who come to my weekend groups at my church. They are Linh and Tram who just began their Senior Year in High School. Linh came here in 2007 with her family and was an ELL student but quickly advanced out of ELL. Tram came here in 2008 and also began as an ELL student and quickly advanced. They are now taking challenging classes including Calculus/Pre-Calculus, Physics, AP classes etc. That would be enough of an accomplishment in a short time.
The picture of the flowers represents how they have blossomed and grown as young people. So much so they have become part of a leadership group at their high school and on Tuesday they welcomed incoming freshmen at their school. That involved giving the freshmen a tour of the school and being their host on freshmen day. Linh told me about how she helped huge people such as football and basketball players. That means that both of them helped American kids on their first day in High School. They at one time needed help and now they are the ones offering help not only to other Newcomers but also to American kids.
Sometimes Newcomers can be misunderstood or stereotyped. They at times encounter prejudice and always face some kind of obstacles as they adjust to their new country and new culture. If we see the potential that each Newcomer can have, and encourage them in their adjustment to their new surroundings, awesome things can happen. My friends Linh and Tram are excellent examples of how people can rise to their potential if given a chance and some help.
Never Too Old to Learn from My 17 Year Old Vietnamese and Tech Symbols Teacher
A friend of mine who comes to my Saturday morning class has taught me how to make some symbols to use online. Linh is a joy to have as one of my students, but tonight I realized she is not only my student, she is also my teacher lol. I shared that with her and she liked the idea. The humorous chat conversation made me think about the fact that we are never too old to learn and that we can learn from those younger than we are if we will listen.
my tech symbol cô Linh
Linh taught me how to make a heart by combining < with 3 to make a heart which does not show on wordpress but does on facebook and chat
She also taught me how to make a smiley face with a wink by combining ; with ) for 
She also taught me the tech thumbs up :-bd
As we chatted she taught me how to say teacher in Vietnamese to a woman, cô, and to a man, thay, so she is my Vietnamese and Tech Symbol teacher.
I appreciate my young friends and the things I learn from them, but there is a note of caution. Do not simply turn over a tech device for them to look at and start doing things without you knowing what is going on. I let a young man look at my new cell phone 3 years ago and he decided it was fun to set my alarm clock in my cell phone which I found out about a an undesired time lol.
Tonight I want to say cam on cô to Linh. I look forward to learning more from you and our friends. Just do not expect me to turn over tech equipment lol
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.
-
Archives
- May 2012 (4)
- April 2012 (6)
- March 2012 (2)
- January 2012 (3)
- December 2011 (6)
- November 2011 (4)
- October 2011 (7)
- September 2011 (10)
- August 2011 (12)
- July 2011 (18)
- June 2011 (16)
- May 2011 (12)
-
Categories
- Afghanistan
- African friends
- America to other cultures
- animals
- Belgium
- Brazilian friends
- children
- Chinese friends
- Christmas
- Congo friends
- Cross Cultural
- Cultural Ambassdors
- Cutural Celebrations
- Discrimination
- Education
- El Salvador
- Europe
- Experiences of international friends
- Fall
- food
- France
- German friends
- Globalization
- Hispanic friends
- Holidays
- Human Resources
- Hungarian friends
- immigration
- India
- international fashion and crafts
- International Friendships
- international students
- Internationals
- Iran
- Japanese friends
- Korean friends
- Mexico
- Middle East friends
- Muslims
- Mutlicultural
- orphans
- Peruvian Friends
- Refugees
- Romania
- Sign Culture
- sports
- Spring
- Stereotypes
- Sudanese friends
- summer
- The Karen people
- Travel experiences
- Turkish friend
- Ukrainian friends
- Uncategorized
- vacation spots
- victims of crime and violence
- Vietnamese friends
- winter
- women's issues
- world issues
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
