24 Hours After US Visa Approval = Mixed Emotions

24 hours have passed since the US Consulate approved Linh's 3-year Student visa. Many & varied emotions have surfaced since then during celebratory feasts, coffees, and email exchanges. Some of these are summarized below:

LINH - She is overwhelmed primarily with excitement - but also anxieties about her near-future exposure to an entirely new world. Her 1st priority - buy some dress-making material in Saigon, then an all-night 12+ hour train ride to Binh Dinh province - her mother's home-province and where many of her close extended family members live. During her short 3-day stay there, Linh & her grandmother will make many new sun-dresses for her to wear in the US. But, of course, her main purpose of her visit is to say "good-bye" to her many close relatives/friends that live there.

VINH (Linh's father) - He is very proud that Linh is the first and ONLY person in his family's centuries-old lineage to go to the US. Yesterday, he spent the entire day making/receiving phone calls to/from ALL of his relatives and friends (located all over Vietnam) to advise them of Linh's US visa success! Linh's success(es) represent a major "status symbol" for his family. His major concern/worry is his family's ability to contribute financially to support Linh's school/living costs while she is attending JMU = $1,000-$2,000/mon <-- a MAJOR sum for middle-class Vietnamese!.

THUY (Linh's mother) - I know that albeit she is very happy for Linh, she is also traumatized because Linh's sudden, long-term departure mean's losing: daily contact/emotional support with/of her "best friend"; a buffer for/of her marital conflicts with Vinh, and; help with cooking/cleaning/chauffeuring Long to/from school. She also shares Vinh's financial concerns. Interestingly, she is willing to contribute more monthly $s to Linh than Vinh (who makes much more than she does)! Emerging Side note: Thuy may accompany Linh and I to US to help "settle" Linh in her new environment! Thuy's sister (Linh's favorite aunt) may ALSO accompany us! <-- btw - both of them speak very little English! If this should happen, I look forward to being their "tour guide"!

LONG (aka Dragon Boy - Linh's 12-year old brother) - When the Phamily initially gathered to celebrate Linh's US visa success, everyone was doing high-5's and hugging EXCEPT for Long -who appeared upset and withdrawn. This was very uncharacteristic of Long. He and I are best-buddies and have been so for 5+ years. I know that Linh is and has always been Long's best friend all of his life. Long realizes that Linh's US visa approval means that his best friend is suddenly going to "disappear" from his life for a very long time. I am doing everything I can to help him overcome this trauma.