Many Thanks

I wanted to express my sincere appreciation & thanks to the many people who helped/hosted me, Linh & Vinh during the past weeks.

Special thanks to my brother (Kent) and his wife (Honey - my favorite sister-in-law!) for hosting all of us during the Christmas holiday (in Delaware)!

Very special thanks to my great friends/neighbors Heather & Jim for tending to numerous crises at my home during my absence & helping me cope with everything emotional and physical <-- they are always "there" when needed!

Many thanks to my old friend Buck for all of his volunteer, professional, invaluable editing/photo-shop-techy expertise/help! Buck helped make my blog updates memorable and assisted putting together a photo album for Vinh. Vinh has enjoyed showing this photo album (& no doubt telling endless stories!) to dozens if not hundreds of his relatives/friends in Vietnam! <-- most of these folks do not have access to computers - therefore - had no/could not access this blog & pics. This album is very precious to Vinh - all made possible by Buck!

Of course - many thanks to my friend Joe - who set-up/established this blog 5+ years ago and encouraged/helped me maintain it!

Thanks to all the followers of this blog - for your comments, inputs, and continued support!

Finally - thanks to Linh & Vinh for making so many unforgettable, fond, remarkable memories possible for me.
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Heavy Heart

I picked-up Linh and her father just over 4 weeks ago (Dec 18th). Since then: I have driven almost 3,000 miles (4,800km); posted more than 75 blog updates with 120+ pics; taken care of an overwhelming # of "things-to-do"; unraveled/solved what often felt like a never-ending set of crises, and; I thoroughly ENJOYED & LOVED ever second!
 
Linh & I resolved our last major and very necessary hurdle today – we obtained the many documents required to obtain & actually got her WV ID card from the WV DMV. This seemingly endless, exhausting, 2+-week effort (as evidenced by the above pic!) successfully ended today during Linh's very rushed lunch-break.
 
These past 4 weeks were also full of many very entertaining, even funny events/moments, like: witnessing Linh & Vinh's amazement experiencing their first snow; their amazement how the sun could be so bright and it could still be so cold (as low as -12F = -25C); both meeting Santa Claus and experiencing their 1st American Christmas; Linh's 1st experience with a vacuum cleaner; Linh cutting the towel bath sheets, that Santa gave her, in half because they were too large; Linh's amazement having & experiencing her 1st modern electronics like wireless printer/scanner/copier, desk lamp, iron, and; far too many other firsts to elaborate! All very much unforgettable events for ME!
 
During these past 4 short weeks, Linh has also certainly progressed in many, many ways – most notably: her English skills have vastly improved; her self-confidence has increased tremendously, and; she is definitely quickly learning to be independent! In short – Linh is growing up very quickly!
 
Tomorrow morning, I am leaving Morgantown and returning home. It is with a heavy heart that I will not be seeing Linh daily. I know that I will miss her dearly. But, we will be in touch daily via phone
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WVU Motif 1

This is a test blog update to see if a landscape pic posts properly.
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More 1st's & Chu Chao's!

Today was a busy day - continuing MPA application, doing some accounting/financial planning, and - OF COURSE - more shopping!

The kitchen is the only room that is not wall-to-wall carpeted in Linh's apartment. Her roommate, Mayara, only had a hand-held Dust Buster.

Obviously - Time for a full-size, upright DIRT DEVIL vacuum! So - off to Target! Where we also bought Linh her very first flannel, PLAID shirt - WITH snaps instead of buttons! She is now ready for a return visit (3rd!) to Schmitt's Saloon & Dance Hall!

Top pic = Toted Dirt Devil back to Linh's apartment, assembled it, and then gave Linh "operator/maintenance lessons". Linh was then ready to go! This is a pic of her 1st operation of her 1st-ever vacuum cleaner! <-- almost all floors in Vietnam are tile & bamboo brooms & mops are used to clean the floors - rarely, if ever, are vacuums present! Btw - wall-to-wall carpeting in livingroom & bedrooms REALLY needed vacuuming - ugh!

Bottom pic = Assembled Linh's 1st-ever HD TV and this is her watching it! Her apartment rent includes HD cable! Chu Chao!

While shopping today - also purchased a wireless HP printer/scanner/copier, ink cartridges & paper for Linh. Installation - probably sometime tomorrow - ugh!
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Linh Whips-Up Some Yummy Vietnamese Dishes!

As a result of Linh's happy, happy, happy food shopping at the Asian Market, she was able to successfully prepare some delicious dishes!

Top pic = Vietnamese spring rolls, cucumber salad, eggs, and homemade peanut sauce.

Bottom pic = "Pork Steamed Bun" stuffed with sausage, eggs, spring onions with VN seasonings. This is of Chinese origin (like many Vietnamese foods) - adopted/modified and loved by the Vietnamese. I love it with fish sauce!

Btw - Linh's and her roommate's (Mayara - Brazilian) food tastes are drastically/dramatically different from one another. Neither appears to have any interest in the other's food preparations. No interests in smells either - Linh is very careful about masking her foods' odors (like storing her fish sauce in a sealed plastic bag)!
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Exciting WVU Masters in Public Administration (MPA) Program

The last 2 days have been VERY exciting AND busy!

Linh and I discovered a great WVU Masters in Public Administration (MPA) program that meets/satisfies Linh's career goals! So - Friday we met with the WVU MPA program Director (Dr. Maja Holmes) to discuss.

The great news is that Linh's CURRENT TOEFL iBT score (79) satisfies the MPA program admittance requirements!
The bad news is that the Intensive English Program (IEP) that she is currently enrolled in was/is NOT necessary for her to get admitted to the WVU MPA graduate program. But, at least the IEP got her to the US NOW and will facilitate her admission to the MPA program.

The MPA program does require Linh to take the GRE. So, she has enrolled in a 6-week, online WVU GRE prep course that she will begin next Wednesday! Linh is also now scheduled to take the GRE on March 8th!

We have also begun the arduous MPA application process - ugh! We hope to complete this process by next Monday or Tuesday!

I had the email address of the relatively new Consul General of the US Consulate in Saigon (HCMC). Linh has sent her an email requesting he "Career Guidance" re a position at the US Consulate after getting her MPA. <-- it can't hurt to sew future job seeds/contact early! No response yet.

Many of you have already requested info about the WVU MAP program - so I am passing along the below info links:

MPA Program Overview see http://publicadmin.wvu.edu/graduate/master-of-public-administration

MPA Curriculum Requirements see http://publicadmin.wvu.edu/graduate/master-of-public-administration/program-requirements

MPA Career Opportunities see http://publicadmin.wvu.edu/graduate/master-of-public-administration/career-opportunities-with-mpa
 
All of the above is VERY exciting stuff! I hope it doesn't bore you!
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English Test Results & First Day of Classes

Linh's English Language Test Results were EXCELLENT! As a result - Linh is scheduled to take the MOST advanced IEP courses in all language skills (reading, writing, listening & speaking)!

She felt that the first classes she took today seemed easy. As expected, most of her classmates are Arabic.

After classes, more chu chao and ... See below!
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Celebrating English Test Results!

To celebrate Linh's great English test score results - I took Linh and Mayara shopping @ Walmart and dinner @ Peking House!

Walmart was NOT my idea of "celebrating" - but Linh & Mayara enjoyed!
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Happy, Happy, Happy

Introduced Linh to Morgantown's ONLY Asian market today - recommended by Kurt Ly (Peking House owner/chef).

At front door of An Son Market - located in the basement of a shabby looking industrial-looking building (top pic).

Linh was amazed and thought this market was as good as or better than Eden Center in Arlington! They even had dorian cookies!!!! <-- dorian is Linh's favorite Asian fruit - ugh!

Linh inside market (bottom pic).

Linh's overall reaction "Happy. Happy, Happy!" <-- quoting Duck Dynasty!

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With Source of Happy, Happy, Happy, & WVU Personal Rapid Transport System

Linh with Source of Happy, Happy, Happy - top pic (@ WalMart)!

Linh was introduced to the "amazing" WVU Personal Rapid Transport System today. Chu Chao! (bottom pic)

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Linh is Now Officially a WVU "Mountaineer"!

It has been a very busy & long day - sequence of events as follows:

1 - Linh's day began with a mandatory 3-hour "in-processing session" and English language exam <-- test results will be used to schedule her intensive English classes. Linh will receive her official English language test results (reading, writing, speaking & listening) and class schedule tomorrow.

2 - 2-hours at WVU's International Office of Student Scholars (OISS) to get Linh's Homeland Security I-94 and "WVU Letter of Good Standing" <-- both required to get her WV Learner's permit! OISS also gave us Linh's Aetna Medical insurance card!

3 - 1-hour wait in line to get Linh's WVU Student ID card (bottom pic).

Given her new WVU Student ID card - Linh OFFICIALLY became a WVU "Mountaineer"! (top pic)

4 - Short Lunch

5 - Flu shot @ Kroeger's Pharmacy.

6 - 2-hour grocery shopping spree @ Kroeger's <-- Linh was amazed that she could "see a doctor" (flu shot from pharmacist) AND grocery shop @ the same place!

7 - Dropped Linh off @ her apartment with groceries. She was pooped and - given her new grocery hoard - she decided to cook/eat at her apartment tonight. She did not invite me - so I ate alone @ the Peking House (see below entry).

Yesterday's high temp = 5 degrees. Today's high temp = 35 degrees. So - today's events were much more tolerable - albeit the day involved an overwhelmingly large # of incredibly confusing (to Linh) activities!

It has been 3 days and I still canNOT talk! Makes it terribly difficult to cope with all the processing crap!
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Caphe Sua Da @ Peking House & More Sad "Vietnamese Boat People" Stories

I had a great version of Vietnamese ginger chicken cooked by Kurt Ly - the Vietnamese chef-owner of Peking House. Delicious!

I also met Kurt's wife for the first time - Amanda - tonight (top pic). Amanda asked for Linh's telephone number to call & talk - I had some reservations - but obliged.

After the fall of Saigon (in 1975), Amanda's family were persecuted by the communists. She escaped as a "boat person" in 1979. Sometime earlier or afterwards, Amanda's sister & other relatives were killed by Thai pirates attempting to escape communist persecution.

It is indeed a "small world". My hope is that Linh will learn a lot about the "American War" from US Vietnamese (speaking Vietnamese!) who were there and experienced the war/communism first-hand! <-- which I am sure is very "different" (more accurate) than what she learned during her many years in Vietnamese schools.

And - of course - I had my cafe sua da (bottom pic)!

Btw - Linh surprised me with txt msg saying she had made spring rolls - which I picked-up @ her apt after eating them @ Peking House! Linh's spring rolls were delicious even tho the "Hanoi spring rolls" @ Peking House are also great!
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Goodbye USA

Vinh's departure was very emotional - for both of us. He was sobbing uncontrollably as he entered security lines - me too.
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3,200 KM in Jeep

Since arriving in US, Vinh has traveled 3,200km in my Jeep. He wanted pics of him with "the world-famous US Jeep"!
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Chiu Choi - Gentlemans' Club

Vinh went crazy @ Gentlemans' Club last night! "Chiu Choi" = "to play" - easy, ready, spend!
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US Car Wash - Chu Chao!

Terrible weather driving to Winchester!

To distract Vinh's emotions, he experienced his 1st US car wash! His reaction = "Chu Chao"!

To distract his thoughts this evening, I will be taking him to one of the infamous "Gentlemans' Clubs" in Innwood, WV! I am SURE his reaction will be Chu Chao because he has been "lusting" US women since he arrived in US!

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Very Sad Goodbyes

About 10AM this morning, Vinh & I left Linh in morgantown, WV to drive (175mi or 280km) to Winchester, Va.

Early AM tomorrow (Tuesday) we will drive to Dulles International Airport (IAD) where Vinh will return to Vietnam.

Linh & Vinh have done a lot of "bounding" the last 21 days. So - their goodbyes were very emotional. Vinh cried uncontrollably in the Jeep for an hour after we departed - repeatedly stating "I never cry."

Btw - Heavy snow/white-out conditions driving over the WV/MD mountains on Rt 68! <-- this helped distract Vinh.



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Vinh Begins Departure

Tomorrow (Monday), Vinh & I will drive from Morgantown, WV to Slanesville, WV to Winchester, Va - 175 miles.

Tuesday, we will drive from Winchester, VA to Dulles airport (IAD) - we must be @ check-in counter NLT 7:30AM where/when Vinh will fly back to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). I will then drive back to Morgantown, WV to help Linh register, find doctors, etc @ WVU.

So tonight was/is Vinh's last night in Morgantown, WV. Linh will not be going with us to Dulles.

We had a great Vietnamese dinner @ the Peking House Restaurant - owned by "the first Vietnamese refugee to settle in Morgantown, WV" (1977) who is also the head cook - Kurt Ly (top pic), born/trained in Hanoi! No Vietnamese items on menu - but he will cook any northern cuisine Vietnamese you want. I was even able to get my favorite = caphe sua da!

While we were eating, some WVU Campus Police came in to eat. Of course, Vinh had to interrupt their meal to talk ... and ... talk (bottom pic)!

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More NHAU - #1!

Both Linh & Vinh wanted to go back to Schmitt's Saloon & Music Hall tonight! I was exhausted - but as their host - I had to accommodate them - right!?

We also invited Linh's roommate Mayara to join us <-- btw -she is a PhD program not a MS.

The Davisson Brothers' Band were doing a gig in Stowe, Vermont tonight - so a different band was playing - Ben Gallaher Band (see http://bengallahermusic.com/bio/). Fantastic "Tennessee Whiskey"! (Top Pic)

Bottom pic is of Linh, Vinh & Mayara with Ben Gallaher Band in background.
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More NHAU - #2!

Ben Gallaher performing (top pic).

Purchased Ben Gallaher's t-shirts, signed posters, and signed CD ("To Linh") - bottom pic.

I even got Linh & Mayara to dance with me - TWICE - including to West Virginia Country Roads! Both Linh & Vinh knew the lyrics and sung-along! We closed the saloon! All had a great time - Nhau!
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More NHAU - #3!

Linh & Mayara as the long evening begins!
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Some Good-Byes

This morning, Maxine drove from Annapolis, Maryland to Morgantown, West Virginia (250 miles, almost 5 hour drive) to give Linh a box of her clothes and to say good-bye.

Top pic is Max and her boyfriend saying good-bye to Linh/Vinh.

Bottom pic is me saying good-bye and thanking Max for all of her gracious efforts, time and generosity!
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Suit & Tilted Kilt

I had an appointment with the WVU Research Center this AM re consulting contract - hence need to wear suit - ugh.

The family had never seen me wear a suit - hence Chu Chao!

Top pic = us with suit <-- Linh/Vinh insisted on pic for their "records"!

Before saying good-byes with Max, we had lunch @ Tilted Kilt restaurant.

Bottom pic - Vinh's Chu Chao reaction to our Titled Kilt waitresses!
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Schmitts Saloon & Music Hall - Chu Chao!

Previously Linh/Vinh experience live rock & roll and karaoke.
Tonight, their 1st live COUNTRY/WESTERN (Linh/Vinh favorite US music!) @ Schmitts Saloon & Music Hall - owned by the Davisson Brothers' Band (see http://www.schmittssaloon.com) who performed with several back-up bands/vocalist! The Davisson Brothers' Band was absolutely fabulous! < Their CD's have been #1 sellers @ Walmart and Targets many times, and some of their singles have been #1 sellers on i Tunes!
Top pic = Davisson Brother's Band @ Schmitts Saloon & Music Hall
Bottom pic @ Schmitts Saloon & Music Hall with Davisson Brother's Band in background.
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Chu Chao = More Food 1st Foods!

Linh had first US Hot Dog AND Funnel Cake while we were at Schmitts Saloon & Music Hall! <-- good COuntry FOOD! Chu Chao!
Top pic - note our waitress Allison's short-shorts <-- Vinh not only "Chu Chao" - but he also feel in love!
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Linh's New Boyfriend

The opening act for the Davisson Brother's Band was a country/western soloist singer/guitarist named "Misha".
Linh loved his music. <-- nice couple!
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Linh's New Roommate, Kitchen & Living Room - Chu Chao!

After completing 1+ hours of paperwork - Linh moved into her new apartment @ WVU Vandalia Hall - just 3 blocks from where her WVU classes will be held!
Linh's roommate is Mayara Patricia Matos, a MS Chemistry grade student, age 25, from Fortaleza, Brazil! Unfortunately, Mayara was not home - so we have not yet met her. She has been living in the apartment since last August.
After 4+ hours of Walmart shopping for apartment stuff AND 1+ hours hauling ALL of Linh's stuff from Vietnam up to her new apartment - Linh began to unpack.
Top pic ' Linh's new kitchen.
Bottom pic - Linh's new living room.
Linh is still @ her apartment unpacking & settling-in.
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Linh's New Bedroom!

Pic of Linh in her bedroom after making her bed. Linh loves "US plaids" and her favorite color is blue (sheets & bedspread).
Funny experience - Linh had no idea what a bed skirt and top sheet were. Fortunately, she had me as her "professional bed maker" to guide her!
Although this apartment is much smaller & less luxurious than the Overlook apartment I got her @ JMU - both Linh & Vinh said it was "like a 5-star hotel"! Chu Chao!
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Linh's New Home - WVU!

Late this afternoon, I took Linh and Vinh on a "quick tour" of West Virginia University (WVU - top pic).
Linh, Vinh & I then stopped by Linh's new abode = Vandalia Hall apartments on WVU campus (bottom pic). Linh will & I will sign lease tomorrow morning and Linh will "move-in" tomorrow & Saturday.
There is a major snow storm here - expecting 8"-10". Linh's & Vinh's 1st major snow fall!
Linh's/Vinh's reaction to all of the above = Chu Chao!
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Vinh on his Harley Davidson - Chu Chao!

The above title says it all!
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Depart Raven' Rock Cabin

This morning, we left my home Ravens' Rock Cabin and drove to Morgantown, WV <-- home of West Virginia University (WVU)!
Stopped @ WV State Welcome Center & Vinh inspected the exterior AND interior of an 18-wheeler semi truck on its way to Dallas, Texas! Chu Chao!
We are now on our way to WV DMV to get Linh's Learner's Permit.
Linh moves into her on-campus apartment tomorrow.
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Nhau 1 - New Year Eve Celebrations Begin!

Nhau is a Vietnamese verb = To have a fun party/gathering (not family) - pronounce na-aow

New Year eve began with a great dinner with Kent & Mary and many of our friends @ the Peking Gourmet Palace (where both Bush presidents often ate) - top pic.

Linh, Vinh & I then went to our favorite 219 Cigar Bar - where Linh had met her "boyfriend" 2 days ago - bottom pic is Linh & Vinh settling into our fireplace table.

Btw - I did not forget 4 - I misnumbered the Nhau's!
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Nhau 2 - New Year Eve Celebrations!

Max and her date joined us @ 219 Cigar Bar - top pic.

The Dead Cat Bounce (DCB) was the playing @ the 219 - bottom pic. They are a great jazz, blue, rock band - that really put on a great show (music, jokes & audience participation)! Linh & Vinh really enjoyed it all - including eating french fries & drinking cranberry juice!

Bottom pic DCB playing - NOTE Vinh standing to left next to lead guitarist!
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Nhau 3 - New Year Eve Celebrations!

Top pic is DCB's lead guitarist playing = Bill Pappas.

Bottom pic - Linh & Vinh with Bill Pappas.
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