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18 November 2016

Sir,i need your Urgent Assistance


Dear Sir  
Good day!I am Ms.Aminata Jones from Liberia but residing in senegal in west Africa.Really i would want you to assist me invest some assets which i inherited from my late parents as the only child.I am not able to handle this because of my assylum nature here that prohibits me to be involved in any financial transaction.I would need your response so that we can discuss more on this issue
Thanks
Ms.Aminata Jones





18 August 2016

Correction re Linh's Job

It was just pointed out to me that I did not update info re Linh's job that she started this week.
The day after Linh received her job offer from the United Methodist Church Family Services, she received another "therapist" job offer from the United Summit Center (USC see http://www.uscwv.org). She ended-up accepting the USC job - which also pays $3,000/year more.

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Updates

Linh started her job this past Monday (August 15th). She is now going through a 5-day orientation (in Clarksburg, WV) and on Monday she will actually start working at her office in Philipi, WV.
Just before starting her job, Linh went on a 10-day trip to Santa Ana, CA to see her Vietnamese friend. While there she visited San Diego and boarded the USS Midway aircraft carrier!

21 July 2016

Terrific News!

Linh got a job = Foster Care Social Worker! She will be working for Burlington United Methodist Church Family Services located in Grafton, WV. Other info: start date August 1st; starting salary = $27,000; 3 weeks vacation; all Federal holidays; full medical benefits; 401K or 403B with matching contributions up to 6% of her salary. She will have to get a temporary WV Social Worker license (no problem) - and then pass a WV Social Worker license test within 6 months of her job start date.
Above pic is Linh with her new used car that she recently bought. She still has a learner's permit and is planning to take her license driving test next Monday. Wish her good luck!

21 May 2016

OFFICIAL 2016 WVU Graduation Pics

May 15, 2016 = Linh's official graduation day from West Virginia University's (WVU) Masters in Social Work (MSW) program!
Top Pic = Linh receiving her "graduate hood" from her graduate school advisor Dr. Neal Newfield.
Middle Pic = Linh receiving her MSW degree.
Bottom Pic = Linh immediately after receiving her degree in front of WVU flag.

19 May 2016

A New Journey Begins

The last few days have been very busy for Linh (and me).
Last Sunday night (Linh's graduation day), Linh, her mother $ grandad and I had our last dinner in Morgantown at the Texas Roadhouse (one of Linh's favorite restaurants). Linh's grandad was amazed by & loved the free peanuts and all of the wildlife mounts (buffalo, moose, dear, elk, caribou, wild turkeys, bass fish, rattlesnakes, etc). He took dozens (if not hundreds) of pictures.
On Monday Linh, her mother/grandad and I drove from Morgantown to my cabin (2+ hours). During the drive, we stopped at several old, abandoned log cabins so that grandad could take pics. Bottom pic = grandad and I enjoying a tree-hung swing.
At 5AM on Tuesday, Linh and I drove to Dulles airport to drop off her mother and grandad. They safely arrived back in Saigon yesterday.
During the last couple of weeks we have experienced many events, feasts, celebrations, people and emotions.
Linh is now back in Morgantown continuing her job search (which we began 6+ weeks ago). She has had several telephone & face-to-face interviews and several more are scheduled in the near future. Linh's new journey is well underway. I will keep all of you posted if/when there are any updates.

15 May 2016

WVU DONE!

Linh's graduation was at 9AM this morning - very cold and windy day - but - at least the sun was out.
Top pic is Linh and I in front of the WVU Coliseum where her commencement was held. Witnessing/experiencing her graduation was a very emotional event for me - I teared-up several times.
Center pic = everyone who attended Linh's graduation except for my brother & his wife who left before pics were taken. Others in the pic are Linh's boyfriend's (Thomas - on far right in pic) family.
Bottom pic = eating lunch after graduation.
It has been a very mixed emotion day - happiness for all and, for me, a little sadness because a long journey has ended. A new journey now begins - especially for Linh.

14 May 2016

Cap & Gown Campus Pics

The sun came out briefly yesterday - so Linh put on her graduation cap/gown and we took the above pics.
Bottom pic is Linh/her mom in front of the WVU Mountaineer statue.

Celebrations Begin

Yesterday, my brother/his wife (Kent & Honey), my WV neighbors (Jim & Heather) Linh & her family linked up for the first (of several) celebration feast (top pic).
Linh's grandad (a professional photographer) took a good portrait pic of Kent & I (bottom pic).
The rainy and cold weather persists here - ugh.

12 May 2016

Linh's MSW GPA = 3.93!

Linh got her Spring 2016 today = 3 A's and 1 P (for a Pass/Fail course).
This means that her MSW GPA = 3.93 (all A's except for 1 B)!

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11 May 2016

Washington DC - Day 1

Our first full day in Washington DC was spent visiting US Capital, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (top pic) and Air & Space Museum. They were awe-inspired by everything they saw.
We then had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants - the Peking Gourmet (bottom pic) - of course we had Peking Duck - that everyone enjoyed!
We ended our evening visiting the Eden Center (Little Vietnam) in Falls Church. They were amazed that such a very large shopping area was ALL Vietnamese - and - that the old Republic of Vietnam (RVN) flag was flying there.

10 May 2016

Oooppps

The guy on the far right side of below pic is Anita's brother Mike.

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MSW Graduation Celebrations Begin

Yesterday (Monday), I picked-up Linh, her mother (Thuy) and her grandad (Thy = Thuy's father) at the airport (DC National).
We are visiting DC until Thursday - then off to Morgantown, WV for Linh's WVU graduation.
Yesterday we hiked around Old Town Alexandria and had a Vietnamese dinner with Jeff and Anita.
The weather is forecast to rain for the next week - ugh. I really feel sorry to Linh and her family because because it has also rained during the past 10 days while they toured NYC and Boston.

04 May 2016

Updates

Linh has been very busy since the last blog update. She finished her last WVU MSW semester on April 29th. She graduates in just 11 days (May 15).
Linh started looking for jobs 2 months ago. She went to San Jose, CA for a Social Worker interview last month - and - no job offer but Linh did visit her friend in Los Angeles and got to visit Disneyland (top pic).
Linh's mother (Thuy) and her grandfather (Thy - Thuy's father) arrived in US on May 2nd. They are now visiting NYC (bottom pic). They will then visit Boston and I will meet them in DC on Monday May 9th. After touring DC, we will drive back to Morgantown WV for Linh's WVU graduation. So - look for more updates!

12 January 2016

16,000 Kilometers




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Back to US

After 40+ hours travel time and almost 10,000 miles (16,000 km), Linh and I made it back to WV last Sunday!
Linh's parents (Vinh and Thuy) said farewell to us at the Saigon airport. It was an emotional event for all.

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10 January 2016

Farewell




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Farewell Dinner

Last night (Saturday) was our last night in Saigon. Thuy (Linh's mother = 3rd from left) treated us and other Phamily members to great "crab feast" just before we went to the airport. Great people and food as always.
Linh and I are now in Tokyo Narita airport - in the middle of a 10-hour layover. From here we go to Dulles and then to Morgantown - ugh!





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08 January 2016

Birthday Celebrations - East vs West Cultures




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Thuy's Surprise Birthday Party

Linh and I hosted a surprise birthday party tonight for her mother (Thuy).
Top Pic = Thuy & Linh with the mango birthday cake. Interesting note: the birthday cake says "Happy Birthday Mother". In Vietnamese culture, it is disrespectful to refer to either of your parents by their first names. Many offsprings can't even remember their parents' first names because they never use them in conversation or birthday cakes! Btw - unlike Western cultures, Vietnamese never celebrate birthdays.
Middle Pic = We went to a barbecue restaurant for dinner - that is a hot, flame grill in the center of our table.
Bottom Pic = Close-up of ribs, vegetables, shrimp wrapped in bacon, female goats' breast (very chewy - but a Vietnamese favorite), and steak slices wrapped around cheese & onion. All food was great - except maybe the goat's breast!

05 January 2016

Bitexco




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Night Out at the Bitexco

Linh, her 2 friends and I (top pic) went out last night to a night club/bar on the 71st floor of the Bitexco building - the tallest building in Sai Gon 
 - bottom pic and see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitexco_Financial_Tower - incredible night views of HCMC and a band that played Mountain Roads (de je vu WVU)!

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01 January 2016

New Year's Eve Dinner

20 members of the Phamily accepted my and Linh's invitation to join us for a feast at a huge park/restaurant complex on the Sai Gon RiverGreat food and people!

Welcome 2016

After dinner, 8 of us went to the Saigon River Front in District 1 (downtown) to watch the fireworks. This area is kinda like being in Times Square in New York on New Year's Eve!
Top Pic = We began by having after dinner coffee and desserts at a great hotel coffee house on the water front.
Middle Pic = Just before midnight, we ventured outside to the water front to join the huge crowd to watch the fireworks (note crowd in background)!
Bottom Pic = Fireworks began promptly at midnight, lasted about 15 minutes and were pretty good!
This ended a great evening celebrating/welcoming 2016 with terrific friends! And - Happy New Years to all of YOU!