Wedding "Ceremony"

After entering the bride's house, the groom's family (R in top pic) formally present offerings/gifts to bride and her family (L in top pic).
The groom then formally ask the bride's family's permission to marry him.
Both families then ascend to the bride's ancestral worship alter to "privately" present offerings to the bride's ancestors and request the ancestors' permission to marry. After formally requesting bride's ancestors permission to marry, the couple are formally considered married.
This was followed by a "light" feast of delicious food and formal picture taking. Bottom pic are the bride's maids
(Linh is 2nd from R). I believe that Linh was the maid of honor.
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Formal Wedding Pics

The formal wedding pics included:

Top Pic = Bride, Groom & bride's maids (Linh is 2nd from L)

Bottom Pic = bride, groom, bride's & groom's families, and Bride's maids (Linh front row, 3rd from L).

The wedding celebrations continue tonight with a huge feast. So - look for more blog updates later!
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Adjusting

I forgot to mention that Vinh and Thuy (Vinh's wife) met Linh and I at the airport. They waited almost 5 hours for us.
Vinh had a heart attack and a stent implant last June. He was paralyzed from the waste down for 2+ months. He can now walk with a cane - but he is also very frail. He is still unable to drive his motorbike or return to work. Given his condition, I very much appreciated his efforts (physical & psychological) to meet Linh and me at the airport.
The next 2-3 days will be an "time adjustment period" for me. Weather is great = clear, 90F, light breeze. Saigon's busy street commerce, traffic, and "people watching" are still very invigorating/stimulating!
The Saigon neighborhood where I have stayed since 2008 has changed a lot in the last 2 years - my "grocery store" and favorite Japanese sushi bar are both gone! But, my doughnut street peddler is still around (above pic) - from whom I have been buying donuts for almost 7 years!
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Back to Vietnam

Just arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) after a hellish 38-hour travel time - many delays/canceled flights in Morgantown, WV, Dulles (IAD), and Beijing! AND, China Air "lost" Linh's 2 checked baggages = about 100 pounds of US stuff for Linh's family and friends. We are hoping that Linh's bags arrive tomorrow. Fortunately, my checked bags arrived in HCMC with no problems.
It has been almost 2 years since I was in Vietnam.
We are looking forward to our 30+ days visit - to include a wedding! So - look for blog updates!
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2014 Cuz Reunion - Blackwater Falls, West Virginia

Linh accompanied me to my cousin reunion (top pic = Kent, me, Gary, Cheryl & Nancy) at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. All cousins attended except Cuz's Tom and Jack (and their wives) - all of whom were missed very much! Part of Blackwater Falls in background.
Bottom pic = cousins with their spouses and Linh & me (L to R, back row Cheryl/Dan, Nancy/Earl, front row Linh, Mary/Kent, & me).
We all thoroughly enjoyed talking and feasting together during the weekend. Although my cousins have "known" Linh for 6 years through this blog, this was the first time any of them had ever met her. She was warmly welcomed into the family.
All are leaving early tomorrow morning because of long driving times. So - I decided to post these updates tonight.
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Linh, Me & Blackwater Falls, West Virginia

Linh and I with falls in background.
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Blackwater Falls & River Gorge

Top pic = Blackwater Falls.
Bottom pic = Blackwater River Gorge <-- view from the lodge where we all stayed.
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Linh's Cousin Thinh Departs WVU & Morgantown

Linh and I have been very busy this past week helping Linh's cousin Thinh settle into WVU and Morgantown.
Unfortunately, Thinh has decided not to attend WVU and she/her father have gone to Detroit with her uncle. This happen very suddenly and surprised both Linh and me!
These events have been very upsetting for Linh - including concerns about Thinh's US F1 Student visa which is no longer valid.
Above pic is, left to right, Chuong/Christina/Jessica (Linh's uncle, his wife and daughter from Detroit), Thinh (Linh's cousin), me, Nhu (Thinh's father/Linh's uncle), and Linh - having farewell diner last Monday.
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Updates

Many of you have been asking about Linh - so I decided to post this brief update.

Linh received her grade for her last (2nd) Summer session Social Work course (Methods 3; Organizations & Communities) = A! So, her Summer Session (and US university!) GPA = 3.5!

Linh's cousin (Thinh) is getting settled-into WVU. She will probably be moving into a "Host Family" home.

Also, this blog hit new milestones: more than 13,000 visits, and; more than 35,000 pages viewed.
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Farewell Dinner

I will return home tomorrow. So - tonight I treated all to dinner tonight at Red Lobster (above pic). And - of course - chauffeured Linh & Thinh to Walmart to shop for Thinh's apartment stuff. Ugh.
Current plans are for Nhu and maybe Thinh to fly from Pittsburgh to Detroit, MI next Thursday, August 21. Nhu will return to Saigon from Detroit on September 1st.
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