I Forgot Something!

Damn - I meant but forgot to mention that Thuy and her sister would be paying for ALL of their own travel expenses! AND - that Thuy & her sister had many discussions about giving Linh the travel $'s for her school costs instead of them coming with us! Bottom line = both Thuy and her sister decided that their concern about Linh's first-ever "move" from her home to a foreign land/school/life was "scary" for the entire Phamily & warranted/justified any expense to ensure that she was safely settled into her new, dramatically different life.

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.

Visa Approval Celebrations Begin

Top pic is of Linh displaying her official US Visa Approval document! If you click on pic to enlarge - you may be able to read the "US Visa Approval" stamp!
Bottom pic is of me and Phamily's luncheon feast celebrating Linh's visa!
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Visa Celebrations Continue @ 1st Starbucks in Vietnam!

Above pic is of Linh's father (Vinh) and me continuing the visa approval celebration after above luncheon at Starbucks in Saigon. <-- on February 1st (just before Tet holidays), Starbucks opened their 1st 2 locations in Vietnam - one each in Saigon and Hanoi. The one in Saigon is constantly packed - 1+ hour wait in line to get drinks!
The realization of Linh's visa approval is sinking in to all involved - causing mixed and very emotional reactions. Vinh and I spent more than 3 hours in some very heavy discussions.
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Results of Linh's US Consulate Interview!

After more than 8 months of exhausting efforts to successfully get Linh admitted to an M.Ed. program at James Madison University, today was the last step in Linh's "US dream" process - her interview at the US Consulate in Saigon to get her US F-1 (Student) non-immigrant visa (NIV).
US Student (F-1) visas are not a "sure thing" even when you have been formally/officially admitted to a US university's graduate program - 33% of Vietnamese US Student visas are "declined" (and the US Consulates/Embassies never tell you "why")! During the past week, Linh and I have spent many, many hours gathering/developing documents (e.g., CV, loan agreements, recent bank statements) and practicing/rehearsing for her VERY important US Consulate interview.
Linh's US Consulate interview began at 7AM this morning (EST = 7PM, Feb 21). The US Consulate's policy does NOT allow anyone to attend the interview with her. I did accompany her to the US Consulate and waited for her in a coffee shop across the street from the US Consulate. The wait was incredibly nerve-wracking!
2.5 hours after her interview began - Linh reappeared at the coffee shop where I was waiting for her. Results = Linh got her US visa! Linh will receive her passport and US visa via courier to her house in 2-3 days!
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Tet 2013 Celebrations End

The 9-day Tet 2013 celebrations began on/about Feb 8 and are now just ending on Sunday Feb 17. Of course, Tet "preparations" began WEEKS before Feb 8 involving MANY activities such as: MAJOR house cleaning, buying new clothes to wear during celebrations, cleaning motor bikes so that they are spotless, buying flowers to decorate homes and, of course, preparing many traditional, home-made Vietnamese foods (all very labor-intensive and time consuming)! ALL Vietnamese government offices (like post offices, public utilities, ministry offices) and most private companies (including many restaurants!) have been closed during this period!
Above pic is of a calendar that shows both the Chinese Lunar (1) and Julian (Feb 10) calendar dates for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Flowers around calendar are a traditional Vietnamese bonsai tree that blooms during Tet.
I did not realize it before my friend David (an Indian Tea and Vietnamese Cinnamon Plantations' entrepreneur) told me - Tet is the largest Holiday in the WORLD = celebrated by more people than any other Holiday in the world!
I am VERY thankful that the Phamily enabled me to experience/be an active member in the culture, people, festivities, ancestor worship rituals, and food associated with Tet, which I now know is the largest-celebrated holiday in the world!
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Tet 2013 - Sunflowers and Sushi!

Top pic is of the sunflower plant that I gave to Linh a week ago - in full bloom! Regrettably, these plants die soon after they fully bloom - it "passed" yesterday.
Bottom pic is of Linh making sushi (California rolls) for one of our many Tet feasts. Her sushi included wasabi and ginger - it was great!
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BTW's

Re Linh's US Visa Interview - My brother and others have pointed out that I did not say anything about "when" Linh would find out if her US visa was approved? Linh may find out at the conclusion of her interview. But, more than likely, it will be 3-7 business days following her interview.

Several folks have again asked "how can you enlarge blog pics? Just click any blog pic and it will appear "enlarged" and I believe the display is shown in "Photoshop" which enables you to further enlarge the pics.

Tet Visit to Another Phamily Member's House

Top pic is of me with group of visitors to yet another Phamily member's house. As always, a delicious feast of home-made, traditional Vietnamese food was served!

Bottom pic is of Linh wearing a "modern version" of the traditional Vietnamese women's Ao Dai.

Phamily Visits Saigon Mall

One evening, many Phamily members wanted to gather at a shopping mall near my hotel - so we did!
Top pic is of me and some of the Phamily members at the mall.
The bottom pic is of me and some of the Phamily members getting ready to eat Korean chicken wing at the mall's "food court".