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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