News about our new Blog.

Hello all, I have started a new blog to chart Uyen's life and times in America. You can view it at the following address. We hope to post three to four times a week. Chao.

www.uyeninusa.blogspot.com

End of Chapter 3

The ending of another awesome visit to Vietnam and the begining of a new life's journey. The bolg will continue to follow Uyen's adventures in America.

Mom, Dad, & Sisters seeing us off.
More of the gang at the airport.
The surprise going away party at Uncle Son's home. I can't believe my knees held out from sitting cross legged.

Making final prep for our fiest.
Most of the group traveled three hours to join us for this special treat. I was truly honored!

Wow, What a send off !

Uyen advised me that we needed to stop by her Uncle's home before going to the airport because her mom and dad are coming down from Dong Nai to see us off. It turned out to be a huge gathering of family from all over the area, ( most were at the engagement party). We sat on the floor of Uncle Son's dining area and enjoyed a four course lunch. The love that has been shown to me by these wonderful people cannot be put into words. I am writing this post from the EVA Airlines Lounge in Taipei, while we wait for our connection to Seattle. I have some great shots of the going away party, and I will post them after the jet lag is past.

Preparing for the long trip home

The last couple of days have mainly consisted of handling all the moving details for Uyen. Today she is running around town on her motorbike, picking up and dropping off papers. She will stop by the US Consulate this afternoon to pick up the hard copy of her Visa and we should be completely ready to go on Friday. Uyen's parents and a few other relatives plan to see us off and I plan to get some pictures of them all. I am somewhat concerned about the weather forecast in Seattle. It looks like we will have 37 degrees and rain when we land. Oh well, I'm sure she will tough it out. After the last two weeks of 90+ temps., I'm the one that may not fair to well. Chao.

Quiet Monday

Went swimming first thing Monday morning and for a change, we had the pool to our self. Last night I visited Bill Seeberger's family. We ate another wonderful meal and talked about past times, even though they are not so distant. The twins in the first row are four years old and are bound to be Sumo wrestlers by the time they are ten. Back to Monday. We found a super market and purchased some spices, teas, and a few other items that we may not find in the US. We plan to swim again this afternoon, just call her Uyen Spitz.

Sunday morning

Here is a shot from my first visit. I will be joing these folks, (and others of the family), later today for Sunday dinner.

I woke up at 5:00 am to watch the last hour or so of Saturdays round of the Masters. It looks like I will be up even earlier Monday because the tourney is looking pretty exciting. Coverage begins at 2:00 am. This morning, Uyen and a couple of her friends are preparing to move the things from her apartment to her brothers place. I offered to help but she said it would be to hot. Later this afternoon, I plan to visit Bill Seeburger's in laws and join them for Sunday dinner. Those of you that have followed this log will remember them from my first visit to Vietnam in March 07.



For those of you that are new to my blog, you can view pictures and comments of all three trips that I have made. At the bottom of each post is a "older posts" option. Just click that and it will take you back. Also, the first post that you see is the most recent.

Visa party with family

Friday found us on a nice bus bound once again for the family home in Dong Nai. A wonderful dinner, hand shakes, hugs, and conversation for those that speak the language. Uyen's dad and I however, had another wonderful conversation. His English is getting better and better. He spoke English when he consulted our troops near the end of the war and he told me that I am the first person he has even tried to speak to in over thirty years. We have become great friends. I was honored with a invitation to sleep in their home that night and our plan is to return Sat. afternoon.

Woke up Sat. morning to the sound of chickens, dogs, motorbike horns, and truckers that have a on going compitition to see who has the loudest horn. It's enough to shake you right out the bed. Pictures of the return follow. Chao

Pictures of return from Dong Nai

After our visit with family again in Dong Nai, we hired a car and driver / ride share for the trip back to Saigon. We stopped at this little rest stop which is a whole lot different that the rest stops in the US. These have hamocks in case you want to take a snooze, along with refreshments and the like. It had to happen sooner than later. Ive commented before about the crazy but somewhat organized driving in this country. Until today, I had not seen a accident and this one was a doozy! A car like the one we are in hit at least three motorbikes head on and I think the guy in the middle of the picture didn't make it. Every just standing around looking. Our driver just kept on going. Sad.

This is the ride share that Uyen lined up. There were eight of us in this little SUV and the driver actually trided to take on two additional passengers. No WAY.

WOOHOO She's coming home with me!

Aunt Hue meets us across from the Consulate to cogratulate us. She was a great help in all of this. What a great friend and future family member.
I took this shot from the front entrance to theUS Consulate. The people are waiting for applicants to come out from their interviews.

After ten months of filling out forms, sending letters, and working with the consultant, we have succeded in getting a Visa for Uyen. The final hurdle was the interview that we had heard can be quite intimidating. During this process, I did not leave one stone unturned. What information they wanted they received and then some. Well, she went in for the private interview with the immigration officer and she was loaded for bear. Fiveteen minutes later she walked out with a Visa authorization! Unbelievable ! We expected that she would be asked alot of questions regarding our relationship and would want to see proof that I have traveled to Vietnam in the past. Nope, he asked three questions and the toughest was "What is the make of your fiance's car?" He didn't even look at the 100 + photos she presented. The plan now is to visit her family in Dong Nai again to say our goodbyes. Then we will fly to Seatle a week from Friday.

Wednesday - Interview Prep

Very relaxing morning until stepping outside into a blast furnace! Whoh, this is the hottest and most humid day so far. The weatherman said is was 95 with a "real feel" of 105. What made things worse was that we had a meeting at the lady's house that has helped Uyen with all the paperwork for Thursday's interview and her power was out!!! Open the persperation flood gates. Now how bout this program for Thursday. We depart for the Consulate at 6:30 AM and find a spot in line out in front with all the other hopeful immigrants. I plan to tell the officer that I am a past president of Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club. I'm sure we will be moved to the top of the line. Well here goes!

Comments about Tuesday

Came across this Greek godess, so I thought would take a photo of a Vietnamese godess with her.

Yesterday, we decided shop for a few friends back home and we decided try the local bus system just for a change. The traffic here seems to be in constant caos but everybody get's to where they want to be.
We walked along a number of streets breathing the fumes from the busses, trucks, and moter bikes. Last night I felt like I was coming down with a cold, but now I think it was the air. Good luck to the folks in Bejing.

Shopping Day

As I write this, Uyen is at her second swimming lesson. We plan to do some shopping today for a couple friends at home. One of my friends owns a Vietnamese cafe near my office and so we will pick up a few things that they can't find in the US. Tonight, we will join some of Uyen's friends and sing Kareoke.

Swimming Lesson

This is the 12 person Mercedes bus that 15 of us rode in to Dong Nai. It just as well could have been a John Deere given the suspension it had. But, for $60 all inclusive including our driver for the entire day, we didn't complain.
Uyen's first swim lesson with someone that speaks Vietnamese. She loves the water.

After a somewhat casual day on Monday, we walked over to the pool so I could swim some laps. There happened to be a swim teacher there and I signed Uyen up since while she and I communicate quite well, I have a hard time expressing how to kick the right way etc.

Monday

Today we went to meet with the person I hired to help Uyen with the paperwork that she will take to the US Consulate. Her interview for Visa is Thursday at 8:00. Other than that, the afternoon was spent catching up and just relaxing.

Engagement Party - comments

Wow what an experience ! What I thought would be a gathering of six or seven people turned out to be about 40 ! As a reminder when reading this blog, the most recent picture shows up on the screen first, so it's a good idea to scroll down and read your way back up. Uyen has a very loving family and they have accepted me with the likes that I could have never expected. Now the job at hand is to obtain her Visa from the US Consulate. I believe we are prepared. More later.

The Engagement Party

As you can see here and in other pictures, Dad and I have hit it off wonderfuly.
The women and men sat at different tables but Uyen stayed with me.


Picture with Mom and Dad

Isn't she a doll !
This is a shot of just part of the group

Nice shot with grand parents

Praying at the alter, asking for permission from ancestors

Uncle preparing special candles
Here comes the future bride !

Gifts are covered until the festivities begin. They consisted of fresh local fruit and a set of special candles
Parents and Uncle are setting up the gifts.

Two beautiful cakes for us.
This was posted on the wall in the living room.

Day Two cont.

I have noticed that I acclimate much easier now after three trips. We traveled to the home of one of Bill Seeberger's in laws home. On my first visit, we spent a lot of time with them and I posted pictures of the whole family. A few pics of them follow later. From there we went looking for a "Aui Dai" for me to wear at the engagement party. As expected, they were too tight around my chest, ( maybe I am working out too much). So it looks like I will be wearing my suit that I brought just in case. We visited yet another Uncle this afternoon and had yet another home cooked meal. From the sounds of things, there could be close to fifty family members attending the traditional engagement party. I'm starting to get a little nervous. A driver will pick a group of us up at 5:30 AM and head out on a 2 1/2 hr. drive. Let the fun begin.

Day Two

A beautiful and probably another hot day. Should be about 94 and feel like 103. We plan to meet with a lady that we hired to help Uyen correctly fill out all of the papers for her Visa interview. I plan to make sure all of her ducks are in a row. After that, we will visit Bill's relatives and deliver some items I brought for him. Tomorrow is the big engagement party and we will meet our driver at 5:30 AM to drive to Dong Nai. We did not have enough time to be fitted in a man's "Au Dai", so I brought a coat and tie for the event.

Saigon Safe and Sound

This is a picture of Uncle Loahn's home, taken from the ally, not street where they live. At the house they work as a tailer and sell Mango's when they are in season, which is now. Delicious!
We visited foe a while at their house and then mounted moter bikes for a local eatery. We had three to a bike and we took a very interesting route through a part of the city I had never seen before. The place was humming with people.
Each table is supplied with a butane burner and everybody cooks theif food at the table. That' Loahn sterring the pot.
I have said before that the food in this country is awsome and I have tried everything that has been served to me, even the above brains and heart. It was OK. I doubt that it will show up on the menu at Twin Lakes very soon!

Had a very uneventful 13 hr.flight to Taiwan, and another 3 1/2 hr. to Saigon. Checked in to my hotel and made plans for the rest of the day. We will visit Uyen's Uncle and family that I have not met. We will dine with them at popular local family joint. Here ar some pics of the first day.