Trang Transplanted: Blesses in Life

I am not usually particular about my birthday. What but I am getting aged?! And it’s even stressful when you look back onto your accomplishment (I suppose this is the norm?!) and oh, I did not do much!!! Anyway, it’s fine. Anyhow, today I am feeling differently.

As living in US, and remaining a Vietnamese of course, I enjoy the luck of my birthday extending more than 24 hours. It’s good that a lot of my friends don’t really know or don’t care how to work out the time difference (even it is supper easy to remember and I told them hundreds of times) between Viet Nam and Texas, I got many early “happy birthday” . And, it’s strange to recall, that a few hours ago when it’s still 13^th (by the way it’s Friday 13^th) American time, I had yet felt the difference, but then if I had been in Vietnam, I had been half way through the joy. It’s the same “me” but the feelings are so different, and strangely enough I have never anticipated this kind of emotional state change which was geographically made!!! I was shifting myself half day behind Viet Nam, and yet still counting me on the other forward half, LOL. I have 12hrs for early wishes, 12hrs joint (the maximum joint hours between Viet Nam and America by the way) and 12 more hours behind. So let’s say, I have pre-on and-post!!! So, if it’s already 15^th in Vietnam, not to worry, It’s still 14^th here. And if it’s 15^th after noon in Viet Nam, it’s okay too. I don’t mind late messages, kekeke…

The first birthday wish for me was sent from Vietnamwork.com.This email sender did function irrelevantly and I was on purpose ignoring it since I worked for IBM, and especially now jumping into a totally different field, but an email from them on November 14^th (or 13^th) is kind of fun, even it’s a kind of diplomatic generosity! “Oh, they still count on me, eh?! They’d probably better revise their employee profile once in a while or update the status. Luckily, I did not have any black spots on my criminal background statement or something like that”.

The second early one was a bunch of messages from an endearing friend of mine who was also my college mate now living in Hue. She’s special as ever! My 21^st birthday was celebrated by her, with candies and candles. I was going back to our apartment from home on Sunday (I went home every weekend back then) when I found out the room was damn dark. (Knock, knock, knock), “Nghi, are you at home? Please open the door for me”. “Sorry I am working on my paper, it’s unlocked. Just come in”. I opened the door and was really amazed by the sight and the sound. She was standing on our bed, saying “Trang, happy birthday to you dear” out loud. I was like “ha??? What’s going on? This is what made you busy and cannot open the door?” (Smiled). We gave each a hug. I was surrounded by and started to count the candles on the window, on top of her tiny bookshelf, on desk, my bookshelf, and even on the rice cokker. There were 21 of them everywhere, regular distribution I would say (if any who ever suffered statistics will know what I meantJ). My close secondary school friend who carried me there from home was with me and he said he felt happy too. Quick introduction then we started to have the so called birthday party by the candle light. It was amazing. Nghi gave me a box of all kinds of pens and highlighters (I love stationery things). I preferred white light to yellow one and hers was opposite. But I was indulgent for her. And I specially love the candle light that night.

The third early (in US) one was from my 2 roommates; one of them is my college friend Thanh. She had ‘Happy Birthday” song opened loud and called Maggie “đại ca” to come in. It’s a pretty coat from Old Navy. One more beautiful coat. Thanks Thanh.

Oh, “buôn dưa lê” with Nam heo about 30 minutes when her phone card burnt, haha. Got to call her back today I guess. So much fun, Nam and I were friends since we were in early 6^th grade, 10 years old, a constant friend that is hard to find!

And my sweet mom called me twice!!!

Thay Doug took me home and Cindy treated me wonderful supper with fried tilapia and vegetable. But to see Cindy and her Mom again was bigger pleasure. We had fun, though I got stuck with my anthropology paper. Cindy and Doug and her Mom were very quite ( I tried to hear around and find out if anyone’s awake yet but I couldn't tell, hee hee) this morning until almost ten, when they figured out 9 hours sleeping was enough for me, LOL… Pancakes and orange juice for breakfast, I could not start a day any better…

Got a missed call from another college friend. Purchased a calling card and had a long list of Vietnamese that I need to call. But we have put them all to bed I think by the longest conversation I had with him so far. Beo gave me 10 wishes as my requests), poor him to suffer so much from my torture. But it’s his fault. He gave me 8 wishes then I asked for 1 more to have the perfect night, and then because 9 is a lot so I asked for the tenth that said “I wish all the 9 wishes I wish for you are not only wishes”, hehehe… and he repeated that obediently!!!

My FB account is full of wishes from my endearing IBM friends. I must say my tenure in IBM for a year and a half was the best employment time of mine so far. So much fun. Going to work in casual dressing, long nights with music, food, birthday parties but working hard as well…We went to Mui Ne to the beach, ride bicycle, and sang, and fashion shows; Buon Ma Thuoc with ging-gong festival, elephant ride, “ruou can” and shopping. And many more!!! I have lived to the fullest of the joy. I really miss them sometime. Most of my IBM friends are very intellectual and perform well in life and at work. They are smart and lovely. Thanks to FB that we can connect. It cheers me up a lot to read and have updates about them.

And my cutie Slovene classmate Petra who I spent time in Utah with and google talk to almost every day.

And aunt Patty and Russel.

Big event to be added, Cindy made "Boston cream cake" for us and we had a BD party after Doug got home. She instructed me to make pudding for the cake (I love doing that). Still fascinated by the smell now. Had so good a time!!!

Thanks a lot everyone for thinking of me on my birthday.

Trang Transplanted

On The Brand-new Land

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November 14, 2009

Blesses in Life

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