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.

 

 

1st Day @ School – Half way thru

Friends who know me well or visit my FB have more than one time heard of this: “My Vietnamese friend is comingggggg . She will be here to join in the same program as mine. We will be roommates, blahblah”. And yes, Thanh has come for 2 weeks. So many things were going on. But, today is a special day.

It is special because we got out of the house in a very good mood. Beloved shuttle bus drivers have come back. They’ve saved my life! We got to Research Office where Thanh should have been going to work for a long time. I had seldom been on time. Pictures were taken. “Hey, I am back! I love school!”

It’s our first day at school, and Thanh’s first day at work. But no, we did not really work. The work study showed us how to document some research proposals. Off we went to ORSP and then Provost Office to deliver proposals. I got missed calls from Dr Pam when we were out. When I called her back, I could not believe in what I’d heard but I *had to* and needed to tell Thanh what to do. Yes, Thanh will be hired as an SA (Special Assignment/direct wage) in English department. She made me jealous, hehe (kidding!!!) This not only saved her from the exorbitant tuition and fees designated for international students but also gives her monthly pay check, plus Thanh will be able to work on her field of study. Again I want to thank Dr Pam a million times for helping her out the way she really wants.

Doug gave me good advice for a personal conversation with Dr Fowler in order to explain for Thanh’s departure. But I did not have a chance to use them. Yes, you’re right Teacher. Dr Fowler’s is an understanding person in the career aspect, and a wonderful person. She came out and told Thanh to take the job in English department, and that Thanh could come back to visit. They hugged and said goodbye, the two pairs of glasses clicked. “I am sorry Dr Fowler, that even Thanh is wearing glasses, she could not see yours, hehe”. We all laughed.

Off we went to Music department to see a friend and listen for his violin playing but he’s gone. We wandered around Music department and further. Pictures were again taken, and Thanh was confident to realize some of her crazy ideas this time ‘cause we were at a less crowded corner of the campus.

Today I had lunch at school at campus with a friend. Thanh left us in front of Student Union to do her immigrant paper. For so long I haven’t had company for lunch. Those hurry meals did not sorrow me but were not very cheerful unless the food was really good! I could stand the autonomy and now it’s resplendent. My friend and I sat in the middle of the crowd, talking, having instant noodle and waved as our acquaint ants. That’s awesome. I found a space! In a moment I felt to be brought into somewhere endearing and new experience, yet already-there. At least I belong to here-UTPA. I thought that I didn’t, but I do care… I want more friends! Suddenly the friend asked: “What are you thinking when you look at people going by?” “Well, I don’t really know. But I am sure I can tell you what’s in my mind now, later!!!”

For so long I have been far away from home. Sometime I forgot what I missed. Thanh has came and brought a bit of VIET NAM to me. I am cheered up, and appreciate her being. We walked around, recalled the old days in Hue, and compared the environments, the feelings, as always. I feel so much grateful to Dr Fowler and Dr Pam for what they’ve done, and something even more important than the job my friend has- the solution to current problems, is the idea of really caring and bring help to other people. Looking at Thanh with all the energy and motivation she has right now, I thought about the significance and influence and power of those academic people. And I suddenly missed my old friend-my dear uncle who refused to give money to the poor. Instead, he built a school for them.

The story of green mangoes

One day the power went off in the office. And we could not go home. (Well, that’s the way it is, don’t ask why). Kim (Kimbery), Leya and me laid down on the 3^rd floor waiting and waiting. And that’s the time for chatting. We came through all kinds of issues that we could think of from shoes to wireless router. And we talked about fruit. We listed the names of the fruits that each of us loves to eat, and of courses the ones disliked. Kim does not like papaya for the smell it produces, and neither does Leya. That’s strange to me. I have no problem with papaya. I have a big love for fruit, besides other things!!! Wandering around “the fruit garden”, we stopped at mango. I asked them: “Have you tried green mango?” “What? It’s weird! Is green mango edible?” “Of course! It’s very good. Green mango is the fruit of Vietnamese high school students. We just love it. They are not so sweet, so that’s good! Green mangoes would be thinned sliced, deeping into fish sauce with red pepper, and a little bit sugar, zip zip. Sweet, spicy, and sour! Ask any high school student in

Viet Nam

they will tell you their story. The story of cutting off the class and gather for green mangoes. The story of girls!!!”

 

 

And today, Leya brought me a big bag of green mangoes! “This is from the mango tree in my front yard. The green mangoes reminded me of your story. ‘Trang likes these’. And I had my dad jump up to catch them. ‘This one Dady, and that one…’”.

 

Oh my!Leya is just so lovely!!! I will make "nước mắm ớt đường" (fish sauce with red pepper and sugar) and call for some Vietnamese friends tomorrow.

To my dearest aunt! Lilies...for my loves

Today my Dearest Aunt passed away from her ovary cancer. Though this is expected, I feel lost of a sweet person of my childhood. She and her husband were a happy couple. Back then, she and her husband periodically drove to the village to visit my family and my grandma, her mom! She usually brought us candies in her visits, the joy for us to see her. She had a kind-hearted face with sweet smile. Very tolerant! One day my brother “cu em” climbed on the guava tree in the backyard, he was almost on top of it when we walked by (my aunt, her husband and me). I was shouting at him to come down, saying “I will tell “chi Phuong” about this. (Chi Phuong was always a scare to us when we did something wrong or something we were not supposed to do). But she told me that: don’t do that, be gentle to ask him to get down. If you rushed him, he might get nervous and fall”. Well, for some reasons I was seldom gentle to my brothers in our childhood. But I did keep in mind what she told me. We took a short cut to my youngest aunt’s house and spent sometime there. I did not really want to go to my youngest aunt house, but I followed them. I wanted to be with her….

I did not have a terribly sweet childhood, to be honest. But once in a while, I had such blessing moments. As a child, subconsciously, I was so grateful for her being in my life.

I was 8 when my father had to make himself Hue hospital resident for his kidney surgeries. I don't remember for how long. I was reluctantly put there with him for 3 days (reluctant because I could not take a bit care of him. I was just his worry. But there should be someone with him). The lady who was taking care of her husband next to my father also took care of me. She cooked for me every meal and took me to the market and everywhere she went. My eyes were fed by exotic images, big streets, nursing classes in the hospital, beautiful , elegant (in a child’s eyes), and prosperous. One time my aunt and her husband came to visit my father, her husband saw a mentally ill minority girl who looked black and dirty and smiled a lot. He teased me by saying that I looked like that girl. I was a little bit insulted but took it very easy as I knew he was teasing, and I liked his smile for me, and especially they brought me candies (keo cau), no 2 brothers, so just me with the whole package! I was very content. They took me out for “phở” (rice noodles with beef). The smelI of “phở” was becoming very special to me. It was not only a kind of food. It was a memory, a feeling! I was happy. They took me for a walk. I was glad. My father was sick and I was alone. They came and brought me the greatest joy. When they left, I was extremely sad.

Even further back, when my father had not yet stayed in the hospital, they came to my house almost every month for supper. No electricity then. For me those were cozy nights. I swallowed food very slowly. My father was usually very sweet to me except *in* the meals because I could take hours for 2 bowls of rice if no one reminded me to chew. When they (my aunt and her husband) came for dinner, and saw how slowly I ate, she told my father to put an alarm clock in front of me in *every meal*, and that he would assign me 2 minutes for each bowl of rice . *Every minutes for each bowl*. I was so scared and stressed! “How in the world can you come up with such an idea?!” But my father did not do that. He was “softer-hearted” with me.

We grew. She’s getting aged. Less travels. She could visit us about twice a year. And those reminded me of the past. Sweet. Invisible but strong. I missed her in her short trips. I envied those with the ones that used to last for hours, sometime a day.

The day before I left for America, we talked. She held my hands, told me to work hard and be a good girl. "Be nice to your sponsors! You are exceptionally lucky to have them in your life!" We had a simple goodbye lunch together! We had picture taken.  Two of us. She gave me a two-hundred thousand VND note. “It will remind you of me”. I felt a big shame about myself not being able to keep it. Actually I did hesitate keeping it or not. Then I chose not to. Deep in my heart I had a slight hope that I would be able to see her again when I come back, though she was already very weak then. But I was so wrong. That day would never come. My camera which kept our picture was stolen. The VND note is no longer with me. I keep her in mind, at heart. But I want something to look at. Now!!!

I am still ... alive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0y1T7ddLw

Trang grew well in the new soil, but just getting so lazy. *Wake up Trang. Winter is over. Get yourself out of the ground. No need to hide anymore*. The last post was almost 3 months ago. Well, what can I say?!

 

So many things have happened lately.  Have been busy enjoying funs, as well as solving some troubles. First summer abroad is not bad so far. Thus, I hate the sun in South Texas. The heat carries fire in it. I miss the humidity back home. First week back to work, my face was exposed in the sun, resulting facial skin pain and annoying looking! Doug brought me the *mask* so that I could be a Vietnamese traveler again, in Texas! *This is Trang that I used to know*. I wore the mask in the car, out of the car to HEB, to church, everywhere I noticed the sun. Instead of the sun was catching me, I was waiting for it to avoid it, LOL…

Backwards, I was back from Houston on May 25^th. It was really a nice trip except for the annoying flight that I was in on the way home. My cousin, who was the tour guide for me in Houston, was whole-hearted to me despite his busy business work. Running 3 business services at the same time, taking me on trips around the city and further was really a great effort. 

Yes, I’ve been to The Rice University, a gorgeous campus. A big reputation! A pride of the students who study in it. University of Houston was the second destination. This campus was not less wonderful! Plus, it owns an adorable charm with trees and a lot of flowers and a big bookstore (where I got my GRE guidebook. The one put me to sleep whenever it’s opened!).

My cousin also drove me to College Station to visit Texas A & M, one of the most academically prestigious in Texas and national-wide. But Texas A & M was also a paradise in my eyes for its beautiful landscape. Huge buildings will tall trees. Students were either in hurried pace on shadowed sidewalks or laid down on green grass or sat beside artificial lake reading books. It seemed to me that students here were very studious and looked smart. There were a lot of huge oak trees and parks and statues in this pretty campus. An hour and a half was not enough for me. But again, the heat was annoying, and I could not let my cousin keep following me in the sun.

A week in Houston was for Hue dishes, at Dong Ba!!! And jack fruit, and *# 1 craw fish* (worded by a Californian Vietnamese), grilled fish, fertilized eggs, *walking chicken* (free range), grilled shrimps, steamed clams and everything else of Viet Nam!!! I did not drink, but constantly presented myself on each and every drinking table where my cousin was at! I told my cousin not to drink much, but he said sometimes it’s a must. He’s a business man.

It’s also a good chance to visit with his Vietnamese friends who came to America almost 20 years. They are prosperous, well mannered and very American; thus their Vietnamese characteristics remained, deeply, and subconsciously.

A week flew. With Vietnamese people and language. Little English spoken. I left with nostalgia, though Houston is not my home at all! But, one of the very few reasons that I am glad I was *not* living in Houston, that I would not have to put myself into English practice, and that’s against my objectives being in America.

A week back home with Doug and Cindy was sweet, as always. McAllen is really *my home* in America so far. Doug laughed so hard when I said *Houston is so crowed and noisy for me*. *Trang, you’re getting so American. You become to enjoy the quietness, eh?*. *Yes, I do*. (And today my boss told me that American has a saying *when it’s too loud for you, it means you are getting old*). Hichic… Am I? I always think I am *Young*…hehe…

And now, I am in my new apartment, the Palms, getting all over such ridiculous problems in a new place. However,Palms has so far given me joys: views, trees, swimming pool, spaciousness, privacy, savings, and a get-along roommate.

Tâm sự họ nhà tóc (st)

(Dân trí) - Sinh thời tớ là những ngọn tóc tơ, mỏng manh như sợi chỉ vàng mà tạo hoá phải rất dày công ban tặng cho cô chủ tớ. Ấy là tớ nghe bà ngoại cô trộm mụ khen và ví von như vậy.

Cô chủ lớn hơn chút xíu, đã có thể lon ton cầm lược và dây thun nhờ người lớn buộc tóc nên tớ được cưng chiều cực kỳ. Mấy em tóc mai được thả xuống hai bên trán như hàng rèm tô điểm cho khuôn mặt cô chủ rạng rỡ, toát lên vẻ hồn nhiên, ngây thơ.

 

Lớn lên cô vẫn trung thành với mái tóc dài. Vậy là họ nhà tớ tha hồ mượt mà, óng ả do được bà chủ đun nước lá bưởi, hương nhu cùng quả bồ kết để gội. Cả bọn hừng hực sức sống. Thi thoảng lại được “đổi món” bằng quả chanh, cũng rất tuyệt. Nay bà chủ bận rộn hơn, với lại cô chủ cũng nên tự biết chăm sóc mình, thành ra bà “khoán trắng” bọn tớ cho cô.

 

Cô thay đổi dầu thường xuyên vì: “Dùng nhiều mới biết dầu nào hợp”. Vậy là họ hàng nhà tớ được hưởng đủ các loại sơn hào hải vị. Nhưng thực lòng mà nói, tớ vẫn nhớ và thích thủa “hàn vi” được tắm nước thơm ngào ngạt mà bà mẹ thiên nhiên ban tặng, khiến cơ thể mình có thể thanh tịnh, nhẹ nhõm hơn.

 

Chúng bạn bảo: “Tóc này nom quê”, cô chủ băn khoăn và bắt đầu tham khảo các mẫu mới. Tụi tớ run cầm cập, nín thở.  

 

Chiều đi học về, cô vào hiệu cắt tóc luôn, tớ chỉ kịp nghe cô nói “chị cắt kiểu Cá vàng cho em” thì đã thấy nhói đau dưới chân mình sau làn kéo sắc. Họ nhà tớ dần dần rụng tơi tả. Thanh niên bọn tớ cố sức gào thét, mấy bác trung tuổi xót thương đồng bào song cũng đành cắn răng.

 

Cô chủ có vẻ hài lòng với tóc mới, nhưng chỉ một thời gian sau mấy đứa tóc ngông nghênh cứ mọc lên tua tủa làm cô bực, liền ra tiệm hớt tóc dõng dạc: “Kiểu sư tử chị nhé!” rồi thư giãn đọc báo. Thấy họ lôi dụng cụ ra cô hốt hoảng: “Em chỉ cắt, không ép, không là đâu”. Chị kia thản nhiên: “Phải là thẳng xuống mới cắt được”.

 

Cô chủ lại ngoan ngoãn ngồi im. Bọn tớ cũng tò mò không hiểu đó là cái gì. Rồi bỗng nhiên nhóm vừa được đưa vào cái máy quái quỷ nào đó gào rú lên thê thảm vì nóng. Dường như cô cũng biết, nên hỏi: “Nóng quá! Em thấy mùi khen khét”.

 

- 180 độ mà, thế tóc mới thẳng được.

 

Bọn tớ, ai cũng buồn và có cảm giác bải hoải hết tay chân như bị chết bỏng. Tất thảy đều hậm hực trách cô chủ. Kiểu đầu mới này cô được rất nhiều người khen nhưng chỉ được một tuần thì bọn tớ lại như lũ sư tử vừa đi tranh mồi về, xù hết lên. Nghe bạn bè, cô chủ đi duỗi bọn tớ. Lần này họ hàng nhà tớ không những bị cái máy chết tiệt đó chà xát vào mình mà còn được nhồi thêm một lượt thuốc ép tóc cô nhân viên kia tống vào mồm không kêu được. Chao ôi là kinh khủng, bọn tớ nước mắt chảy ròng ròng…

 

Cũng nhờ đau vậy mà cô chủ tớ đẹp lên từng ngày, có rất nhiều người khen nhưng tớ chợt tâm đắc câu: “Được tiếng khen ho hen chẳng còn” và thấy đẹp quá giả tạo, không ai buồn hãnh diện. Thi thoảng cô đưa bọn tớ đi dưỡng, còn mất thời gian gấp mấy đun nước bồ kết ngày trước, nhưng còn lâu mới mượt mà bằng hồi đó.

 

Bọn tớ chán chường, trống rỗng chẳng buồn bàn luận gì nữa thì bỗng một hôm cô ở tiệm cắt tóc gợi ý: “Em thử để kiểu đầu quăn có lọn đi, giới trẻ đang chuộng”. Cô gật gù. Vậy là hôm đó bọn tớ được tắm cái thuốc hôi kinh khủng. Cô chủ cũng phải nhăn mặt song trót hi sinh vì nghệ thuật nên đành cố.

 

Sau có người góp ý để đầu quăn già, không hợp, thì cũng là lúc họ hàng nhà tớ đã tuổi cao sức yếu cả, ai nấy đều lọm khọm già, phều phào, răng rụng gần hết do ăn phải thức ăn không hợp khẩu vị và cũng vì không tiêu hoá nổi chỗ hoá chất kia thành ra cứ rủ nhau lũ lượt đi cả. Bọn trẻ con thì chưa kịp lớn. Tóc trưởng thành nhưng bị hun cho gẫy hết chân giờ chỉ còn khóc khô cả nước mắt vì thương họ và lo cho phận mình đang chờ từng ngày bị hành quyết.

 

Dường như cô chủ cũng cảm nhận được sức khoẻ của họ hàng nhà tớ xuống cấp trầm trọng nên lo lắng đến mất ăn mất ngủ khiến bọn tớ nom càng bệ rạc. Hôm cô quyết định cắt bọn tớ thành tém cho gọn nhẹ và năng động thì chiều khi về nhà gội đầu, các bác tóc già, cả trung tuổi nữa cứ theo làn nước trôi đi từng mảng to. Cô hốt hoảng khóc lóc gọi mẹ. Bà chủ vội vàng mua cho cô bộ tóc giả. Hôm sau dẫn lên bác sỹ mới biết. Cô bị nấm do dùng hóa chất vô tội vạ, kém chất lượng và không theo chỉ định… Giờ phải uống thuốc, điều trị một thời gian.

 

Cô chủ soi gương và khóc rất nhiều. Nghĩ lại thời vàng son, chúng tớ và cả cô chủ cùng não nuột: “Ước gì…”.

 

TSL

Viet Nam pride

I have been so pleased to bring my mother tongue over the other side of the world and put it in classroom. Actually I was flattered when asked to teach Vietnamese for English major juniors as a result of them being exposed to new language learning. The first five weeks of mine being the instructor of Vietnamese was so memorable for a number of reasons: I *never* teach Vietnamese before. And I ever teach any college students. And so I became the teacher of 15 students, and also a representative of the language, the culture and traditions.

And today, my 15 students just impressed me with satisfactory feelings about what they’ve brought to the festiba. (Festiba is a kind of festival about language and culture). In the ceremony, my former Vietnamese students (‘cause they no longer took Vietnamese lessons after 5 weeks. They are studying Slovene now and I am teaching the former-Slovene group) were in charge of the presentations about the language and culture of Vietnamese that they had been learning in 5 weeks.

I was *really* fascinated by what they prepared for the presentations: videos of cultural and ceremonial activities like Tet holidays, human chess, Hue traditional folksongs, water puppet shows, body wrestles… They also dumped in images of well-known natural and historical sites like the Citadel, one pillar pagoda, Temple of Literature, ladder rice fields…Next to the projector, and this touched me the most, was the flag of Vietnam, so familiar and endearing. A girl student named Linda was the author of the work. She had “sewed” up the yellow star on red cloth. I was privileged to receive it from her as a special gift. Right in the middle of the hall was a big poster “Xin chào – hello” and on the opposite side of the projector was more small posters  of historical facts: Ho Chi Minh, Nguyen Du, Nguyen Trai profiles were put beside recipes of “rice noodle soup with beef” and “shrimp sugarcane”.

A long and a rectangular tables were put in the center and there were sesame candy (Cindy brought it back for me in their trip) and Kopiko coffee candy on them. “Well, even though this candy (Kopiko) is found here in the US, but the coffee was exported out from Viet Nam anyway”!!! I agreed with the student. The brochure of Viet Nam really contained interesting information (though some was not correct!) like the currency, capital, ceremonies, fast facts about the country, and most of all, language quiz. So the candies would be the rewards for any guests who were willing to practice and perform Vietnamese. The “hosts” moved around, “marketing” their knowledge about Vietnamese culture, “showing up” all their Vietnamese language input and challenging the guests. They started from such simple question like “how do you say hello/hi in Vietnamse?” to the more evil ones such as “do you have a telephone number?” (literally translated) or “where is the restroom?”. Anyway, some guests were really brave and nativists, but some were scared away! Some guests did not perform the target language but wanted the candies. The girls were mean to them!!! “ You must say the Vietnamese words firs in order to get the candy t!!!”.

I told them Vietnamese lexicon is polysemantic when I myself misunderstood their question. As they wanted to get more visitors, they asked me: “Trang, how do you say “stop” in Vietnamese?” “Dừng lại or thôi đi. But normally with “thôi đi”, you did actually put an attitude on it, like annoyance sometimes”, and I gave them an example. Benjamin (one of the students) called out loud “thôi đi” and the girl next to him said “Dừng lại” when they saw some students far end. “Oh, you meant how to ask people to come by”… "Oh no, I've just given you the Vietnamese equivalence of "stop (it),(that's enough!)" So much laugh about that.

They asked me hundreds of questions about Hue, music, dance and food, of course. I told them Hue royal court music is typically traditional and elegant and has a lot gentle dances in it (hope this is true!!!) but I am not a traditional Hue girl to perform those dances. They listened to “Rất Huế” performed by Van Khanh. They searched out “My heart will go on” with Vietnamese lyrics and named the singer “Vietnamese Celin Deon”. Last by not least, they found karaoke songs and tried to sing along and mimed. My crazy students!!!

Guess what? I brought “aodai” with me to school and had it tried on by a student! It just fitted her perfectly. She really looked so cute on the dress with her long hair and bright skin. The girl in “aodai” got a lot of glances and stares from other passengers on the way back and forth my home for the conical hat.

We had fun till the last minutes when most of them had to leave for the other classes. A lot of photos were taken, lots of laughs and exchanges. Overwhelmed by the pride on the students’ performance, and homesick. I miss my Viet Nam!

Góc sân nhà

Hôm nay vừa mới tưới vườn cây nhà Cindy xong.  Như mọi lần, ở trong “khu vườn” này, mỗi lần tưới cây, mình lại bồi hồi nhớ lại ngôi nhà xưa của mình. Nói ngôi nhà xưa bởi vì nhà mình trước đây cũng có trồng rất nhiều loại hoa đẹp và lạ. (Do đặc trưng của Nam Texas là vùng “địa đầu” khá gần xích đạo, thời tiết và khí hậu nơi đây mang hơi hướng “nhiệt đới nửa gió mùa”. Cây cối ở Nam Texas cũng vì vậy mà không khác mấy so với các “giống nòi” ở Việt Nam). Ba mình là 1 người yêu thiên nhiên, chị Phượng cũng là một người chu toàn, chăm sóc tốt đến cả cây cỏ. Nhớ những ngày mình tha thẩn ra vườn trước khi ba đang tưới cây tỉa cành, mình hỏi hết tên hoa này hoa kia (ba mang hoa gì về trồng cũng đều biết tên), hay những buổi sáng chị Phượng bắt nhổ cỏ quanh mấy cây bông đồng tiền (1 loại hoa mình rất thích vì hình dáng của nó) và xương rồng, mình lê lết từng bước mỏi mệt vì môi trường làm việc “khắc nghiệt” (nắng o Huế rất gắt), vừa đói bụng và trên hết mình chỉ muốn nghỉ ngơi!!! Nhưng khi xong việc, trò chơi khắc chữ lên bảng xương rồng làm mình thích thú. Chị Phượng khắc tên mấy anh bạn, hehe, cu em cu anh khắc tên “Phong Phú” nhưng lại viết “HPú”, “HPong”, mình nghĩ “2 đứa ni thật tệ, hoc lớp 3 rồi mà viết tên mình cũng sai”. Sau này nhìn lại các nét chữ khô khoắt trên các bảng xương rồng, mình cứ nhớ lại cái buổi sáng nô đùa hôm đó.

 Thời gian trôi quá nhanh, và bao tai ương biến cố đã giáng xuống khu vườn xinh đẹp của mình. Hầu hết các cây đều đã không thể sống sót sau trận đại hồng thủy 1999. Mình còn nhớ đứng nhìn những cái cây tàn tạ héo úa và chết đi từng ngày mà trong lòng buồn rười rượi. Khi đó mình rất muốn kiếm giống về trồng lại vườn hoa nhưng không biết ba có còn thích hay không? Cũng vì lúc đó mọi thứ ngổn ngang quá, hàng hóa ướt và hư hại tùm lum thì ba còn thì giờ đâu mà lo nghĩ tới cây cỏ nữa chứ. Và rồi, mong muốn của mình cũng theo những lo toan chuyện thường ngày đó mà nhạt nhòa dần. Sau này mình muốn cùng ba trồng lại vườn hoa, nhưng dường như cái thú vui đó không còn nguyên vẹn như xưa nữa, trong ba bây giờ chồng chất những lo toan mưu sinh và, những khó khăn hay đúng hơn là “hậu quả” của mùa lũ. Mình nhìn khoảnh sân mà lòng cảm thấy bồi hồi xót xa cho ngày nào. “Tại sao bây giờ nó trơ trọi, trống vắng, xấu xí như vây? Nhà mình ngày xưa nổi tiếng trồng nhiều cây cảnh đẹp đến nổi mỗi dịp Tết người ta còn tới mượn cảnh chụp hình nữa mà!” Cảm giác đau nhoi nhói ở trong mình thật khó tả, “không lẽ mình không bao giờ được sở hữu một vườn hoa trong sân nữa sao? Vườn hoa năm xưa của nhà mình đâu rồi?”. Mỗi lần như vậy mình cứ muốn quay đi, tự an ủi với mình rằng “bây giờ không lo tập trung học hành mà thi cử đi, ba mình cũng bận rộn nữa, còn hơi sức đâu mà hoa với trăng”. Rồi một ngày, mình cũng được an ủi phần nào khi ba đi xin 1 bụi rau quế về trồng ở góc sân cạnh cái giếng. Mình rất thích bụi rau này thứ nhất là vì mùi hương của nó, thứ hai là có thể “dùng” được. Cũng vì khi nấu nướng mình hay nảy ra những ý tưởng bất chợt, nên chợ nhà mình chỉ đông từ sáng tới trưa thì chẳng đáp ứng được nhu cầu. Có bụi rau quế ở đây thiệt là tiện lợi. Từ đó mình ra công chăm sóc, tưới nước cho nó hằng ngày, vì nó nằm cạnh giếng, lại có vườn rau lang được tưới nước đều đặn trước mặt nên nó cũng được hưởng lợi theo. (Vườn rau lang đó không phải của nhà mình đâu, là do ba ko muốn để dất hoang nên cho chị con bác ra trồng rau). Bụi rau của mình lớn nhanh như thổi, ngày ngày mình ra ngắm nghiá nó, những chiếc lá quế xanh non mơn mởn đung đưa trong gió chiều. Thân cây mập mạp khỏe khoắn. Đó đây lú nhú những cành nhánh mới đang sôi sục chuẩn bị vươn mình ra đón nắng. Tất cả toát lên một vẻ khỏe khoắn tươi tốt. Bụi cây mang cho mình ít nhiều niềm vui sau mỗi giờ học căng thẳng. Hồi đó đang ôn thi đại học, mỗi ngày mình phải dậy sớm (hơn bây giờ) học bài. Mỗi ngày mình đều không quên thưởng cho bụi rau của mình, vốn đã trở nên thân quen lắm, 1 xoa nước, và lâu lâu bón phân cho gốc cây. Mình muốn chúng lớn lên thật nhanh. Mình thích thú vô cùng mỗi khi ngắm nghía chúng, chúng thiệt là lớn nhanh quá, mới đây thôi mà cành lá đã nhiều không xuể rồi. 

Rồi thì, nhà mình trở thành nơi “cung cấp quế miễn phí” cho mấy nhà xung quanh. Không những thế, nó còn mang lại cho mình chút thu nhập, thật vui, chỉ vài chục nghìn thôi nhưng lúc đó là cả một “gia tài” của mình rồi. Cứ cách 2 tuần ba và mình cắt rau cho mình đem ra chợ. Mình còn nhớ hai cây kéo “làm ăn” của mình, ba một cây, cắt tỉa thật cẩn thận, mình trú trớ chưa biết làm thế nào vì một phần sợ cắt không đúng cách cây sẽ chết thì mình buồn lắm, một phần vì cây quá tốt tươi, các nhánh cành mơn mởn làm mình không nở kết thúc cái sự sống đang khỏe mạnh kia. Mình cứ tần ngần mãi, ba nói mình phải cắt đi thì những cành non mới có thể mọc ra dược từ đó, nếu thấy tiếc mà không cắt thì chẳng bao lâu sau chúng cũng sẽ già úa và chết đi. Vậy là mình cắt. Không ngờ một bụi cây trông có vẻ “khiêm tốn về chiều cao” như thế mà cắt mãi mới hết. Khi cắt đã gần xong, mình xếp chúng ngay ngắn vào rỗ. Để rỗ rau của mình trông đẹp mắt, chúng phải được xếp thân theo thân, không được lỗm chổm phần thân với phần ngọn. Vậy là mình đã phải góp nhặt từng cành, được một bó đầy tay, lấy mặt đất làm nơi cân bằng chúng rồi đặt chúng ngay ngắn vào rỗ. Công việc tỉ mỉ này chỉ có mình mới làm được thôi, ba cắt rau xong thì bỏ vô nhà xem ti vi, mình mải miết với “kho tàng” của mình trong buổi chiều.

Được hơn một tháng, bụi rau của mình không còn cho nhiều cành nhánh như trước nữa, vì nó đã có tuổi. Thay vào đó là cơ man những hạt sặp rụng xuống, nảy mầm thành cây con. Trông nó bây giờ rậm rạp và già nua chẳng giống như nó chút nào. Biết rằng nước hạt quế là một loại nước mát và uống vào có cảm giác như nước “nhĩ” vì các hạt nhỏ bây giờ đã nở bung, ba cắt những cành khô đầy hạt vốn hút rất nhiều chất dinh dưỡng làm cây gầy gò. Và câu chuyện sau đây thật khiến mình bây giờ nghĩ lại vẫn còn buồn cười. Hạt quế tuy nhỏ nhưng rất chắc, có lẽ vì vậy mà chúng nở “không giới hạn”, một ly nước quế chỉ cần vài hạt thôi cũng đủ làm nên “chất” trong đó rồi. Vậy mà, ba mình đã bỏ 1 nửa trong số hạt cắt xuống, ngâm 1 hồi lâu, chúng nở đến đặc quánh cả thùng chứa. Ba còn không tách vỏ ra trước nên khi uống thiệt là một cực hình. Một tuần uống nước quế!!!

Bụi rau của mình đã trở nên tươi tốt trở lại sau khi những cành già và hạt của chúng được cắt bỏ. Thời gian hoc hành vất vả của mình cũng đã qua đi. Ba hứa sau khi thi xong, chưa cần biết kết quả sẽ thưởng cho mình 1 chuyến đi Đà Lạt chơi. Đây là lần đi chơi xa đầu tiên nên mình rất hào hứng, tính ngày tính giờ hết rồi, đột nhiên O mình nói không đi nữa, thiệt là quá bực bội. Mình về kể lại với ba với vẻ rất bực tức vì O không giữ lời. Vậy mà, một buổi chiều lang thang gần nhà O, O kêu vô nhà nói nếu mình thật sự muốn đi thì O sẽ đi cũng… Hahaha, sung sướng quá, chiều hôm đó mình về nhà trong tâm trạng hớn hở, nghĩ ngay đến việc chuận bị hành lí. (Thì ra, sau này O tiết lộ là sau cái sự “không giữ được lời hứa của O, ba đã qua nhà hỏi O “sao mà đã hứa đi Đà Lạt với nó rồi mà không đi làm nó buồn lắm. O sắp xếp nếu đi được thì đi. Nó mới thi xong cho đi chơi cho thoải mái”, hehe, không ngờ mình cũng thiệt “lợi hại”!). Kế hoạch lên đường sau đó hai tuần, mình hằng ngày chờ đợi. Vậy là, mình còn có thể tranh thủ “cắt rau” đem ra chợ, dành dụm cho chuyến đi chơi mặc dù mạ đã hứa cho tiền. Mạ đã hứa cho mình 500 ngàn cho chuyến đi, nhưng đến ngày đi thì đột ngột hết tiền (vì đã trả hết tiền hàng trước đó mấy phút) nên mượn 1 người bạn hàng 400 ngàn, mình kèo nài thêm 50 ngàn nữa, (nghĩ lại thấy "nhụt" thiệt, hehe!!!). Lúc đó mình vừa hơi cau có vì mạ đã hứa rồi và mình đã thông báo ngày đi, vậy mà sao không chuẩn bị, lại vừa thấy buồn buồn khi mạ phải mượn tiền cho mình đi chơi… Nhưng không lẽ trả tiền lại và không đi nữa?! Mặc dù cũng có chút ăn năn nhưng mình không làm được việc đó.

 

Những ngày ở Đà Lạt vui có, buồn cũng có (mình ra đi với 1 broken heart nên đi tới đâu mình cũng nhìn thấy hình ảnh của người ta!!!). Đà Lạt thật đẹp trong nét buồn hiền hòa của nó. Một tuần trôi qua cái vèo, mình đã phải về nhà rồi!!! L. Một chuyến đi, mình mang về rất nhiều hình ảnh và đồ lưu niệm. Ai cũng có 1 món quà nhỏ, “người đó cũng có”…

Thời gian đợi điểm thi vẫn còn dài, cũng đã được đi chơi rồi, mình làm gì bây giờ? Mình tiêu tốn khoảng thời gian chờ đợi dài dằn dặt bằng các thú vui xem tivi, nghe nhạc, đọc sách…và dĩ nhiên không quên ngăm nhìn “cụm quế” góc sân vốn đã góp sức vào ngân quỹ đi đường của mình lớn lên như thế nào.

A day with Cowboys

Since the old day of my junior when I pedaled to my Teacher's apartment for the very first American culture lessons, cowboy topics have made the content. And I have fallen in love with this part of American culture. And so our exchanges in language and culture increased, so as the intimacy between us.

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Something has been forming into shape,my dreams and the illusions about a faraway land with burning sunshine, golden grass and houses... I never knew, but visualized, and conversed on my imagination about it.

Once when I was about to graduate, I talked to a student of mine: "You know what, one of my dream one day is to be in an American prairie, just to be lost with the golden grass field shining in the sun, and watch a cowboy riding a horse and dealing with his cows. That would be a marvelous scene." I cheered myself with the belief though there were no convinced clues.

And, I am brought here in the cowboy land. It's like a fate.

Cowboy means much more to me than an aspect of American culture. I spent time with Doug and Cindy on it, in Hue. I came to an old friend of mine who I used to call "uncle" for it. And we talked about cowboy spirits, and values, and more personal about his life in America, in Vietnam...

 

 

And now, when something somehow has been healed, I felt good as we were walking in cowboy's land, tasting cowboy food, wearing cowboy sunglasses, and talking to real cowboys... Doug pointed at the image of a cowboy group on horses with ropes in their hands, which used to be on the title page of my cowboy research paper. A picture was taken for it, and an American flag was added on its corner this time.

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It's a nice afternoon that added a lot in me. It's specially meaningful to see the reality of what has been read in books. It's fantastic to be able to see what was wished to be. And it's important, to touch something cherished.

Thanks Cindy.

American Culture and History Lesson in Obama’s Inaugural Speech

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/20/us/politics/20090120_INAUGURAL_ANALYSIS.html

I had not taken American politics into account. Then, convinced by the fact that it is an interesting issue in this country, and it's a contribution to my package as a teacher, I started, humbly, to read and listen to political news.

Overwhelmed with inspiration, touched and quietly grateful for being in the place were all my feelings at the Inauguration ceremony.