If you ask a Vietnamese person how important Tet (the Lunar New Year) is or what transpires during this time, you may often get a response that sounds something like "it's our Christmas."
After hearing this a few times, I put some thought into it and learned that there are, in fact, quite a number of--albeit incidental or coincidental--similarities between the two holidays.
So, if you're new to the Lunar New Year holiday, here's a chart to help you understand what a Vietnamese friend means when they compare the general nuances of Tet to those of Christmas.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
We're Joining Fr. Tam/Anthony's Medical Mission Trip to Tacloban, Phillipines
These past few months in Vietnam have felt a bit like playing my favorite video game series, Final Fantasy.
Our main quest is the work that we're doing for One Body Village. However, every now and then we get a request or receive an opportunity to join in what the RPG world might call a "side quest."
Our first side quest was to learn about and report on the Mai Am Phan Sinh Francis Shelter. Since then, two new side quests popped up: Delivering toys to an orphanage in central Vietnam, and joining a week-long mission trip to Tacloban, Philippines. The latter of the two was solidified a few days ago when we purchased our flights to Manila.
Details of this mission trip to Tacloban are still developing as I'm writing this post. Here's what I know so far.
Our main quest is the work that we're doing for One Body Village. However, every now and then we get a request or receive an opportunity to join in what the RPG world might call a "side quest."
Our first side quest was to learn about and report on the Mai Am Phan Sinh Francis Shelter. Since then, two new side quests popped up: Delivering toys to an orphanage in central Vietnam, and joining a week-long mission trip to Tacloban, Philippines. The latter of the two was solidified a few days ago when we purchased our flights to Manila.
Details of this mission trip to Tacloban are still developing as I'm writing this post. Here's what I know so far.
Prostitution Investigation Recap (Phnom Penh, Dec 04, 2013)
I've been asked to refrain from posting anything about my undercover prostitution investigations until after the annual mission trip in January 2014 had concluded. Now that the mission trip is complete, I wanted to share with you another side of my work with OBV...something that I can't really use on LinkedIn.
My first two work areas for OBV are teaching the OBV Vietnam and Cambodian girls Krav Maga and assisting OBV with marketing and communications. My third work area involves performing undercover prostitution investigations.
My first two work areas for OBV are teaching the OBV Vietnam and Cambodian girls Krav Maga and assisting OBV with marketing and communications. My third work area involves performing undercover prostitution investigations.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
OBV Mission Trip - Daily Team Reflections (Day 01)
At the end of each day of the One Body Village mission trip, Fr. Martino likes to collect the members for a short moment of reflection.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
[Podcast] #11 - Oh We Fancy Now
We're movin' on up!
Jesse reviews his "Vietnamese Women in Vietnam Aren't Homewreckers" blog post, which makes us wonder why some (SOME, not all) Vietnamese-American men might stray when they visit Vietnam by themselves.
Two new segments! Jesse and Thuy debuts "Step It Up...Vietnamese Men in Vietnam" to explore why the only responses to Jesse's language practice invitation have come from Vietnamese women, and "So Seattle" to share why Jesse's been crushing on a tiny, obscure, non-smoking cafe in Ho Chi Minh City.
Enjoy our new intro and exit music, and subscribe to us on iTunes!
Jesse reviews his "Vietnamese Women in Vietnam Aren't Homewreckers" blog post, which makes us wonder why some (SOME, not all) Vietnamese-American men might stray when they visit Vietnam by themselves.
Two new segments! Jesse and Thuy debuts "Step It Up...Vietnamese Men in Vietnam" to explore why the only responses to Jesse's language practice invitation have come from Vietnamese women, and "So Seattle" to share why Jesse's been crushing on a tiny, obscure, non-smoking cafe in Ho Chi Minh City.
Enjoy our new intro and exit music, and subscribe to us on iTunes!
Friday, January 3, 2014
"A Miserable Persons' Servant:" Visiting the Mai Am Phan Sinh Francis Shelter
At the suggestion of Mr. Binh, Director for the One Body Village Vietnam office, on Thursday, December 26, my wife and I visited the Mai Am Phan Sinh Francis Shelter in Dong Nai Province.
The purpose of this trip was to deliver the financial donation and collection of medicines provided by Dang and Lindy and by Valerie and Kalid respectively, and to better understand what the Francis Shelter does and who they help.
In all honesty, this visit was one of the more difficult experiences to absorb. Mr. Chau, the founder and director of the Francis Shelter, can definitely claim to be doing the Lord's work.
This post will include stories, photos, and videos of what we saw.
Please note that a few of the visuals in this blog are very graphic. Please view at your own discretion.
The purpose of this trip was to deliver the financial donation and collection of medicines provided by Dang and Lindy and by Valerie and Kalid respectively, and to better understand what the Francis Shelter does and who they help.
In all honesty, this visit was one of the more difficult experiences to absorb. Mr. Chau, the founder and director of the Francis Shelter, can definitely claim to be doing the Lord's work.
This post will include stories, photos, and videos of what we saw.
Please note that a few of the visuals in this blog are very graphic. Please view at your own discretion.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
[Podcast] Week in Review, Episode 10
We took an unexpected two weeks off for the holiday season (translated: "We forgot to do the podcast"). Welcome to our first podcast of 2014!
Vietnamese Women in Vietnam Aren't Homewreckers
Before we left for Vietnam, my wife and about seven Vietnamese-American friends all gave the same warning: "Vietnamese women are going to try to steal you away from your wife."
The more I was told this, the more I was taken aback. I tried to explain otherwise because I felt like that was a very strong statement to make. As well-intentioned as they wanted to be, most of those who gave me this warning claimed that I was wrong, that I was naive, and that I "just didn't know" how things worked in Vietnam because I neither Vietnamese nor born in Vietnam.
Having been here for a few months, I figured that it was high time to explore the stereotype of the "Vietnamese homewrecker."
The more I was told this, the more I was taken aback. I tried to explain otherwise because I felt like that was a very strong statement to make. As well-intentioned as they wanted to be, most of those who gave me this warning claimed that I was wrong, that I was naive, and that I "just didn't know" how things worked in Vietnam because I neither Vietnamese nor born in Vietnam.
Having been here for a few months, I figured that it was high time to explore the stereotype of the "Vietnamese homewrecker."
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