Search for a Sustainably Frugal Life http://www.myfrugallife.com/blog_stellaluna.html en-us Our Interview (Marriage Based Green Card) Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:11:09 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post62219308_stellaluna.html <p>My husband and I had our interview for his green card just before the holidays.&nbsp; It was a bit nerve racking.&nbsp; I have done all the paperwork myself, from applying for my husbands fiance (K-1) visa to the permanent residency.&nbsp; All the paperwork is self explanatory but you must do everything carefully.&nbsp; Read through the instructions several times and check your work again and again and make sure Adobe Reader doesn't autofill the wrong information.&nbsp; </p> <p>We arrived at the USCIS office about 40 minutes early.&nbsp; We parked and went through security, then waited in the proper line for interviews.&nbsp; We were then told to go upstairs and wait.&nbsp; My husband waited for our interpreter to arrive (who was late) and I waited on the stairs just under the door where names were being called, just in case our name was called early.&nbsp; Our interpreter arrived exactly when our appointment was scheduled. So we all hurried upstairs and waited for our named to be called while getting to know our interpreter a little bit.&nbsp; We waited five minutes max before the door opened and a quiet voice mumbled out something I couldn't make out form across the room and then repeated &quot;Last name: B- U- I &quot;&nbsp; and I realized that was us!&nbsp; As we walked over to the door I heard someone from behind chuckle and repeat &quot;Last name: B- U- I&quot;&nbsp; which was exactly what I was laughing to myself about.&nbsp; My husbands name is pronounced buoy, like the things that float in the water.&nbsp; The officer way playing it safe by just spelling it out.</p> <p>We entered and the woman asked if we had just checked in because she had called our name once already but we didn't come.&nbsp; Which I also chuckled to myself about since it was difficult for us to register they were calling our name by spelling it out.&nbsp; She guided us to an office where there was a man waiting.&nbsp; The woman introduced here self and stated that she was going to be performing the interview.<br /> First she had our interpreter sign some paper work and swear that he would only translate what the two parties had said.&nbsp; Then we both had swear that we would tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.&nbsp; The woman started the interview by asking me how my husband and I met and then asked to see some photos, which she looked through and then passed to the man sitting behind her.&nbsp; She then asked if we had a joint bank account, which we didn't because we could not until he had a social security number.&nbsp; Then she asked if we had joint insurance of any kind, which we also did not have. &quot;Did we have a car with both our names on it?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Did we have a house with both our names on?&quot;Yet again both of those questions were answered with a &quot;no.&quot;&nbsp; I explained to her that because he cannot get a social security number until her received his green card we have had a difficult time getting things such as joint bank accounts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Last she asked if we had any bills with our names on it, which we did and I handed them to her.&nbsp; By that point my chest was bright red because I was so scared that we didn't have all the things they were asking for.<br /> Then she moved on to asking my husband questions. For the most part they were all questions that had already been answered in the application.&nbsp; Then she handed us a paper and said that she was approving us and the card should come in the mail in 30 days.</p> <p>My husband and I were so relieved,&nbsp; the woman was so straight faced the entire time that it was hard not to be nervous even though we had nothing to be nervous about.&nbsp; In the end the interview went real smoothly, the interviewer only looked at 1/4 of the stuff I had prepared as evidence for the interview.<br /> My husband received his conditional Permanent Resident 17 days later and we are now waiting for his social security card to come in the mail.<br /> &nbsp;</p> Summoned for the Green Card Interview Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:39:07 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post81525071_stellaluna.html <p>My Husband and I have been summoned to the green card interview.&nbsp; I don't really know what to expect because most of my knowlege comes from that movie &quot;Green Card.&quot;&nbsp; So I expect they are going to ask crazy questions like &quot;what color is his toothbrush?&quot; and &quot;What is the name of the lipstick I wear?&quot; &nbsp; In the movie the two were just getting married so the man could stay in the U.S. but then of course end up falling in love.&nbsp; Since I have nothing to be afraid of because our marriage comes from the heart, I am a little excited to go through the process.&nbsp; I wonder how similar it will be to the movies about the process.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Back in the United States Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:33:28 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post82471690_stellaluna.html <p>After a 8.5 months of waiting my husband was finally given his VISA to the U.S. and we arrived in July of 09.&nbsp; We are now married in both countries!&nbsp;</p> <p>The next step for us to be able to keep him here is to get him a &quot;green card.&quot;&nbsp; This process thus far has cost over 3,000 U.S. dollars, not thrifty by any means. So far I have been able to do all the paperwork myself saving in lawyer fees, otherwise it would have been a lot more expensive.</p> <p>After he has received his green card he will be able to work in the U.S.&nbsp; The Visa at first will be a 2 year conditional Visa and as long as we stay married it will be extended to 10 years.&nbsp; Once he receives his green card he can then start the process to become a citizen.&nbsp; At that point he would be able to hold a U.S. passport and vote.&nbsp; I am sure that whole process will also cost a bundle.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we patiently wait once again for more paperwork to go through, we are enjoying our life together in the states but also miss something about Viet Nam everyday. I guess that is the life we are set out to have.&nbsp; No matter where we live one of us will miss our other country.&nbsp;</p> Marrying a Vietnamese Citizen Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:39:10 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post39548198_stellaluna.html <p>In August I returned to Viet Nam in order to marry my sweetheart.&nbsp; We had a wedding ceremony in Viet Nam in late October.&nbsp; Our intentions are to return the the United States so that I can be near my family and friends that I love so dearly and for my husband to understand the culture I came from.&nbsp; Since I have lived in Viet Nam for a total of 2 years thus far, I have a fairly good understanding of Vietnamese culture and am ready for him to see my side.</p> <p>The process of getting a non-citizen to the U.S.A, has been an interesting process. But thus far not too difficult.&nbsp; We sent off our application for a fiancee visa and all our information to USCIS in November and just today our status got updated to being approved!&nbsp; I am so excited and hope that it means that we will be able to return to&nbsp; my home soon.&nbsp;</p> <p>Since my mother, Susan the owner of Thrifty Fun, just passed away last month; I'm incredably eagar to get back to the U.S.&nbsp; When I found out my mom was sick I was able to go home for a few weeks to take care of her. But sadly instead of getting miraculously better she passed away a week later.&nbsp; This has been the most difficult thing I have had to experience in my 25 years of life.&nbsp; My mom and I were very close and she was a major role model for me in my life. It is difficult for me to express my feelings for her at this point because it just gets me teared up.&nbsp; Most days I am still in denial that she is really gone.</p> <p>In regards to the Visa application for my fiancee/husband I feel my mom really helped in the speed of the process.&nbsp; Although I have just been given notice that my application for the I-129F petition for fiancee visa has been aproved by USCIS, I am hopefull that the process will continue to go quickly.&nbsp;</p> Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:41:56 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post40710193_stellaluna.html Working as and ESL teacher Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:25:51 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post54154276_stellaluna.html I realize I have neglected writing about my wonderful experiences working as an ESL teacher. <br />I Started working for a school in Da Nang named Fisher Super Kids,&nbsp; in April 2007.&nbsp; This is a school only for children.&nbsp; I really loved working for this school because the people who work there really care about the children. I had great support from my manager, staff and fellow teachers.&nbsp; As a teacher I found I learned the most from other teachers, rather than from books. <br /><br />For the Most part I taught children ages 4-8,&nbsp; this is such a great age to teach (some would disagree with me).&nbsp; Teaching with the curriculum &quot;Potato Pals&quot;.&nbsp; This is a series of books that have Potato People characters. These books are organized into different themes such as &quot; At home&quot; or &quot;At school.&quot;&nbsp; Within each book you learn vocabulary dealing with the theme of the book.&nbsp; I often branched out from the teacher's manual and created activities of my own. But the books created a nice structure to follow.&nbsp; <br /><br /> But the best part of teaching of course are the students! They brought me so much joy.&nbsp; Although I would often get stressed about my lesson planning, it would all be worth while when I got into the classroom.&nbsp; I really formed a bond with my students and wherever I went in the school I would hear &quot;Ms. Lala, Ms. Lala&quot; and a hoard of children would come running and screaming to hug me, sometimes forcing me to the ground.&nbsp; <br /> Back in the States Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:58:10 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post55961893_stellaluna.html I have returned to the states, I plan on being home for a few more months so I can study and work.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />In Viet Nam I have been offered a job dancing, which I am very excited about.&nbsp; I have been dancing for 10 years now and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to get paid to do something I love.&nbsp; I will be the starting and intermission act in between the house band's performance.<br /><br />Also I will continue to work on my projects at the orphanages and day centers.&nbsp; I have many projects that I hope I will have the time and financial ability to implement. Update Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:38:31 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post58971431_stellaluna.html <p>I have been back in Viet Nam for about 9 months now. The experience has been quite different from the first. I have hit a lot of obstacles this time around, mostly dealing with housing.&nbsp; I have successfully been working as an english teacher at a school for children for the last 5 months and have loved it.&nbsp; Although my schedule there has made it so I have been unable to visit the orphanage as much as I would like to. </p> <p>I am now renting my own house.&nbsp; I live down a little alley and get quite a bit of attention from my neighbors but they are all really nice.</p> <p style "text-align: left;">I have learned how to speak the language fairly well.</p> <p>I plan on being here for quite a bit longer.</p> Thank You Parents! Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:47:24 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post23212006_stellaluna.html Thank you to all the parents who have stayed in contact with me through out their adoption process and after they have returned to the states.&nbsp; I am so grateful to be in contact with the parents of the babies I took care of for 6 months.&nbsp; I look forward to being updated about these beautiful children as they grow.&nbsp; They will always be in my heart. Success! at recent fund raiser Mon, 04 Dec 2006 04:27:13 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post89941369_stellaluna.html Last night I had a very successful fund raiser for my trip back to Viet Nam.&nbsp; It consisted of a soup dinner, belly dancing, slide show from my previous trip and a silent auction.&nbsp; I earned twice as much as I expected thus helping me reach my budgeted amount.&nbsp; Thank you to all that came, it really means a lot to me.<br /><br />Now I need to earn more than my previous budgeted amount, due to my free place to stay falling through.&nbsp; Now I will need to find a place to rent, thus needing a lot more money.&nbsp; I know things will work out as it is supposed to, so I am not to worried about coming across the money.<br /><br />I have 23 days left in the states and about 2 more weeks at my full time job!&nbsp; I am excited to return to Viet Nam but at the same time want to have plenty of time to spend with my friends and family.<br /> Returning to Vietnam, fundraising Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:48:42 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post99834929_stellaluna.html Dear family and friends, <br /><br />Since I have returned to the states I have been busy working full time trying to raise enough money to support my new volunteer endeavors in Vietnam starting on the 27th of December (12:30am). <br /><br />I will return to Vietnam independently not linked to the same volunteer agency that I worked with previously (which I had to pay to be a part of), thus making my trip a little cheaper.&nbsp; I will be doing similar work as before.&nbsp; I have secured a job working for Bread of Life, the cafe that hires people who are deaf to operate the cafe, also this is where the people work who taught me Vietnamese sign language.&nbsp; My volunteering there will provide me with a free room and a sponsored visa.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />In my free time I will return to the orphanages and specifically the day center, where I will work with a group of children who are deaf ranging in ages of 9-17 who have not learned or have learned very little sign language and/or Vietnamese.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />I am currently creating a curriculum to implement when I return so these children can begin to learn Vietnamese sign language.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />In order to accomplish what I want to while over there I need to raise extra funds through fundraising.&nbsp; If any of you would like to donate any money to help my cause&nbsp; I would greatly appreciate it, a little bit goes a long way in Vietnam. <br /><br />The money raised will be used for food and other personal needs, transportation, and teaching supplies. Approximately $20 pays for a weeks worth of food.&nbsp; Any extra funds raised will go to the orphanages which have recently been hit by the typhoon . <br /><br /><br />You can support me by: <br /><br />Sending a check payable to: SKBN (South Kitsap Business Network) to, <br /><br />SKBN <br />P.O. Box 2398 <br />Port Orchard, WA <br />98366 <br /> Or online at http://www.skbn.org/fundraiser.html<br />All money donated through SKBN is tax deductible. <br /><br />Thank You, Take Care, and Stay Happy, <br />Stella Riv&eacute;t Typhoon Hurt My Orphanages! Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:42:32 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post97665784_stellaluna.html Dear Family and Friends,<br /><br />I have returned back to the states safely. I left<br />Vietnam a day before a Typhoon hit the city I have<br />been living in the past six months. This is a letter I<br />recieved today from one of my best friends, Nancy, who<br />has been volunteering in Danang for the last 3 months<br />and will continue on for 2 more.&nbsp; If you have just a<br />small amount (for example 10 dollars) to donate I will<br />assure you that the money will be put to good use<br />repairing all the damage from the storm and helping<br />the children at all the orphanages served by the<br />Global Volunteering Network volunteers.&nbsp; I will also<br />attach some photos of the damage incurred by Typhoon<br />Xangsane.&nbsp; The photographs are all pictures from the<br />orphanages and day centers we work at. If you have any<br />troubles viewing them let me know.<br /><br />...<br /><br />On Sunday, October 1 at 9 AM in Danang, Vietnam,<br />Typhoon Xangsane hit the city and has been described<br />by locals as the worst typhoon in many years.<br />Forty-two people in Vietnam died with seven missing,<br />12,000 homes were destroyed with another 113,000<br />damaged. At least 180,000 people were evacuated in<br />advance of the storm. Authorities estimate damages at<br />$623 million USD. The entire city was without<br />electricity and running water for at least four days.<br /><br />We, the Global Volunteer Network workers for October<br />in Danang, got to see the devastation first-hand at<br />several of our work sites. The Danang Malnourished<br />Baby Orphanage, a home for about 15 children, had<br />significant flooding.&nbsp; Luckily, the children had been<br />moved to a safer building before the storm hit.&nbsp; The<br />Disabled Children s Center, a day center for about 20<br />youths, had many large holes in the roof which require<br />repairs.&nbsp; GVN volunteers swept up many buckets of sand<br />from the rooms and courtyard. The Red Cross Day Care<br />Center, a center for 22 children with various<br />disabilities, also had large holes in the roof.<br /><br />At the Red Cross Baby Orphanage, a home for about 20<br />infants and <br />children, half of the roof is gone.&nbsp; Luckily, the<br />children were evacuated <br />beforehand to a hospital.The Social Supporting Center,<br />a large complex serving 180 infants, children and<br />adults with special needs (physical impairments,<br />mental illness, homelessness, etc.), had the roof torn<br />off many of its smaller houses.&nbsp; Many of the residents<br />have to sleep in classrooms.&nbsp; It is the largest and<br />poorest center with which GVN works. We have attached<br />some photographs showing just some of the damage to<br />these centres.<br /><br />Please send your donations to help with repairs and<br />supplies! Any <br />amount will help.&nbsp; For example, a pack of 44 diapers<br />or a can of baby formula costs 100,000 Vietnamese Dong<br />(3.31 British pounds or $6.25 USD).&nbsp; From donations<br />already received, we ve bought a generator for the<br />Social Supporting Center, which they are using<br />tonight. If you are paypal registered donations can be<br />made through www.paypal.com using the email address<br />gvnxangsanefund@yahoo.co.uk. Just log in and click<br />send money!<br /><br />Thank you!<br />Amy Coulson, Beth Moon, Jenna Mackintosh, Jenny<br />Bryant, Jess Palmer, <br />Nancy <br />Le Update August 2006 (letters home) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:36:19 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post85999513_stellaluna.html Hello Everyone,<br />&nbsp;<br />I have only been able to volunteer at the orphanage about two times a week in the last couple months, so I haven't felt like I had anything to tell all of you.&nbsp; I miss the kids like crazy when I am not with them.&nbsp; The GVN program has changed a bit since I was volunteering full time, now we work at two orphanages.&nbsp; The new orphanage is more in the city center of Da nang where as the red cross orphanage is 15 minutes on the outskirts of town.&nbsp; I believe that there are about 25 kids at the other orphanage ranging in age from infants to about 8 years old, but I am not positive about this.&nbsp; I have found it difficult to spend my free time at the new orphanage because I am so attached to my kids at the red cross, so when I do have free time I want to spend it with them. <br />&nbsp;<br />Sooo many kids have been adopted out of the red cross in the last couple months.&nbsp; There are only about 26 kids left compared to the 42 children that were there when I arrived.&nbsp; Since I only get to go in a few time a week I missed a lot of kids leaving and did not get to say goodbye.&nbsp; It made me really sad.&nbsp; I worry that the next time I go back more will be gone that I did not know were leaving and I will be sad cause I didn't get to say good bye or meet their new parents.<br />&nbsp;<br />I hear that all the toddlers are going to be adopted and a good majority of the babies except maybe the really young ones.&nbsp; But I don't think that the two boys with disabilities are going to get adopted. A really great guy who is a physical<br />therapist&nbsp; came into the orphanage with a friend who was adopting.&nbsp; He was a great help with the two boys.&nbsp; One of the boys we got a wheel chair made for him a few months ago but the way it was built was not quite right for the boy,Huy, to be comfortable in so he helped us alter it a bit to make him more comfortable.&nbsp; The other boy,Hom, we believe to have autism, this boy does not walk, the man said probably cause the sensation is to great on his feet so he showed us somethings to do with him to desensitize his feet and help him get used to holding weight on his feet.&nbsp; I asked him if he actually thought it was possible for him to walk in the future and he said &quot;oh yeah.&quot;&nbsp; This made me really excited, I just wish I had more time to spend at the orphanage each week so I could work with both of them on a regular basis. <br />&nbsp;<br />A couple weeks ago I got to travel down to Tam Ky to visit the GVN program down there.&nbsp; I got to see the orphanages that they work in.&nbsp; Their facilities were much better than the ones here in Da nang mostly because they had a large covered area for the children to play under.&nbsp; I don't know how many times the mothers at the red cross told us we could not take the kids outside because it was too hot and they did not want them to get sick. I also got to visit the Home of Affection which was an orphanage but also a vocational training day center.&nbsp; About half the kids were orphans there about 30 kids. I really enjoyed getting to see what other orphanages were like in Vietnam, it helps me see what are cultural differences in raising kids and what things may just be the mothers at the red cross.<br />&nbsp;<br />If there are any parents out there reading and want to know about how there children are doing just send in a message and a picture of your child.&nbsp; I will do my best in keeping you updating with the little time I get to spend there.&nbsp; Also if any parents are reading that have adopted recently I would love to be updated on how your kids are, I miss them like crazy, send me a picture and let me know what there old name was and what it is now.&nbsp; It would make me very happy to know how they are doing.<br />&nbsp;<br />I have been getting a little stressed lately trying to make decisions on how long I will be here, what I will do and if I have enough money to do what I want.&nbsp; But as of now the plan is to stay until the beginning of March.&nbsp; I do get really homesick from time to time but know that when I get home I will be homesick for Vietnam.&nbsp; It feels right to stay here a few more months.<br />&nbsp;<br />My English classes at the language center have been going well, recently two of my classes have ended so I am left with just one class, but I am subbing for a couple.&nbsp; I am trying to decide if I will continue working here, my 3 month contract ends at the end of August.&nbsp; I wasn't sure if I liked teaching English at first but the longer I have done it the more comfortable I have become with it.&nbsp; Although it is quite ironic that I am teaching English because I am not very good at it.&nbsp; I always worry that I am correcting them in the wrong way.&nbsp; I think what is hard at this language center that the classes don't last very long so you build relationships with your students and then the class is over and you have to start all over again with new students.&nbsp; I think I would enjoy it much more if I could stick with the same students for a longer period of time.<br />&nbsp;<br />For the most part I have been working, volunteering and spending a lot of time with friends. <br />&nbsp;<br />Much Love,<br />Stella Finally!! Geez, June, 2006 (letters home) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:29:55 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post49102531_stellaluna.html Okay I know I have been a horrible person and have not kept you all updated very well.&nbsp; My new job is going fine but keeping me very busy.&nbsp; The days I do not work at the language center I spend at the orphanage and day center, and when I am not at either of those places I am preparing lesson to go to those places and when I am not doing that I am spending time with my new friends and when all of that is done and finished I try to fit in sleeping and eating (but how important are those things really?). <br />&nbsp;<br />My Vietnamese is coming along slowly, I can express when I want something like food or to go somewhere, how I am feeling and say where I am going and at what time.&nbsp; So I can get by okay but need to learn a lot more. I am just proud that I am starting to speak in sentences rather than just one word at a time, but my grammar is another subject.&nbsp; I just keep hoping that at some point things will settle down and I will be able to spend more direct attention at learning Vietnamese, as it is now I just try to listen to peoples conversations and see if I can understand any part of it and every now and then ask what something means or how to say something.<br />&nbsp;<br />Some things that have happened in the last three weeks are:<br />&nbsp;<br />I went to Ha Noi and Halong bay with Chelsea for a best friends get away.&nbsp; We had a lot of fun an Halong bay is soooooo beautiful.&nbsp; We were able to get a private boat to take us out for the day from 8am-6pm for only 20 dollars each lunch included, and kayaks to go exploring in. <br />&nbsp;<br />We got a kitten....We lost a Kitten.&nbsp; One of the Volunteers brought home a stray kitten and our manager said it was okay to keep but he ran away... I wasn't sad because the boy who promised to take care of it was not very responsible.<br />&nbsp;<br />I started at my new job teaching English at a language school.&nbsp; Currently I am teaching 3 classes. One has only two students and my job is to help them prepare for the visa interview that they will need to do to obtain their student visas to study in the states, but sadly that class ends today.&nbsp; I have two other classes with about 15 students each ages 15 to 35.&nbsp; I am still learning how to teach but I am sure this is a learning process that will never end, because I am sure I can always improve in some way or another.&nbsp; The positive things is I am now having fun with it and I think my students are as well. <br />&nbsp;<br />I helped a boy from the day center named Huan who is deaf get a job at bread of life.&nbsp; He is now being trained to be a baker.&nbsp; This boy is 20 years old, his mother died and his father left to go work in a different part of the country.&nbsp; So he has been living at the day center for a few years.&nbsp; He is from the countryside and has 3 siblings that live with family members in his home town. He has now moved into the living accommodations that the managers of bread of life provide for free if their employees need and he seems happy.&nbsp; At least once a week he goes back to the day center to visit his friends.<br />&nbsp;<br />Chan took me to a big celebration at a place called Village of Hope where many of my friends who are deaf got some of their education. There are many kids who go their, kids with disabilities, children who are poor and underprivileged and kids who are deaf.&nbsp; This place funded by the giant international corporation Unilever. This celebration is held every year when some people from Unilever come to visit and bring gifts, they treat it as a birthday party for all the kids. The kids live their during the year and after this celebration everyone goes home for the summer.&nbsp; It was a lot of fun.&nbsp; A week before this celebration Chan and I went for a visit here and I met with all the girls who live there who are deaf and we had a lot of fun conversing with each other.&nbsp; So they invited me back for the celebration.<br />&nbsp;<br />I bought a new bike! and it is beautiful.<br />&nbsp;<br />My job required me to get a cellphone, something I have refused to get for the past few years back in the states. have had to learn a lot about cellphone culture, such as, #1 you are supposed to keep it near you or in your pocket at all times so when it rings you can hear of feel it.#2 When you meet someone and you become good acquaintances you have to exchange cellphone numbers regardless if you will be able to understand each other if you were ever to call or text each other.&nbsp; #3 text messaging is a great way to communicate, that way you don't even have to hear each other's voices but you still get that instant contact that email doesn't bring.&nbsp; Now will I have a cellphone when I return to the states?&nbsp; Probably not, but only time will tell, once submersed into cellphone culture it may be hard to get out.<br />&nbsp;<br />As of right now I have a plane ticket to come home on the 29th of September, which was as far in advance as my ticket would allow.&nbsp; As that time grows nearer I will decide if I will actually go home a stay longer, it all depends on if I like what I am doing here.<br />&nbsp;<br />Oh also I would love to receive letters in the real mail, I don't have to pay to pick those up (only packages.&nbsp; Hint Hint Nudge Nudge, Letters are a very exciting and happy thing to receive and I would greatly appreciate it, I want to know what's going on in your lives too!<br />&nbsp;<br />I love you and miss you all,<br />Stella Still Having Fun, May, 2006 (letters home) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:27:29 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post39899200_stellaluna.html Last monday we got our new set of volunteers, we had one girl, Claudine, leave our placement and go to new one on Cham Island. We are very sad about this because she was a great volunteer and was doing great things with her class but I know she will do great things in her new placement, and we still see her on the weekends.&nbsp; We got one new boy from England who just came from a 7 month stay in the Phillipeans doing volunteer work and we got one new girl from Singapore, who will start working on her masters degree in the states after this project.&nbsp; They are both very nice people. <br />&nbsp;<br />Last week I was asked to start teaching a two hour sign language class twice a week at the day center. I have now done two lessons, the first one was a bit difficult, but after correcting my original mistakes I was able to have a successful second lesson.&nbsp; What is most difficult is that a few of the students I am teaching have no sign and no Vietnamese language.&nbsp; So even if I learn the Vietnamese word for what I am teaching it does not help because they still do not know what I am talking about. Two of my students have well developed sign and I feel bad because I need to keep the class at a very basic level, but they seem to be having an okay time helping their peers.&nbsp; If anyone has any information on teaching sign to those who don't have developed language skills I would greatly appriciate any suggestions.<br />&nbsp;<br />Last weekend we went out to Karaoke again with all of our Vietnamese family and had lots of fun. We were there for like 5 hours, but it did not feel like it.<br />On Sunday Chelsea and I were invited to go with our new friend Chan from bread of life to go to his home town in the country.&nbsp; It was about an hour motorbike ride from Da Nang.&nbsp; I rode on Chan's motorbike, and Chelsea rented a motorbike taxi to take her there.&nbsp; It was a beautiful ride, the hour just flew by cause there were so many new things to look at.&nbsp; We went to his house and got to meet his mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, brother in law and nephew .&nbsp; Since we do not speak very good Vietnamese we were not able to communicate to well with any of them, any time we would say something in Vietnamese they would shake their head no.&nbsp; His family had very minimum sign skills but they seemed to get along just fine.&nbsp; Chan did not begin to learn sign until he was 14 when he went of to a special school.&nbsp; Him and his family would write anything down that they needed to.<br />We had a delicious meal and then drove home.&nbsp; It was a great day and a wonderful way to see another part of Vietnam.<br />&nbsp;<br />This week we got the ball pit that we paid for with all of your donated money!&nbsp; It is a lot of fun and the children really enjoy it.&nbsp; One little girl didn't know what to do and ended up sinking down til all you could see was her face burried in the balls.&nbsp; It was an amusing site and we all had to laugh for a minute when we noticed it before we could help her.&nbsp; I put my hand out so she could grab it, after a few seconds she slowly reached her had up to grab mine.&nbsp; Her expression was priceless.<br />&nbsp;<br />This weekend we will be going out to a park for a party with all the staff from the Da Nang redcross on friday.&nbsp; On Saturday we might head back to Hoi An again so we can see Claudine and on Sunday we will go to the movies with Chan, his favorites are Korean films, it should be an interesting experience, since I will not understand the language, but I assume it will still be entertaining.<br />&nbsp;<br />Still having fun,<br />Stella My first month completed, April, 2006 (letters home) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:26:28 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post68848205_stellaluna.html I have now finished my first month volunteering I can already tell that this next month is going to go to fast,&nbsp; I am already scheming on how I can come back here for a longer stay, like a year or two or at least a few more months.&nbsp; I want to see other countries too, but it is hard when you form friendships in one place, you don't want to leave.&nbsp; Two weekends ago was fun packed.&nbsp; On Friday afternoon Chelsea and I payed the extra 1.50 to be able to go on the slides at the water park (for those of you who thought we were crazy not to pay the extra money on our previous visits). <br />&nbsp;<br />On the Saturday before last we were invited to Quyen's house for her mother in law's 100th day after death ceremony.&nbsp; We bought a big beautiful cake and five different fruits for the alter.&nbsp; When we got there we brought our gifts upstairs to the alter and payed our respects but after that it just seemed like a regular party, we ate lots of wonderful food and sat around a talked.<br />&nbsp;<br />On the next Sunday morning all 18 people on the grooms side congregated at our house with all the gifts for the bride.&nbsp; As we understand it they mixed traditions for the engagement ceremony and wedding ceremony since the couple will have their wedding celebration in the states. So I don't think that we experienced a typical engagement ceremony since there may have been some wedding day rituals as well.&nbsp; The man is from Oregon and is in his 50's and has been married twice and the Woman is from Vietnam and is 40 and has never been married.&nbsp; Each of 6 volunteers got to carry a gift to the bride we were each given something to carry and an order that we had to carry the items in I was at the front carrying a small teapot and thing tea cups with some small things wrapped in leaves and some sliced of lime. All of which were on a tray covered with a decorative cloth.&nbsp; Behind me someone carried 100 nut like things (which may be beetle nuts but we couldn't get a straight answer) but we were told you could get addicted to them and there were 100 of them to symbolize 100 years of marriage. Behind that was a tin with two 1 liter bottles of soda and two boxes, all of which were wrapped in cellophane and&nbsp; had bows. Behind her was a giant fruit basket that carried 100 fruits also to symbolize 100 years of marriage.&nbsp; Behind that was a tin with all these rectangle box shaped things that were wrapped in banana leaves but we never found out what was wrapped with in.&nbsp; And in the back Chelsea carried two cakes which were placed on a pedestal of sorts.&nbsp; After getting pictures of the gifts and pictures of us in line with the gifts we walked in line to the cars that were taking us to the girls house.&nbsp; Before we got there we went on a cruse around the city, this is done to help create a memory for the groom to be and those in his party.&nbsp; Also I think to show off to the people in the town that someone is getting married. The whole way there a photographer for the wedding followed the cars taking photographs and video while riding backwards on the back of a motor bike, this was so funny to me.&nbsp; They would speed ahead and then get film of us driving around the corner, etc...<br />&nbsp;<br />We arrived at her house with many people waiting to greet us out side, we had to get out of the car and reorganize ourselves in the proper order behind the car then get another picture and walk slowly towards the door and up stairs where the ceremony would be held.<br />&nbsp;<br />Then they talked for a while and I could not understand and then we got to eat and socialize.&nbsp; After the wedding celebrations we went out to karaoke which is done in the same fashion as Japan, in a personal room, so only you and your friends can hear you.&nbsp; They had many English songs to choose from.&nbsp; One of the funniest parts was after you sang you got a score like &quot;94% good singer&quot; Chelsea and I got a 100% on one of our duets but neither of us can agree on which one, maybe gangsters paradise?&nbsp; We had lots of fun and will be returning this weekend for another session.<br />&nbsp;<br />The Play Ground construction is finished but there are no toys yet we are trying to get enough money for that now. It is a very colorful playground and I really like how it turned out.&nbsp; For the time being we put some little bikes inside the fence and we are getting our schedule changed so we can play with the kids when it is cooler outside.&nbsp; So next week we should be able to utilize it better.<br />&nbsp;<br />My new obsession in Vietnam is going to this place called Bread of Life, which is a restaurant owned by some Americans from Missouri who have been living in Vietnam for the past 8 years, but the restaurant has only been open the past 9 months or so.&nbsp; Getting to the point they hire mostly people who are deaf, so I go there in the evenings and learn more Vietnamese sign language, I have progressed quit well and can now understand most everything they are saying.&nbsp; It is my new passion here, it is a bit difficult because each person may use different signs depending what form they learned and how much they were taught.&nbsp; So I have been having to learn numerous signs for the same word, the perk is as I am learning sign I am also learning Vietnamese, which has been more difficult for me to pick up without proper lessons and people always trying to speak to me in English.&nbsp; My favorite thing about going to bread of life is I can carry on a much more in depth conversation in sign with my new friends than I can in Vietnamese.<br />&nbsp;<br />This last weekend we went back to Hoi An and went to a cooking school, which was a great experience and very well organized.&nbsp; It was my first time feeling like a real tourist.&nbsp; The day started out with us having coffee then going into the market which is very busy and stimulating to the senses, there are hundreds of vendors all trying to get you to buy from them, they are selling vegetables, fish, clothing, items for a funeral, meat (we saw a pile of pig heads lying on the floor, which made me laugh) and much more.&nbsp; Our guide lead us through showing us the vegetables, tools for cooking, spices and meats and seafood and answered any questions we had.&nbsp; He was very witty and had all sorts of jokes up his sleeve (which I am sure he had told a million times).&nbsp; After the market we took a half hour beautiful boat ride to the cooking school (the red bridge), when we arrived there we got a tour of the garden and got to see how they grew their herbs.&nbsp; Afterward we were taught how to cook squid with vegetables, eggplant in a clay pot, rice paper, and food decoration.&nbsp; Then we got to eat.&nbsp; It was a very pleasing experience.<br />Then of course being the fashionable girls Chelsea and I are we went out to the tailors and each got a dress made.&nbsp; In the evening we went to this great restaurant &quot;the cargo club&quot; and got fancy desserts. Yum!<br />&nbsp;<br />In conclusion I am still having a wonderful time and wish I could stay longer, two months is too short.&nbsp; None the less I still love you all and miss you and wish you could be sharing this experience with me.<br />&nbsp;<br />With love,<br />Stella Highlights from my second week! (letters home) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:23:34 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post86866800_stellaluna.html Dear my wonderful family and friends, <br /><br />Sorry is had taken me a while to update you on my second week, I have been busy and tired, otherwise, life is grand in Vietnam! I have gone on many adventures since I last wrote. Starting with weekend before last I went to a different town in Vietnam called Hue(about two hours from our home). The women who cook for us took us there and we went to many of the major tourist stops. First we went to the Citadel which is this giant moated place where the emperor used to live it was huge and everyone who we were with got too hot and wanted to leave before Chelsea and I did, but I got some beautiful pictures that you will be able to see when I get home. Next stop was the Thien Mu Pagoda which is an octagonal building with seven stories and is beautiful. Then we went to one of the emperor's tomb, which was so elaborate I just couldn't believe this place was built for one person. You had to go up many flights of stairs then you came to a spot with statues of elephants horses and guards. then you went up a whole bunch of steps again and you hit the main building, the walls inside were covered in porcelain mosaics and there was a bronze sculpture of the emperor. My description does not give any of these places justice but you get a taste of what they are like. <br /><br />One other interesting point of our drive to Hue was we had to go through this extremely long tunnel through the middle of a mountain (too long to hold you breath) We were not driving very fast and it took us 15 minutes to get through, it was kinda awful because their was so much smog inside of it and made it very hard to breathe. <br /><br />On Sunday Chelsea and I rode our bikes(1 hour ride there) to a pagoda that has a giant Buddha statue in front of it. The pagoda was closed and we were not able to get close to it, but we took pictures outside the gate and sat down and had our lunch. After we went the local water park that cost only 30 us cents to use the wave pool and kiddie pool (no slides that would cost a dollar). <br /><br />Last week 4 children were adopted and left the orphanage and in the next couple weeks there should be a few more leaving. It is really good to see them adopted but also is a little sad as we form relationships with each child. Also last week we had one newborn left at the orphanage. <br /><br />Last weekend we went to the nearby town of Hoi An and spent one night their the majority of our stay was spent getting Tailor made clothes which was very fun for both Chelsea and I since we both have a hankering for fashion. We were able to draw them a picture or show them a picture from a magazine and pick out our fabric and they would measure us and get it made by the next day. It was cheap compared to some new clothes in the states but a little on the high end for me who tends to by sale items or second hand. But, it was well worth it for having exactly what you want and in your size. <br /><br />Hoi An was very different than Da Nang,there were many more tourists, I even met a lady from Bellvue Washington, and she said I was the second person she met from Washington. In Hoi An instead of everyone saying hello to us they all said &quot; hello where are you from please help me and come to my store.&quot; There a lot of children wandering around selling trinkets who would come up to your table at a restaurant and say &quot;you buy from me very cheap, you be lucky I'll be lucky, it's happy hour, I will be very lucky&quot; It was a nice weekend but I am very grateful to be placed in Da Nang. <br /><br />This week we had two newborns come in one on Monday and the other one on Wednesday, the newborns are still bigger than the little boy who came in the week before we came who only weighed one kilo (he is much bigger now but still the smallest. At the day center I have had many of the students who are deaf attend my class and we are able to communicate fairly well, just cant get into too in depth conversations. I started out with a class size of 4 and now I have 8-12 kids attending my class. We have been working on learning the alphabet, counting, colors, body parts, and shapes. These are still difficult for them so I try and revise these subjects and teach them in different ways, in hopes that seeing them in different context will help them understand and retain the information better. It is difficult because some of my students do not even know Vietnamese well. <br /><br />Construction for the play ground is coming along well but they do not have enough money to get toys for it. So for those of you who would like to donate money money is needed for: Ball pit for playground $200 Playground toys $300-500 Toys for kids at orphanage - any amount Arts and craft supplies for kids at day center- any amount Latex gloves- any amount Baby wipes- any amount For those of you who can not donate money please do not feel bad, I understand, I am just asking for donations from those who wanted to know how they could help out over here. <br /><br />Thank you to Susan (my mom) and Lewis and Fletcher(my brothers) and Will and Diane for their donations a few weeks back, you money went to a water purifier for the kids at the day center so they could have lots of cool water in this hot weather. Previously they had to drink recently boiled water. Also your money helped fix the day centers van so they would have a way to take the kids on day trips and also they would have a way to take a baby to the hospital if they needed to, instead of having to hire a taxis which can get expensive. Chelsea and I thought that these to things where a good use of some of the money donated. Thank you all for you emotional and financial support, we all appreciate it over here. <br /><br />Exciting things to come: This weekend we have been invited to take part in a Vietnamese engagement ceremony, an man from the states is coming here to get engaged to a Vietnamese woman but does not have any relatives to join him. For the engagement ceremony you need at least 15 people on your side so we are acting as stand in relatives, we are all very excited to take part in this. <br /><br />Also we have been invited to Quyen's(a lady who cooks for us) house on Saturday night for a very special dinner for her mother in law's 100th day after death ceremony. I will write more about these after they have happened. I love you all and miss you, <br /><br />I will try to write sooner this next time, <br />Stella 1st Week (letters home) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:21:28 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post14283327_stellaluna.html I just completed my first week working at the red cross day center (for kids with disabilities) and the red cross baby orphanage in Danang. It has been a fun, exhausting and emotional week. On Monday we were picked up by our driver and brought to the day center. We were met by a group of enthusiastic kids who escorted us though the building to the proper room. We did our good morning routine where we say &quot;Good morning class&quot; and they all stand up and say &quot;good morning teachers, how are you?&quot; and we reply, &quot; I'm fine thank you, how are you?&quot; and they say&quot; fine thank you!&quot; and sit down. It has to be done just exactly like that or they get confused. After going through what day it is and what the weather is like (always sunny and hot) we separate into three different classes. The advanced, middle and less advanced. I am the teacher for the less advance class (I don't really like calling it that but that is what the volunteers before us implemented). <br /><br />After doing this on the first day we got called to a meeting to be introduced to the program director, with the use of a translator he told us that the day center started in 1997 and was a place for people with disabilities to come and be trained in embroidery or screen printing. Volunteers started to come in 2004 and that is when they were able to accept more kids into the program with more severe disabilities. There are about 26 students ranging in age from 7-22. We were showed the room where there were kids doing screen printing and told us that it was training for those who are deaf. Since I know a little sign I was asked to incorporate that in my teaching so those who are deaf can attend the classes. So now I have been working on learning Vietnamese and Vietnamese sign language. I have had many dreams lately partially in Vietnamese and sign, I just hope that means I am learning more as I sleep. <br /><br />After the meeting we went on to teach our classes which are an hour long, the previous volunteers wrote up a lesson plan for all of the new comers, so on the first day we would not have to worry about having a lesson for a class we have never met. My first class went well I had 4 students out of 5. <br /><br />Next we walked over to the baby orphanage (which is on the same property). The first people we saw were a bunch on English speaking people holding babies which was surprising because we were not expecting to see them. It turns out that they were all adopting 1-2 kids each. When we went inside we saw a tone of babies. There are about 20 infants. One was just dropped off a week ago and only weighed 1 kilo. There are about 13 toddlers. When we got there none of the toddlers were tied to their cribs, but I think this was because there were all the people there who were adopting which gave them the extra eyes that they needed. Since then when we come they are tied with a cloth string by their ankle or by the back of their shirts, but we are allowed to untie them. Our first day we jumped right in and got to work changing nappies (or diapers, the other volunteers all call them nappies. Which are kitchen sized towels folded up and tied with a handkerchief, so when they are wet you both feel it, I have found my pants wet after holding a baby for awhile) and playing with them. I got a real appreciation for any parent who has more than one baby at a time. I got skilled very quickly at picking up two babies at a time. <br /><br />All of the kids are so adorable. They all like to be held, you can cuddle with them and they are not trying to jump out of your arms which has been my experience with many kids their age. All the babies sleep in wicker cribs with bamboo mats, many of them have funny shaped heads from laying down so often and always looking in the same direction, some are severe and some seem like a normal amount of flatness. All the toddlers sleep in steal cribs with not mattresses,pillows, blankets or crib toys. I have found that these kids can have fun with just about anything, since they do not have many toys. I have found kids chewing on a tin foil wrapper, and piece of shiny cellophane and boxes for medicines. <br /><br />On the second day we were invited to Quien's house (one of the ladies who cooks for us) and I got to ride on the back of a motor bike. She then took us to the super market which was like a big one stop shopping place unlike anything we had seen in Danang so far. There Chelsea and I bought some supplies for the orphanage, we got diaper wipes, toys, and found out that diaper ointment was the hardest thing to translate. This was our top priority for our shopping trip since many of the babies had severe diaper rash. We were able to find something but not the kind with zinc in it (which is supposed to be the best). We bought quite a bit of stuff and only spent 20 US dollars. Hopefully we will be able to go back soon to get some more toys now that we have seen which ones were the most popular.<br /><br />My classes have been going well and I have had a high attendance of the older boys that are deaf, even though my sign is very simple. I just now need to study fast so I have new lessons for next week. Just today a new arrived, from what I understand they are just left on the door and the &quot;mothers&quot; (the women who work there 24-7) never meet the moms or dads of the babies. If anyone would like to donate any money to help get some of the needed supplies you can talk with my mom. There is a way that she can deposit money into an account for me and I can use the funds to get the supplies. Since shipping costs so much I think that this is the best way of getting supplies. <br /><br />I am really enjoying my self here, I few safe and welcomed and the food is delicious, I always have a meal waiting for me even before I am hungry and it always has all parts of the food pyramid. I am probably forgetting a lot of information but I will write again with more stories to tell. If you have any questions please ask. <br /><br />I love you all, <br />Stella Arrival (letters home) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:19:12 GMT http://www.myfrugallife.com/post65539746_stellaluna.html Hello Everyone,<br /><br />I made it safely to Vietnam. We arrived last night around 7 pm, 4am for all of you. We missed one of our flights (by 10 minutes), from Ho chi min city to Danang, cause the immigration line was long and slow. Luckily we were able to find someone to help us and there was another plane leaving in the afternoon. We just had to wait 6 hours. The flight was great China airlines is the best airline ever, we had individual TVs that allowed us to pick from over 10 movies, it had video games, cameras to watch outside the plane and music. They had the best vegetarian plane food I have had. It didn't seem like I was on the first plane for 13 hours. <br /><br />When we arrived in Vietnam Three people greeted us with a Global Volunteering Network sign, the driver, the translator, and the program director. I must say the driving was crazy. First of all there were no seat belts which I have grown accustomed to since there is a seat belt law in Washington. Second first off the driver started honking at all the pedestrians crossing at a cross walk just outside the airport. The road was mostly filled with motor bikes and bicycles which was such a different sight to see compared to Washington. The most disturbing part of our car ride was that a good part of the time our driver was driving down the center of the road honking. The people coming the other direction would have to move out of his way. <br /><br />The first place we stopped was at a restaurant where we met some of the other volunteers who just arrived. The food was okay. Then we were taken back to the house we will be staying in for our two months of volunteering. There we met the outgoing volunteers who are leaving for either volunteering in another town or traveling else where, one girl will stay. There is two girls from Sweden, a boy from Australia, a girl from London and one girl from Holland. We also met the man who is our night watch person. Our house has four- five stories, with 3 bathrooms. The floors are all marble (or marble like) and the ceilings have beautiful detail. I love our house. <br /><br />We both slept well and don't feel jet legged. In the morning we awoke to two new people in our house. Two women who cook for us. They are very friendly, one speaks English a little and the other wants to learn, her and I have already formed a relationship of teaching each other our languages. Our first breakfast was delicious we had sweet yogurt, baguettes and soft cheese( the kind that is a small wedge shape and has a cow on it, I think you can get it at costco. And Asian Pear. Although I thought it was delicious the other volunteers said get used to get because it is your breakfast 90% of the time. As of right now that does not bother me any. <br /><br />After breakfast Chelsea and I went out exploring for 2 hours. We had to learn fast how to cross the street when there are a million motor bikes coming at you in every direction who don't slow down, the best way of doing this is crossing kinda slowly so they can go around you. Everywhere we walked we had people saying Hello, pointing at us, and laughing (I think even once someone threw a rotten fruit at us although they missed, we just heard something hit the ground). Da Nang does not see very many tourist (it might have something to do with all the guide books saying that there is not much to see) I think it is beautiful here. <br /><br />When we got back from our walk we had a delicious lunch waiting for us, fruit smoothies, rice and vegetables. Now I am here in an Internet cafe writing you this and will return to a delicious dinner. Our orientation starts tomorrow and we start working on Monday. I think it will be hard, because I just found out that the kids are tied to there beds most of the day because they do not have enough staff. But it is nice knowing that I am here so they can be untied some of the time. I hope I remembered all the key parts. I will look forward to hearing from all of you and I will write when I can. <br /><br />I love you all, <br />Stella