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ugggh, 2 blogs in one night, but this is so much more blog-worthy than my previous post.

just because, i think for a while i was hoping to put up some pictures from what was, honestly, one of the most amazing experiences of my life. it's not unusual for friends to be made when sharing a common purpose, but something special can be said of a group of people from all walks of life to somehow have an unusual love and humor. we're all pretty quirky in our own ways, which makes for an amazing dynamic that no amount of words in any type of order could properly convey. i guess i just cant wait to finally have something worthwhile to offer the group >_< seriously, though, thieng viet is some hardcore stuff, high intensity with tones and all. but there's cole who's pretty advanced already (in life), who's been doing this for about 68 years along with his sister. kid prodigies, you know how it is. a big tot lam goes out to their parents, joanne and ken. ken must be doing something right to have had 2 geniuses. then there's jesse, who's slightly insane for being able to learn it in like a week. alright, 2 weeks. hahahaha, and nancy who's so ONE with everything, heart and all. she fully keeps it real and knows that 3rd place is 1st place in our hearts. anh duc and joanne who are so encouraging to one another that eavesdropping on them once and while is enough to keep even you going. then shula and mac, so zealous that nothing could stop them-- like a fire shot up in their bones. chi twee who can show no partiality, with an ear that doesnt lie, and the menace roland who threatens to take a steam-roller to her papers. you're forever endeared to those who love you enough to give you a vietnamese name (mine is ngoc mai, btw). then there's wayne and gwen, with a love so strong that language is no barrier between them. how they communicate is beyond me. jk. jk. and em sai, the best little brother anyone could ever have. i appreciate him more than anyone could possibly understand-- you've got to give credit to someone able to withstand an unending barrage of ridiculous questions and an unbearable butchering of your native language. and to have found an amaaazing friend in a teacher is an incredible gift. who knew that someone who was raised in VA, was all up in Canada (eh?), and rolling around in Kam-pu-chia, could have so much in common with the bungcayao sisters? beats me. anyway, its times like these where i feel guilty for not giving it the same amount of commitment/time/energy. so a big thanks go cole is in order for making what is going to be my vietnamese booster shot/motivator.

yeu thuong!



OH, and we brought those cap and gowns for the last day of class. we really wanted it to look like we had accomplished something amazing. it was hilarious and fun and hilarious and fun, and look at how successful we look! so successful. so accomplished. then chi shula gave us toblerone candies that served as diplomas. happiness.