So I leave Monday for Budapest. It is so soon, and I'm getting the pre-departure jitters. But I know once I'm there, those feelings will eventually dissolve.
Today was a good day. I met up some friends--Nik and Peggy, and their friends--for the critical mass bike ride. For those of you who are unaware of what it is, its essentially where bikers "raid" the streets of Chicago in an attempt to raise awareness for better modes of transport. Despite this effort, it seems like the distaste for bikers is magnified after such a ride like this. Those in cars are essentially stopped dead in their tracks, as hundreds of bikers pass on by.
I parted ways with the titanic group half way through and headed to my apartment as I had dinner plans. Jackie, Don, Paul and I had a little goodbye dinner for me at Cho Sun Ok, this Korean joint on 4200 Lincoln. Two big orders of Bulgogi and three big Korean beers later and I was unbuckling my buttons. We drove around a little bit, stopped by my apartment to pick up a CD for Jackie and headed back to the burbies.
There are a few more goodbyes before I head off for yet another adventure. Until then.
tran.quy.hac.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
mark in time
I.
After a nineteen hour flight, he enters an environment which seems so alien to him for only a brief moment. Walking through the terminals, he greatly misses his home of the past six months. But what can he do? On a brighter note, his parents and family must be ecstatic of his arrival. As he walks out the departure gate, there is absolutely no one there.
II.
Not many Việtnamese come to Chicago, or the Midwest. Surprisingly, he meets one from the motherland studying so close to where he lives. Connections, interactions, relationships with those who understand his situation is desired. She also misses Việt Nam, possibly even more. They talk about the beauties of the motherland, yearning to return in that instant. A beneficial friendship perhaps. They understand Việt Nam.
III.
Three males, connected in one way or another sit at a coffee shop, late at night. One studies his sociology readings--redundant and draining. Another reads Murakami's Kafka on the Shore. The last reads the same. In that particular moment, although tourists for a short week, these three exert a sense of belonging, of immersion in the life.
IV.
He exits a busy New York Airport, carefully examining the bus-metro schedule and map. After locating point x, he sits patiently, awaiting for the bus to arrive. Fifteen minutes pass, and finally the boxy construction on wheels roll up. He enters, sitting next to a pretty Latina. Ten minutes or so later, the two talk. From very different backgrounds, experiences, they click, even only for that short moment. She is from Columbia, recently emigrated to the U.S. We wish each other good luck, and part ways.
V.
Argyle is far from affluent. Many ethnic based non-profits reside in the Uptown area. One of which is CMAA. Working with children, youths receiving less opportunity seems far more worthwhile than working with those opposite. He's a stranger at first; the youths mute when he nears. Through time, he's like their big brother that is not mean to them. He sees great potential in each and everyone of these kids.
VI.
A Megabus ride costs only ten dollars. He takes it up north, to Milwaukee to visit some interesting people. In the recent years, despite the short distance between the two, rarely do they see each other. They "một, hai, ba YO!" They jazzy up the fish tank, creating a real ecosystem in a glass box. They hit up a few bars. They plan Việt Nam 2008.
VII.
He exits the bathroom and sees his cousin sitting next to a man of colour in a not so colourful place. We're probably the three that stand out the most. He approaches the man and begins conversing, not knowing how in depth and personable such a conversation will get. The man is from Nicaragua. He works a blue collar job. I voice my opinions, about race, class, inequities in this country. He acknowledges and voices his perspective. There is no pinpoint agreement, but they both understand each other. They both are people of colour in not so colourful country.
VIII.
Hours of driving and viewing a mundane landscape, they arrive in a bubble. This place actually has buildings, landscape, architecture. They meet a couple at Casa Cantina for a few drinks. He catches up with the couple, still adjusting to seeing them half way across the world. The past is brought up, the life led in VN. How we miss it so. But life moves forward, not backward. "Adjust to the culture and life of wherever you're situated."
IX.
Four people sit at a dining room table and ăn qùa. Grilled fish wrapped with veggies in rice paper. A classic Saigonese treat. Downing a few cold beers and some white wine, the four head downstairs for a fun game of Mahjong. All start with 1.30$. After the Phóng's and Ù's, there stands one clear winner--the one who plays the most, the one who's teaching us the rules. A Friday night with family is well spent.
X.
He sits here awaiting a new life he will lead for five months. He begins to feel sad he is leaving, but why!? He's going to a beautiful place to enrich his own experiences. Eight days remain and he has yet to pack a thing. From experience, he will not pack much. On surface level, life in the past eight months appeared uneventful, but with one through nine, he might be wrong.
trần.qúy.hạc
After a nineteen hour flight, he enters an environment which seems so alien to him for only a brief moment. Walking through the terminals, he greatly misses his home of the past six months. But what can he do? On a brighter note, his parents and family must be ecstatic of his arrival. As he walks out the departure gate, there is absolutely no one there.
II.
Not many Việtnamese come to Chicago, or the Midwest. Surprisingly, he meets one from the motherland studying so close to where he lives. Connections, interactions, relationships with those who understand his situation is desired. She also misses Việt Nam, possibly even more. They talk about the beauties of the motherland, yearning to return in that instant. A beneficial friendship perhaps. They understand Việt Nam.
III.
Three males, connected in one way or another sit at a coffee shop, late at night. One studies his sociology readings--redundant and draining. Another reads Murakami's Kafka on the Shore. The last reads the same. In that particular moment, although tourists for a short week, these three exert a sense of belonging, of immersion in the life.
IV.
He exits a busy New York Airport, carefully examining the bus-metro schedule and map. After locating point x, he sits patiently, awaiting for the bus to arrive. Fifteen minutes pass, and finally the boxy construction on wheels roll up. He enters, sitting next to a pretty Latina. Ten minutes or so later, the two talk. From very different backgrounds, experiences, they click, even only for that short moment. She is from Columbia, recently emigrated to the U.S. We wish each other good luck, and part ways.
V.
Argyle is far from affluent. Many ethnic based non-profits reside in the Uptown area. One of which is CMAA. Working with children, youths receiving less opportunity seems far more worthwhile than working with those opposite. He's a stranger at first; the youths mute when he nears. Through time, he's like their big brother that is not mean to them. He sees great potential in each and everyone of these kids.
VI.
A Megabus ride costs only ten dollars. He takes it up north, to Milwaukee to visit some interesting people. In the recent years, despite the short distance between the two, rarely do they see each other. They "một, hai, ba YO!" They jazzy up the fish tank, creating a real ecosystem in a glass box. They hit up a few bars. They plan Việt Nam 2008.
VII.
He exits the bathroom and sees his cousin sitting next to a man of colour in a not so colourful place. We're probably the three that stand out the most. He approaches the man and begins conversing, not knowing how in depth and personable such a conversation will get. The man is from Nicaragua. He works a blue collar job. I voice my opinions, about race, class, inequities in this country. He acknowledges and voices his perspective. There is no pinpoint agreement, but they both understand each other. They both are people of colour in not so colourful country.
VIII.
Hours of driving and viewing a mundane landscape, they arrive in a bubble. This place actually has buildings, landscape, architecture. They meet a couple at Casa Cantina for a few drinks. He catches up with the couple, still adjusting to seeing them half way across the world. The past is brought up, the life led in VN. How we miss it so. But life moves forward, not backward. "Adjust to the culture and life of wherever you're situated."
IX.
Four people sit at a dining room table and ăn qùa. Grilled fish wrapped with veggies in rice paper. A classic Saigonese treat. Downing a few cold beers and some white wine, the four head downstairs for a fun game of Mahjong. All start with 1.30$. After the Phóng's and Ù's, there stands one clear winner--the one who plays the most, the one who's teaching us the rules. A Friday night with family is well spent.
X.
He sits here awaiting a new life he will lead for five months. He begins to feel sad he is leaving, but why!? He's going to a beautiful place to enrich his own experiences. Eight days remain and he has yet to pack a thing. From experience, he will not pack much. On surface level, life in the past eight months appeared uneventful, but with one through nine, he might be wrong.
trần.qúy.hạc
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
three days.
one.
After a four hour drive, with a stop in Indianapolis, we arrive at Indiana University. My friend's apartment, similarly laid out like my own in Chicago is a spacious, comfy place. The campus itself is the epitome of a college campus, something I have never experienced being in an urban campus. So many attractive international Asian girls. Oi doi oi! I meet Roger, Kenny's roommate.
The three of us head to Sopon, a fastfood Korean joint. We all order Bulgogi, devouring every piece. Then we drive around, soaking in the crisp cool summer night air, then head back. Lounging around the air conditioned apartment, relaxing is what we do. Roger and I then watch hours of Korean and Japanese dance clips on no other than YouTube.
I sleep at 5 AM.
two.
With only five hours of sleep, I am fatigued as Kenny awakes me from my short slumber. What lies ahead is Cincinnati, Columbus, and Athens. All of which are located in Ohio. So the day begins. An hour and a half later, we arrive in Cincinnati. Realizing we crave Vietnamese yet again, we actively search for a joint. The food is quite mediocre. Nothing to boast about.
Cincinnati's downtown is only a mere fraction of Chicago's. Unimpressed, we head towards Columbus. Two and a half hours later, we arrive in C-Bus, Ohio's largest city. Kara and Chirag meet us. We tour Ohio State University. It seems like a very nice campus. Walking into Larry's Bar, we sipped on some slushy margaritas. Seeing familiar faces from Viet Nam is always an enjoyment. I have an appointment with Gerard, from EAP, in Athens and thus we part ways and Kenny and I are again on the road.
An hour and a half later, we enter a secluded area, appearing to be Athens. Tree-lined brick roads, the city reminds us of an old colonial town. We meet Gerard and Arata at a nice little bar, where they sell Tiger. How fitting. Memories of Viet Nam flood in. After a few drinks, and a couple of hours, we bid farewell. Kenny and I grab some coffee, two espresso shots. A five-hour ride from Athens to Bloomington feels more like two.
Sleep? No. Roger, Kenny, and I go to their friends' house. Sitting on the roof, we converse, enjoying the warm summer night. All hungry, we decide to go to Waffle House. Belgian waffles and hash browns hits that spot. Drive back and sleep.
three.
The alarm, Kenny's voice, buzzes at two p.m. It is much too early to be up. I snooze on for another thirty. Despite the Waffle House breakfast, we're still hungry. We head to Siam House for Thai. Pad Thai, decent, but not as flavorful and tasty as Noodles in the Pot. Supplies needed for their apartment, I drive them to Target. Like every other Target in America, this one is filled with attractive females. They buy tons of shit.
Six p.m. is soon approaching and what lies ahead is even more driving, this time by myself. Passing the redneck towns of Indiana, the downtown of Indianapolis, the cornfields between the two states, I arrive in Chicago somewhere around nine p.m. I much want to hang out in the city, but instead I speed home. Drained, I head upstairs, but first make myself a banh mi gio, with all the condiments.
As the day has come to an end, I now realize that despite how uneventful I feel my life is, the introductions with new folks, and the interactions with old ones brings forth a sense of enjoyment and excitement, even though they are short lived. Communication and discoveries, however minute they may seem, bring some new aspect to one's life, as they have within the past three days of mine.
end.
tran, quy hac.
After a four hour drive, with a stop in Indianapolis, we arrive at Indiana University. My friend's apartment, similarly laid out like my own in Chicago is a spacious, comfy place. The campus itself is the epitome of a college campus, something I have never experienced being in an urban campus. So many attractive international Asian girls. Oi doi oi! I meet Roger, Kenny's roommate.
The three of us head to Sopon, a fastfood Korean joint. We all order Bulgogi, devouring every piece. Then we drive around, soaking in the crisp cool summer night air, then head back. Lounging around the air conditioned apartment, relaxing is what we do. Roger and I then watch hours of Korean and Japanese dance clips on no other than YouTube.
I sleep at 5 AM.
two.
With only five hours of sleep, I am fatigued as Kenny awakes me from my short slumber. What lies ahead is Cincinnati, Columbus, and Athens. All of which are located in Ohio. So the day begins. An hour and a half later, we arrive in Cincinnati. Realizing we crave Vietnamese yet again, we actively search for a joint. The food is quite mediocre. Nothing to boast about.
Cincinnati's downtown is only a mere fraction of Chicago's. Unimpressed, we head towards Columbus. Two and a half hours later, we arrive in C-Bus, Ohio's largest city. Kara and Chirag meet us. We tour Ohio State University. It seems like a very nice campus. Walking into Larry's Bar, we sipped on some slushy margaritas. Seeing familiar faces from Viet Nam is always an enjoyment. I have an appointment with Gerard, from EAP, in Athens and thus we part ways and Kenny and I are again on the road.
An hour and a half later, we enter a secluded area, appearing to be Athens. Tree-lined brick roads, the city reminds us of an old colonial town. We meet Gerard and Arata at a nice little bar, where they sell Tiger. How fitting. Memories of Viet Nam flood in. After a few drinks, and a couple of hours, we bid farewell. Kenny and I grab some coffee, two espresso shots. A five-hour ride from Athens to Bloomington feels more like two.
Sleep? No. Roger, Kenny, and I go to their friends' house. Sitting on the roof, we converse, enjoying the warm summer night. All hungry, we decide to go to Waffle House. Belgian waffles and hash browns hits that spot. Drive back and sleep.
three.
The alarm, Kenny's voice, buzzes at two p.m. It is much too early to be up. I snooze on for another thirty. Despite the Waffle House breakfast, we're still hungry. We head to Siam House for Thai. Pad Thai, decent, but not as flavorful and tasty as Noodles in the Pot. Supplies needed for their apartment, I drive them to Target. Like every other Target in America, this one is filled with attractive females. They buy tons of shit.
Six p.m. is soon approaching and what lies ahead is even more driving, this time by myself. Passing the redneck towns of Indiana, the downtown of Indianapolis, the cornfields between the two states, I arrive in Chicago somewhere around nine p.m. I much want to hang out in the city, but instead I speed home. Drained, I head upstairs, but first make myself a banh mi gio, with all the condiments.
As the day has come to an end, I now realize that despite how uneventful I feel my life is, the introductions with new folks, and the interactions with old ones brings forth a sense of enjoyment and excitement, even though they are short lived. Communication and discoveries, however minute they may seem, bring some new aspect to one's life, as they have within the past three days of mine.
end.
tran, quy hac.
Friday, August 10, 2007
aspirations: Budapest and thereafter.
Upon returning from Viet Nam last December, I look back on the experience in both positive and negative light. It was a life-changing experience, indefinitely imprinting Viet Nam in my future endeavors. Yet at the same time, there are so many more things I should have done. I wish I had involved myself more in the non-profit field, offering any type of assistance and help to those in need. I wish I had visited children who lie victims to Agent Orange. I wish I had conversed with more locals other than xe om drivers about their struggles and toils within their lives. I wish I had done something more beneficial for my brothers and sisters who live half way across the world.
I view my future with great potential, where endless opportunities exist. I just need to take them when offered. Up next is Budapest, Hungary. A country in development, moving beyond the Communist political system and government controlled market system for almost two decades now, yet still trailing behind its neighbors just westward. There lies a great opportunity for me to look into non-profits and non-governmental organizations. My desire for Budapest is not only to experience the culture and inherit much knowledge through the contrasted education system from the States, but also to contribute to the growth and development of the country. I intend to involve myself into some sort of social based non-profit, working with the impoverished, the lower class who do not have the opportunities; the poverty. I am enrolled in "The New Underclass" at Corvinus, and I hope this assists me in pursuing an internship or volunteer placement in a non-profit or NGO. Help those in need and understand their situation.
Returning back to the States next year, I'll only have six months before I graduate. I hope to gain some non-profit, NGO experience for I greatly desire to return to beautiful Viet Nam and help my country through social development. There are so many issues in Viet Nam that need to focused on. I hope my experience in Budapest and in Chicago thereafter contributes in the long term of my endeavors in Viet Nam come summer of 2008.
I view my future with great potential, where endless opportunities exist. I just need to take them when offered. Up next is Budapest, Hungary. A country in development, moving beyond the Communist political system and government controlled market system for almost two decades now, yet still trailing behind its neighbors just westward. There lies a great opportunity for me to look into non-profits and non-governmental organizations. My desire for Budapest is not only to experience the culture and inherit much knowledge through the contrasted education system from the States, but also to contribute to the growth and development of the country. I intend to involve myself into some sort of social based non-profit, working with the impoverished, the lower class who do not have the opportunities; the poverty. I am enrolled in "The New Underclass" at Corvinus, and I hope this assists me in pursuing an internship or volunteer placement in a non-profit or NGO. Help those in need and understand their situation.
Returning back to the States next year, I'll only have six months before I graduate. I hope to gain some non-profit, NGO experience for I greatly desire to return to beautiful Viet Nam and help my country through social development. There are so many issues in Viet Nam that need to focused on. I hope my experience in Budapest and in Chicago thereafter contributes in the long term of my endeavors in Viet Nam come summer of 2008.
Friday, August 3, 2007
living space
Following an excruciating day of work at the Lego camp, I decided to head to the windy city to enjoy day five of the week. As I was speeding on the highway, I received a call from my friend, Lan, whom I will be living with, along with her sister Mai when I return from Budapest, Hungary. Upon answering, they mentioned that they were in the apartment, asking me if I wanted to come check it out. I did.
It is located on Harrison and Damen, near Medical District, and probably four to five blocks south of the United Center (Chicago Bulls games galore come beginning of 2008!!). As I neared the apartment complex, it was nothing I imagined it to be. The building probably stands twenty stories high. Our apartment is on the tenth floor, with a pretty captivating view, the entire city skyline to the right of us.
As I was entering the building, I noticed this particular living space was occupied by many minorities, which I am very excited about, very multi-cultural. As we got off at floor ten, we were greeted by a handful of little Indian youths rolling and tossing tennis balls in the hallway, and their two elder babysitters who happened to be a married couple. The husband seemed excited that we were moving in; new neighbors. He greeted us warmly and introduced himself. Gandhi. He said, "It's very easy to remember". Surely is. With such welcome, I am very glad that I will be living in this apartment complex. I'll be able to meet some very interesting folks of different backgrounds. Who knows, perhaps we'll have an international potluck in the lobby. That'd be fun.
tran.quy.hac
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