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