20. Graduating From Penn State University Rice and chicken dipped in soy sauce, The same meal daily until graduation. Tomorrow was the day I had to move out, No gown, no ring, no diploma in hand, and penniless. The landlady stopped by to show students the apartments, Several future tenants were with her. While they…
19. Coming Back to Penn State After Summer Job After finishing my summer job, The Chinese boss lent me four-hundred bucks. I drove back to Penn State that evening; As soon as I got out of the car, I heard a loud voice from afar. “Give me all your money.” “I don’t have any money,…
18. Transferring to Penn State University In the Winter Semester of 1980, I transferred to Penn State As a student in a five-year co-op engineering program. I was allowed to live on campus, So cooking meals was not a problem for me. However, my second year there, All upperclassmen had to live off campus. I…
17. Who Gave Me The Name Lay? Once I had a chance to ask my Dad (July 1994) Why did you give me this funny name? No, we did not give you this name, Your nursing woman gave you the name. We were so busy working day and night, Cang, Ký, Lý, Trí, Toàn, Xuân,…
16. One More Vietnamese Family Arriving in Latrobe, PA I went along with the Tranquillas to Pittsburgh Airport To pick up another Vietnamese family of four. The family had just arrived from a refugee camp in Thailand. A couple with their young son, and Liên was his sister, The couple Trọng Nguyễn’s son was about…
15. Summer School at St. Vincent College The U.S. government had a plan to help students. Those who dropped out of school for whatever reason. Must satisfy this simple condition: Passing two remedial courses in the summer school. The GED exam I passed recently Was required for my admission. Saint Vincent College in Latrobe had…
14. The Ravages of a Civil War The most tragic fate we mourned for those young men Who were born only to die defending their leaders. Not knowing they were born North, only sent to South to die, Or losing limbs, eyesight, being handicapped for life. The saddest fate was for those Northern young men…
13. Recalling My High School Years in Vietnam My high school years in Vietnam were terrible, I was a reckless student bouncing from school to school. During my eighth grade in Bồ Đề High School, I felt bored and became a delinquent fool. I cajoled my classmates, Di and Thái, to play hooky with me….
12. Meeting My Second Benefactor – The Tranquilas Today there was an American couple Who came to the Tea Room looking for me. After my inquiries with him, He was a college professor with several degrees. They lived in a small town called Latrobe, About an hour’s drive from me. He visited his mother in…
11. Welcome to Our Country One night, a customer came near meWhile I was carving the meat, I didn’t hear him well.After he left the dinning area,Suddenly I said, “That’s it! Welcome to our country.” I ran after him to their car,“Thank you, sir, for your welcoming.”“Welcome to our country.” That’s what he said.I shook…