November 19, 1913: "I know your last letter word for word and then I read it some forty times a day. I could die happy doing something for you. Since I can't rescue you from any monster or carry you from a burning building or save you from a sinking ship--simply because I'd be afraid of the monster, couldn't carry you, and can't swim--I'll have to go to work and make money enough to pay my debts and then get you to take me for what I am: just a common everyday man whose instincts are to be ornery, who's anxious to be right. You'll not have any trouble getting along with me for I'm awful good-natured, and I'm sure we'd live happy ever after sure enough."
-Harry S. Truman
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
11.21.9 Calendar
Hello all,
My name is Ethan Yang. You may have read about me on Toui Tre. If not, thanks for visiting and participating in my coalition! I have posted 2 links and they are schedules for the buses between My Tho and Ho Chi Minh City. Please let everyone know when you are traveling. If you can, carry a copy of the newspaper with you and meet each other at the bus station.
11.15.9 The Big NEWS!
I am ecstatic that my article is published. I am thrilled and grateful for the hundreds of responses that I have gotten. Some readers saw me at that bus station and have responded warmly. Lastly, I hope to create a coalition to find her. I will have more about this in a couple of days.
Tình yêu - Lối sống
Chủ Nhật, 15/11/2009, 14:16 (GMT+7)
Tìm em, cô gái Mỹ Tho
TT - Câu chuyện tình “sét đánh” giữa một chàng trai Mỹ và một cô gái Việt trên chuyến xe khách từ Mỹ Tho về TP.HCM. Họ xa nhau từ đó nhưng chàng trai vẫn kiên trì tìm kiếm cô gái qua những lá thư gửi về VN. Liệu họ sẽ gặp lại nhau? Nhiều bạn đọc đã "xuýt xoa" vì chàng trai lãng mạn và mong cho anh sớm gặp lại "người trong mộng" của mình.
| Ảnh của Ethan do “cô gái Mỹ Tho” chụp cho anh trên chuyến xe khách về TP.HCM |
Tuổi Trẻ xin trích đăng một phần lá thư cảm động này với lời chúc Ethan sẽ sớm gặp lại người con gái Mỹ Tho của mình:
“Tôi đón chuyến xe đò từ Mỹ Tho về TP.HCM trong một buổi trưa nắng gắt (tầm 10-12 giờ) vào ngày 3-8 vừa qua. Tôi chuẩn bị quay lại Mỹ sau một thời gian du lịch ở Việt Nam. Theo lời giới thiệu của một cô bạn người Việt học chung ở đại học thì Mỹ Tho là một thành phố đẹp, khá phát triển nhưng vẫn giữ được nét sơ khai, nên tôi đã không bỏ qua cơ hội tham quan vùng đất này.
Trời nóng như đổ lửa mà chuyến xe lại đông người, tôi phải uống nước nhiều hơn bình thường. Nhìn ra ngoài cửa sổ, tôi thấy hai bên đường những người nông dân đang làm ruộng miệt mài với mấy lớp áo trên người. Họ không thấy nóng ư? Tôi cũng thấy những đứa trẻ còn nhỏ xíu nô đùa bên sông. Có ai chú ý đến chúng không? Con sông sâu đến thế mà...
Đang miên man suy nghĩ, tôi chợt phát hiện điều gì đó rất đặc biệt đang diễn ra ở hàng ghế ngay trước mặt. Có một đôi mắt cứ len lén nhìn tôi...
Cái cách cô ấy giả vờ nhìn tôi một cách vô tình cũng như nụ cười đầy bối rối của cô vội quay mặt đi khi bắt gặp tôi nhìn lại khiến tôi thấy vui vui.
Tôi quyết định bắt chuyện trước.
Thật buồn khi tôi không thể nói tiếng Việt, còn cô ấy chỉ hiểu lõm bõm vài từ tiếng Anh. Sau hai, ba câu chào hỏi không thành công, chúng tôi im lặng. Cái cảm giác phải lặng im khi có quá nhiều điều muốn nói, muốn hỏi thật sự khó chịu lắm.
Tôi bắt đầu nghĩ ngợi nhiều hơn và suy đoán về cô ấy. Thật khó để biết được cô ấy còn đi học hay đang đi làm. Tôi chỉ đoán chắc cô ấy là người gốc Mỹ Tho vì cô chỉ ôm đúng một chiếc balô nhỏ trên người. Tôi nhớ cô ấy khoác chiếc áo kaki có màu xanh lá nhẹ, không trang điểm gì cả, bình thường, giản dị... Điều duy nhất khiến cô ấy đặc biệt là việc không đeo khẩu trang lùm xùm như bao phụ nữ khác trên xe.
Tôi không tin lắm vào cái gọi là tình yêu sét đánh, nhưng tôi biết mình sẽ hối hận nếu không kết bạn được với người con gái này. Tôi trao vội cho cô tờ giấy nhăn nhúm với số điện thoại của mình trên đó, không quên gửi tặng cô một nụ cười thật tươi.
Như thế vẫn chưa đủ. Tôi không muốn mình bỏ phí khoảng thời gian còn lại... nên tôi đã đưa máy ảnh và nhờ cô ấy chụp hình cho mình. Chuyện nhỏ nhặt là thế mà tôi cứ ấp úng mãi mới nên lời. Khi cô ấy nhoẻn miệng cười và báo đã xong, tôi rất muốn đề nghị được chụp hình lại cho cô nhưng không hiểu sao tất cả những thứ tôi làm lại là: cảm ơn và ngồi xuống, im lặng tiếp!
Đừng tưởng khi một người sinh ra và lớn lên ở trời Tây thì sẽ thoải mái, tự tin trong quan điểm và hành động... Tôi cũng phải đối mặt với sự nhút nhát, toát mồ hôi thật sự mỗi khi nhìn hay tiếp xúc trực tiếp với cô ấy.
Cô ấy xuống xe trước tôi và tôi nhắm mắt lại, thầm cầu nguyện: “Ước gì mình sẽ nhanh chóng quên điều này đi”. Khoảng cách địa lý, bất đồng về ngôn ngữ... sẽ làm mọi chuyện chẳng tới đâu.
Nói là thế, nhưng năm ngày cuối cùng ở TP.HCM tôi đã dành mỗi ngày vài giờ để ra trạm xe ấy, chờ đợi, quan sát và hi vọng sẽ gặp lại cô gái Mỹ Tho...
Đứng tại trạm xe tôi thấy thời gian trôi thật nặng nề, và bắt đầu cảm thấy mình hứng thú với việc nhìn trời, mây bay... hay con thằn lằn đang bò, bắt mối trên tường. Tôi biết những điều đó là vô vị, nhưng ít ra nó giúp tôi không có thời gian rảnh để nghĩ về hình ảnh của cô gái.
Nhưng tất cả đều vô dụng! Đầu tôi luôn vang lên câu hỏi: “Làm sao để được gặp lại em? Làm sao?”.
Mang câu chuyện đó sẻ chia với người quen, tôi được một người bạn giới thiệu mục “Trong mắt người nước ngoài” của một tờ báo lớn ở Việt Nam. Tôi coi như đây là cơ hội cuối cùng để có thể tìm lại hình ảnh ấy.
Tôi đã trở lại Mỹ, về lại với cuộc sống đầy bận rộn thân quen... Nhưng khoảnh khắc ấy, ngồi im và chỉ lặng nhìn em lại khiến tôi cồn cào, nhớ da diết và chẳng thể nào quên em được! Những cô gái xinh đẹp, đầy quyến rũ vẫn xuất hiện kề bên tôi như ngày nào... Nhưng giờ họ bỗng nhạt nhòa trong tôi, điều này liệu em có bao giờ biết?
Tôi chỉ mong được nhắn gửi vài dòng tới người con gái ấy:
Chấp nhận đi theo con đường nghiên cứu y khoa, tôi biết mình sẽ không có nhiều thời gian để quay trở lại Việt Nam và tìm kiếm em. Tuy vậy, tôi sẽ không bao giờ thôi hi vọng. Tôi biết điều này khá là ủy mị khi nói ra, nhưng quả thật những kỷ niệm dù rất nhỏ đã xảy ra giữa hai chúng ta lại đang chiếm một góc rất lớn trong suy nghĩ này, và tôi - dù đã cố gắng - nhưng chẳng thể nào quên được.
Tôi tin dù ở hai nơi cách xa nhau, nếu chúng ta muốn thì cầu nối tình cảm vẫn có thể kết nối được. Và tôi sẽ nắm bắt thật chặt mọi cơ hội dù rất mong manh đến với mình... để lại được bên em!”.
Tôi biết lá thư này quá lập dị và hoàn toàn không phù hợp để gửi tới một tờ báo, nhưng tôi tin ở đâu đó trên trái đất này sẽ vẫn còn nhiều cái được gọi là sự ngoại lệ. Có tham lam quá không khi tôi muốn mình rơi vào trường hợp ấy?
| 7 lá thư tình của một người lạ Tôi là Công Nhật, cộng tác viên của chuyên mục “Trong mắt người nước ngoài” trên báo Tuổi Trẻ. Một ngày nọ tôi nhận được lá thư của một chàng trai Mỹ với lời ghi chú cẩn thận: “Gửi chuyên mục Trong mắt người nước ngoài”, nhưng bên trong lại chứa đựng những câu văn thấm đẫm sự lãng mạn pha chút phấn khích của anh chàng dành cho một cô gái Việt tình cờ gặp nhau trên chuyến xe đò về TP.HCM. Lá thư ấy đã bị tôi xếp xó trong một thời gian dài vì sự “lạc đề” của nó so với những vấn đề thời sự của chuyên mục, kể cả khi anh chàng si tình ấy tiếp tục gửi tới tôi sáu lá thư khác, cùng nội dung với lá thư đầu tiên. Nhưng tôi đã không thể phớt lờ khi nhận được lá thư thứ bảy của anh chàng, nội dung y hệt những lá thư trước, chỉ khác phần tái bút với những lời tha thiết: “Tôi biết nói ra điều này có vẻ kỳ dị, nhưng tôi tin mình và cô gái ấy sinh ra là để cho nhau. Tôi chưa thể quay lại nơi ấy vì phải tiếp tục chương trình học dang dở của mình, nhưng tôi sẽ không bỏ cuộc, không bao giờ bỏ cuộc...”. Bất đồng ngôn ngữ, sự e dè của những người trẻ khiến họ chỉ kịp trao nhau những ánh mắt, nụ cười đầy thẹn thùng. Thế nhưng khi về nước, anh chàng Ethan Yang (SV cao học ĐH Stanford, Mỹ - tác giả bức thư) vẫn không tài nào quên được hình ảnh của cô gái Việt. Tất cả đã khiến Ethan day dứt suốt ba tháng qua và phải trải lòng mình qua những lá thư... |
ETHAN YANG (Công Nhật dịch)
Friday, November 20, 2009
11.8.9 Washington Zoo
After a night at Adam Morgan, Naa Anorkor and I went to the zoo during the day before going to architecture museum. I spent Sunday night at Georgetown, which is similar to Palo Alto in many ways. I finally left for Miami the next morning.
11.7.9 Washington DC
I took the Chinatown Bus to DC. I stayed with another CS host: Naa Anorkor. She is the best chef I know under 40. OMG! And her roommate works for the opera. The opera was okay. Sneaking into the box seats were priceless!
Kennedy Center
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Can you find the moon in this picture?11.4.9 The Yankees WIN!!!
Joe Chan enjoying our win!
Finally, after an eight-year drought, we are here today. Winning was inevitable. For some reason, my jubilation was not as strong as I thought it would be. I don't know why but it could be the girl, who took that ability away.
Some nice Korean bimbimbob at Korean townIf you are in Chinatown or West Village, be sure to visit the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, which has the lychee flavor (trust me, it is delicious) and Yogurt Land self serve for 49 cents per ounce!
11.3.9 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh interviews were lovely. The cathedral had classrooms that represented each country.
Here is the look atop the cathedral. The weather was strange, though. It was cold but with the sun coming though in addition to the unusual humidity, it was rather unreal.10.29.9 Sullivan Beach
This was the most beautiful beach I have been to. Kite surfers, white beaches and only a few people with no signs of commercial activity, this was the best!
One of the houses only a walk away from the beach10.28.9 Charleston, South Carolina
Wow, I loved the beach here. Isles of Palms is not even the best here. But surely it was awesome to check out before the interview!
I would have tried to make the flag stand out a little more by making it bigger, which would mean either changing the perspective or editing it with photoshop. But I feel like this was a good picture.
I stayed with David Sapp on Couchsurfing. He was super chill and he trusted me enough to leave me the keys so I could leave after he leaves home in the morning. I drove to Columbia and stayed with Rebecca and her boyfriend Adam, who is aspiring screen writer. There was not much to do there. We hung at her friend's place before I went to see an Yankee Angels game, which I think we lost. I left in the morning for Charleston again and she treated me to breakfast at her restaurant! I love couchsurfing!
10.27.9 Vermont
I flew to Burlington, Vermont on the 26th and stayed with a student there. Now, it is really cold there. They told me it was snowing at this time last year at the end of October! It REALLY is cold here! After the interview, I checked out the lake. I was surprised by the number of sailors there. I am sure they wished it was warmer.
Interviewing students enjoying downtown, Burlington
Interviewing students enjoying downtown, BurlingtonAt 5pm, I left on a flight to Charleston, SC through Dulles Airport in Washington, DC.
10.25.9 University of Florida followed by St. Augustine, Florida
I arrived at Jacksonville, Florida and spent the night with an ex-army Couchsurfing host, Billy Jenkins. He was a very chill host and had a nice place near five point. We watched a Yankees Angels game. I treated him to a brownie and some beer. It was awesome because the Yankees won!
The next morning, I rented a car from Enterprise to head down to Gainesville, which is over 100 miles away. You can drive 100 on the highway here because there are literally no cars on this road. The only thing is that there are many police check points.
University of Florida is located at Gainesville, Florida. It is a college town, meaning that the town is empty during the summer. They have the number 1 football team in the country. However, I am not big of a college sports fan. The main hospital here is Shands Hospital with a newly built cancer center. It must be scorching hot in the summer because it was still in the 90s at the end of October. St. Augustine is a nice little town with all the historic sights.
Dr. Hsu at UF is a very interesting and loquacious man. He told us of his wife and how as a musican, he was able to win her heart with written poetry and music. He reminds me of myself. :P
I went to Kennedy Space Center, then Orlando and St. Augustine in the next couple of days. There were some notably nice Spanish restaurants in downtown, Orlando.
I loved the beach here as well. The waves aren't that hard. The sand is white and fine. As you can see, the background here is also very nice with high grass. St. Augustine is a pretty place that you should not miss if you are in Northern Florida.
The next morning, I rented a car from Enterprise to head down to Gainesville, which is over 100 miles away. You can drive 100 on the highway here because there are literally no cars on this road. The only thing is that there are many police check points.
University of Florida is located at Gainesville, Florida. It is a college town, meaning that the town is empty during the summer. They have the number 1 football team in the country. However, I am not big of a college sports fan. The main hospital here is Shands Hospital with a newly built cancer center. It must be scorching hot in the summer because it was still in the 90s at the end of October. St. Augustine is a nice little town with all the historic sights.
Dr. Hsu at UF is a very interesting and loquacious man. He told us of his wife and how as a musican, he was able to win her heart with written poetry and music. He reminds me of myself. :P
I went to Kennedy Space Center, then Orlando and St. Augustine in the next couple of days. There were some notably nice Spanish restaurants in downtown, Orlando.
I loved the beach here as well. The waves aren't that hard. The sand is white and fine. As you can see, the background here is also very nice with high grass. St. Augustine is a pretty place that you should not miss if you are in Northern Florida.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
September 14th, 2009
平亞伸出兩只手，握住曼娘的手。 他若不這么做就好了。
因為這兩個人的手那種溫柔的緊握喚醒了畢生的熱情。
“造物就是這樣戲弄人”，就憑少女的一句低聲細語，或細如柔荑的玉手的輕輕一按，就創造出人世一生的深情，而這種深情就引起重要的後果。有愛情有痛苦的一生是否不如無愛情無痛苦的一生，誰也不敢確言。在曼娘的情形上看來，我們倒易於相信有愛情與痛苦的一生，究竟是值得的。
對這一些，花者是完全贊同的，因為在他的腦里滿滿溢出的都是知識，和光華流下的智慧。 花者以為凡人可信可不信， 無論如何都是兩難， 想太多換回來的還不是四行淚。 他喜歡曼娘，也懂得曼娘， 雖然他觀念很獨特，比曼娘的還深一層。他那種純朗的勇敢在他人眼里說好聽的，是不可思議，難聽的則是死攪爛纏，瘋子一個。 花者可不在乎這個， 真可以跟 The Graduate 里的 Benjamin Braddock 一拼。 他認為，在他腦海里掠過的念頭，就算是微不足道的僅僅一回，都值得人去討論，去爭議，去被承認，他是花者無缺。 所以花者真正喜歡的人很少。 對她們，他不會保留任何秘密，因為任何秘密，不論大小都會制造間隙。 有了那些，什么都會沒意思，但是又有哪些人沒有？他知道閃電般的愛情，一兩天可抵一二十年。 但他知道真正能做到的人，在新時代真是難找， 除了花者還有誰？ 有那么多的京華煙云，花季雨季，為什么這么多讀者后，花者依然孤獨？
那年是否有人在花者的心里放了顆情種。 難道世上唯獨一顆？
因為這兩個人的手那種溫柔的緊握喚醒了畢生的熱情。
“造物就是這樣戲弄人”，就憑少女的一句低聲細語，或細如柔荑的玉手的輕輕一按，就創造出人世一生的深情，而這種深情就引起重要的後果。有愛情有痛苦的一生是否不如無愛情無痛苦的一生，誰也不敢確言。在曼娘的情形上看來，我們倒易於相信有愛情與痛苦的一生，究竟是值得的。
對這一些，花者是完全贊同的，因為在他的腦里滿滿溢出的都是知識，和光華流下的智慧。 花者以為凡人可信可不信， 無論如何都是兩難， 想太多換回來的還不是四行淚。 他喜歡曼娘，也懂得曼娘， 雖然他觀念很獨特，比曼娘的還深一層。他那種純朗的勇敢在他人眼里說好聽的，是不可思議，難聽的則是死攪爛纏，瘋子一個。 花者可不在乎這個， 真可以跟 The Graduate 里的 Benjamin Braddock 一拼。 他認為，在他腦海里掠過的念頭，就算是微不足道的僅僅一回，都值得人去討論，去爭議，去被承認，他是花者無缺。 所以花者真正喜歡的人很少。 對她們，他不會保留任何秘密，因為任何秘密，不論大小都會制造間隙。 有了那些，什么都會沒意思，但是又有哪些人沒有？他知道閃電般的愛情，一兩天可抵一二十年。 但他知道真正能做到的人，在新時代真是難找， 除了花者還有誰？ 有那么多的京華煙云，花季雨季，為什么這么多讀者后，花者依然孤獨？
那年是否有人在花者的心里放了顆情種。 難道世上唯獨一顆？
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
September 8th, 2009
到頭那一天新婚
提到便妒火難消
一天想上七八遍
心里酸楚飛不倦
七八年也難淡泊
淚雖下亂念潺潺
你不是恨那烈日
如火錐戳痛全身
怨你走得太匆匆
雖曾給夠我注意
摸過的潤膩的手
沒可能再攜著走
那時
枕邊沉睡的
不是真心的
小雨順風流
失于無聲處
奈何青春去不負
曾經擁有怎么夠
你那婉軟的背影
漸漸被黑暗拉長
牽著我心來抽割
苦草早占滿心坡
就扎死也舍不得
委屈你我一輩子
不忍你隨其自然
徘徊于集市內外
下汗血爭拼輸贏
為零碎顛簸一生
哎呀
我救不了你
真的對不起
要知人辛苦
怎會道別離
提到便妒火難消
一天想上七八遍
心里酸楚飛不倦
七八年也難淡泊
淚雖下亂念潺潺
你不是恨那烈日
如火錐戳痛全身
怨你走得太匆匆
雖曾給夠我注意
摸過的潤膩的手
沒可能再攜著走
那時
枕邊沉睡的
不是真心的
小雨順風流
失于無聲處
奈何青春去不負
曾經擁有怎么夠
你那婉軟的背影
漸漸被黑暗拉長
牽著我心來抽割
苦草早占滿心坡
就扎死也舍不得
委屈你我一輩子
不忍你隨其自然
徘徊于集市內外
下汗血爭拼輸贏
為零碎顛簸一生
哎呀
我救不了你
真的對不起
要知人辛苦
怎會道別離
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 30th, 2009 The one is in the viewfinder and she shall stay.
Some things come around once in a decade.
Some things come around once in a lifetime.
Some things come around just once, like the eruption of your child's tooth, the girl whose smile you saw for seconds and whose name you never asked, and your whole life.
"A fellow will remember things you wouldn't think he'd remember... I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that girl." --- Citizen Kane
Some things come around once in a lifetime.
Some things come around just once, like the eruption of your child's tooth, the girl whose smile you saw for seconds and whose name you never asked, and your whole life.
"A fellow will remember things you wouldn't think he'd remember... I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that girl." --- Citizen Kane
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Day 7: I am back in Bangkok
I get to Bangkok at around 8 PM, stored my luggage for 100 THBs even. I grabbed my bottle of Bacardi, which had about 2 shots left in it, and left for Le Fenix. On the way, I saw this media group around a singer. He actually looked serious and not that fun.
I then dropped off my camera bag at Le Fenix, used their internet for about 10 minutes, which they kindly allowed and then headed for Shark's Fin Soup. I was hustled twice and ended up in an expensive seafood restaurant and paid about 700 THBs and almost $30 for that and the coffee. It was disgusting as I was also missing the girl.
The beds was awful. I told two of the prostitutes I met previously that I knew them and they were $60. One got angry and pour her drink over me. I tried to retaliate a couple of times but she was pretty deterous and stopped me and got me kicked out eventurally.
When I got to Johnny Walker's, I was even less pleased and disgusted at myself. I was never going to get better than that experience on the bus by looking here. I left by 2:30 to have some clams and shrimp for 100 THBs and talked to a 30 year old woman. I told her my story. She thought I was confused and should seek a shrink. I told her I now know exactly what I seek. We had mutual respect and I left on a taxi for the airport. On the way, there was a very attractive Thai girl that did the peace sign to me. I think she was just being friendly. But whatever could have happened was nothing compared to the bus girl. I smiled and did not stop the car. The driver was fun, too. He was only 2 years older and has a girlfriend in college. He said he goes to massage parlor once a year and she is okay with that. That was funny. He said he would invite me to his wedding in 2 years. The ride to the airport was only 185 THBs. I gave the driver 200.
I had an assortment of seafood for 100 BHTs.
I then dropped off my camera bag at Le Fenix, used their internet for about 10 minutes, which they kindly allowed and then headed for Shark's Fin Soup. I was hustled twice and ended up in an expensive seafood restaurant and paid about 700 THBs and almost $30 for that and the coffee. It was disgusting as I was also missing the girl.
The beds was awful. I told two of the prostitutes I met previously that I knew them and they were $60. One got angry and pour her drink over me. I tried to retaliate a couple of times but she was pretty deterous and stopped me and got me kicked out eventurally.
When I got to Johnny Walker's, I was even less pleased and disgusted at myself. I was never going to get better than that experience on the bus by looking here. I left by 2:30 to have some clams and shrimp for 100 THBs and talked to a 30 year old woman. I told her my story. She thought I was confused and should seek a shrink. I told her I now know exactly what I seek. We had mutual respect and I left on a taxi for the airport. On the way, there was a very attractive Thai girl that did the peace sign to me. I think she was just being friendly. But whatever could have happened was nothing compared to the bus girl. I smiled and did not stop the car. The driver was fun, too. He was only 2 years older and has a girlfriend in college. He said he goes to massage parlor once a year and she is okay with that. That was funny. He said he would invite me to his wedding in 2 years. The ride to the airport was only 185 THBs. I gave the driver 200.
I had an assortment of seafood for 100 BHTs.
斷恒不過小兒懶
春風不受宮墻管
幾聲長嘆
長嘆長盼
好事偷換
風流有幾段
書香不曾志氣短
詩完不覺月已半
一種空亂
空亂空幻
濕破襤衫
杯中虛盡歡
Day 6: HCMC to Bangkok
I said goodbye to Tu at 7 AM after having breakfast (beef noodles).
In the morning, I went to HCMC police at about 8 AM. They then wrote me a report and refused to do anything beyond. I got to VNPT, which is again supposed to be their post office, and spent about 2 hours trying to get something out of them based on the information I have (the time of the call and my phone number). They were trying to be helpful first. But when I yelled at them at the top of my lungs and invaded their lunch break, they said that they did not know who has the record and asked me to leave. The security guard was weak but I realized I was not getting anywhere and left at 12:30 PM.
I met a 19 year old girl on the bus. I asked her to sit down next to me. She was having a red eye infection. Though she was sick, she was still cute and looked like the girl I was looking for. I knew she was not. Through another passenger who worked in the city and spoke a little English, I asked her whether she liked me and she said yes and that I am handsome. I showed her my banner and she said that she does not recognize the girl. She did not have email and left her number. I asked if she was going to call me. She took a moment and shook her head to say it is too expensive. I laughed out loud and nodded. I was never going to have anything to do with a cute 19 year old because I am on a mission. I do, however, truly appreciate her honesty.
花者自嘲
是呀是呀
先覺人人都如你
后方知
原乃
巧段笑影映人人
I went back to Binh Chanh for a final try. I stopped somewhere and made 20 copies of my banner and posted them on poles. They were probably all taken off by now either by human force or rain, perhaps even within the first hour. I had to try. I could not finish within time because I only had an half hour before I had to go on my flight. I left with 5 copies and the original at 3 PM. Accidentally, I got on a bus that was supposed to get to HCMC in 3 hours, which would have been way late. Immediately after we were in city boundary, I got on a taxi which took around 45 minute to get to the airport at 4:00 PM. I even thought about throwing the paper banner to another bus but could not do it. I left one on the ground somewhere but that is really the end. I fought until the last dog died.
It was raining and flooding in HCMC the two days when I was there.
In the morning, I went to HCMC police at about 8 AM. They then wrote me a report and refused to do anything beyond. I got to VNPT, which is again supposed to be their post office, and spent about 2 hours trying to get something out of them based on the information I have (the time of the call and my phone number). They were trying to be helpful first. But when I yelled at them at the top of my lungs and invaded their lunch break, they said that they did not know who has the record and asked me to leave. The security guard was weak but I realized I was not getting anywhere and left at 12:30 PM.
I met a 19 year old girl on the bus. I asked her to sit down next to me. She was having a red eye infection. Though she was sick, she was still cute and looked like the girl I was looking for. I knew she was not. Through another passenger who worked in the city and spoke a little English, I asked her whether she liked me and she said yes and that I am handsome. I showed her my banner and she said that she does not recognize the girl. She did not have email and left her number. I asked if she was going to call me. She took a moment and shook her head to say it is too expensive. I laughed out loud and nodded. I was never going to have anything to do with a cute 19 year old because I am on a mission. I do, however, truly appreciate her honesty.
花者自嘲
是呀是呀
先覺人人都如你
后方知
原乃
巧段笑影映人人
I went back to Binh Chanh for a final try. I stopped somewhere and made 20 copies of my banner and posted them on poles. They were probably all taken off by now either by human force or rain, perhaps even within the first hour. I had to try. I could not finish within time because I only had an half hour before I had to go on my flight. I left with 5 copies and the original at 3 PM. Accidentally, I got on a bus that was supposed to get to HCMC in 3 hours, which would have been way late. Immediately after we were in city boundary, I got on a taxi which took around 45 minute to get to the airport at 4:00 PM. I even thought about throwing the paper banner to another bus but could not do it. I left one on the ground somewhere but that is really the end. I fought until the last dog died.
It was raining and flooding in HCMC the two days when I was there.
眾又大笑道
麗人不曉也
汝不如
踏鵲追疾星
年年有時見
花者強道
到頭那一天
終歸二處
夢里陰間
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