Thai update

[Lori]

Thai's brother has died today. I really don't know how much he is supposed to handle. Now his mother is in very serious health also.
He is staying at his brothers house tonight. I really feel they can give him more comfort than I can right now. I can only give my sympathy, and let him mourn privatly with his family here.
We were married yesterday.  We'll have the party next week.
Thai has recieved his social security card.
It has only been the past week that I have felt things were coming along rather nicely. Only yesterday did he go through my freezer and ask what everything was.
When I was in vietnam, we picked up a neice of his while we were on vacation. When we arrived home, no one really noticed her. She sat by herself and evenually, after a few days joined in with everyone. I thought it was rather rude of everyone. But later learned that is just "their" way. I took that as a lesson after Thai arrived here. I just left him to do whatever, and never pushed him to try this or that. Eventually they come around and feel comfortable.
I really believe we are on a road to a happy life together full of love and caring.
I do warn any new comers that if you can not respect their culture, or understand it, this is not the path for you. I TRUELY believe you need to be a special kind of person to be able to view things totally differantly than the way you were taught, in order to have a successful marrage with someone of a differant culture. For example, my family can not understand why Thai waited 2 days to explain to me about his brothers health. I can understand, and if I don't I can surely try my hardest to.
I know this post sounds hurried. I have been working alot and also having so much on my mind...any questions, go ahead.
--Lori

[Jeff S]

... in response to Thai update, posted by Lori on Mar 27, 2002

You're absolutely right about awareness and appreciation of your sweetie's culture. This has been a theme on this board but as you've found out it's not just sampling unusual foods. It's about behaviors, feelings, and ways of looking at the world that you never would have guessed when strolling hand-in-hand along the beach in his or her homeland on an exotic vacation for you. Thai's family's problems can't be helping his homesickness and adjustment problems.

Congrats on your wedding but sorry your honeymoon is being spent apart. Deepest sorrow also for Thai's brother.

Hang in there Lor, we're all pulling for you. Be strong and confident (I know you are, anyway) and you'll both get over these hurdles and on to the lives you dreamed of.

– Jeff S.

[SteveB]

... in response to Thai update, posted by Lori on Mar 27, 2002

I know of your sorrow,
I know of your pain.
But, I pray on tomorrow,
You will be happy again.

Steveb

[may10]

... in response to Thai update, posted by Lori on Mar 27, 2002

about Thai's brother, Lori.

Condolence, Thai and Lori.  

[Dave H]

... in response to Thai update, posted by Lori on Mar 27, 2002

Hi Lori and Thai,

Thai has had so much happen so fast. I am very sad to hear about his brother. I am happy to hear that things are otherwise going much better. I can only imagine how different the Vietnamese culture is. Just when I think I have everything figured out.... The biggest problem we have is misunderstood American expressions.

Dave H.

[Jimbo]

... in response to My condolences..., posted by Dave H on Mar 27, 2002

Hi Dave,

I'm still coming up with expressions that need explanation, "shoulder to the grindstone", "take it on the chin" etc.  There's just so many of them.  But I think it's worse in the South.  They can't utter a sentence without some sort of embellishment.  Nothing is ever just cold, it's "colder than a well digger's a**" or a zillion other such analogies :O)

Jim "in the Frozen North" bo

[Jeff S]

... in response to Yup, same with us, posted by Jimbo on Mar 28, 2002

.

[Dave H]

... in response to Yup, same with us, posted by Jimbo on Mar 28, 2002

Hey Jim,

It's a good thing I'm not an Aussie speaking Strine. "And just how would you feel if your poppy had a dummy spit when your de facto shot through, leaving you for dust, sitting in your little fibro, ready to drop your load...You wouldn't have Buckley's of finding the bleeding dole-bludger--but then, even Blind Freddy could've seen it coming." =;o))) http://www.artistwd.com/joyzine/australia/strine/

Dave "berko" H.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: Yup, same with us, posted by Dave H on Mar 29, 2002

Dave,

Did you ever see how many expressions they have for vomit/vomiting?  "Driving the porcelain bowl" etc. - it's amazing!

Jim

[Jimbo]

... in response to Yup, same with us, posted by Jimbo on Mar 28, 2002

..I guess that should be "nose to the grindstone", looks like I mixed it up with "shoulder to the wheel" -- no wonder she's having trouble with these expressions :oO

Too many years of crankin' code... I gotta get out of the business.... while I still have a few brain cells left.  All I wanna do is sit on the porch of a nipa hut, eat mangoes, and wrestle with the same decision every day: "What time shall I go diving today?"

Jim "Bus fault 403" bo

[jon]

... in response to oopps..., posted by Jimbo on Mar 28, 2002

Fine, quit your job so that I  may work again...

Jon

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: oopps..., posted by jon on Mar 28, 2002

but at this time, the wife does regard my aspiration to be a bum with overwhelming enthusiasm.  I'll have to wait 5 years before I can spend my days driving around in circles on Camiguin Island |

Jim

[jon]

... in response to oopps..., posted by Jimbo on Mar 28, 2002

Fine, quit your job so that I  may work again...

Jon

[Stephen]

... in response to Thai update, posted by Lori on Mar 27, 2002

Hang in there, Lori.  You're using your head on this matter.

Best wishes.

Stephen