Thai’s Annual Newsletter

Vietnam June 1999 – If I had to pick the biggest highlight of 1999, it would have to be my trip to Vietnam. It was significant, because it was my first time back to Vietnam since my family left it some twenty something years ago.

My two brothers, Tin and Thong, got married in Hanoi. I don’t know how they did it, but they somehow were able to catch two beautiful women, Ha and Hien; and not only did they catch them, they somehow were able to get the girls to agree to marry them.

On the trip we had around twenty something people come with us from America. It was quite an adventure. For me, the trip started with a layover in Singapore, where I visited my dear friend, Yumi. I had such a great time in Singapore, visiting the island, going to aquarium… On the island we saw a huge sandcastle-building contest.

After Singapore, I met up with the rest of the family in Hong Kong and then we flew over to Hanoi, Vietnam. I think out of all the cities I visited in Vietnam, Hanoi was probably my most favorite. We stayed at the Hanoi Hotel, which overlooked a pond. I loved their breakfast, because it was probably the cleanest food I ate while I was in Vietnam.

After one night in Hanoi, we then took an excursion to Halong Bay. Halong Bay is one of the wonders of the world. It is a bay filled with dolomite caves and islands. Legend has it that dragons once roamed the land and when they flew down onto the waters their tails pushed up the ground and formed the small islands. We got to ride in round weaved boats.

On Friday, we headed back to Hanoi and prepared for the wedding. A traditional Vietnamese wedding goes something like this: On the day of the wedding, the groom and family caravan to the house of the bride, carrying presents for the entire bride’s extended family. At the bride’s house, the groom would ask the bride’s father for her hand in marriage. After all was agreed upon, the bride and groom would pray to the bride’s ancestors and asking them to bless the marriage. In Vietnamese culture, we believe our ancestors are always there to guide and protect the family. After this, the pair would exchange rings and then depart to the groom’s home. In the olden days this would be filled with sadness and joy, because for the bride it would be two or more years before she would be allowed to return home to visit her family. Sometimes, if the groom lived in a different village, the bride would never see her family again. Ha and Hien are very brave individuals to be able to leave their homeland and family for a new land; never knowing when they would see their families again.

So after the wedding, the entire family followed along on my brothers’ honeymoons. Our first stop was in Nha Trang which is a beautiful village on the Southeastern coast of Vietnam. There I did my first parasailing flight. It was quite a feeling, being up in the air. We were also able to do some snorkeling and moped riding. Let me tell you the Vietnamese are crazy drivers. There are so many mopeds and bicycles on the road, it is sometimes really scary. Cars and trucks tend to weave from the left land to the right lane.

After Nha Trang, it was time to head over to Saigon. In Saigon, we toured some temples, zoos and other interesting places. We took a day trip to visit the Cucci tunnels. The Cucci tunnels were used by the Viet-Congs during the war to travel underground. They were around 20 Kilometers in length and vast in magnitude. The tunnels themselves were very small and often only fit one person who would need to crawl to get around. Don’t plan to visit them if you are claustrophobic.

After Saigon, we headed back to Hanoi. This time we went to visit scholarly temples of my ancestors and also the family ancestral shrine. Did you know that I come from a long line of Imperial Scholars? I know you’re asking “ What happened to Thai?” I’ve been asking myself the same question. Anyway before the war, my family owned many acres of land, but after the war, the government took much of the land and my family only was able to keep a small portion that now holds the family alter.

The World 1999 – Besides Vietnam, I managed to get some travelling in this year. I believe my first trip was to Miami, Florida where I visited my dear friend, Evelyne. Having international friends is sometimes sad, because when I’m in Seattle, I’m alone. I suppose it’s somewhat good, because I probably wouldn’t have any friends if they had live near me all the time.

Anyway back to Miami. It was great seeing Evelyn, she looked so beautiful and radiant that I didn’t want to leave Miami. We toured around South Beach, and went to all the great places in Miami. I met Evelyne’s future, now current boyfriend, Claudio. I’m so happy for Evelyne, she’s happy now. That’s it for my gossiping. Anyway I spent most of my time at the beach, bathing in the looks and feel of the scene. Everyone is so tan and cute. I was afraid that if I stayed in Miami, I wouldn’t work and become a beach bum. Maybe Evelyn then could adopt me =) I know wishful thinking. Anyway I guess it was good that I left since Florida was struck by several gigantic hurricanes.

After Florida was my Vietnam trip and that was so much fun. I’m actually planning to go again next June. You can read all about my Vietnam trip in the main article.

My second biggest trip besides Vietnam was my trip to Barcelona, Spain. This trip was full of surprises and craziness. It all started with the roster of travelers. At first it was going to be with my other beautiful friend, Brianna and I. Then we were able to get her brother Mike to go and so it was going to be the three of us. What do the Spanish call it, “ Un Trio” =) Anyway then I received news that my Peruvian friends Sandra and Viviana were also going to be there. I was also going to meet another friend of a friend, Carlos. It turned out to be one great reunion, full of fun and more fun.

The craziest thing that happened to me was with my arrival to Barcelona. With my limited Spanish, I had managed to book a reservation at a hotel in what I thought was Barcelona. When I first called the hotel, I had asked them if they spoke any English. Of course they said no, so I proceeded to make the reservations in Spanish. All along I never once asked them the hotel name and address, since I had the name and address in front of me. Anyway in an email to me my friend Sandra asked me to double check the phone number because she believed that the area code for the hotel was wrong (+93 instead of +95). Me, I thought, what does Sandra know about Barcelona, she’s Peruvian and what’s more she had only gotten to Spain 2 weeks before I was planning to come. Also I had made a reservation and if the number was wrong, I wouldn’t have been able to make a reservation at a hotel right? Wrong!

Anyway I arrived in Barcelona and proceeded to go to the hotel. When I arrived I asked if they spoke English, and of course no. I then proceeded to tell them in Spanish that I had a reservation for one week. They asked me for my name and I told them, Thai Bui. They looked in their book and said sorry “No Hay” They checked their reservations again and kept asking me if my name was Phillip or Fred, etc and I kept on telling them “Me llamo Thai, T.H.A.I.” I finally showed them my piece of paper with the address and phone number and they said, “The Name was right, the address was correct, but the phone number was wrong” It had appeared that I had booked a reservation in Seville. Anyway I spent the rest of the day looking for hotel rooms. The first night I stayed in a hotel that felt like a prison. I was so scared of bugs and things that I slept with the lights on. The next day I managed to find a nice hotel that was right of the Rambla. In a way it was good, because I had to really use my Spanish.

In Spain, we saw lots of things, from works of Antonio Gaudi,, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali and other artists. We took a couple of side excursions to Figueres (Dali Museum), Roses (Longest Beach in Spain), Monserrat (Benedict Monastery ). Spain was such a beautiful city. I don’t think I slept much though.

Anyway after Spain, I had a layover in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I again visited Brianna and another old friend of mine, Morten. Morten and I had gone to school together in Olympia, Washington. It was quite serendipitous because I received an email from Morten, just one week before I was about to leave for Spain. Anyway we managed to meet in Copenhagen and that was great. I hadn’t seen Morten since our Senior year together.

Anyway after that I went home and haven’t really had any big trips, unless you consider Vancouver Canada big.

Yikes, Bui’s Are Getting Married Like Hotcakes

Vietnam – Seattle 1999 – This year has been definitely a year of expansion in the Bui Family. In June 1999, my brothers, Tin and Thong were married to Ha and Hien in Vietnam. It was quite an adventure going over to Vietnam and being part of the wedding. So far Ha has made it over to the States. Hien is still waiting for her papers before she can fly over and join my brother Thong.

On December 4, 1999, my sister, Ti married Derek in Seattle. There was the traditional Vietnamese wedding followed by an American ceremony. Everyone was decked out and in their finest. I even pulled out my old rusty violin and played at the wedding. I’m actually sorry for all the guest who had to hear me play.

Also in 1999, my brother , Tri got engaged to Giang. So it looks like there’s going to be another wedding trip to Vietnam sometime in June. This time we will be visiting different sites.

Work, Work, Work …

Seattle, 1999 - This year I switched positions at the Medical Centers and moved from the Accounting Department to the Medical Centers Information Systems (MCIS) Department. Now instead of managing one department, I am involved with the entire hospitals.

Here’s a little background on my department. MCIS manages 3 hospitals and outlying clinics: University of Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, & Roosevelt Medial Center. We employ approximately 10,000 people and around 125 of those work for MCIS.

So what the heck do I do? I am actually really busy most of the time. I think it’s because I sit really close to my boss and therefore I tend to get all his work and some. I determine our needs and then test out hardware and software. I do mostly implementation and deployment of servers. Yupe 100% Geeky stuff. Of course I do get to talk to people all the time. From vendors to customers I sure get around. Unlike my old position, I am usually never at my desk. I spend probably about a quarter of my time running back and forth from each medical center, consulting, advising, and building servers. Once in a while I also get to do some workstation support. At first it was scary, because I had to fix administrative computers, like our CEO or CIO, but now, it’s just routine. Sometimes I do miss my olden days in the Accounting Department. There I had such freedom. Now it’s work, work, work.

For the New Year’s Eve Weekend, I have to work 4 graveyard shifts from Thursday night to Monday Morning, 8pm – 8am. Isn’t that hellish. 16 hours straight. Personally I don’t think anything is going to happen. Maybe riot or two and a few hackers, but that’s it. I’m more worried about the people than the computers. I’m in charge of Harborview those nights and trust me you wouldn’t want to be stuck in my shoe. Harvorbiew is the only public hospital in Western Washington and therefore every gang-banger and street thug get carted to Harborview. I guess that’s why we have the number 1 trauma unit in the State =)

HELP… Water in the Basement

Seattle October 15, 1999 - Yup, this year I bought a house and with it came all the good and the bad. It’s a nice house, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 living rooms, 2 fireplaces, basement living room, and yard. It is situated in West Seattle, near Alki Beach. Sorry no view, but there is a little one coming home 2 blocks away. I call it my 2 seconds in paradise.

My first night was really scary. I had to leave the porch light on so I wouldn’t be totally in the dark. I know I’m just a baby. I’m actually thinking about getting a roommate so I don’t feel so alone in the house. If I scream, there’s no one to hear me, though I do have an alarm system which is kind of cool.

My first bad experience was when I came home from Barcelona to find my basement flooded. It was quite a mess. Though now everything is fixed and I’m happy.

I still have lots of things to do. I need to refinish my hardwood floors, replace the linoleum floors and buy a Jacuzzi. Slowly but surely, the place is looking better. Messy like my apartment, but better. Hey what do you expect from a Bachelor.

If you come and visit, the amenities I can offer are: Pool Table, Ping Pong Table, Bath Tub, Gas Stove, Fireplaces. Hopefully by end of January, I will have a guest bedroom setup and also a gas grill for BBQ-ing

Goals for 2000

Personal

1. Fix up 20% of things that need to be fixed on House

2. Exercise more 3X a week

3. Pass 2 Microsoft Exams or ASE Compaq Exam

4. Practice 2X a week my violin

5. Join an Orchestra or get private lessons

Travel

1. February – San Diego or Palm Springs

2. June – Vietnam

3. New York – Undetermined

4. Germany, Denmark, France or Switzerland - Undetermined

Thai’s Millennium Newsletter

Seattle, Washington – U.S.A. December 1999