All three of them were here: Trang, Thanh, and Tuan. While Trang and Thanh are graduates students at the nearby university, I drove to San Antonio to get Tuan. The four hour drive gave us a good chance to talk.
It was more than Thanksgiving - we celebrated two birthdays as well; Tuan's and the Mystery Guest Blogger's. Trang gave a lovely shawl to the MGB which occasioned a chance for a nice group photo. That's Trang in the green, Thanh in front and Tuan flashing his charming smile.
(Please don't tell anyone about this, but after 38 years of marriage, I forgot my wife's birthday.)
Tuan's birthday was actually a few days prior, but it was still a good opportunity for baking cakes. 
Though the Vietnamese don't have the sweet tooth we Americans have, we enjoyed the cake. At age 26, he is just finishing up the first semester of his doctoral studies in environmental science. I glanced at some papers next to his laptop - - and didn't even understand what the paper was about much less the directions given for working on the project.
Thanh had a chance to relax - and learn a bit more about American cooking. The MGB put her to work making Tuan's birthday cake. For both Tuan and Thanh, this is their first year of seeing the American culture close-up. It was also a chance for the MGB and me to pull them into the fold of being in a family. Having been through the experience of learning how to live in a very different culture, the MGB and I want to provide these three a place of shelter - of refreshment - of love - of a family away from home.
But, not all was turkey and birthday cake. We live in a citrus area. Nearby is an orchard that lets folks
pick their own fruit. I haven't quite figured out why three graduate students want to work as field hands, but they had a lot of fun - and let me tag along to take a photo or two.
No way I was going to pick fruit - I have too much dignity to protect!
After a lot of goofing around - and occasionally picking some fruit - the 1/2 bushel bag was full. The orchard provides a pull-along wagon to help in getting your fruit to your car, and this provided an opportunity for a battle of the sexes.
And women call themselves the weaker sex. Yeah, right!
hahha, it's so funny when you said that "(Please don't tell anyone about this, but after 38 years of marriage, I forgot my wife's birthday.)". How abot Mrs.Cindy, if she know that new, what will she do? I am Vietnamese, so I never jointed in Thanksgiving day, but I think it's so meaningful and interesting holiday.
Posted by: HUNG | December 03, 2009 at 07:58 PM
what a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays
Posted by: thuy | December 04, 2009 at 08:13 AM