Ann Cusack and I have known each other and have been very good friends since 1983. She and I used to work in V.R.C. Palawan, Philippines teaching the Vietnamese refugees English and helping them adapt to their countries of destination.
We lost contact many years ago and were reunited in December 2011 in Orange County, California after 18 long years.
She now goes by the name Ann Phuong Nguyen for obvious reason (She's married to a Vietnamese gentleman.). Also in the picture is her lovely and personable daughter Monica.
She also has a son named Tommy.
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REUNITED WITH PHAN ANH TUAN (Anthony)
Tuan Phan is my all time best friend. He and I never really lost contact but hadn't seen each other for 19 years. He lives in Seattle, Washington and has been exceedingly busy with work and school.
He was visiting his sister and parents in Sacramento, California and decided to fly to Orange County on January 5, 2012 to spend time with me and my family for 8 hours before I left for my other destination. It was a great and memorable reunion. Tuan and I have known each other for 31 years. He was the best man at my wedding in 1993. My family and in-laws know and consider him as a family member.
Here's my best friend Tuan with my family (Van, Stephen, and Sarah) at home in Orange County, California.
Tuan was my assistant teacher/enterpreter during our stint with the United Nations (UNHCR) in Palawan, Philippines. He is a medical doctor by profession in the United States.
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Dear Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI have read you blog at http://pfacasylum.blogspot.com/ and found your volunteer work in the Philippines truly amazing and inspirational. Reading the blog make me feel so nostalgic of that “once upon a time”….
I am a former Vietnamese refugee who stayed at the Palawan refugee camp as an unaccompanied minor between 1988 and 1990. Even though I was not your student I still feel a connection with people like you who volunteered your time and money to help refugees like us back then. Until this day when I have resettled in America and have integrated rather well into a new country I find what you and others gave up back then to come to the Philippines to help us even more meaningful and selfless. I have often asked myself if I can now be like those volunteers and put my life “on hold” for a stretch of time and go to some corners of the world and help some less fortunate people. I might not be able to do so honestly (I need to keep working to pay the bills ). The best so far I can do is to participate in a few charity programs so it is no comparison to your work. Please accept my sincere admiration and appreciation.