Vietnamese achieve Nobel Prize, Is that an illusion?

[sang56]

I was actually born and grew up in the south. I often dream about going back and living the rest of my life in my homeland. It is a simple dream but at the momment quite impossible. I dont know the book which you talk of above but it does show the same thinking and emotions with myself, however i am not a middle aged woman.
I dont think there is a difference between modern women and those of the past when it comes to emotional and physical seperation from ones homeland. Thank you for your good wishes.

I didn’t mean to touch on such an emotional subject (for you and for many of us living in foreign lands!) I thought you felt differently since you went to Africa relatively recently on your own to start a business. From what I gather, you’re probably still fairly young and have been away from VN just a few years so far, so there is still hope.

Is there a Vietnamese or Asian community where you live? What is the local food like? And do you speak some African language(s) or English is the main communication language there?

[xgirl]

The main languages are English and SetswanaSetswana.There are some asian people around, mostly chinese. I usually communicate in english with people here but i can also speak Setswana. I live in Gaborone city which is the capital of Botswana. There is a great variety of food here, also a large selection of meat including beef, goat and river fish are always available. Water melon is one of the most popular fruits, which the africans beleive originated from Botswana.

[sang56]

The main languages are English and SetswanaSetswana.There are some asian people around, mostly chinese. I usually communicate in english with people here but i can also speak Setswana. I live in Gaborone city which is the capital of Botswana. There is a great variety of food here, also a large selection of meat including beef, goat and river fish are always available. Water melon is one of the most popular fruits, which the africans beleive originated from Botswana.

That's very interesting. You seem to have a very adventurous spirit. Thanks.

[xgirl]

how about you ? where do u live ? are there alot of vnmese ? can you find vnmese food there ?

[sang56]

how about you ? where do u live ? are there alot of vnmese ? can you find vnmese food there ?

Are you getting a little lonely or homesick in Africa, xgirl? I think it could be a good idea to start a new thread titled “Where we live and work” (Nơi chúng ta sinh sống và làm việc). Each one of us from all over the world can write about things that are familiar to us but could be very interesting to people living elsewhere. We can learn about many ways of life at different locations. For example, born and raised in VN, yet I hardly know the country, being familiar with a few places the most. I have also traveled on business to many other foreign countries but unless one lives in an area long, one really does not know it well. You should start the thread and talk about your experience in Africa, which is probably different than most; other people can then write about where they live and work.

I am currently residing in the middle of the U.S., also called the Mid-West by the Americans. The area is also known as the heartland of America (vùng đất trung tâm HK), as well as the corn belt (vòng đai bắp) because corn is a major crop here. With flat and fertile land and with sunny and humid weather, corn grows well. There is so much corn grown each year that some are made into cattle feed (đồ ăn cho bò), and a fair amount is converted into alcohol and used as a gasoline supplement (pha với xăng để chạy xe)

Because of the special circumstance (the war with VN), there are many Vietnamese in this country, who came over as refugees and immigrants. I believe the U.S. must have the largest Vietnamese population outside of VN. Initially the American government tried to disperse the Vietnamese all over the U.S., but after a while they aggregated toward warmer areas. I think the two largest Vietnamese communities are now in California (near Los Ageles) and Texas (Houston area). Actually the Vietnamese commercial area near Los Angeles is so large that it’s called the “Little Saigon”, where you can get all kinds of Vietnamese food and other merchandise from VN. Where I live, in the Midwest, the Vietnamese population is much smaller. There are a few Vietnamese restaurants here but the food is not that good. There are also Thai food, many kinds of Chinese food, Mexican food, Indian food, Russian food, middle Eastern food, even African food, you name it! Actually there are a few scientists in my department that are from Nigeria, I think.

[xgirl]

Yes i do some times feel a little lonely and homesick here in Botswana. I think it would be a very interesting study to know more about Vietnamese immigrants living in foriegn lands. Could you please start the new thread "where we live and work" and i will join you. I will be happy to put in more detail about my life in Botswana.