Khai Minh Class Reunion 2003
by Yen Chan
aka Yen Thuy Chung

I was honored to attend the class reunion in Seattle from July 4 to July 6, 2003. It was a very unique opportunity for all of us to see each other after 25 to 30 years being separated after the Vietnam Communist Revolution in 1975. Let me re-live the special moments of this event and cherish them forever in my heart.

Starting on Thursday July 3, I left work and went straight to the airport for my 6 PM flight. I was one of the early arrivals since most of the people wouldn’t come until later. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to recognize whoever came to pick me up at the airport since I hadn’t seen many of them for at least 20 years. After getting my luggage, Randy caught me in the crowd and introduced himself. Obviously, he recognized me but I didn’t! We waited for a few more classmates to arrive and we drove back to Anthony’s house. I met Anthony’s father for the first time at the house. There were also our teacher and his wife who drove from Vancouver, Canada, to join us. Wow…I haven’t seen him for 30 years but I did recognize him and of course, he didn’t! There were so many of us in his class and we all look different now, no wonder! For the next 5 hours, Randy and Hung took many trips to the airport to pick up the rest of the classmates. By the time we all settled in, it was pass midnight and we were still up and greeting each other. Suddenly, there were so much to talk about, so much to catch up, and so much to share that no one felt sleepy at all. There were a total of 37 of us so we had to split up into 3 houses. I finally made it to bed at 3 AM!

Imagine the next morning how busy the bathroom was. Most of us stayed in Anthony’s house and it took several hours for everyone to finish his/her morning routine. I was glad that I stayed at Anthony’s parent’s house with only 5 other classmates. After breakfast, we had a gathering to introduce everyone and a short description of their lives. It was interesting to know how we got here after we left Vietnam in 1978 or 1979, how we grew up, having family, getting jobs, and some how, we were able to keep in touch. The majority of the classmates live in California, some in the East coach, some in the Southern area, and some in Canada. It was emotional when some of us expressed how valuable it was to stay in touch and having such a unique opportunity to be together again. Although we did have a few class reunions in the past, this was the biggest one! Thanks to the committee who made this event possible!

In the next couple of days, we re-lived the school activities. We wore the good-old uniform of white shirt and blue skirt/pant. We had basketball tournament, we had sport competitions, we had carnivals, we had music and dance, and of course, we had spelling test and geographic test. Imaging how much we had forgotten Chinese written language (for kindergarten level) since we stopped using it here in America! Thanks to Ernest who had planned the whole program with a lot of effort! The best part were the beauty contest of each State for the girls and the female-make-over contest for the boys. It was the first time that all boys agreed to put on make-up and wear girl’s clothing to show off their imaginations! We were laughing so hard that our cheeks hurt! A few of us didn’t agree with some of the games where we got punished of failing to give the right answers. Thanks to Jim who had so many exciting topics for us to party all night long!

Well, we had to say goodbye at last! We did capture every moment on videos and cameras. We did record everyone’s email and home address. We also autographed a one-dollar bill for souvenir. We didn’t know when we could see each other again but we knew the past few days were grant!

I got home but my mind was still spinning with all the good times we had together. I’m thankful to be able to participate this year and every thing went successfully. I sent thank you notes to everyone on the committee, especially to Anthony and his family. Their hospitality and generosity had made this event possible.

Khai Minh Class Reunion 2003
by Ernest Ta
akaTa Quoc Hung

Dear Friends,

How was the KM class reunion? Have you guys missed it yet? First of all, did you all have fun? Even though the KM class reunion was over a week ago, and I’m back home and ready to go back to work, my mind is still in Seattle. I’m at work now and I’m thinking about all of you, talking, playing, singing, dancing, eating and fighting to use the restroom. What happened to those 3 days, they went by so fast. Did I really see you all, or was it just a dream? It was a time of fantasy it’s hard to believe it was true.

The reunion was a once in a lifetime event. Look at the video that we took, every one of you looks so good. In the video you will see the beautiful smiles, lots of happiness, and joy. Also, a feeling of childhood was showing on all of your faces, like we were back in khai minh before the war was changing our lives in 1975. What is this year, 2003? Assuredly, I tell you the truth, the KM class reunion was a time machine. It took us back to the past. If you look back to those 3 days, we forgot about our lives now, we were just children having fun. We felt like we were teenagers and school students. Forget we are fathers, mothers, bosses, supervisors and may other things. But we felt like when we were young and just knew how to spent money and play, we did not need to work to earn money or raise the family. (Especially do not have to paying bills). I am just trying to recover from our KMCR trip by getting my memory back as to my life as it is now. I should have emailed you all sooner, but I have felt so tired, and needed to get some of my energy back, ha ha.

I believe "Ban to chuc" is already working on the pictures that needed to be reprinted as requested, and is editing the video that we took during the 3 days. We will send to you as soon as possible. I want to thank you for all of you that came to the KMCR 2003. Without you, the KMCR would not have been possible. And thanks for all the friends that helped us to clean up the place, bringing food, cooking, taking picture and video for us, transportation from and back to the airport, the friends that did the entertainments, singing, MC, dancing to make this wonderful even happen.
Was the KMCR a success or not? I will leave that up to you. If there was any inconvenience or if there were any errors, I hope that you can forgive us. We will take this experience to make the next KMCR a lot more fun and better in every way possible.

Well, It brings me sorrow that I cannot do a lot of things that I want to do with our friends. There was too little time and now KMCR 2003 is in the past. Our life’s paths are still a long way ahead. We wish you all the best, and hope that KMCR 2003 has become the rainbow on your rainy days, and it becomes your energy as you reach to the goal of the rest of your life.
Today I sit in my office thinking about our reunion, the CD player is on and I’m singing along to “Yesterday once more”. I like to play it over again and again and I listen all day to that same song. A lot of emotions come over me and the reunion KMCR 2003 plays in my mind like a movie. I see all of you, I see your smiles, and I see you playing games, singing, talking, all that in slow motion.
Some of you brought your own cameras, and I believe you had taken a lot of beautiful pictures. If you can, would you please mail some of your best shots to me so I can add them to our KM yearbook 2003? I’m sure everyone will enjoy them.

Until the next KMCR (may be 5 years?), please keep in touch with our KM friends, let we know what happen in your life, or we will always miss you.

Thank you again for coming to KMCR and for taking the time to read to the end of this long letter... Enclosed are the pictures I borrowed from Chung Bich Phung, I am e-mailing them for you to enjoy "cho do gien".

California July, 11, 2003

Chim Luon sung 2003