From Asia: Here I come

September 20

I’ve got a big trip coming up. I’ll be leaving for Asia in a little over a week to represent Augsburg at IIE fairs in HCMC [Ho Chi Minh City], Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. I’ll also be doing some individual visits with families and visiting several high schools. In total, I’ll be traveling for 19 days. There’s an excitement about planning for a trip like this…I wonder who will I meet? What connections will I create? Will I sleep? What new foods will I try? And then there’s the sadness in leaving my 2 1/2 year old daughter for such a long time. Finding a balance in all of this is something that I am still learning.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Machado spent time with Ana and Mr. Piet, the parents of ’08. She also experienced the energy of a city of 8 million people and 5 million motorbikes.

From I’ll Take a Bird’s Nest To Go, Please.

October 5

There are over 5 million motorbikes in HCM alone. Until you have the opportunity to see what 5 million motor bikes in one city looks like you almost can’t even imagine it, but let me help you try by sharing the advice that I received from a colleague before traveling to this country for the first time. When I told him that I would be going to HCM city he looked me straight in the eye and said, “Do you know how to cross the street in Ho Chi Minh City?” And I replied, “No.” (Obviously…but a rhetorical response seemed necessary.) And with a no-nonsense look on his face he told me, “You just close your eyes and walk.” I grinned. A big grin. I found this commentary humorous. He just looked at me and said, “I mean this seriously.” He was right.

This year Augsburg welcomed 18 new international students from countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Argentina, Ecuador, Sweden, Slovenia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Norway, and Canada. Some international students hear about the College through friends and relatives who have studied in Minnesota or are Augsburg alumni. Machado is able to meet potential students and their families on her recruiting trips and to help them begin or complete the college admissions process, which can be very daunting for an international student.

From Sharing Augsburg with Vietnam

October 8

One student knew about Augsburg because a friend of hers studied abroad in Minnesota and told her, “Augsburg is the best “University” in the area.” This particular student gave me her completed application to Augsburg and told me that she is taking one year off after high school to do community service before beginning her pursuit of higher education. She understands Augsburg. Many students talked about their deep interest in becoming an “Auggie” because of their conversations with a recent graduate of Augsburg who is from Hanoi. They have learned about student life and Minneapolis through emails with her and are “very impressed.” Augsburg’s alumni understand Augsburg. Our international presence is growing and I am proud.

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Chau Nguyen grew up in Dalat City, Vietnam with her mother, stepfather, grandmother, sister, and brother. Her travels through the streets of Dalat gave Chau a constant reminder of the poverty in the city, especially among its many homeless children. As a girl, she remembers being scolded by her mother for stuffing her backpack full of rice and giving it away to less-fortunate children.

At the age of 14, Chau won a national contest in English, math, and literature. This gave her the opportunity to be the youngest person ever to participate in a foreign exchange program from Vietnam to the United States. Once the program ended, she knew she wanted to stay in the United States to complete her education.

Chau needed a host family that would be willing to send her to private school so that she could obtain a new visa. Over the period of the next three months, her mother worked the phones in Vietnam to call everyone they knew. Chau bounced around the United States, from Virginia to Indianapolis to Chicago, living out of a suitcase. She struggled to find hope in those days. “I would wake up in the morning and get dressed, and then at night I would wash the clothes, fold them up, and put them right back in the suitcase. It was a hard time.”

Finally, the Loadmand-Copeland family in Denver took her in. With their help, Chau was able to complete her first year of college.

Although Chau had scholarship offers from other schools, it was her experience with the admissions staff at Augsburg that made her decide to come to the Twin Cities. Marissa Machado, coordinator of international admissions, made Chau feel welcome on campus. “Marissa promised me that I could finish my major in four years and that I would be able to work and pay my way through school,” Chau remembered. “Every promise that Augsburg has given me since I entered has been fulfilled.”

During her junior year at Augsburg, a sudden trip to the hospital left her unable to work. Rather than give up, Chau went to see Jim Trelstad-Porter, Augsburg’s international student advisor. She explained her situation, and Jim helped her find other scholarships to close the gap for that year. That flexibility allowed Chau to complete her undergraduate program.

Recently, at Augsburg’s scholarship brunch, Chau spoke about how scholarships helped her through the last six years. She also explained why she hasn’t been able to visit home — Vietnam will not grant Chau an exit visa if she goes there. Plus, her mother is still in debt from the plane ticket that sent Chau to the United States. One generous donor was so moved by her story that he offered to purchase a ticket for Chau’s mother to fly to Minneapolis for commencement.

Now, after six years of challenges and uncertainty, Chau will be able to see her mother and celebrate their achievements together. Next summer, Chau will visit Vietnam and be reunited with the rest of her family. She then plans to pursue her MBA, with the ultimate goal of opening schools to educate homeless and abused children in Vietnam.

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