A Vietnam Connection

About a year ago, I began getting up early every Monday and Friday morning to go the Blaisdell YMCA to swim laps. By early, I mean getting up at 5:30 a.m., catching the number 18 bus, and arriving at the Y around 6:00 a.m. Then I would swim for about half an hour, followed by a warm soak in the whirlpool.

About six months ago, I noticed that there was an elderly Asian gentleman who always took the same bus. At first, we didn't say anything to each other but hello. But one day, one of us greeted the other with more than just a "Hi." Even though I had a hard time understanding his heavy accent, I found out his name was Tanh and that he was from Vietnam. Although he was 90 years old, he looked much younger and very fit.

From that time on, Tanh and I greeted each other every time we took the bus together. I noticed that he always got off at the same stop to visit his younger sister. He told me that they attended a Vietnamese senior center in St. Paul every morning. One freezing winter day when the sidewalk was slick with ice, I wore some Yaktrax. When he asked me about them, I decided to buy him a pair so he wouldn't slip on the ice. He returned the favor by always bringing me something to eat. It was usually bananas and oranges. From then on,

my banana consumption increased exponentially. Sometimes he'd bring me tasty sesame thins which I really enjoyed. For Christmas, he bought me a whole box of them. But one day when I tried to give him some food, he refused to take it. I gradually got used to his one-way hospitality.

During the past six months, we've seldom missed our early Monday and Friday morning encounters. So, in this neat and unexected way I feel I've made myself a new friend.