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Post by arlsen on Jul 11, 2013 15:40:23 GMT -5
Hello Fay-- Thanks much for the PDF. I understand you went on a trip recently. Hope you had a good time. Mara and I are in touch with niece Mandy in HK, who writes such nice letters. She is waiting for results of high school tests to get into college.I have gotten two temp jobs and had cold so little time for email. But today last day of job. So want to catch up with Mandy. Just starring to know family in As
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Post by arlsen on Jul 11, 2013 15:41:24 GMT -5
Woops didn't end post. Take care, Arl
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Post by FayChee on Jul 11, 2013 21:51:28 GMT -5
Hi Arlene, Yes, I just got back from my family reunion in North Carolina. It was very nice and I go every year. Unfortunately, the oldest people are dropping like flys, and we are loosing alot of family history with them.
When Mandy has a little time, ask her to take pictures with her camera phone, of any pictures of relatives that may be hanging on the walls or in albums and email them to you. Also, if she is close to the cemeteries where your relatives are buried, or when she does Ching Ming, ask her to take photos of the headstones and email them to you. These will add greatly to your family history.
Fay Chee
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Post by arlsen on Jul 21, 2013 22:56:58 GMT -5
Hello Fay--
Sorry my reply took so long.I have been overwhelmed and had a lingering cold. Now gone.
I am glad you get to see your Chinese-American relatives regularly. So sad some you know are no longer with you. My condolences.
I have just sent 2nd reply to Mandy. She has asked a lot of questions--for our Uncle and her father especially. So we have so much catch up. I asked her to send addresses for snail mail too.
I asked her to assure Uncle (her grandfather) that our friend Fay did Ching Ming for our Father Chick this year in NYC. I knew so little of Chinese customs I did not know about this custom until Mara sent me the wonderful photos of your efforts.Papa Jimmy,my older cousin who raised me, wasn't too traditional some ways.
The last few weeks have been so busy for me. Plus I must learn more about computers. Like how to attach photos. You are so cute in your new photo.
Take care and much joy, Arl
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Post by arlsen on Jul 21, 2013 23:00:36 GMT -5
Fay--apparently l am also a poor typist. Meant Father Chuck.
Bye for now, Arl
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Post by FayChee on Jul 22, 2013 1:00:04 GMT -5
Hi Arl, Sorry to hear you were sick. I am recently getting over a bad cold that lingered for over a month (lot of coughing). I am preparing to meet my Chinese Nephew and wife for the first time in New York City. They have been living in the US for many years so the language barrier shouldn't be too bad, plus the son and daughter are also coming and were born here. They want to visit my dad's grave to pay their respects.
The family reunion that I just returned from in North Carolina, was on my mom's side (African American), and almost everyone in that town is a distant cousin. We also have a family church that was started in the early 1800's. There is alot of history on that side and I have thoroughly researched it back to the time of slavery including the white slave owners and the plantation my Ancestors came from.
I hope Mandy can send you pictures of your grandfather one day. My nephew sent me a picture of my granddad in 1947, sitting in a group of my relatives (my dad's two wives, my step brother, my step sister, and an Aunt).......I enlarged it and it hangs on the wall over my computer. I constantly look up at it.
Well, glad you are feeling better.
Fay Chee
p.s. Thank you for your kind comment about my picture, but it was taken around 1992 so I don't really look like that now. I think I will change it again soon.
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Post by arlsen on Jul 27, 2013 23:25:15 GMT -5
Hello Fay-- Sorry my reply took so long.I have been overwhelmed and had a lingering cold. Now gone. I am glad you get to see your Chinese-American relatives regularly. So sad some you know are no longer with you. My condolences. I have just sent 2nd reply to Mandy. She has asked a lot of questions--for our Uncle and her father especially. So we have so much catch up. I asked her to send addresses for snail mail too. I asked her to assure Uncle (her grandfather) that our friend Fay did Ching Ming for our Father Chick this year in NYC. I knew so little of Chinese customs I did not know about this custom until Mara sent me the wonderful photos of your efforts.Papa Jimmy,my older cousin who raised me, wasn't too traditional some ways. The last few weeks have been so busy for me. Plus I must learn more about computers. Like how to attach photos. You are so cute in your new photo. Take care and much joy, Arl
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Post by arlsen on Jul 27, 2013 23:26:31 GMT -5
Hi Arlene, Yes, I just got back from my family reunion in North Carolina. It was very nice and I go every year. Unfortunately, the oldest people are dropping like flys, and we are loosing alot of family history with them. When Mandy has a little time, ask her to take pictures with her camera phone, of any pictures of relatives that may be hanging on the walls or in albums and email them to you. Also, if she is close to the cemeteries where your relatives are buried, or when she does Ching Ming, ask her to take photos of the headstones and email them to you. These will add greatly to your family history. Fay Chee
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Post by arlsen on Jul 27, 2013 23:58:06 GMT -5
Hello Fay--Again, I'm so computer slow it's been awhile.Just born that way -- slow at writing.
Did assume you had visited your Chinese-American cousins (Marilyn did say you had found more Asian-American cousins I think). Same thoughts,so glad you had a great time and sad your older relatives are passing. So nice to have regular large family gatherings.I never had attention from family outside immediate Father and Mother when very young and then Papa Jimmy and Mama Mary my older cousins who raised me from 5 on. No family gatherings. It has been amazing to reconnect with sister Marilyn, you and Peter, and then with family in Asia.
I am about to finalize an art commission that's a big rush, lots of overwork in next few weeks. Hope all is well with you and family. And you still are cute. Will write when I have a little more time.
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msen
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Post by msen on Oct 23, 2013 15:35:01 GMT -5
Hi all,
Well, this first journey has taken months, instead of weeks, but here I am sitting with my Sis Arlene in San Francisco. Since I am unable to do air travel at this time, my journey took about 48 hours from the mid west to the west coast USA. Guessing that the flight to China would have been shorter : ) So we will spend time self touring heritage orgs, museums and restaurants along with my youngest 18 year old son. FYI we do look alike and we feel like we know one another : ) Will send photos later.
The point to this update is to once again say THANK YOU and to tell you that the journey continues...
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Post by lachinatown on Oct 23, 2013 15:38:52 GMT -5
Enjoy your trip to the West Coast. Good weather in LA.
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Post by FayChee on Oct 23, 2013 19:37:34 GMT -5
Hi Mara and Arlene, Sorry I haven't been visiting the forum as much as I used to. I am sooooo happy to hear that you made it to SF and are having a nice time. I can't wait to see photos of the two of you together. Life is wonderful. Fay Chee
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msen
Member
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Post by msen on Jan 5, 2014 16:51:30 GMT -5
So, it has taken me over a month to finally post some pictures from my trip to San Fran to visit with my Sis, explore Chinatown, Japantown and many restaurants, museums and landmarks. I'll try to describe a bit about each photo although there are no words for the immediate rebonding and emotion felt after being separated at the age of 2 years (and my sister Arlene was about 5 years). Such joy to be together again! We had less than a week together but she took my son David, 18 years, and I on a whirlwind tour of restaurants, and we each have so many foods to avoid that we wondered if we could find restaurants to serve different dishes making some vegan, some no onion, and some meat but not pork : ) We used public transportation which Arl directed almost effortlessly. She knew the city like the back of her hand and warned of the wide range of temperature fluctuation. We planned to do and see as much connected to Chinese heritage as possible but of course had to stop for the Willie Mays tribute statue. One of my favourite places was the Chinese Cultural Center where scholar Him Mark Lai (1925-2009) is highlighted. Discussed a little about the Roots Program. Also at the Center is an exhibit by artist Lam Tung-Pang called the Curiosity Box which you can see a bit of at www.c-c-c.orgThen it was off to the Chinese Historical Society, I believe, to learn about the immigration, the exclusion, demographics and wonderful displays of artifacts of years gone by showing over 100 years of history! Being a volunteer curator at a small midwestern museum I relished each display and picture as I have seen many many visitors at our Weld House Museum. I felt the emotion that I have seen in visitors faces as I gave tours. An amazing feeling and I can't imagine the emotion to visit the ancestor village. We placed a marker in a display designating when our first ancestors arrived. My Sis is a member of this society. Took a hike with dear friends and then with my oldest and youngest son at a beautiful park, part of the Big Basin park system. Here I am with my oldest son who lives near San Fran. He has been to China 2-3 times but we did not have relatives to contact at that time. I hope he makes the opportunity to go again, this time to meet family. Said goodbye at Japantown where we ate and ate and saw this Buddhist Temple. My youngest son and I took the return Amtrak trip back to the midwest and met a young girl from China who had worked with a visa and had gone to school in Chicago. We have kept in touch even though she has returned to China to teach. My sister and I talk at least once a week and it was such a thrill to have our young cousin Man Yee Sin call to wish us a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Due to this latest snow storm I have finally been able to post this update and will end with "Thank you, forum friends, for all you do for each member and reader of Siyi. The connections you help to make change lives and draw family together in the circle of life. Happy 2014."
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Post by FayChee on Jan 5, 2014 19:10:57 GMT -5
Hi Mara! Thanks for posting the pictures of your trip to meet your sister. Yes, you do resemble each other and your sons are very big and handsome. I do hope that you will one day make the journey to your Ancestral village. As I am in the "Winter" of my life, I am beginning to feel an urgency to do this for my father and myself. My new-found Chinese Nephew in Tennessee, and most recently found, 'Elder Brother' in Oklahoma, are planning a trip this coming Sept or Nov, so this may be my last opportunity to have a wonderful reunion in Chaoyang Li....This will be the best 'closure' for my 'Book of Life'(all thanks to the members of this forum).
Happy New Year to you!
Fay Chee
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msen
Member
Posts: 59
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Post by msen on Apr 17, 2014 14:48:42 GMT -5
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