The Dalat’s Update Autumn & Winter 2017
Activities
Adventures
from Japan
Celebrations
Arts and Culture
ASIA
Contents
Introduction
Page 3
Daisy’s Den
Page 8
Highlights
Page 3
Hanna’s P lace
Page 12
Back to School
Page 4-5
Family Album
13-14
California Adventures
Page 6-7
Disney Sea Adventures
Page 10-11
Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, Japan Photographed by Lan Dalat 2017
Contributors
Dan Dalat, a Freshman Mathematics at University of California Irvine who enjoys making short animated film using LEGO toys. Additionally, Dan loves making cartoon using an app in his iPhone.
Daisy Dalat, a junior at Zama American High School enjoys baking, cooking, and watching Japanese anime. In her spare time, she plays Varsity Tennis, Rifle Team, and serves in as a senior cadet leadership role at ZAHS Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). Hanna Dalat, a fifth grader at Arnn American Elementary School who loves Vietnamese potbelly pigs, enjoys drawing, plays piano and violin, and cracking jokes.
Minnie
Homemade cookies for teachers
HIGHLIGHTS Adventures California Coast Adventures
Disney Sea
Hakone Adventures
Ski Trips
ACHIEVEMENTS UCI Dean’s Honor List
Promotion to Cadet Major
TOKYO, JAPAN: Dan reunites with his family in Japan during the Winter Holiday after completing a quarter at University of California Irvine.
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Performing Violin on stage
Celebrations In this edition of our family newsletter, we are experiencing the most complex phase of our family life where we have separation and reunion. We will take you along with us on our adventures along the California coast all the way to Japan. Along this journey, we will introduce you to some of fascinating people who had made tremendous impacts on our lives. Then, we will have you join us on our celebrations as we celebrate birthdays, promotions, achievements, and special events. So, turn the page and begin the exciting journey with the Dalat family. Cont. next page
Minnie’s Birthday
Hanna’s 11th Birthday
Daisy’s 17th Birthday
Lan’s Birthday
Social media
https://youtu.be/pFRKPsRSJ0Y
Mailing Address California road trip with grandma Exploring Hakone Winter
LTC Lan T. Dalat PSC 704 Box 3737 APO AP 96338
Back to School
Dan and his Grand pa at Montessori School in Naples, Italy 2006
Dan and his Grand pa at University of California, Irvine 2017
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esides being away from home during the annual summer Boy Scouts camps, Dan is on his own for the first time as a college student at University of California Irvine. However, he is not alone there in Irvine. His grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, and many other relatives are living and working in the area. He has many opportunities in the next four years getting to know them and more importantly, getting to know a little bit of the
University of California, Irvine - Dan and his dad attend the last UCI New Student Orientation with a tour around campus where he will live and attending classes with other 6500 freshmen. Vietnamese food and culture. Growing up in the military community at locations all around the world, Dan knows and understands the military culture. Suddenly, he has many options and freedom of movement. There are no FPCON and THREATCON level. There is no curfews. He comes and goes as he pleases. He doesn’t have to show ID card to enter his school or a store to validate his entitlement. Now, as a college student, he is the master of his schedule. No one tells him what to do and when to do something. He has responsibilities to fulfill those obligations. So far, Dan exceeds his parents’ expectation by making the Dean’s Honor List during his first quarter in college where he majored in Mathematics.
UCI Campus Village, Irvine - Dan enjoys his In-N-Out burger with his dad and grandparents.
between them. Back in 2006, Dan’s grandpa Thai Lang visits Dan in Italy where he was just a preschooler attending Anglo Italian Montessori School. Grandpa Lang holds his hand and walks him from the parking lot to his class. Now, as a college student, grandpa doesn’t have to do that anymore. However, grandpa often takes the bus from his home to Dan’s school where they have lunch at Anteater cafeteria. Dan also takes time from his busy school schedule visiting his grandparents and auntie Christine. Since Dan grows up with a Korean mom, his taste buds are of Korean. Missing his mom’s cooking, he asks if grandma can cook him some Korean dishes. Well, the result may look the same but the taste differs drastically. Since then, he sticks to grandma’s Vietnamese cooking.
Since Dan’s college locates in the same city where his grandparents are living, there are many interactions Cont. on Page 8
California Adventures
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rriving back at LAX, Dan and his dad took an Uber to grand pa Thai’s residence in Irvine. Since, Lan was using his American Express card, the fee was discounted. The fee from LAX to Irvine was 50% cheaper than the typical airport shuttle ride. Upon arrival, Dan was busy getting ready for his college orientation day. Both father and son spent the next several days after the orientation processing the GI Bill eligibility and transfer of benefits. In addition, Dan had to finalized this billeting for the next school year. On top of that, Dan had to get a driver license. He passed the written test but did
San Francisco
Hearst Castle
Los Angeles Lake Arrowhead
San Juan Capistrano Corona del Mar Page 6
not do well on the driving portion due to unfamiliarity operating his dad’s BMW. In Japan, Dan learned to drive on the opposite side of the road. The car is Japan was an old car that his dad bought just to get around the base. So, the newer and more powerful BMW caused him to lose a few points during the exam. According to his examiner, his braking is too rough. So, the best way to feel comfortable behind the wheel was to do a road trip.
Dan, his dad Lan and Grandma Cam Quy hit the open road toward San Francisco. They traveled along the Pacific Coast Highway and stopped at many locations along the way to include: Santa Barbara, Hearst Castle, and San Jose area. In San Francisco, the family stayed at the Union Square where they were able to walk to China Town, Lombard Street, Fisherman Wharf, and Pier 37. At 80 years old, Grandma Cam Quy walked
more than seven miles up and down the hills of San Francisco on one leg of the exploration. On the returned leg, the family took the cable car. For the first time, both Grandma and Dan did not ask to take their left over togo. They were able to eat everything on their plates while enjoying a great view of SF from Cheese Cake Factory. It was a very memorable trip.
Dan registers to vote as a Californian
Little Saigon, Westminster, California - Dan visits night market with grand ma where he enjoys grilled lobster tails at the Vietnamese Food Festival.
Orange City, California - Lan and Dan Page 7return to California just in time for the Orange Annual International Food Fair where they are joined by Greg, Christine, Grand ma Quy, Sisi, and Lucas.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, PYONGTAEK, KOREA - Daisy competes in the rifle competition where she won Silver for Olympic Style speeding shooting.
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ack in Japan, Daisy enters her junior year in high school and filled her schedules with many AP classes. In addition, she continues her involvement with the Tennis team and JROTC. Throughout her summer, she practices tennis by hitting the wall. Sometimes, the whole family would come out and play with her. Her dad, Lan who has had played tennis back in high school many years ago is now practicing with her on the tennis court. However, with his injured shoulders he is not much used for her to excel in her game. Prior to going off to college, Dan practices with Daisy but not able to reach her level excellence. Daisy excels in tennis after her first encounter with the game as a high school freshman in Korea. According to her coach here in Japan, “Daisy is the most consistent player I have on the team.” Standing behind his words, her coach
selects her for the varsity team that travels to Okinawa for the Far East Tennis Championship. With her contributions, her team brings back the banner to Zama after so many years of defeat. On her own accord, she and her partner win the double match title. Following the tennis season, Daisy refuses to take a break. She takes on a new challenge of rifle shooting. As a matter of fact, she skips the award recognition ceremony where the Commanding General in Japan presents the certificate in front of the community. Instead, Daisy hones her rifle shooting skill at the indoor range. A year prior, Daisy doesn’t even know how to hold a rifle. As a matter of fact, she is a right handed person but shoots left. Somehow, she manages to make the team and goes on to compete in Korea with the best shooters in the region. In the end, Daisy comes home with a second place in Olympic-style speed shooting. With all those involvements, Daisy doesn’t back down on her academic and leadership role. She receives her Honor List from her principal for academic and was promoted to Cadet Major and serves as the Battalion Executive Officer at her school. Page 8
CAMP ZAMA, JAPAN - Daisy gets ready for JROTC Ball but was rescheduled for the Spring. (stay tune for the Spring/Summer newsletter)
ZAMA AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL, CAMP ZAMA, JAPAN - Daisy gets pin on Cadet Major rank by her dad, Lt. Col. Lan Dalat of US Army Japan.
ZAMA AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL, CAMP ZAMA, JAPAN - Daisy leads her Saber team during halftime of the Home Coming game despite the heavy cold rain. Page 9
In late Fall, the Dalat family went to Tokyo Disney Sea where they celebrate three birthdays: Minnie, Daisy, and Hanna. Having been to Disneyland California, Disney World Florida, Tokyo Disney Sea is the most unique theme park in the most beautiful setting on the outskirt of Tokyo. This is a must visit destination for all Disney fans and visitors to Japan.
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HANNA The Adventure of
HALLOWEEN DAY, FAR FAR AWAY IN A FANTASY WORLD - Hanna, the princess warrior begins her adventure in quest for treats from strangers.
Hanna begins taking violin lesson at the Community Recreation Center, Camp Zama, Japan
EBINA, JAPAN - Hanna travels with her dad on a photography exploration. She captures some very unique images.
YANO GYM - Hanna is visited by a female basketball star from Harlem Globe Trotters.
ROPPONGI HILLS, TOKYO - Hanna contains her excitement anticipating reuniting with her brother Dan who is coming home during Christmas break. Page 12
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