Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, VAYAnese!

I hope you all got plenty of holiday presents as well as many opportunities to dispense your own share of gifts. It seems to me that when the economy is bad, people tend to look to more meaningful gifts of love and the spirit. As for me, I feel happier, and that's all the gifts that I ever cared for.

On another note, despite global warming, this winter is particular cold. It snows in Julian and many So-Cal VSA's were stuck in a snow storm at Big Bear. Nevertheless, as I my toes and fingers are freezing up, my heart is warmed by a certain memory of another winter...

"Like Chocolate for Water"

It was a cold and clear winter night, a few years back. I was driving back from Orange County (OC) to San Diego after having visited my parents for Christmas. I like to drive at night because the cars on the road are few and the frustrated, anal-retentive drivers are even fewer. The occasional speeders and highway patrols don't bother me; they are my companion on the lonely Interstate 5 in the wee hour of the morning.

Any way, it was particularly dark when I pulled in to the Rest Area near Camp Pendleton. Still some miles from civilization, only the stars and the lamp posts guided my way as I stepped from my car into the frigid cold. I exhaled and my breath turned into small clouds of fog. I went to the restroom and on the way back I noticed several vending machines, each selling a variety of treats, chips, cookies, and sandwiches as well as cold and hot drinks. I approached the hot-drink vending machine and waited for a woman ahead of me to finish her purchase. I watched her taking particularly long with the machine as she was going back and forth between the bill receptacle and her purse. Finally, once she had made up her mind, the vending machine began to pour into a paper cup some dark aromatic liquid. I think it was coffee the way it smelled.

As the woman took her cup and turned to leave, I noticed a 20-dollar bill near where she had stood. I picked up the loose bill and handed it to her. I expected a quick thank-you from the stranger, but instead, the woman's face and smile lit up like a full moon and her eyes twinkled like stars in a dark night. She was so thankful that she showered me with many a words of gratitude and even offered to buy whatever I was planning to get from the vending machine. To this, I gladly agreed, having been a poor starving college student myself.

I opted for the Hot Chocolate. I think it cost one dollar and twenty five cents, which the woman gladly paid for. The woman said her good-bye and hurried to her car to seek refuge from the biting cold, her hands taking comfort from the warm cup of coffee. As the woman's car began to pull away, I picked up my paper cup of hot chocolate. I took a sip and was surprised--it tasted like water. I guess the vending machine ran out of chocolate-mix so it was dispensing only hot water. I couldn't help but laugh to myself. The irony did not escape me. I could have kept that twenty dollar bill and treated myself to a steak-dinner in San Diego, but instead, I did the gracious thing and gave it back to the woman. The woman repaid my kindness with one-dollar and twenty-five cents worth of "water for chocolate." Fate sure had a sense of humor.

I still remember that insignificant event today. But I can't decide whether I remember it for the plainness of water for chocolate, or the sweetness of the knowledge of having done something good and the sweetness of a stranger's sincere gratitude.

Merry Christmas to All my Friends. May we do a small good deed each day and receive many a sweet rewards from loved-ones and strangers alike.

About the Author: Frank H. Vuong serves as President for VAYA.

Dear Members and Supporters,

Today is a glorious day not only for Vietnamese-American everywhere in general, but for the VAYAnese of San Diego in particular. Today, a young immigrant has become a Vietnamese-American citizen by naturalization. Today, our community has gained a new Voter, new Voice, and a new Power.

Citizenship is a privilege, not a right. As a citizen, one enjoys many more opportunities than non-citizens. One gains access to more secure and better-paid governmental jobs; wider ranges of travel, and greater protection against enemies foreign and domestic. But more importantly, a citizen also acquires certain responsibilities. Besides pledging one's allegiance to the Star Spangled Banner, and defending the constitution of the United States, a citizen has a greater burden of ensuring the effectiveness of our government, the fairness of our justice system, the equality of our society and the well-being of our people. As one becomes a citizen, one's Voice takes on a greater meaning; one's Vote becomes a powerful tool to shape one's life and the lives of others. All the new powers, privileges and responsibilities will go into making our young friend a better person as he becomes a man and perhaps even a leader of men.

Without further ado, please join me in congratulating Long (last name) Tuấn Lương (first name) on his becoming a citizen of our adopted motherland, the United States of America.

About the Author: Frank H. Vuong serves as President for VAYA.

VAYA Logo/Seal

The organization shall have a seal which shall be in the following form:

(a) The seal consists of five symbolic elements. The initials V.A.Y.A. represent the short name of the organization.The bamboo represents the sturdiness and flexibility of the Vietnamese people as well as that of the VietnameseAmerican youth. The sun symbolizes the tropical climate of agricultural Vietnam which shapes the lives of theVietnamese people since ancient time. The migratory sea-swallows represent the flight of the Vietnamese peoplein search of life and freedom. The birds also represent peace and the coming of spring which is associated withyouthful fervor. The three red stripes represent the bloodlines of the three main geographical, dialectical, andcultural regions of Vietnam.

(b) The Vietnamese American Youth Alliance adopted this group of symbols as the seal of the organization becauseof their many layers of meanings. It was chosen to reflect the connection between the Vietnamese Americanyouths and their culture and identity.

Dear Members and Supporters,

Many thanks to those who came out to our "Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner" on Sunday 11/23/08 at the Santa Fe Room in Balboa Park. The event was a great success and we hope that you can join us again in future "VAYA Thanksgiving Potluck Dinners".

As a reminder, two major VAYA Tet-related events this week will be the Cultural Village Kick-Off Event and the VAYA 2009 Tet "Golden Voice" Final Audition, BOTH taking place this Saturday on December 6th. More information can be found under the "Upcoming VAYA Meetings & Events" section. Please note that If you would like to help out and/or join a Tet committee, it is NEVER too late. Feel free to contact me for details or come to our weekly meetings and get involved. We are ALWAYS looking for new talents and fresh ideas.

Lastly, Protégé Insurance Brokers, Inc. is currently searching for a part-time student intern or worker at their San Diego Office. More information can be found under the "Job Announcement" section of this newsletter. Details about the company can be at www.protegebrokers.com. On behalf of VAYA's Executive Board and Staff, thank you for your continual support.

About the Author: Anthony (Vinh) T. Nguyen serves as Secretary for VAYA.