Comments on: #1 Son of “The Eyes” – Revisits Saigon http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/revisiting-saigon-march-07 Saigon Kids and Alumni of American Community School Saigon (1955 - 1975) - Kind Words Go A Long Way Tue, 22 May 2012 00:15:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jane Reiser, Esq, http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/revisiting-saigon-march-07/comment-page-1#comment-1434 Jane Reiser, Esq, Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:14:17 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=590#comment-1434 Bon Jour, This is my first visit to this website and myriads of memories came flooding back. The congested thorofares, markets ablaze with color, with smells and customs far too difficult to describe. But I can describe one memory as permanent as the jungles nearby hiding tigers, which roaming in the distant mountains. My first kiss. Yes Peter Novick you were there. Like the agile footings of a silent jungle cat...you took two steps over and leaned in and I felt a sweet gentle wet touch. It was soft, forbidden, on my left check as I recall as we were on the roof of the veranda to the mansion we lived in. The property was tended with expert care by "servants" who were wise, honest, and protective of their charges. I may have reciprocated, because I thought you were smart (you wore dark rimmed glasses as I recall) and you were very nice indeed. I never realized that when folks sang "The Eyes of Novick are Upon You..." to the tune of "I've been Working on the Railroad" that it irreverently referred to your Mother...if I ever offended you, your Mother, or family please accept my apology. However, our nano-second encounter on the roof took me many months to process. Back then, I was a very slow learner. The new math Mrs. Jeanette Wiltse introduced to us was the greatest trial of all. Dreadfully missing the Mickey Mouse Club on TV back in the states and fussing over powered milk that had to come by ship. Here I was given a gift of living in the exotic orient, surrounded by an abundance of culture and did not appreciate it until years later. During the coup on the palace, my father and his crew being shot down, I learned fear and terrors I had never known. I learned negotiation with God for their safe return... I would give up my new roller skates to the children at the Catholic orphanage and kept my word upon his return. I even gave them the skate key, not realizing that they did not have shoes with soles rigid enough on which to attach them. The scars took much more time to process and a longer time to heal. The Christmas Show the school put on was always a cultural highlight. That small group of high school girls signing "Oh Holy Night" in my mind has never been equaled. We must have a place in the brain for all those firsts. As a result a magnificient education of the world poured out in the challenging and beautiful city of Saigon... in that mixing bowl of people in that cross-roads of time. Even special lessons of the heart. Thanks to those of you who have contributed with birthday parties and "pajama parties" (sleep overs) and helped me, help propel me along on my life journey. And today a special thanks to Barbara "Bobbie" Mauch (nee Sheehan) who sat in a Communications Class in Boise, Idaho this week and spoke up to her instructor about having lived in Southeast Asia...her father filled the same position in which my father had served after we left. Their family even occupied the same house. What are the chances, almost fifty years later we meet in Boise, Idaho, USA. Life has taught me there are no coincidences. It is a small and wonderful world! My prayers are for those who survived and all those who perished. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of these precious gifts of memory. All the best! JR'58-60 Bon Jour,
This is my first visit to this website and myriads of memories came flooding back. The congested thorofares, markets ablaze with color, with smells and customs far too difficult to describe. But I can describe one memory as permanent as the jungles nearby hiding tigers, which roaming in the distant mountains.
My first kiss.
Yes Peter Novick you were there. Like the agile footings of a silent jungle cat…you took two steps over and leaned in and I felt a sweet gentle wet touch. It was soft, forbidden, on my left check as I recall as we were on the roof of the veranda to the mansion we lived in. The property was tended with expert care by “servants” who were wise, honest, and protective of their charges.
I may have reciprocated, because I thought you were smart (you wore dark rimmed glasses as I recall) and you were very nice indeed. I never realized that when folks sang “The Eyes of Novick are Upon You…” to the tune of “I’ve been Working on the Railroad” that it irreverently referred to your Mother…if I ever offended you, your Mother, or family please accept my apology. However, our nano-second encounter on the roof took me many months to process.
Back then, I was a very slow learner. The new math Mrs. Jeanette Wiltse introduced to us was the greatest trial of all. Dreadfully missing the Mickey Mouse Club on TV back in the states and fussing over powered milk that had to come by ship. Here I was given a gift of living in the exotic orient, surrounded by an abundance of culture and did not appreciate it until years later. During the coup on the palace, my father and his crew being shot down, I learned fear and terrors I had never known. I learned negotiation with God for their safe return… I would give up my new roller skates to the children at the Catholic orphanage and kept my word upon his return. I even gave them the skate key, not realizing that they did not have shoes with soles rigid enough on which to attach them.
The scars took much more time to process and a longer time to heal. The Christmas Show the school put on was always a cultural highlight. That small group of high school girls signing “Oh Holy Night” in my mind has never been equaled. We must have a place in the brain for all those firsts.
As a result a magnificient education of the world poured out in the challenging and beautiful city of Saigon… in that mixing bowl of people in that cross-roads of time. Even special lessons of the heart. Thanks to those of you who have contributed with birthday parties and “pajama parties” (sleep overs) and helped me, help propel me along on my life journey.
And today a special thanks to Barbara “Bobbie” Mauch (nee Sheehan) who sat in a Communications Class in Boise, Idaho this week and spoke up to her instructor about having lived in Southeast Asia…her father filled the same position in which my father had served after we left. Their family even occupied the same house. What are the chances, almost fifty years later we meet in Boise, Idaho, USA. Life has taught me there are no coincidences. It is a small and wonderful world! My prayers are for those who survived and all those who perished. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of these precious gifts of memory. All the best! JR’58-60

]]> By: Admin http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/revisiting-saigon-march-07/comment-page-1#comment-1281 Admin Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:34:07 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=590#comment-1281 Frank ... you didn't ask me, but I'll suggest anyway ... LOL ... ya might want to consider a "Water Tower" party as a MUST DO for the reunion. Ya know knida like a tail gate party but on top of the water tower. Heck, you could even do a re-enactment (for the good ole' days) ... a couple guys could hold you by the ankles as you dangled upside down 'repainting' "The WORD" of Saigon Kids ... HA HA HA! :) Of course, we want to see a 'direct feed' video of this on the Blog ... :) Just a friendly suggestion to keep you from getting bored while in Saigon ... lol Bob Frank … you didn’t ask me, but I’ll suggest anyway … LOL … ya might want to consider a “Water Tower” party as a MUST DO for the reunion. Ya know knida like a tail gate party but on top of the water tower. Heck, you could even do a re-enactment (for the good ole’ days) … a couple guys could hold you by the ankles as you dangled upside down ‘repainting’ “The WORD” of Saigon Kids … HA HA HA! :)

Of course, we want to see a ‘direct feed’ video of this on the Blog … :)

Just a friendly suggestion to keep you from getting bored while in Saigon … lol

Bob

]]> By: frank http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/revisiting-saigon-march-07/comment-page-1#comment-1279 frank Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:29:03 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=590#comment-1279 Very intersting! When Saigon Kids get together in Saigon in March (2009), do you (or your brother) have a suggested, must do kind of thing(s)? Frank Very intersting!
When Saigon Kids get together in Saigon in March (2009), do you (or your brother) have a suggested, must do kind of thing(s)? Frank

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