biggish data

Better be nice Scott or Jerome will go get a teacher. Wait a minute...we are the teachers!

Jerome, if you need something to do I would suggest taking a look at this site:

http://saigonesl.com...78b19c9e7951b3c

You can try to join, but I have never been able to get my memebership activated. I wouldn't suggest you post there anyway. Those guys are brutal.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-14 19:43:00

It is Jerome

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 14 February 2010 - 08:31 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-14 08:28:00

I am not Alienating anyone. If you feel that way then that is your opnion, it is my opnion that I see more and more CHAT each and every day, and I am just pointing that out. If the admins had mentioned that what you were talking about on the last part of the post when I posted what i did, they would have said it was off topic and you would not have replied to that?? If you want me to I will start looking at all the posts that I feel are off topic and report them to the admin instead of simply stating that I feel it is more of a chat room than a help forum. Either way it was your choice to respond to my opnion as it is my choice to respond to yours.

P.S. CHÚC M?NG T?T or CHÚC M?NG N?M M?I

Which one of you is this? :whistle:

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-14 08:06:00

Mark,
I sure hope nobody said something that has taken away from the personal enjoyment of this Service by you or anyone else.

We're going to Ralphs for dinner on the 22nd if ya want to join us.. let me know if you need anything else brought over.

Sounds good. The aspirin will be good enough, thanks. :thumbs:

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-14 07:31:00

I guess this is becoming more of a chat room than a help forum?????

Alienating 2 memebers that have first hand knowledge of living in Vietnam when you're planning on moving here. Nice move J-Rome.

P.S. Happy New Year!

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 13 February 2010 - 08:29 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-13 20:27:00

2.petitioner: former spouse(s) info

3.applicant: former spouse(s) info

Fixed.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-12 20:17:00

There is so much misinformation out there, that it is amazing that anyone gets approved...
Have a box packed and on its way to ya.. should be there next weekend still not sure which day...

That's typical business here. as you already know. That Consulate is American in name only. You know that if your case was further complicated by that error the person who was responsible wouldn't lose a seconds sleep over it, if they were even made aware of it.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-11 20:18:00

The blue slip specifically says former spouse, singular, infering most recent only, but in fact the CO's expectation based on the response is any and all former spouses.. had we gone with what the blue slip said and not asked for the prompt response rofl.gif , we would have likely been in trouble for not providing requested info...

Sounds like someone needs to practice their plurals.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-11 20:05:00

wife left

Glad to hear you have met someone else Frank. Stories like yours, and mine, should be kept in mind IMHO.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-19 01:31:00

wife left

QUOTE (jeromebinh @ Sep 23 2009, 06:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just noticed this was a really old post lol! This is done and over with

Thanks Scott.

I waited 2 months before I announced my divorce. He may update someday.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2009-09-23 20:45:00

wife left

QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Jun 14 2009, 02:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (itzallgood @ Jun 14 2009, 08:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (baron555 @ Jun 14 2009, 08:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know i have a bad temper i need work on

Sounds like there never was any chance with this relationship. Always two sides to every story.

It sounds like the Ho Chi Minh Embassy is TOUGH on applicants for good reason.

Just what puts the HO in Ho Chi Minh, anyways?

Absolutely heart breaking story, dude. Condolences.

Dressing up sexy, hanging out with men till 6am, and coming home with hundreds of dollars. Sorry, they were not playing tiddliwinks.

The US Embassy in Vietnam is in Hanoi, and they don't handle visa applications. Visas are handled by the consulate in Ho Chi Minh city.

The US Consulate in HCM is tough on applicants because of the amount of visa fraud that goes on - not because they are concerned with importing prostitutes into the US. Visa fraud is common in any country with widespread poverty, but it is higher in Vietnam because of the large number of Vietnamese ex-pats living in the US who want to reunite with their families. Three large scale US immigration programs since the end of the war have resulted in millions of Vietnamese ex-pats in the US.

The Vietnamese government has little tolerance for prostitution, and the Vietnamese people are conservative when it comes to sex. Even pornography is illegal. Forget what you've seen in Vietnam war movies. Prostitution exists in Vietnam, but not on the scale it exists in Thailand or the Philippines.

Not that it matters, but people who live in glass houses...

Well put Jim.

You still around Frank?

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2009-09-23 09:50:00

Smoking Pipes in VIETNAM

You may want to try down at Cho Lan market. There's a street there that sells tobacco/products.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-23 00:29:00

I would ask if you got to go to the dog races but they are only on Saturday nights.. that is a blast! I took video running down the river out that side area.... what a rush except for having to stop to get the plants out of the intakes and then start up again...

I didn't make it there, but maybe someday. Hopefully in a few years I can get a job teaching down there. I could change my user name to Mr. Vung Tau then!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-15 21:08:00

In so miss my home here , my Vungtau ...hic. ticket boat is 160k / way.you got great trip Mark ?

Yes, we had a great time. I'm sure you do miss home. There's no place in Michigan like that, but at least you're near Lake Michigan!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-15 21:06:00

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-15 21:00:00

If you want a cheap getaway from Saigon I would suggest taking a hydrofoil (boat) down to Vung Tau. The tickets are only about 260K VND R/T. If any of you do decide to go get the return ticket in Saigon, otherwise you'll go to buy it in Vung Tau and they'll tell you they're sold out. Then you would probably be approached by someone offering to sell you the ticket for double the price. It's a scam the ticket agents are in on.

Posted Image

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 15 February 2010 - 08:55 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-15 20:52:00

police clearance for work permit in Vietnam

I don't know what they're looking for in regards to the US based check. You could probably get the basic one and be OK, but I don't know that for sure. I just came here and started teaching, then applied for the WP after I'd been here 6 months. You need to make sure you're registered in the house book where ever you are staying.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-19 08:36:00

police clearance for work permit in Vietnam

http://forums.eslcaf...wforum.php?f=14

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-02-19 01:31:00

Visa in Hand

Finally!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-01-10 01:00:00

We are open

Well I ate there tonight and I'll give The Big Grill a big thumbs up!

The ca phe da was one of the best I've had since I've been here. That's saying something, since I drink about 5 a day minimum. My friend and I also had a passion fruit and orange juice smoothie, which was real good too. The pizza was New York Style and was excellent as well.

The music was a nice touch. Nothing like some Seals and Croft or Steely Dan to make the meal complete!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2009-09-15 12:07:00

Have you learned your SO's language?

QUOTE (ScottThuy @ Sep 14 2009, 08:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Icarus @ Sep 14 2009, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Mike, good to see you online!

I've been learning via Rosetta Stone and several flash cards programs. I've got a long ways to go yet, but can speak conversationally to my wifes family and coworkers with not much problem. In fact, I really enjoy the reactions I get from trying and find that helps to encourage me further. I'd say that once I understood the basic building blocks of how the VNese structure sentences, it was only a matter of increasing my vocabulary. Any way you do it, good luck, its well worth it (and the best reason of all...my wife gets turned on by listening to me speak her language!)!!

Was RS worth the money?

That program can probably be found down on Bui Vien. I know one shop that has RS English for 100K VND.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2009-09-26 23:05:00

driving in vietnam

1.) I wouldn't recommend a Vung Tau trip anytime soon. Not on a motorbike at least. You're 4 times more likely to die in an accident outside of the city limits. Get some experience first.

2.) Easy on the front brake.

3.) The trucks, buses and taxis are reputed to have a yearly limit of 2 fatalities, so steer clear(literally). Money talks here. Your life is worth about 40M VND. Truckers will back over you to make sure you're dead. Otherwise they have to pay for your care.

4.) The roundabouts are deathtraps. The trick is to try and stay to the outside. Always try to line yourself up with some blockers, like a football game. Stay to their outside and then cut in to block the other oncoming traffic. It's an artform.

5.) Vietnamese passenger = a translator for the cops. You're an ATM on wheels with a Viet on the back. If you're alone, they'll leave you alone.

6.) Don't say anything to anyone who pi$$es you off. Remember, the have Vietnam Vets here too. It's also wise to remeber that guns are illegal, knives aren't.

7.) They do it to each other too. That spreads all the way across the spectrum regarding life here.

8.) The horn doesn't cost anything, so use it. Out of sight = out of mind. The vast majority of the drivers merge without looking.

9.) Watch the red lights. It only means slow down to a few.

10.) Motorbikes have the right of way, but that doesn't stop pedestrians from stepping in front of you. Hit one and you could end up paying them for life.

11.) You're already an oddity, being white. Adding the motorbike makes you an absolute freak. Prepare to be stared at constantly.

12.) Keep an eye on Goober, down at the fillin' station. He'll try to short you sometimes.

13.) Keep your right hand on the throttle. Never try to hold something while the bike is running. You're asking for trouble if you do. Alos make sure your foot is planted solid when starting off or stopping. A good pair of shoes is essential.

14.) watch out for the manhole covers and the lines on the road. They're a bit slick.

15.) The real fun starts in June.

On a personal note, I agree that any job worth doing is worth doing right. Few share that sentiment here though. You'll go crazy if you don't accept that.

Good luck.

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 22 March 2010 - 09:01 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-03-22 08:56:00

driving in vietnam

http://www.expatservices.tk/

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-03-20 21:01:00

The Consulate

I have a friend who works there. The other day he told me that a delegation had visited there because they were a model of efficiency that was going to be used as a model for other consulates. I told him there were quite a few that didn't think so highly of them. I cited a couple of examples of what I consider violations of the law and personal liberties. What do you think? Is the Consulate doing a good job? Why or why not?

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-03-23 00:46:00

Vietnam Internet users fear Facebook blackout

Here's the latest. I stopped posting on FB because it was such a pain.

Vietnam to establish its own social network
January 11th, 2010 - 10:57 UTC
by Andy Sennitt.

This year Vietnam will build its own social network to gradually replace foreign social networks like Yahoo and Google, stated Minister of Information and Communications Le Doan Hop at a meeting in HCM City. In the meeting with agencies under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) in HCM City, the Minister listened to reports on the situation of the information and communication sector.

He cited ten important tasks for 2010, including boosting and developing information technology and IT infrastructure as well as developing a local social network to replace foreign ones. According to Mr Hop, despite many challenges, the sector developed strongly and obtained many achievements in 2009 and “The ministry completed its plans to turn Vietnam into a strong country of information and communications.”

He admitted that decentralization in ministry management for 2009 was incomplete, resulting in ineffective management of publications and the press. MoIC will set up a publication assistance fund, establish some new agencies, drastically decentralize management to curb unnecessary procedures and improve the responsibility and management effectiveness of its agencies.

The Minister said that this year MoIC will restructure television and broadcasting stations and speed up the development of the information and communication sector from now to 2020.

(Source: VietNamNet Bridge)

http://blogs.rnw.nl/...-social-network

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-03-23 00:41:00

City Closes 61 ATMs After Girl’s Electrocution

A lil coffee $ and the inspection is passed...

You beat me to it. They don't use the ATM's, so why worry?

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-08 21:08:00

City Closes 61 ATMs After Girl’s Electrocution

LOL Why am I not surprised.

Stay safe in HCMC!!!

This is freakin' tragic. They'll probably be fined 20 million VND to the girls family.

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 08 April 2010 - 10:43 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-08 10:42:00

City Closes 61 ATMs After Girl’s Electrocution

The Ho Chi Minh City Power Company has sealed off and cut off power supply to 61 automatic teller machines (ATM), a couple days after a 10-year-old girl was electrocuted when she come into contact with an ATM booth in District 1.

The company has started to check all 866 ATMs in the city after 10-year-old Chau Linh Uyen was killed Thursday on Mac Thi Buoi Street.

Investigations by police in District 1 found an electric wire running across a set of stairs where Uyen sat outside the ATM booth. According to Saigon Electricity Company technicians, the wire, which was set up by Agribank to provide power for the room, had many open joints and was leaking electricity.

A total of 61 ATMs were found with electrical problems as of Sunday afternoon.

Tran Dung, manager of technical and labor safety at the company, said the ATMs had been isolated and their power cut.

Most of the ATMs were set up by the banks themselves, local newswire Dan Tri cited the company as saying in a statement.

The banks have been asked to fix their machines.

The ATM where the girl was killed was also set up by Agribank. The wire leading to the signboard had called electrical leakage, police said.

Earlier, the power company had sent a note asking banks in the area to check the wires and earth connections at their ATMs.

Many ATM customers of Vietcombank have reported experiencing slight electric shocks at the machine on Cao Thang Street, some when leaning on the iron door, some when typing the numbers in, VOVNews reported Sunday.

http://www.thanhnien...0405101712.aspx

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-08 10:37:00

I just saw a trailor of journey from the fall

Mark, I miss that pizza!

I do too. I had to stop eating it because I was putting back on a few pounds!

If you liked this movie you may also like:

Green Dragon: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0229002/

and

The Beautiful Country: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273108/

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-18 21:57:00

I just saw a trailor of journey from the fall

this film was being banned in Vietnam. anyone who sold or rent or watch it will be in prison for sure

I bought it on Bui Vien a few months ago. Looks like they didn't get the memo.

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 18 April 2010 - 08:57 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-18 20:56:00

What is the best option for someone who got his I-130 denies?

about as much as your post and this one does

Really? You don't think minimum income requirements would be a reason for rejection J-Rome?

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 21 April 2010 - 03:02 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-21 03:02:00

What is the best option for someone who got his I-130 denies?

What does that have to do with a rejected I-130?

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-21 02:51:00

What is the best option for someone who got his I-130 denies?

What about going the DCF route would that guaranteed a better shot, since you're require to live in the country for at least 6 month? if that's not a legitimate marriage evidence i don't know what is.

Then you'd have to worry about the minimum income requirements (among other things), unless you're wealthy.

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 19 April 2010 - 08:44 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-19 20:44:00

She's finally here

Congrats! It's about time, right? :thumbs:

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-22 19:43:00

Hitchhiking Vietnam

This is from 1997, so this woman was back here early on.

http://www.pbs.org/hitchhikingvietnam/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119299/

This story is very interesting.

http://www.pbs.org/h...m/karin/e4.html

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-24 10:32:00

How many times have you been married? Maybe that is a reason? Most of the time that people get divorced they found love in all the wrong places (mainly the bedroom)

This is a personal assualt. I demand justice.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-27 22:21:00

I'm right here
Since my return from Vietnam a couple of weeks ago, I have been so busy putting the finishing touches on my I-129F that I barely have time to do much of anything nowadays hehe.
Anyways the trips to Vietnam went very well. I was never in any danger while I was there so I am officially finished being afraid to go there

Glad to hear you made it OK. I can't imagine flying back and forth that many times in such a short period. I imagine you're tired.

Good luck.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-24 22:53:00

I think you take the cake on this topic being thrown off course. I just comment on statements that I feel are directed toward me, or what I have posted.

Now back to topic or we can continue to bicker back and forth until the topic gets locked or Charles threatens suspensions for TOS violations

The morale of the post is that people stay in many different places, with Vietnamese nationals, or in hotel rooms alone. Times have changed and along with time changing people’s morals have also changed. Years ago a Vietnamese girl might never have thought about staying with her BF in a hotel room, but as with other cultures it is becoming more and more normal to do so. On the side track note about relationships built to last, not having physical relations right away is also no guarantee that your relationship will last, or that there is not any visa fraud happening with your relationship. Jerome

I think I'll take a suspension before I will let you tell me when to stop.

This was a dead issue until you decided to start it up again this morning. I love how you'll say what you have to say and then determine that it's time to get back on topic. Everything has to meet your approval here, right Jerome?

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-24 21:39:00