March 2024
M T W T F S S
« Aug    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Archives

Categories

3 Year Anniversary

It seems like just yesterday, but it was 3 years ago today our Saigon Kids and American Community School blog was launched. Time sure does fly when you’re having fun – 🙂

It was also 51 years ago today that I stepped off the plane in Saigon arriving on my 16th birthday. Little did I know than of the Saigon Kids journey that lay ahead of me …

So long ago, yet it seems just like yesterday in oh so many ways.

I hope everyone has enjoyed our blog, reconnecting and staying in touch with everyone else.

During the up coming months I’ll be moving our blog to it’s own dedicated server which will basically provide unlimited band width (or at least more then we’ll ever need). This will enable hosting of more Saigon Kids videos, movies, etc. Video and movie files are HUGE and suck up a lot of band width. Once the site is moved to the new server myself and some other Saigon Kids will be creating several videos to show on the site. In fact, Rique recently sent me an AWESOME video he made to share with Saigon Kids. Some of the video projects planned are things like past reunions, the Gecko yearbooks, school newsletters, old photo collections of the school, Saigon Kids, and Saigon, etc.

At some point in the future (hopefully before the next reunion) I’ll have things in place to show *live* streaming video feeds on the site. Could be fun! Don’t be surprised if someday I show up at your door saying, “Hi! Your on Clod-TV33 Cam. Smile!” – LOL – 🙂

As I’ve mentioned before, I only have about an hour a week to work on our site … so if it sometimes seems things move a little on the slow side – that’s why – 🙂

So, tell me what have you enjoyed the most about our blog?

What kind of stuff would you like to see more of on the site?

Are you willing to research, create and submit relevant content to our site?

When I created this blog, I didn’t make it for myself … I made it for each and everyone of you as a place for you to reconnect with other Saigon Kids, stay connected and share memories of your time in Saigon, as well as, to share what’s been happening in your life since Saigon days, and what’s currently going on in your life … and in the future.

I asked the above questions, because blog sites, like ours, *become* whatever the members of the site make it through their *active* participation and contributions to the blog.

Or, to paraphrase one of our past Presidents, “Ask not what your Saigon Kids blog can do for you, but ask what you can do for your Saigon Kids blog”.

May your days be filled with peace, your heart filled with love, and your life over flow with joy.

Rock Onnn … Saigon Kids – 🙂

Bob

10 comments to 3 Year Anniversary

  • Kenneth R. Yeager

    Bob, speaking for myself (and probably many others), and actually repeating myself, thank you very, very much for this site. It has been wonderful to reconnect with so many of our former school mates, trade lies and stories, laugh at old memories and also a site to exercise one’s attempts at writing (ahem). I certainly appreciate the work and time your have put into this site, many of our articles and other information published here. You’ve certainly done your part in making this site an experience to revisit often. Thanks once more.

    Ken

  • Sarah J Rogers

    It has been wonderful. While I seldom contribute, I sure enjoy. My favorite part is hearing from/about old friends and hoping/wishing that we will find more in the years to come.
    I have really enjoyed the slide shows and pictures that you have posted Bob, so look forward to the new site that can do more.
    And, CLOD-TV33 Cam is welcome at my front door!

  • Mike McNally

    Bob, congrats on your first three years. Many, many happy returns. Next month, it will be 44 years since I stepped off the plane as an 18yo Army “adult.” And on April 30, it will be 36 years since I departed from the Embassy roof as a slightly older (not wiser) civilian. Thanks to Saigon Kids for helping to keep memories alive…Mike McNally

  • Mimi

    3 years! My..time flies and fast. Thanks Bob for all your efforts. As you know, many american Saigon kids have a great place in my memories and heart and I always enjoy hearing from and about them and even the ones I don’t know or don’t recall. Bob, you are a real darling!
    -To Ken Yeager, I go to France about twice a year, if you have a chance to come with wife on the Cote d’Azur, we could meet and see what friends/memories we have in common. 🙂

    Hugs to all. Mimi

  • brooks toland kasson

    many thanks, bob, for your multi-talented efforts. i’ve really appreciated the connections that i’ve maintained or explored with the help of this site and your nursing it along. for instance, thanks to you, i’ll be able to contact the son of someone in saigon that influenced me a lot.
    no, kenny, it’s not your kid i’m talking about…although i will have to cop to your influence. especially when it comes to motorcycles. maybe that’s why i married a motorcycle guy (we have a yamaha dealership in austin). anyway, happy springtime everybody, and thank you, bob!

  • Maile Miller Doyle

    Bob, I echo the sentiments of those who responded already. In June this year, I celebrate my 50th anniversary of stepping off that plane into the steamy atmosphere of Saigon and remember being bombarded by the heat, the noise and new smells. My Dad always prefaced a new tour of duty by saying, “Well, we have a new adventure.” Our time in Vietnam certainly was that! I love reconnecting with old friends and reading about the adventures of new friends who have a shared experience with mine.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Maile

  • Frank

    Good job Robert! I’ll catch up later. Teaching full time. I have not been very good at the “retirement” thing. Monday will be 50 years when I left Saigon the first time. It was very sad to say goodbye to many friends and especially to the girl in the yellow dress.
    Pan Am 707 jet! What was the flight number? I think it left everyday at about 1:30p.m. Was it flight number 101? Frank

  • Michael Erickson

    Speaking for myself (but I think other former students of the Phoenix Study Group, Saigon, who have participated in your blog would agree), I appreciate the significant work and energy you have put into this blog and the kindness and thoughtfulness of ACS members who have assisted me over the years.

  • Mary Timmes Shanabruch

    50 years ago today, July 7, 1961, my parents and I stepped off the plane into the heat and humidity which is Saigon in the rainy season. I presumed we had all flown into Tan son Nhut, so I was surprised by Brooks Toland recounting of arriving by ship! I don’t know about the rest of you, but we were seated in an AF plane with the seats facing the rear of the aircraft. There was no jet lag since the plane was powered by propellers and crossed time zones, slowly. What an amzing experience the three years turned out to be!! Such good people to share the adventure with!

Leave a Reply to Sarah J Rogers Cancel reply

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

  

  

  

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.