lirelou Vietnam

lirelou

Vietnamese expat in the USA
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Serial expat

Introduction

Retired American with 21 years of living abroad in Latin America and Korea. Speak English, French, Spanish, basic Vietnamese and some Portuguese. Former military officer, attorney, and civil servant. Served with a Special Forces team at Dien Khanh, near Nha Trang for five months, then as an advisor to the Biet Kich Quan / Tiep Ung at Pleiku. Wife is from Hau Giang province in the Delta. We visit VIetnam every two years, more often when we lived in Korea. I have written one historical novel which has several scenes set in Nha Trang, and am finalizing a novel set in the Seven Mountains region of the Delta.

I joined expat.com on 16 September 2013.

  • I can speak English, French, Spanish, Vietnamese (basic), some Portuguese
  • Interests history

Expat experience

I am currently living here
USA
USA
Mar 2001 - Nov 2007
South Korea
Seoul, South Korea
Oct 1999 - Mar 2001
Puerto Rico
San German, Puerto Rico
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Home was a far on a hill overlooking the Guanajibo Valley between San German and Cabo Rojo. It was my dream to return here, but no Vietnamese. Wife was very lonely.

It had changed so much since my Uni school days, and not for the better.

Mar 1997 - Sept 1999
Panama
Fort Clayton, Panama
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Working up projects with Panamanian and other LATAM governments. This was my third assignment toPanama

Jan 1995 - Mar 1997
Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
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Worked in U.S. Embassy on Reforma. Traveled from San Miguel Allende to Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Tequisquiapan, and Cuernavaca as well as D.F. ANd yes, Teotijuacan.

Mexican coffee is a poor cousin to Latin America coffees, and far less tastier than fresh Vietnamese brew.

Dec 1989 - Dec 1994
USA
Fort Bragg, NC, USA
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Worked for the Joint Special Operations Command.

Never much personal time off. Wife had to travel to Vietnam alone.

Jul 1986 - Nov 1989
Panama
Fort Clayton, Panama
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Directed U.S. Army exercises and operations in the region.

The Panama Crisis, very sad for everyone involved.

May 1986 - Jun 1986
France
Montpellier, France
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Attended French Army Parachute course and visited French Infantry School.

Having to leave.

Jan 1968 - May 1968
Vietnam
Nha Trang, Vietnam
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Advisor to Vietnamese light infantry companies and reconnaissance platoon.

The war was a bit of an inconvenience.