Wonderful Concerts at MVCC

MVCC's Visiting Professor Hoa Ngo and Anne Ichihana wait for the Kenichi Ebina performance to begin.

The first week I was at Mohawk Valley Community College, I had the opportunity to go to dancer Kenichi Ebina’s show in Rome. I was really excited because I haven’t been to a concert in years. 

I was more than surprised to see many people – both students and local people – waiting outside the Capitol Theatre in the rain. I have never been in such a situation – standing in line for a concert. 

The concert started with a brief speech from the MVCC President, Dr. Randall Vanwagoner. I have to say that it was the most exciting show I have ever seen. There were so many people. I couldn’t understand how a college can celebrate such a wonderful concert. To my understanding, going to a concert means watching students’ musical performance. I never thought I would have a chance to watch a show by the winner of “American’s Got Talent.” He performed for more than an hour, with a lot of music and dancing. I stayed until it ended. I have no words to express my feeling about his show. Marvelous!

 

Hoa Ngo at the Cher Lloyd concert at MVCC.

If the first concert gave me a sense of art, the second concert that I went to gave me a sense of overexcitement. It was David Correy and Cher Lloyd’s show at MVCC's Utica Campus. Events Director Bill Dustin and Coordinator Katie Kdsiaz were so kind – they had a ticket and a T-shirt for me. Dr. Sandra Engel was even nicer. She gave me a job as a greeter. It was funny for me. Just like Kenichi’s show, people were queuing in long lines to come in. And this time, even more surprising, the audience had to go through a security check like I did at the airport. 

“Safety is number one here,” I thought. It was very noisy and crowded. People wearing T-shirts with photos of their idol sang along and danced. They stood and yelled and screamed. It was a new experience for me, because I had seen all of these scenes a lot, but they were on the Internet or TV stations. If my friends at home knew about this new experience, they would definitely be jealous of me.

The two concerts gave me different feelings. I am really thankful for the college for including me in such wonderful shows and the ways that the college celebrated them were so professional. I hope I will be able to go to every concert while I am here!

A heart-warming reception in the cold weather

Professor Hoa Ngo (first row, second from right) poses for a photo with MVCC faculty and staff at a reception in her honor. Female faculty and staff wore aodai to celebrate her arrival.

If someone asks me why I take the time to fly thousands of miles to visit America, I can answer without hesitation that I want to explore a new horizon in my life. But I have discovered that there are other important reasons why I am visiting MVCC, which is incredibly far from my home country.

At MVCC, I am treated as a VIP. Every single teacher I am introduced to is too kind to me, they treat me like a friend. This is very moving to me, and I don’t feel lonely here. 

The school celebrated my arrival with a reception for me. There were food and drinks, and people came and talked very happily. Most surprisingly, almost all of the female teachers dressed in aodai. I couldn’t believe how they took time out of their busy day to come to the reception just for me. Their presence in aodai surprised me and made me feel warm in such cold weather. 

Before I came here, I hardly imagined that I would be treated the way people treat me now. I found a more precious thing than just experiences to live far from home. I have found the most important thing – that is friendship!

Professor Hoa Ngo shares a laugh with MVCC staff members, also dressed in traditional Vietnamese aodai.