An interesting case...

16 years ago

...of reverse discrimination.

One of my goals here in 'Mayberry' has been to be the first westerner to display a tree during the annual Tet Festival. They have a pretty nice showing (trees you have to know people to see any other time) and I thought it would be another nice 'first' for this transplant.

My big FT has come along very well and, after re-potting and a lot of pruning is in nice enough shape to be shown this year. Its quality is at least as good as 60% of the trees I've seen in the previous displays.

I went to the Cultural Center and asked what I had to do, the woman said to fill out a few forms but she didn't have them that day. In the meantime my director was talking to a friend of his in the local Bonsai Association (which I have been trying to join) and he said 'no way!'

It turns out that all of the members are good Communists and they don't want me in there...OMG!! Their nice way of saying I don't qualify was that I had to have a tree valued at 50.000.000VND (translates to about $30.000USD).

This got my buddy Tuan (not a good Commie) all fired up and we're going back to the Cultural Center this week to get the paperwork and fill it out.

In the meantime I will continue cleaning and tweeking the tree...just in case.

Bob

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Comments (4)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
16 years ago
Gawdamned communists...

Keep fighting, Bob, just don't lose your head...!
I wish you luck!

Josh
Jack Reynolds
16 years ago
Well Bob it appears to me that you are launching another "Tet Offensive". All of us Running Dog Capitalists are praying for your success. Jack
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head_cutter
Original Author
16 years ago
No Tet Offensive here, just being persistant about it. Getting Tuan fired-up was a good start. Not only does he lust after that tree but, I'm the guy who took 6 of his neglected trees, nursed them back to health, re-styled them and put them in better pots over a period of about 6 months. His brother, who gave him the trees, wouldn't even help him care for them.

To me that was just playing around, to him it was the biggest favor in the world. Now he has some trees he can be proud of in the house and I got to do something I love.

Bob
head_cutter
Original Author
16 years ago
the tree is in. Tuan and I met with the 'director' of the Bonsai display for Tet, turns out the Commies from the local association have no say in it...they just think they do.

I have pictures to prove that I didn't just buy it but actually worked it to this point from an overgrown 'shrub' I bought. The director and his buddies are coming to the house to view it in a few days and to make sure it's ok but, all I have to do is fill out the paperwork and it's a done deal.
So...I WILL be the first westerner to display a tree during the Tet holiday here and, one of the very, very few FT's ever displayed.

Bob