#expatriate — Public Fediverse posts

American Expat Stays Devoted to Wife Through Life’s Trials

By WPS News Staff Writers

Da Nang, Vietnam – July 15, 2026

Nestled in a tranquil coastal city far from the clamor of the United States, an American expatriate has woven a life of love, loyalty, and quiet strength. Michael (name changed for privacy), 58, sits in his simple home with a view of the South China Sea, sharing a story that redefines devotion and home. To protect the privacy of those involved, all names and specific locations have been altered.

Michael and his wife, Thuy, share a bond that shines through life’s hardships. “She’s my soul,” Michael says, his voice warm but steady. “No one’s ever meant more to me. She fills my days with her heart, and I try to give her everything in return.” Their love, built across cultural and linguistic gaps, is a powerful reminder of what connection can endure. Yet, their story carries a heavy weight: Thuy battles breast cancer, a disease that affects one in thirteen women, with a survival rate of about 40%. Michael, who has seen cancer’s toll before, faces this reality with unflinching clarity. “She won’t outlast it forever,” he says, gazing at the sea. “But we have time, and I’m making every moment matter.”

Their life in Vietnam is no accident—it’s a choice Michael embraces fully. “The USA? It’s a faint memory now,” he says. “This is my home. My dog’s here, my stepson’s here. I’m staying put.” His stepson, 16-year-old Nam (name changed for privacy), is a reserved presence in their home. Cultural and language differences have kept them from being as close as Michael might wish, but his commitment is unwavering. “He’s my son,” he says plainly. “That’s all that matters.”

Michael’s resolve to stay in Vietnam is rooted in love and duty, even as he reflects on those who choose differently. “We all know the stories,” he says, “men who leave their wives in tough times because they’re not getting what they need, chasing someone else to carry the load.” The double entendre is intentional, a nod to the emotional and physical burdens of caregiving. “It’s a real issue,” Michael continues. “But if you love her—truly love her—you stay. You stay loyal, you stay faithful, and you honor her to the end. That’s what love demands.”

The friends Michael left in the States are a distant ache. “I miss them,” he admits, “but they’re there, and I’m here. That’s the truth I live with.” When Thuy’s fight with cancer ends, as Michael knows it will, he plans to stay. “I’ll rest beside her when my time comes,” he says, his tone resolute. “This is where I belong.”

Michael is certain there will be no one else. “She’s my one,” he says. “True love doesn’t come again. Even if this disease steals her too soon, I’m thankful I found her.”

As evening falls over Da Nang, Michael walks his dog along the shore, a daily ritual that keeps him grounded. He speaks of Thuy’s resilience, her stubborn light in the face of illness, and the life they’ve shaped together. For Michael, the future is here—in Thuy’s smile, Nam’s quiet presence, and the steady companionship of his dog. The United States may fade to a curiosity, but this corner of Vietnam, where love and loyalty endure, is his forever home.

Note: All names and specific locations have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Canadian anthropologist ’Isabel Crook, who joined Mao Zedong’s rural revolution and stayed on to help build a "new #China," died on Aug. 20 in the country where she had lived for 90 of her 107 years.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/21/isabel-crook-obituary

#canada #expatriate #science #anthropology #communist #obits #obituaries #restinparadise #rip #deaths #whodied

— #Mastodon musings —

Sooner or later, the #PTB will begin side-eyeing the #fediverse because they’ll see the threat it poses to their incessant attempts at message #manipulation.

And while the PTB will have a difficult time bringing it in line with their preferred #propaganda du jour, it doesn’t mean they can’t #cyber attack a problematic #instance directly to shut it down through #DDoS, #virus etc.

To avoid being impacted by the side-eye set …

Consider:

1. #Redundancy. Create accounts on more than one #server.

2. #Expatriate. Create your redundant account on a #foreign server that isn’t subject to #political and/or #corporate influence in your physical #jurisdiction.

3. Know that They. Will. Come. Be prepared.

4. And when they do — Keep the fediverse weird and #FightThePower