Goodbye, Portland Oregon

Portland was the first place I lived after moving to the United States in April 1999. I arrived just in time to celebrate my birthday, flying from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Los Angeles before finally landing in Portland, where a friend picked me up.

My first impression of the United States was how clean it was—everything looked so tidy and well-maintained.

As I began my job search, I relied heavily on public transportation. The buses and MAX light rail were convenient, though they required some getting used to. I remember having to pull a string on the bus to signal the driver for my stop. Because my English was limited at the time, I often had to show drivers my destination written on a piece of paper and ask them to alert me when we arrived. The drivers were always polite, helpful, and patient, which I truly appreciated.

Those early days were full of cultural confusion. I remember seeing "Smoke-Free" signs and mistakenly thinking they meant I was free to smoke there. I was also puzzled by "On Sale" signs; I wondered why stores labeled specific items that way when I assumed everything in the store was for sale.

Language barriers created some funny moments, too. Once, when I wanted to go to the shopping mall, I told a friend I wanted to go to "the big buildings to get something" because I didn’t know the word for mall. On another occasion, I realized the "grey building" people were discussing was actually a portable bathroom. Because smartphones didn't exist in 1999, I carried an electronic dictionary everywhere—even to the supermarket. Looking back, I wonder why I needed it so much at the grocery store since I could see the products, but I used it constantly.

Some cultural differences were truly shocking. Coming from China, I associated the number "4" with death and tried to avoid it. I was stunned when a friend named his truck "4" because, to him, it sounded like "full."

Yesterday, my husband drove me around Portland to revisit these memories. We found my old apartment building on Morrison Street and drove past Pioneer Square, where I used to go every day. We saw the walkway along the Willamette River where I took evening strolls and visited the Saturday Market. I even looked for the Mandarin House where I used to eat. There used to be a Hunan restaurant a few blocks from my apartment where I spent my only free night—Friday—enjoying a meal and a beer while reflecting on life. Sadly, it is no longer there.

I am grateful for this final trip before I leave Oregon for good. I appreciate the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had in this city. Portland was the starting point of my American life, and it will remain in my heart forever. Goodbye, Portland—I have truly enjoyed my life here.

 

To my Colleagues of 25 years

 Dear Colleagues,

It is time for me to leave Eugene, Oregon, where I have lived and worked for the past 25 years. I want to thank you all for your support and friendship throughout these years.

I began my journey at Sacred Heart Medical Center in July 2001 as an ECG technician. I am so grateful to my supervisor at the time, Katie, for helping me get that role, and to John for teaching me to be a stress lab technician. I met many wonderful people during those early years—Kathy helped me earn my CNA while I was applying to nursing school, and Shirley was there to pin me as an RN. Fran gave me both love and trust, and these experiences have truly enriched my life in the United States.

My entire nursing career has been in the NICU, and it was my colleagues there who taught me how to be a nurse. I remember following Joan for a day as a student; it was the first time I had ever seen a premature infant. I was amazed by the incredible work the NICU team was doing, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a NICU nurse.

I am especially grateful to my preceptors, Ann and Denise, who shared their responsibilities to mentor me step-by-step. They showed me how to grow as a professional, and Denise even helped me become NRP certified while I was still a student. I am so lucky that I was able to attend that first unit-based certification course taught by Pam, Ling, and Carla.

Throughout my time in the NICU, so many of you helped me develop my clinical skills and knowledge. Whether it was starting an IV, resuscitation, or caring for our most critical infants, I have learned so much from my coworkers. I fondly remember Kristi, the night shift charge nurse, who trained me to be an NRT and how to admit new babies.

The physicians in our unit have also been consistently supportive. I recall working with Michal on an exchange transfusion and a complex case involving a 28-week infant with a pulmonary hemorrhage. I remember when Charlie’s quick action and immediate treatment saved a patient with CMV, and I recall witnessing the only intracardiac injection of my career, performed by Becky. I also learned so much from Igor, whose vast knowledge was an inspiration to us all.

Our new group of doctors is equally impressive; I deeply admire their dedication, knowledge, and the compassionate care they provide to our patients and their families. They are the backbone of this unit, and our babies are so fortunate to have them. Thank you all for your hard work and commitment.

I appreciate the NICU therapy team as well. Since the physical therapists come in to the unit, I don't see toaster head any more. And the speech therapists really make the feeding easier for the nurses. Thanks to them to make the unit better.

As I begin this new chapter of my life, I will surely miss this unit and all of you. I wish everyone nothing but the best.

Please feel free to reach out to me via text at [xxxxxxxxxx] or email me.

With gratitude,

Your friend