Regina Dominican began the year with many additions. The community welcomed new President Krista Gallagher and a newly sanctioned IHSA sport, flag football. Also, walking into Regina for the first time were five new transfer students.
Kate Thu Huynh is the newest transfer student of the junior class. Thu Huynh is from Vietnam. She only recently was able to obtain her visa. Over the years, it has become increasingly more difficult to obtain a United States visa. In order to get a United States visa one must apply online and answer many questions. The cost of a visa in the United States is $162.73 and ₫4 million dong in Vietnamese dong, which is $162.73 dollars in US dollars. As of the date this article goes to publication, ₫1 dong is equal to $0.000040.00 US currency.
Thu Huynh moved to the United States because her sister is temporarily working in a STEM field for one year through a US Citizen and Immigration Program called Optional Practical Training (OPT). Her sister’s co-worker, a former Regina alum, recommended that Thu Huynh attend Regina Dominican because it would be the best fit for Kate
Now that she has been at Regina for almost two months, Thu Huynh said, “Everyone is super welcoming and nice.”
In her free time, you can find Thu Huynh either debating people in Pros-N-Cons Club or building a robot in Robotics, or having fun watching anime in the Anime Club. She likes to watch her favorite anime, Haikyuu!!. She also loves to bake. Her favorite pastry to make is madeleine cookies and chocolate chip cookies. With Halloween coming up, Thu Huynh’s favorite type of movie is horror, and her favorite movie is based on a true story called, The Conjuring.
Thu Huynh lived in Vietnam her entire life. She has lots of family and friends that still live in Vietnam, including her parents.
She attended Marie Curie High School. “It’s not good at that school.” said Thu Huynh.
School in Vietnam runs from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thus, she would be at school for over 10 hours every day. However, because school was so long, they would have a designated nap time in the middle of the day.
Although she has travelled many miles from Vietnam to Regina, Thu Huynh is so easy to talk to and one of the sweetest people to get to know. Make sure you take some time and get to know Kate Thu Huynh and her Vietnamese culture.