Brother John Mai, FSC, author of a book titled "Escape from Vietnam," will discuss his experiences at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Mai, now music minister at Christian Brothers School in New Orleans, lived under the communist regime for 10 years and tried to escape from Vietnam 14 times; twice he was caught, imprisoned and tortured.
“In prison, day after day, I prayed and prayed that God would help me escape successfully from Vietnam with my father, and for my family to reunited with my younger sister and my younger brother in America. I promised to dedicate my whole life to God’s service," he wrote.
Finally, in 1985, he escaped and returned home.
With family and friends, he left the country on a small fishing boat.
They came to Japan on June 23, 1985, landing at the port of Chiba, near Tokyo, then moving to Niigata in northern Japan, where Mai worked for a Japanese smelting company in order to obtain insurance to pay for his father’s kidney stone surgery.
In April 1986, his younger sister sponsored Mai and his father to come to America.
MINDFULNESS: Rolf van Anders will conduct sessions at 7 p.m. Thursdays in January at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave.
Participants should expect to perform basic chair yoga and learn the basics of healing meditation and basic mindfulness. Van Anders will focus on customizing your zone, deep-breathing, yoga and meditation.
Research shows that meditation changes the physical structure of the brain in significant ways. Meditation and reflection increase frontal cortex activity (linked to focus, calmness and concentration) and even enlarge that front-and-center part of the brain.
MODERN ARMENIA: Cyril Lagvanec, the curator of the Italian American research center at the East Bank Regional Library, will give a lecture on the history of modern Armenia at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Armenia is a former Soviet republic, in the mountainous Caucasus region between Asia and Europe. It is among the earliest of Christian civilizations. During his presentation, Lagvanec will discuss its historical timeline.
WWII DISCUSSION GROUP: Historian Pat Doyle will speak on the amazing story of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and the 1943 PT-109 disaster during the Solomon Island campaign at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.
ASTRONOMY: The Pontchartrain Astronomy Society will now hold its meetings at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, on the third Wednesday of each month.
The first meeting will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 17. All meetings are open to the public.
ADULT LITERACY: YMCA Literary Services will hold adult literacy classes from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Belle Terre Library, 5550 Belle Terre Road.
The classes provide instruction and support for adults to improve reading, basic math and writing skills; prepare for the HiSet/GED; and gain job readiness. Call (504) 596-3842 for more information. Walk-ins are welcome, or sign up @tinyurl.com/YMCAed.
GREAT BOOKS: Folks in the Great Books Discussion Group have chosen the reading material for the first half of 2024. The group, led by librarian Gwen Kelley, meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
- Jan. 16: "The Code of the Woosters" by PG Wodehouse
- Feb. 20: "A Passage to India" by EM Forster
- March 19: "The Rose Tattoo" by Tennessee Williams
- April 16: "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas
- May 21: "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway
- June 18: "The Confessions of Nat Turner" by William Styron
WRITING SLOTS OPEN: Vicki Salloum, a local author who has written four novels and numerous short stories, will lead an introduction to fiction writing workshop on Thursday afternoons at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
These classes are geared for beginning writers. Participants must register by calling Chris Smith, adult programming manager for the library, at (504) 889-8143 or wcsmith@jplibrary.net on the library’s website.
The first workshop will take place at 1 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Upstairs Conference Room.
FINANCIAL LITERACY: Sheila Cao, a personal finance consultant based in New Orleans, begins a series of presentations on financial management at 7 p.m. on the first four Wednesdays in January 2024, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. The first presentation focuses on financial foundations.
Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library.