“In 1975, my mom was just your age. She grew up in a big farm with lots of pets, siblings, and friends.”
Class: “Where was she born?”
“In South Vietnam. Around that time, though, there was a war. The Vietnam War.”
Class: “War? What was it like?”
“Devastating. Explosives went off throughout the day. Every night, the cries of wounded soldiers and starving children raided the air. The enemy took everything away: books. Money. Homes. Churches. Food. Everyone was scared.”
Class: “So they took away… her freedom?”
“Yes m'am. After months of limited food and water… her family decided to escape. They snuck into a boat, about the size of our classroom carpet.”
Class: “That sounds scary!”
“It was. Thousands of people died during this time. They were either starved to death or captured and killed by pirates. A lot of boats were also destroyed by the sea. After two weeks, they arrived in Thailand as refugees.”
Class: “Were you on the boat as well?”
“No, silly. After reuniting with the rest of her family, she moved to Montreal, Canada.”
Class: “And that’s where you were born!”
“Yes sir. The move was very difficult for her and her family. They didn’t speak a word of French. But my mom did her best to learn the new language and live in a new country. She met my dad after graduating from high school. He was a culinary chef and musician at a restaurant.”
Class: “Why did you move here?”
“We immigrated to California when I was just a little older than you. My mom and dad wanted more opportunities for us. Even more than there were in Canada. They brought along a few bags, leaving a lot of their family and friends behind.
Class: “Was is hard when you moved to California?”
“Yes m'am… I only knew three words in English: cat, because, and thank you. Well, four! But, like my mom, we did our best to work hard and appreciate our new home. I also had supportive people, like teachers, who set high expectations for me to succeed.”
Class: “Is that why you’re here with us in Texas, Mr. Nguyen? To set high expectations for us and teach us to be good?”
“Yes. Because I’m here to make sure your stories get heard.”
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