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Despite some hiccups, I really enjoyed performing at the #UVSAMW #grandgala tonight. And I wish I could have stayed longer! #jessglynne #holdmyhand #guitar #sorryaboutthelyrics (sorry about the shakey camera, but thanks to @twooutofmyninetails for recording me) (at Purdue University)

#uvsamw #grandgala #sorryaboutthelyrics #guitar #jessglynne #holdmyhand

Note From Your Internal Vice-President

Bare with me, this will be a VERY long post. As my term as Internal Vice President comes to an end, I want to share my story with the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Midwest (UVSA-Midwest).

Let’s take a long trip back in time to my freshman year. Growing up in a strong Vietnamese community, I was interested in keeping touch with my roots. From learning about Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), I was excited to be a part of the VSA at the University of Cincinnati (UC). However, during the 2011-2012 school year, there was no active VSA. As the autumn semester ended, I learned about the 10th Annual Vietnamese Interacting as One Conference (VIA-1), which was to be hosted at UC in March 2012. This is when my UVSA-Midwest journey started. Since there was no active VSA, I didn’t know what neither UVSA-Midwest nor VIA-1 were. I was neither an attendee nor conference staff. My sorority was asked to help out. My first step into the conference was as a workshop shepherd. The conference itself was more than I had imagined. I met people from schools all across the Midwest. It was very eye opening.

Fast forward to the summer, I wanted to attend a Vietnamese conference as an attendee. With my luck, Summer 2012 was the 9th Annual UNAVSA Conference in Minneapolis, MN. I remember braving the 14 hour drive with 4 other OSU VSA members. I was able to meet other VSA members from other regions. This is a great part of being in VSA. You grow connections with people from all across your region and the nation. After the conference, OSU VSA President at the time recommended me to fill the spot of UVSA-Midwest Ohio’s State Representative for the second half of the term due to the resignation of the previous state rep. If you do not know, each position of UVSA-Midwest Executive Board (Eboard) and Council of State Representative (CoSR) is a 2-year term. I was excited to run for the position. It wasn’t until the spring after that I learned that I wanted to do more with UVSA-Midwest. I reran for Ohio’s State Representative at the 11th Annual VIA-1 Conference in Iowa.

Being a part of CoSR, I learned the behind the scenes of event planning and the foundation of UVSA-Midwest. My goal as state rep was to restart UC VSA. I am happy to say that they are doing exceptionally well now. I am proud at how active and involved they are within Ohio and in UVSA-Midwest. If you did not know, I transferred to The Ohio State University Autumn 2013. This was the year that OSU was chosen to host the 12th Annual VIA-1 Conference. As an active member of UVSA-Midwest staff, I knew I wanted to do more. I became co-Executive Director for the VIA-1 conference. To be honest, it was the toughest year in my college career. As many do not know, I was also the interim UVSA-Midwest Secretary that year. This is where my interest in being a part of Eboard started. I cut my second CoSR term short and ran for Internal Vice President during conference. During that time, I knew Diane, Jason, and Lynn from previous UVSA-Midwest events and being on staff with them. I have to say that we have accomplished many things together as a board.

Some of my accomplishments as IVP during my 2-year term are the expansion of the Midwest region and the restructuring of CoSR [elections, etc.]. I am proud to see Midwest grow and become more connected. We stand at 9 states strong (IA, IN, IL, KY, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI) and with new VSAs every year. I am also very proud of my CoSR kiddies. As IVP, I oversee the Council of State Representatives. I was fortunate to work with 2 different terms of CoSR (2013-2015 and 2015-2017). Both consist of very dedicated, passionate, student leaders. The duties of IVP are not to be taken lightly. With CoSR, the IVP coordinates Summer Extravaganza, Leadership Summit, and many other projects. I want to thank all of them for being amazing. You all have made my term as IVP a memorable one. ♥

TL;DR – If you feel unsure about attending an event, such as the VIA-1 Conference, it only takes one step in front of the other to start a journey. You never know whom you will meet and what will inspire you to be a better person than you already are. UVSA-Midwest was a significant part of my college career (4 out of 5 years). I know I will use the skills and connections I have learned and made in my future endeavors. I hope you will consider being a part of the UVSA-Midwest family.

Much love,

UVSA-Midwest IVP

Linda Nguyen

https://via1.wufoo.com/forms/uvsamidwest-executive-board-application/

#UVSAMidwest #UVSAMW #Midwest #VSA #UVSA #InternalVP #IVP #Internal #VicePresident #ExecutiveBoard #EBoard

Monthly Hashtag - February

Love is in the air. What do you love about VSA?

Share your memories with #LoveVSA

#UVSAMidwest #UVSAMW #VSA #Midwest #February #LoveVSA

Monthly Hashtag - January

Spring semester will start soon. That means more VSA meetings and events! How has VSA inspired you? What do you want to achieve this month? What goals have you made for the New Year?

Share your memories with #VSAgoals

#UVSAMidwest #UVSAMW #UVSA #Midwest #VSA #January #VSAgoals

A Note From Your Secretary

People always ask me why I decided to run for UVSA-Midwest executive board and I always have a difficult time answering. Out of all the 2014-2016 UVSA-Midwest executive board members, I think I was the earliest person to decide to run for executive board. And by early, I mean I sent in my application the week leading up to that fateful VIA-1 in Columbus, Ohio. Before applying, being on UVSA-MW executive board was honestly not a goal or dream of mine. During that time, I was getting ready to start my senior year of college, so I wanted a relatively peaceful senior year and I didn't really want to commit myself to the organization for another two years when I had no idea what I was going to do after graduation. However, during the months leading up to VIA-1, I had someone who would repeatedly bring up running for elections. She didn't nag me at all and initially I would always reject the idea immediately, but after a while, I began to take her suggestion seriously. Looking over the application had me considering why I had been a part of UVSA-Midwest for so long. For instance, I was pretty unimpressed after my first VIA-1 in 2012 at Cincinnati, Ohio, not understanding why it was hyped up as what should have been a "life-changing" event. So what it is about UVSA-Midwest that made me keep attending events?

To make it simple, it is the people. Throughout the past five years of UVSA-Midwest involvement, I have met people who helped me transform from a shy, awkward kid to a slightly less awkward, opinionated leader. I have met people who encouraged me to learn more about my culture. I have met people who have raised over thousands of dollars to help others in need, people who want to spread awareness, and people who are driven to make a difference. And the incredible thing is that all these people are united in their love for VSA and UVSA-MW. So when I ran for executive board, it was because I wanted a way to provide support for UVSA-MW members to help them improve their VSAs and communities and to support all the amazing things UVSA-MW members do.

Being on executive board requires a lot of time, commitment, and passion. The first two are important because you eventually feel like half of your life is dedicated to conference calls and traveling, but the last one is the most important because you need a reason to keep yourself going for the next two years. So if you have those three things and think you can make UVSA-MW a better place, I highly encourage you to run for executive board.

I tried doing the math and I've driven over 5000 miles (which is a small comparison to some of you, I'm sure) going to and from UVSA-Midwest events, spent at least 91 hours in conference calls, had one flat tire at 1am in the middle of nowhere Michigan, and also had my car die while driving on the interstate. But honestly, every moment was worth it because I got to meet, work with, and hang out with the best people in the world.

- Diane

https://via1.wufoo.com/forms/uvsamidwest-executive-board-application/

#via1 #uvsamw #eboard

Black April

April 30, 1975 marks the day that the Vietnam War ended. To commemorate the history of Black April, the Union of Vietnamese Student Association of the Midwest will be publishing stories from our staff as well as our VSA members up until April 30th. If you would like to share your story, please email [email protected]

Vivien Bui - UIUC VSA Intern

“I wonder why Vietnamese Americans still celebrate Black April,” my friend said, musing over a pastrami sandwich. “It wasn’t even our war. My parents never even mentioned it to me. And it’s politically charged.” I could see where he was coming from. The placement of a commemorative holiday on the anniversary of the fall of Saigon can only be construed to some as a political stance -- a political stance I never really had. My opinions on the politics of my country of origin were not influenced by a constant stream of anti-communist propaganda. From my uncle, sure. However, having distant family who fought for the North Vietnamese Army and having made friends with wonderful people who grew up under the “regime” that resulted from the fall of Saigon, it was hard for me to take any definitive stance on the situation. All the memories associated with Vietnam were memories of friendships, hospitality, and cultural awakening. No politics. So why even commemorate Black April? And why did I commemorate it myself?

When I visited Vietnam back in 2009, my family drove around Saigon in a taxi. As we passed by the former presidential palace, my dad peered out the window. “When I was a little boy, I’d live there one day.” He chuckled at the childish thought, but a sense of melancholy shot through my chest, nostalgia for a time I hadn’t even lived through. In the most irrational sense, I wanted my father, the wisest and kindest man I knew, to have had a chance to be the president of Vietnam. Not necessarily be the president of Vietnam, just to have the chance.

My parents never mentioned Black April to me. As a matter of fact, there was rarely talk of the Vietnam War from any of my family. That is, more or less, irrelevant. They don’t have to mourn, commemorate, or even remember. They lived through it once, and perhaps once is enough. But we, the first generation, haven’t lived through it. We don’t know. We are so close to losing sight of the reason why we are where we are. We are in the process of forgetting that when our predecessors left their motherland, they left behind family and friends and childhood homes, without guarantee that they could ever return. They were pushed across the oceans to no certain happy ending. To me, Black April is not for mourning the loss of a long and messy war that resulted in devastating casualties on both sides. It is not an anti-communist political statement. Instead, it is a commemoration of an event that was the catalyst for several events that have defined the history and experiences of my family and my people. It is a reminder that I was not simply dropped into my blessed home and community from the sky, with previously installed loving friends and the ability to pursue my dreams. Everything I have in my life required someone else’s sacrifice, akin to the sacrifice of the thousands of Vietnamese who fled Vietnam after the war. The loss of a war is one thing; the loss of a home is entirely another. If not for politics, commemorate to remember what our fellow Vietnamese people have gone through. Commemorate to remind ourselves that our own homes shouldn’t be taken for granted.

#black april #uvsamw #vietnam war #fall of saigon

Black April

Nathan Giang - Indiana State Representative

On April 30th, 1975, years of war in the country of Vietnam ended with the fall of what some might call the pearl of the Far East. The fall of Saigon marked the end of the existence of South Vietnam and the start of a new era called the Vietnam Reunification processed.

However, this wasn’t just the start of the Vietnam Reunification process but was also the start of a long and difficult journey that many of our family members had to embark on. They left their country, their home, and everything that was once familiar to them, and set forth towards a new future. Many of them fled the country on small, cramped boats that were filled to the brim in hope of finding refuge. Unfortunately, not all the boats made the treacherous journey and countless lives were lost. For the lucky few that did make it, they had to rebuild their life from the ground up. Endearing discrimination, language barriers, and the hardship with living in an unfamiliar land, surrounded by an even more unfamiliar culture.

As a child, I was told of these stories of hardship and adversities that my parents and relatives had to face coming to this new country. It revealed their strength, courage, and admiration to not only provide a better future for themselves, but also their family. After hearing these stories of adversity that many of my relatives had to face, I knew that I was very privilege to be living in America and was inspired to become a better individual, one that my family would become proud of.

I would have not been where I am today nor would my family be if it were not for the sacrifices they had to endure coming to secure a better future. It was through their motivation, their influences, and the hardships they faced that helped shape me into the individual that I am today. None of this would have happened if April 30th, 1975, didn’t happen.

This isn’t a political stance. What this is, is a time for all of us to remember and recognize this day, as a day that changed and shaped the lives for many Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans living today. We should never forget the day that changed history – the day that Saigon fell.

Lian Le - Michigan State Representative

The Fall of Saigon marked the beginning of the greatest wave of Vietnamese diaspora in our history. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people fled their homeland by plane or by boat to seek asylum in countries such as the United States. My family is what is known as "boat people," named for the most common kind of migration during and after the Vietnam War. Growing up, my childhood was filled with stories of these boats to remind me of why I am here and why I have the privilege to live the life that I am given. As I begin to understand more about my history, I realize that this life was not given at all but that it was fought for. My parents left Vietnam because they chose what they felt meant freedom, and this was the sacrifice of an entire nation for its future generations. I am anchored in the struggles that are part of my heritage not because I want to keep talking about them but because the foundation that I build myself upon depends on the preservation of my roots. I can't stand up for anything that I believe in without first acknowledging the people who gave me my voice. April 30th, 1975 is known as "Nhay Mat Nuoc," the day we lost our land, but this day also reminds us that despite our trials, the Vietnamese community is stronger than ever. This is why Black April is important to me.

As part of the commemoration for the lives that were lost and for the sacrifices of both our Vietnamese and American nations, we color this day black. We remind ourselves of the hardships of our soldiers and our immigrant nation but also of the perseverance that has carried our families through those rough waters, an endless determination and will for the achievements that we carry the legacy for today.

Our story is of war, tragedy, and sacrifice, but more than that, it is of the hope and strength that define the Vietnamese people.

Vi Vo - Illinois co-State Representative

April 30th, 1975. A day that is cherished, yet a terrifying memory. My mother was only six years old during the Vietnam War, so her memory of the last day of the war was all a blur. I sat there with chills down my back, as she told her story. “I don’t remember a lot because I was so young. But I remember I was with your aunt, uncle and grandma. Your youngest uncle was not even born yet and your grandpa was not there because he was serving in the war. It was so dark and scary outside. Every day and night, we hear the loud noise of bombs hitting the city. As each day went by, we sat and prayed that the loud bombing noise never came closer to us but our prayers were not answered.

One day, I was woken up by the screaming of my family and neighbors, telling us to hide or to run for, literally, our lives. There was smoke everywhere. The smoke was burning our eyes and making it hard for us to breathe. I grabbed my younger brother and sister and searched for my mom. When we found her, we hid under whatever we could find. I sat there so scared, not knowing what was going to happen to us. “Are we going to die today?’ was the only thing going through my head. While we were all hiding from the bombing, we heard a truck pull up outside of our house. Your grandpa came in looking for us, telling us to get into the car now. Your uncle, aunt and grandma all ran to the truck. I don’t remember what I was doing, but I remember that your grandpa drove off without me! I was chasing and yelling at your grandpa to stop. He finally heard me and stopped the truck to grab me. I remember during the car ride, your grandparents were debating if they should get on the rescue helicopter that was waiting for them or not. They didn’t want to leave their families behind, so they decided to just stay and wait it out. After the car ride, we ended up in a safe house and stayed there. A few days went by and all I wanted to do was go home. A day later, my wish was granted. We were told that it was safe for us to return home.

That was all I can remember clearly. I didn’t see any shooting or anything but I definitely remember the bombing.”

Although my mom didn’t recall much of the event, she was grateful that she was alive and able to go home with her family and friends. April 30th, 1975 marks the Fall of Saigon. The end of the Vietnam War.

#blackapril #april30th #uvsamidwest #uvsamw

5 Reasons to Apply for UVSA-Midwest CoSR

5. Expand your Network

Develop a network that you can always count on when you visit other Midwestern states!