Hung Nguyen

ASAM 1

Date: 12/5/21

Two Roads

Works Cited

Shelley Sang-Hee Lee,” Americanization, Modernity, and the Second Generation through the 1930’s” A New History of Asian America, Routledge, Oct. 2013 

Thi Bui, “The Best We Do: Interactive Reading with Thi Bui”, Youtube, 29 June 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUb_yyAng5M

“Generation Rising”, Asian Americans, PBS Series, 2020, Films on Demand, 

“Breaking Through”, Asian Americans, PBS Series, 2020, Films on Demand

Vo, Thy. “Struggles of Second Generation Reveal Long Shadow of War.” Voice of OC, 8 Dec. 2020, https://voiceofoc.org/2015/04/struggles-of-second-generation-reveal-long-shadow-of-war/

Nguyen, Viet Thanh, et al. “I Love America. That's Why I Have to Tell the Truth About It.” Time, Time, 15 Nov. 2018, https://time.com/5455490/american-like-me/.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm. It is another day to go to school. I changed into my school clothes and went to eat breakfast.

In the kitchen, Mom greeted me in Vietnamese and I replied back to her in English. She scolded me for speaking in English and that I have to speak in Vietnamese within the house.

"You have to practice your Vietnamese in the house," my Mom said that to me. It's a rule in my house that I have to speak Vietnamese to Mom and Dad. I sometime ignore this rule because I find it speaking in English is a lot easier than in Vietnamese. I apologize to Mom and ate my breakfast. 

I went outside to see Dad waiting to drive me to school.  Between me and Dad, we to each other in English. I felt weird to how  Dad allows me to speak with him in English while Mom is strict for me to speak in Vietnamese

"Good morning Tuan! Ready for school buddy?" Dad asked.

"Not so much but school is school."

"Don't be like that son, school is fun and you get to meet all your friends there. Come on hop into the car before we are late."

I asked Dad: "Why does Mom make me speak Vietnamese at home?" 

"Oh, it's just your Mom wants you to be close to being Vietnamese. She's not great in English so speaking in Vietnamese is easier for her to speak in."

I was confused with the answer Dad had given to me. I always wonder why I needed to speak Vietnamese. Outside of the house, English is spoken by everyone and use everyday but at home Mom makes me speak in Vietnamese. I arrived at school and said goodbye to Dad.

I head inside to school and passed by kids and some classmates. I greeted them as I went by to meet up with my friends. The school has a lot of different kind of people from their skin colors and for me, I didn't see anyone else that was the same as me. I wasn't bothered by it because the kids here are nice to me. The school bell rang and I went to my class.

In the classes, I learn many subjects like Math and English. I find English to be fun to speak in rather than speaking in  Vietnamese because none of the kids here speak of it. I love the freedom of speaking in English without having Mom scolding me about it. I can talk with my friends and teachers in English and they understand what I'm saying.  Outside of my house, I can have my own life for a bit to do whatever I want.

After class, it was breaktime from class and I hang out with my friends. We talked about shows we watched at home and discussed about it. It was fun talking about it with them but for me, I can't really say much about it.  I usually help my family's restaurant after school till the evening and there's no break in between them. Sometimes I feel weird whenever my friends asked me about what show they watched and I couldn't keep it up with them, so I remain silent there listening in.

After school, I waited for my dad to pick me up and drive to the restaurant to help my family. I don't like to work at the restaurant and I want to do what I want. But Mom and Dad says they don't have anybody else to help them and I am needed to be there to help. 

"Hey, Dad, can I just go home this time. I want to do my homework and relax."

"Tuan, today is bit busy. We have a lot of customers and your mom and aunt need help there. I am working there too so come help us as a family ok?"

"But Dad-"

"No buts. Family is Family. We help each other and we do it together."

Family  is something important for both Mom and Dad. To me, I can't see it why that they needed me to help them if I have my own things to do as well. Why can't I have a normal life just like other kids?

Arriving at the restaurant, it was busy with people coming in to eat during the early evening. I have to carry out the dishes to the customers, clean the leftovers when customers left, tidy up the seats and table, watch the front and all of this  is too tiring for me.  

"Hey Dad, can I go home now? There isn't as much customers right now."

"Not yet Tuan, we need you to help in the evening for a bit and then you can go home. Don't worry I'll buy you your favorite food when we go out."

"Dad I don't like to work here, I want to rest and play games at home. I don't want to go here everyday to work."

Dad stared at me with disappointment and said:

 "Tuan, we don't have any more workers and here we only have Mom, me, your aunt and uncle working in this restaurant. We are working as a family and when you're old enough, you have a job here to earn money. Some day you will understand about how we are helping you to-"

I stopped listening to Dad. It is unfair that I have to do this. Why do I have to help with the restaurant, I am too young to work or help here. I should have stayed home and be a normal kid like I see from my friends. I hate for what Mom and Dad put me through.  I continued to work at the place for the evening and left to home with Mom and Dad.

At dinner, Mom and Dad talked to me about what happen today. They were talking about how important family is and working is an important lesson for me to learn in life. I got tired of listening the same talking as I hear this many times already, I started to ignore them. I didn't care of what they were saying

I went to my room after dinner, I was annoyed by Mom's and Dad's talks. I want to be free and do the things I want without having Mom and Dad forcing me to do what they tell me to do. Mom knocked and came to my room.

"Tuan, I want to talk you about something before you go to sleep. Will you listen?" Mom said.

"Mom, I'm not in the mood to hear about your saying, so make it quick." I said.

Mom again scolded me in speaking English but continue to talk about a part of her past life.

"Tuan, when I was a child back in Vietnam, my family was poor and they have a restaurant. I worked hard everyday at the restaurant to help your grandparents to earn some money to have food on the table. I didn't go to school or have any friends, I work and work.

I thought that it was unfair for me to work at the restaurant and I want to be free from it, but I care a lot about your grandparents. I want them to be healthy and happy and that kept me to continue work in the restaurant

"But as time goes by, the war broke out in Vietnam and the restaurant became hard to earn any money. The war was a bad time for the business, people were scared with the fighting, people were protesting and dying but I was glad that I was alive with my parents.

When the war ended with Northen taking over Saigon, your grandparents made the decision to have me flee from Vietnam and go to America to start a new life there. I went on a boat with your aunt as well with other people on it. The journey on the sea was tough but we were rescue by a ship by the U.S and we were transferred to a camp

"Your Aunt and I were able to live in America, study in school and then made our own family. We are grateful by your grandparent choice and America as well to have this happen but, I want you to learn and know about life and appreciate it in every moment of it. Learn as much as possible before you regret it later."

"Lastly, remember the meaning of family and helping them out at times. We will grow old and no longer to look after you once you are old. Apperciate everything you have right now and don't take it for granted. That's all I have to say." Mom then walked out of the room

As Mom left, I laid down on my bed trying to think about Mom was trying to say. I didn't get why she would say I try to apperciate life but it's seems so unfair to me. I just can't seem to know or understand what those words meant to me. I didn't want to think about much longer and then I slept.

As I slept I kept thinking about Mom's words. I couldn't get it out of my head for some reason. How can I appreciate life that is given to me right now?

Is it because I can speak in two languages? Is it that both my parents came to America that they were able to have me here? I still don't get it at the end. 

I woke up the sound of my alarm. I was dreaming that particular day again. Time went by and I got older, I still yet to understand what Mom was trying to say to me.  I wonder why?

I still have a good relationship with Mom and Dad and tend to their care whenever they need help with. I am able to speak Vietnamese fluently through talking to Mom and Dad at home and they seem to be proud of it.

For school, I notice with how the people act around towards me. Sometimes they would distance away from me or call me names that were inappropriate. I wonder why is that they have to act like that despite we are Americans. Is it because of how I look or how I act? At the end I don't want to cause any troubles with them or myself so I tend to ignore it.

I still help with my family's restaurant after school. I still don't like working here but I got used to it and just work. I start to understand a bit about helping out the family

Bit by bit working here help me to understand a little bit about my parents and the words that Mom said to me that day. 

One day at work, Mom and Dad told me that we be going to Vietnam for the summer vacation to meet my relatives and stay there for a few months. I never knew about my relatives in Vietnam so this was a first time for me to see them.