Beyond Saigon River EN
Poems and writing from VietPhilly’s archive.
01. The Night We Left Saigon
01. The Night We Left Saigon For 40 years, I’ve longed for a homecoming To live in Vietnam for my life’s remaining years. My hair is fading like the morning dew
02. The Day of Exodus to Subic Bay
2. The Day We Set Sail to Subic Bay Captain Phạm Đình San shouted out his order: “All hands on deck! Take her to the open sea.” It’s all finished! The Republic
03. The Time We Were in Guam
03. Let’s Sail to Guam Line after line of people herded onto cargo ships While family members clung to one another. We would leave for Guam as soon as we could;
04. On Our Night Flight to Pennsylvania
04. On Our Flight to Pennsylvania The American Air Force Sergeant announced: “You’re all going to Pennsylvania.” After hearing that, we all got goosebumps, Penn
05. Arriving at Indiantown Gap Refugees Camp
05. Arriving at Indiantown Gap These barracks belong to the Pennsylvania National Guard. They were used for Vietnamese refugees’ resettlement. All the barracks
06. Leaving Indiantown Gap Refugees Camp
06. Leaving Indiantown Gap October 2, 1975 — a date I will never forget.It’s because I was in the last batch of refugees.The American Red Cross lady met me at t
07. My First Day of Work in The US
07. My First Day of Work in the U.S. (October 3, 1975) I was told to come for work at nine o’clock. A short distance across the road from the motel. My first ta
08. The Time Working at Oakhurst Tea Room
08. The Time Working at Oakhurst Tea Room Today we make banana fries and onion rings, “Debbie! show Lay how to make it.” She giggled a lot while she was cutting
09. The First Time Seeing Snow
09. The First Time Seeing Snow Oh no, I was late for work, The room was so bright as if it were noon time. I peeked through the window curtain to look outside,
10. Learning to Drive
10. Learning to Drive I needed a car after moving in with the DePhillips, So I applied for a learner’s permit. My adoptive Mom taught me how to drive, Rural roa
11. “Welcome to our country!”
11. Welcome to Our Country One night, a customer came near me While I was carving the meat, I didn’t hear him well. After he left the dinning area, Suddenly I s
12. Meeting My Second Benefactor
12. Meeting My Second Benefactor – The Tranquilas Today there was an American couple Who came to the Tea Room looking for me. After my inquiries with him, He wa
13. Recalling My High School Years in Vietnam
13. Recalling My High School Years in Vietnam My high school years in Vietnam were terrible, I was a reckless student bouncing from school to school. During my
14. The Ravages of a Civil War – Millions of Lives Were Cut Short
14. The Ravages of a Civil War The most tragic fate we mourned for those young men Who were born only to die defending their leaders. Not knowing they were born
15. Summer School at St. Vincent College
15. Summer School at St. Vincent College The U.S. government had a plan to help students. Those who dropped out of school for whatever reason. Must satisfy this
16. One More Vietnamese Family Arrived in Latrobe
16. One More Vietnamese Family Arriving in Latrobe, PA I went along with the Tranquillas to Pittsburgh Airport To pick up another Vietnamese family of four. The
17. Who Gave Me The Name Lay?
17. Who Gave Me The Name Lay? Once I had a chance to ask my Dad (July 1994) Why did you give me this funny name? No, we did not give you this name, Your nursing
18. Transferred to Penn State University
18. Transferring to Penn State University In the Winter Semester of 1980, I transferred to Penn State As a student in a five-year co-op engineering program. I w
19. Returning to Penn State After Summer Job
19. Coming Back to Penn State After Summer Job After finishing my summer job, The Chinese boss lent me four-hundred bucks. I drove back to Penn State that eveni
20. Graduated From Penn State University
20. Graduating From Penn State University Rice and chicken dipped in soy sauce, The same meal daily until graduation. Tomorrow was the day I had to move out, No
21. Working for a Refugees Resettlement Agency in Philadelphia
21. Working as a Caseworker for NSC in Philadelphia The Diep Thai family lived in Philadelphia, Graciously, they let me sleep on their couch. The B.S. in PNG En
22. Working For The School District of Philadelphia
22. Working For The School District of Philadelphia One day, my boss called me over. “You should apply for this job,” she said. School District of Philadelphia
23. Planning to Have a Family
23. Planning to Have a Family My job appeared to be on a solid ground, So thinking of a family was a thing I should do. I was almost a forty-year-old man, And i
24. Getting Married or Not?
24. Getting Married or Not? I was somehow worried about our language differences, Her age, her custom and culture could be a deterrence. I had second thoughts a
25. Getting Married
25. Getting Married On April 4, 1987, we got married. Pastor Jim drove to Philly to perform our wedding. Our union was in military style, Simple, quick, cheap,
26. Coming Home
26. Coming Home My parents were old and weak. Half a world away dad was sick and I could not even visit When money sent home, dad would go for radiation treatme