The issue of being Asian has, to me, always been larger than the issue of being Asian-American. Back in high school, I worked so hard to stay away from the "Asian Pride" stereotypes I saw as predominant for Asian girls I'd seen -- i.e. owning only black and/or baggy Polo Sport clothing, wearing cakes of make-up, writing AzUn StYle in emails (hee), and dating the guy's car instead of the guy....you know, the stuff the "You're Asian if..." emails are based on. I mean, it used to seriously piss me off how some people thought they were more "Asian" than I was, when I was the one who could actually speak and write my native language and uphold the traditional/cultural values. I possessed an extreme bias towards anything I saw as "AP," which I now realize was also wrong since I was conforming to non-conform. What have done about that since? Well, in a more broader sense, I now see and interpret things how ever I want to, regardless to what others may feel in or may react in the same situation. So yeah, I've got my own collection of black/hoochie/AP apparel now, wear make-up, w/e =P ...but I'm distinctly me - ROZ! - not merely some Asian chick.

    I'm pretty comfortable with how I handle my identy now - and I try to be active in Asian-American activities on campus. Also, talking with others about this topic is really awesome. My roommate is from Taiwan, but went to an American school, and our 'discussions' have brought entirely new views on my perception of these issues. At this point, I'm at the state of mind where I really don't know where the true definition of "Asian" begins, and "Asian-American" starts...

    Being Vietnamese My identity wake-up call was my trip to Vietnam the summer before my Senior yr in high school. This was a phenomenal experience, enriching in ways both spiritual and concrete. It wasn't until I went to Vietnam that I realized how much of my identity I lacked. Cheeseball as it may seem, seeing and going to places such as the marketplace, and the park where my dad used to court my mother, allowed me a sense of history I'd never known before. Today, I'm still learning about my family through talking with others about my experience, and I hope to return back someday.

by Rosalyn Pham Huynh, Stanford University

To Viviane, (Performance Coordinator)

    I would like to thank you for giving me, and the rest of us, the opportunity to participate in the skit. I've always heard about my parent's, uncle's, aunt's, etc... stories about escaping Vietnam. I never thought I would get to live their moment in the past. This skit (Dem Chon Dau Vuot Bien) made me understand the difficulty that my elders had been through. I actually got to live it... what an experience! This, for me, was a once in a life time chance. I loved it. My parents told me that a lot of people cried because it touched them. While going home that night, a lot of people congradulated me and my cousin. I was sooo happy. I know that this skit made a lot of children and teens understand more about April 30th, the day we lost to the North because it helped me. I've always wanted to participate in something big that represents my nationallity. I'm proud of myself and everyone else for doing a great job. I don't knoe what to say but that it touched me. Now my mind knows what's going on. None the less, eveything including all the songs, dances, skits, martial arts, and everything I forgot to include, were great! Hope to see you at the picnic. Thanks a lot!!!

Philip Nguyen, Gas barrier, Killed by Viet Cong

 

    Wow, i had a really good time friday night. All that hard work paid off. The skits and singing were so touching. I never really knew about what the people of vietnam had to go through, or what April 30 meant to our nation. And because of yesturday, I got a better understanding and perspective of what pain and suffereing everyone went through for freedom. It makes me so grateful how I don't have to go through that, but at the same time makes me sad for the people who did. But it was awesome how eveyone got together on friday night to commemorate in the remembrance on the fall of Saigon. The auro and atmosphere was tense and exciting, and everyone was so hyped up. I hope to participate again next year =]

Minh Hoang, American Rescuer

 

    Thank for giving us the oppurtunity to enjoy and represent the youth of Vietnam it meant so much to me, personally, because I never really understood the agony that each individual family had to experience by escaping Vietnam. Yes, we were hungry, tired, and cold, nevertheless the skits, songs, and people fueled our enthusiasm and motivation. Again THANK YOU

Philip Hoang, Father who loses his wife and infant