Mai: American Assimilation Aftereffects Aftermath

Mai’s assimilation into American society made her hide her identity as a Vietnamese person. For that, her identity laid hidden behind her white identity of Americanism, which she continued to make sure everyone believed as she grew up. This behavior of her, living as an assimilated Vietnamese orphan living in America, presented itself when she spoke at her graduation because “[maintained] a comfortable balance between conversation and formal speech, Mai was confident she held most of the audience’s attention” (145). In her stance among the American crowd, she appeared as the model orphan assimilated into the American society and because of that, the whiteness of her characteristics and personality shrouded and concealed her Vietnamese identity. She had to look as American as possible to make sure that nobody felt differently about her and knew she had assimilated as one of the Americans.

However, because of her life as a model orphan of Vietnamese ethnicity, she had internal conflicts within herself. She lived the American dream and a very comfortable life, but she felt out of touch with the people growing up with her, especially Kim and Vinh. Two things said respectively by Kim and Vinh had proved how much of an exile she had become when they said, “Mai wants to get away from who she is” and “You got your American dream family by selling us out” (164,165). Kim and Vinh’s response to Mai emphasized and reinforced the hurt she felt about herself because she hated the white mask she wore amongst Americans and she hated the fact she lived a better life than them. In that case, she wanted to run away, but also felt displaced more than expected from living
as a model American orphan.


By Kevin L.

The Forgotten Children

At the essence of We Should Never Meet, is a daunting message that calls for the importance of telling the stories of children who had no voice during The Vietnam War. The effects of war are not limited to war zones but are rather encompassing of a nation. Aimee Phan focuses on a neglected effect of war- the deaths and loss of innocence of children as an unjust by-product of war. Through Hoa, Phan creates a contrast between the infancy of children not exposed to war versus children who grow up during war. As Hoa is witnessing the practical way of potty-training orphans, she reminisces in distress remembering "her sons at this age, crawling on the floor, sucking her breast. They were never forced to hunch over a pail" (Phan 115). Through this image, Phan highlights the pervasiveness of war. These innocent orphans are potty-trained in a manner that is disturbingly similar to a militarized style of training. The orphans must be grouped, disciplined, squat for long periods of times, and obey the adults' commands. Unfortunately, the orphanages have little choice or flexibility due to the increasing number of children and high risk of epidemics. Children are not exempt to the effects of war and are often affected in unconscious ways. Furthermore, Phan acknowledges these cruel environments children endure are not a rarity. The multiple deaths of orphans and growing number of orphanages is truly an epidemic. During Steven's and Hoa's trip to deliver supplies to different orphanages, Hoa states she cannot cave during the first visit.  In other words, Hoa has become accustomed to the visible malnutrition of the babies, the lack of supplies in the orphanages, and the crowded living situations. Hoa had to put her feelings aside in order to think practically and not emotionally. Ultimately, the deaths of these children and their loss of innocence create a dichotomy for people like Hoa. Although she continues to view South Vietnam as home, she also recognizes the nightmare and death sentence it represents for many children. It is a grim reality for these orphaned, Amerasian children. Perhaps it is because of this cruel depiction of children in war culture that it is easier to neglect the conversation. However, Phan highlights the necessity to tell the story of the multiple children who suffered during and after the Vietnam War. Phan does not necessarily present Operation Babylift as the solution, she simply recognizes for many children it was the only option.

By Alejandra M.

The story, "Visitors," evokes a feeling of sympathy for Vinh's character. In the other stories in the book, Vinh is depicted as somewhat of an antagonist. However, in "Visitors," Phan offers a deeper look into his life, his motives, and his true sense of character. In the beginning of the tale, it is not obvious that the student who helps Bac Nguyen is actually Vinh, and the conversations that the two have shows a soft side to his character. He reveals his feelings for Kim by telling Bac Nguyen that "she will always be the most important thing in [his] life" (Phan 97). It is evident that Vinh was emotionally invested in Kim, and this piece of the conversation offers insight into the depth fo his love for her. This, paired with the hesitation that Vinh faced when it came time to rob Bac Nguyen's home offers a look into Vinh's character that could have been previously overlooked. The guilt that Vinh was experiencing as they were driving away from the home showcases his inner conflict. This piece of the book really offers insight to Vinh's character as a whole, showing his desire for family and the overall result of his experience in foster care. He connects to Bac Nguyen and discusses things he probably would not  have with another adult. He clings to Kim as something important to him, not only because he is in love with her, but because she has been with him through his entire life, being the closest thing to a sibling he has ever had.
The story elicits the tendencies that Vinh has to be kind, since he did not want to reveal the location of Bac Nguyen's home immediately, but since he realizes that they need money to pay rent, he feels the need to go through with the robbery anyhow. Vinh's actions reveal his immaturity, since he does not try to find a different way to make the money. Instead, he betrays his newfound friend as a way to prove himself to his gang members and to earn respect from them. However, the scene where Vinh meets with Bac Nguyen and connects with him on a level deeper than any other person he has robbed reveals Vinh's vulnerability and his desire for any form of family that he can grasp onto.

By Katrina F.

Bridget's Homecoming

“Bound” ends exposing Bridget’s hope of her family understanding why she left for three years and forgiving her. Bridget is able to put up a strong front because she does not believe she did anything wrong which is why I represented her with strong smile coming out of the airplane. Her hope to come home and fix everything is strong, but in reality, what is waiting for her is not exactly what she is prepared for. Bridget wants everyone to understand the help she has provided, which will surprise her when she arrives to her family and see people have moved on without her. In my drawing representation Ronald and Chelsea don’t have a face expression because they are the main one who stopped believing she would come back to them and how much of a stranger Bridget is to them now. Her mom, who is next to Ronald, shows how happy she is that her daughter did not die and is coming back. She is the only one that feels genuine relief, but still critical of her daughter’s choices. Bridget’s dad, who is next to her mom, does not seem specifically or relieved. Bridget’s dad has come to terms on how his daughter abandoned her family and even relates to Ronald more than his own daughter. Bridget’s dad feels a stronger connection to Ronald by relating to Bridget’s abandonment. The couple with Huan’s name on a paper are the possible adoptive parents he might leave with. Everything that is waiting for Bridget demonstrates that people won’t receive the notion that she helped others, but instead she abandoned her family to fulfill her own conscious.

Engraved

This drawing depicts a jewelry box. The cloth lining is blood stained. The blood is seeping from a circular metal necklace. The necklace, as opposed to having fine filigree, depicts the physical atrocities of the Vietnam War. These depictions include tanks, soldiers, and planes firing at people and villages. As a Vietnamese cultural artifact, the depictions of war on the necklace expresses how ingrained the tragedies of the American war in Vietnam have had on the culture of Vietnam. Within the ring of the necklace lies a baby on an American flag. The baby is placed so in order to express the cultural struggle that the future generation of Vietnamese individuals in America must face. They lie on a bed that is (supposed) American safety and freedom, while also being surrounded by the legacy of the American war in Vietnam and its impact on the Vietnamese identity. Tired eyes of the older generation watch from above as the Vietnamese orphans in America is molded by and navigates the world with the looming narrative of freedom and war.

By Marcus H.

Unmet Expectations

In my drawing I have two little girls in two different boxes, which are meant to represent the different circumstances. The first little girl is drawn in only black and white holding a colorful set of balloons. The colorful balloons are meant to demonstrate how a birthday is typically a happy occasion and when celebrating the birthday girl or boy should be happy. The little girl is black and white to demonstrate how she does not meet the expectations because she is not happy to be receiving the balloons; just like Mai. Thus the contrast between the girl and the balloon is designed to point out how the girl is unhappy because she does not meet expectations. In the second box the little girl is colorfully drawn because she is happy as she is depicted letting go of the balloons, thus getting rid of the expectations that come with the celebration. This is to demonstrate the theme of acceptance within the story, “Emancipation.” In the story Mai works to make everyone happy except herself even though it is her birthday, but the traditions that come with a birthday are not things that appeal to her. Mai expresses her dislike for birthdays towards the beginning of “Emancipation,” “ Mai never liked birthdays. She hated attention, the scrutiny and judgement, and that was what birthdays were for. There was an expectation to have fun that she resented. For Mai, to make the day special and glorious was too much pressure, the probability of failure was so imminent. Then a person was left with only disappointment” (Phan 149-150). Mai’s negative connections to birthdays I believe is due to her life spent in judgement. Mai has faced judgment from Kim who has deemed her as lucky and living a life filled with advantages, thus she claims that Mai knows nothing of suffering. Mai also faced judgement through the foster system as she had to go through judgement from other homes before the Reynolds. 
By Marisa M.

Huan's Acceptance

I chose to focus on Huan's struggle to find an equilibrium in America and his heritage in Vietnam. Throughout "Motherland," Huan is not only angry at his adoptive mother, but at Vietnam as well. He admits he told his adoptive parents that he was only a charity case; an exotic human they can flaunt around. As this story progresses, Huan reveals his anger extends to Vietnam as well, for Vietnam abandoned him for the sole reason he is Amerasian. In his trip to Vietnam, Huan faces an incident with a police officer, who thinks Huan is stealing because his hands were in his pockets. In Huan's perspective, the police officer harassed him because he is Amerasian. In America, Huan admits he faced racism, and now, in Vietnam, they are wary against him. Huan does not feel wanted by either nation, for both nations reject him, and he cannot find balance between them. Huan's mother, although she means well, pushes Huan to embrace his roots, but Huan cannot, for he feels rejected. My picture shows Huan being in torn in two sides via rope. The Vietnamese side expect Huan's life to have a picture perfect life because Gwen and her husband adopted him. In contrast to Huan's parents, they want him to accept his Vietnamese roots, but Huan can do either. He cannot accept either country because both reject him. Both sides, America and Vietnam, expect Huan to be and act a certain way, causing him to be torn in two ways. The rope in my picture symbolizes that Huan is trapped in the middle of two sides. Huan cannot find balance between his Vietnamese roots and his life in America, for both countries reject him on the sole basis he is Amerasian.