There is unfortunately no drinking age. My cousin who is 15, drank at least 3 bottles of alcolhol at a Fathers Day Party. When the celebration was over, he was pretty drunk. I was so surprised. I've also seen 6 year olds, going into stores and buying cigarettes. I didn't believe what I had seen at first, but it was all real. I think that the country needs alot of help right now. It's just falling apart.
The floods in Viet Nam are unbelievable. I was staying in my Aunt Anh's house, and it started to rain. After about an hour, the whole nieghborhood was practically a swimming pool. Kids start running out of their houses, and jump into the water. My cousins asked me to join them, but I passed on the offer. It was so weird. The flood got so bad that we had to start moving things off the floor, because the water started to flood into the houses too. My aunt told me that this happens alot.
I was at a waterfall park in DaLat, and it was so beautiful. There was no one there exept for our family. I was looking around, admiring the beautiful scenaries and all. Until my cousin called me. I turned around and saw my uncles and cousins and aunts swimming in the waterfall. I thought that this was some kind of joke. Swimming in a waterfall is, well, dangerous! They begged me to come in too. At that time, I felt like doing something different. So I got in also. I was almost pulled away by the rushing waters, but my uncles got hold of me, and told me to hold onto the rocks. It was so cool.
My mom had bought boxes of cereal back to VietNam, for the little kids back there. This had caused an awful lot of rats to come. Every night, I would hear little scatterings going around the attic right above me. I was so scared, because I imagined those little sewer rodents falling on top of me when I am asleep. It was horrible. In the middle of the night, one of the rats knocked over a cereal box (Captain Crunch) onto the ground. I was so frightened. So I just pulled the covers over my head and closed my eyes.
Every day, I would see these small newts crawling on the walls of the houses. They differ from colors of yellow, brown, and other various colors. My dad once told me that the people used to use these little critters to clear their throat. Like when your throat gets clogged, they would take the newt and hold it by it's tail, and carefully swallow it alive. How does this help? The newt would be twisting and turning so much, that it would clear the throat, clearing away all the gunk and stuff.
One day, I was coming back to my grandfathers house, after riding around Saigon. I heard screaming and violent flapping in the kitchen. I never thought that it was anything really interesting, so I took a look inside. I saw my aunt and my grandmother, grabbing a live chicken my the neck. They laid the chickens head on the cutting board...and "CHOP"...the head was cut off. The chicken begain to run around, flapping it's wings....even though the head was gone. Then it stopped. Well...to tell you....the kitchen is also the bathroom. When I saw all this, I didn't even want to go in there, even though I needed to use the bathroom. I have also seen vendors selling dog meat. I didn't know that they were dogs, until my mother told me. When my aunt was young, she had a pet dog. The small cute puppy ran away, and was killed by a trucker. So her mother ran out, and took the dead puppy, and used the meat for dinner. My aunt didn't know about this, until she took a bite out of it, and asked her what kind of meat it was. So her mother told her that it was her pet dog. My aunt was surprised, and just shrugged and complimented that it tasted like chicken. Talk about weird!
Well....I had to do something fun while I was in Viet Nam....so I decided that I would like to go dancing at a diso. Hehehee...it was so fun there. Even though me and my sister never had the chance to dance, it was interesting and very funny to see the people dance. Especially this one group of guys that were dancing to the "Macarena". I was laughing so hard. All they did was jump up and down. I wanted so badly to show them how it was done, but I didn't have the guts. So I just sat at our table and drank my beverage.
The young children have alot of responsibilities around the house. I would hate to admit this, but they work alot harder than the kids here in America. My little 10 year old cousin, Ha`, is responsible with the pigs at home. I invited her to go to the park, but she refused, cause she had to care for the house. And she didn't even complain or anything. I just looked at myself, and realized that I had taken things for granted all the time. What I do at home, is nothing compared to what the kids back in Viet nam had to do. Right than, I felt guilty. That's why this trip has changed me in many ways.
The most depressing moment...was when I had to leave my relatives. I wanted to ride on the motorcycle with my cousin for the last time, but my mom didn't approve of it. So I had to take the van. My aunts and uncles told me that they would cry and all, and that I would too. I said that it was impossible, cause I don't cry that much. But as soon as we arrived to the airport, my cousins started to cry. I was so surprised to see teen guys, crying. I reached over and gave them hugs. I cried like hell. I would have hopped on the motorcycle and ride away...so that I wouldn't go back to the U.S....but I knew that wouldn't be such a good idea. As we were boarding the plane, I turned around and smiled. I then walked away.....and the next moment....they were gone.
In the future, I am planning to become an English teacher in Ho Chi Minh City. There, I would help out the people and the country itself. I am willing to learn. I would do anything, just as long as I could re-new Viet Nam. Ever since the communists took over, everything shattered, causing thousands of people to suffer. My mom and dad were one of those people back then. My mother was studying to be a nun at a Saigon Convent. The communists closed down her school, and dismissed all the students. There goes her dream of becoming a nun. If the communists hadn't closed that school, I wouldn't be here, telling you this story.=)
Well, my mom than met my dad. But they couldn't live a life together under the communists. They had to escape the country, and search for freedom. My father was threatened by the communists, that if he didn't become a communist, they would kill him. So that is why he and his 5 friends built a small wooden boat by hand. In the first two escaping attempts, they were spotted and sent to jail. There, my father spent a time in communist prison. But finally, the 3rd time, they succeeded. They were expecting a 3 to 4 day journey, but it actually took them 13 days, without food nor water. It was a long and harsh journey. Fortunately, they were spotted by a Malaysian oil tanker, and was taken to the Palau Bidong refugee camp. There, they were well taken care of. They stayed there for 4 months, and was sponsered by an American. Soon, my mom and dad reached America. Finally, they were happy once again.
My Aunt has told me about her trip also. I could have stopped her from telling me her story, because I could tell how this had given her much sadness, and painful memories. She was young when she had to escape VietNam. The boat was ready and had set off, eager to cross the borderline into Thailand. Because once you have reached the border, you would be out of Viet Nam's control. But her boat had been stopped by fishermans. They demanded for any gold or money, than they would let the boat go free. After losing everything she had, the boat started once again. A tragic incident happened. A young child was flung off into the stormy ocean. No one had the courage to save the young boy, cause there was no hope. People were attacked and killed by sharks. Young women were raped and killed. But my aunt made it to America safely.
Many of my other relatives had tried to escape also. My uncle had tried many attempts, but was repeatedly caught and sent to jail. During his time in jail, he had escaped and returned home, and gave up.
Everyday, I am being told that I am a very lucky young girl. Growing up in a wonderful and free country, and having a good life. I understand that clearly now. Hearing about the tragic stories of the boatpeople, it had changed my thoughts and opinions about life in every way. I may be an american citizen. I may be born here in the America. I may have been brought up in an American society......but I am still a Vietnamese at heart. Nothing can change that. Nothing..........
Email: anita_mo@yahoo.com
