“40, 50 years ago, Americans - the majority of Americans did not want to accept these Vietnamese refugees who they saw as completely foreign. Now there are new foreigners - Syrians and other people from the Middle East, people of Muslim backgrounds. And the sense among many Americans is, well, these people are completely different from us, and they're not like the Vietnamese who are much more assimilable. And I think that's very, very doubtful. I think that the majority of these new foreigners, if given the opportunity, will be able to assimilate and deal with American culture.” PeopleIfsThinkingWantYearsWellsDifferentAbleCultureOpportunityGivenDealsAcceptingSawsMiddleYears AgoMajorityEastBackgroundsMiddle EastRefugeeAmerican CultureForeignersDoubtfulVietnameseVietnamese Refugees Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
“You have to wear a different face when you're interacting with the larger culture. And you can be more of yourself at home or in the local market or in the local church speaking your own language. That was my sense growing up as a Vietnamese refugee in San Jose.” DifferentHomeFacesCultureLanguageChurchGrowing UpGrowingLocalsRefugeeInteractingVietnameseLocal ChurchDifferent FacesVietnamese Refugees Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
“When I was growing up, I cared very little for the customs of my parents, the special things that we're supposed to do as Vietnamese people. But now that I am a parent, I go out of my way to make sure that my son goes to visit his grandparents and participates in customs like the Lunar New Year celebration.” PeopleWayYearsLittlesParentGrowing UpGrowingSpecialSonMy WayMy SonCustomsCelebrationNew YearGrandparentVietnameseSpecial Things Author:Nguyen Viet Thang
