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We're here today on July 7th 2018 at house in San Leon, Texas. Um and we're interviewing him for the Houston Asian American Archive. My name is Priscilla Lee. My name is Steven Lloyd. Yeah, my name is Virginia. Um and we'll just start out by asking where

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when you were born. Um and um yeah, he was born in Vietnam and uh September 27th, 1960. Um And can you describe your childhood? Um They have fun. So his dad was in the military and he just went to school. Um What kind of traditions and

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principles did your parents raise you on? Ok. So I'm here on that day. Yeah, maybe being cooked that I'm gonna see it. Wait a second juicy. Good traditions. Yeah. Yeah. He says that um traditionally he was raised to be um like

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full of the morals. Yeah. OK. Um and so uh where were his parents from? So my uh my was there. Yeah. Ok. So do, do you have any siblings? No, my name uh Guy. Hey, hey, hey, I guy. So he has five brothers and two sisters.

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OK. And what he, what, how, how did he fit in like was he the middle? Oh, he's the second oldest, second oldest? Ok. Um So was there a lot of pressure to like take care of your siblings? Yeah. So what did that? Like? He, he had

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to find work to be able to take care of them? Uh Yeah, he did, he did go to school and go to work at the same time but he focused more on his work because he had to support the family. So what did he do? Whatever

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anyone needed, he would do it. So, um, you mean like like landscaping anything outside? Ok. Um And what's this like throughout this high school? Can you describe this school? Elementary? Ok. So he said that he went to school up until the fifth

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grade and then the Vietcong came in and then, um, after that he just uh 78 and the year 78 he left the country. So he was 18. Yeah, he was about 18. Ok. And um, oh, so what's his, what's his parents around a lot? I met

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with a guy now, his parents were still around. Ok. And uh can you give an example of what kind of morals he lived by when he was younger? Um uh You mean, I mean, I um, yeah, um he

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says that like basically, um, you can't deceive people and you have to try your best to help anyone you can. Ok. Um, and is particularly close to any of your siblings. He says like they were all siblings, they were all up there close, close. Ok. And

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so when the Viet Cong came, can you describe like his decision to leave the country? Um uh I mean, oh he just said that he was influenced to do it because he used to fix like boats and stuff and then whenever those people

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were heading out, he decided to go with them. Ok. And did he go by himself? Did he talk to his parents or siblings? He didn't, he doesn't remember what day he was uh May the and May 5th of um 1978. Ok. Um and did, did a

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lot of preparation have to take into leaving or did you just go along with them? Um And he left with a, like a random group of people or like can you describe who we left with? Um He said that he went with his grandmother who was

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like the owner of um about, oh, what kind of food, you know, like um one of those boats that take tourists around? Yeah. Ok. So were there other people with the, he said about 94 95 more people on the boat? Ok. And did these people have

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to pay to be on the boat? Like other people did what he did because this grand, ok, so his grandmother was so, yeah, it was his grandmother's family and because he worked there, they allowed him to go along. It was this, his father's mother's or his

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mother's, uh, I mean, it was his maternal grandmother. And how did he, how did he feel when the, when the Viet Cong came? What kind of feeling, you know, you can do things out. I do things out. Oh, you got over it. Yeah, because, uh, he

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says that it's because his dad are about 10 years in the military and then he had to follow him around. So he saw firsthand what the was like, he didn't like that. No good, no good because they don't lie too much. And he says that they

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lie a lot. So he follows his father around during the day. So he stopped school at the age of 35th grade and then he just worked and followed his father round. Ok. Um and he said that they lied a lot. Ok. So um can you give

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like an example of like what he saw besides like the actual, like besides his view of the people in the car? Like, what kind of experiences did he have? Mhm. He says that he saw that um that they're really evil because whenever

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someone would be injured instead of helping them, he would just kill them like right then and there instead of helping them. But people on their own side, like people with their comrade. Oh yeah, like on both sides, like if anyone were to be injured there when

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it's an aid they would just kill them. Um Did you see how, like the, the people who weren't involved in the war? Like, how did they react? Where did you see people leave? Um, carry their belongings? He

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says that he didn't actually see people, um, pack their things and leave. But like, once, like, um the military arrived in town and like, uh they would help but with the, the common people, they didn't, they didn't have the uh people of the town. So he

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was with his father. So did he fight or was he just observing? Um, he says that, yeah, he just observed because like his dad built like a fort to be able to absorb, um, observe the surroundings.

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Um Did he feel scared to be so, so close to the? He said that he wasn't scared because his dad taught him some survival tactics and if anything were to happen, he'd be able to act upon it. He said, like he showed him how to work

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the weapons and stuff until like a proper aid came to help. Did he ever have? Yeah. Yeah. He says that he did have to, like, because they were by this bridge and at night sometimes things would come in and he would have to shoot them before

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they'd be able to get to the town. Um, and can you describe like when he start practicing his religion? Was it? Yeah. He said he's always practiced the religion and, um, his parents did it and he grew up with it. OK. Um So, can you describe

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his religion? I always practice that. Uh uh um He says that so is based off the teachings of the living prophet and we call him. And there are um four different um like kind of um what was that? Is it showing

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gratitude or the principal? Yeah. Yeah. There are four principles. That's what he's trying to say. And then um each one is different, but that's what he was raised on and that's what he practices. It's one of him showing gratitude to your country. Yes, he did say

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one is showing gratitude to your country. And then also like respecting your elders, this one as well. And uh you know, other people. Yeah. And then uh the people and Yeah. Yeah. And um he's just saying again about respecting the elders. How did he find himself

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being conflicted, the reward for, with his religion? Like showing gratitude for your country? I mean, yeah, and I will protect the country for. Yeah. So he says that um the the conflict was where like he had to protect his

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country first. And that's what the gratitude means. But also he said in order to be able to practice the religion correctly, you have to protect your country. So that's what his main focus was. And then after he felt like he did what he needed to do,

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then he felt true to his religion and his practices. Yeah. But he says his religion, they also have a military of their own to protect their people. So, he's familiar with that. So, did he ever, um, like fight with them or just on, like, with his

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father? He said he didn't do it for the religion but he does know of them. Um, so when he was still in Vietnam, how did he see, like, um, because the religion was suppressed by the government. How did he see the religion still, like, you know,

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continue functioning? So, so good. Mhm. Uh, um, um, like that's how come dialed up, um, dialed up. I mean, he says that so for the most part it is suppressed

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and, um, only a small percentage of people practice the religion over there. But for it to be able to keep, um, for it, for it to be able to be alive, it's just really on word of mouth and traditions. Like, you just pass it down to

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your generations and stuff. Um, so when he left Vietnam, was it just like a spur of the moment decision or have you been, like, kind of playing around with it in his life for like weeks or he says that, um,

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back then, like, he, he didn't even know anything. Like he just heard people saying that the US would come rescue them and to leave and so he just followed them. So, ok, so his grandmother knew where to go. So. 00, ok. He says that she had

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no idea. It's just that it was previously her boat and she sold it and they went along to, uh, they went along with whoever bought the boat. He says they didn't tell him who it was. All he did was just work there, work for them. So

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he just believed in, yeah, passage out of the country. Um, um, so how much does he know how much other people have to pay? 00, ok. He says that he doesn't know for sure, but he heard that um they

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had to pay with gold like 20 carat. Ok. So these are ok. Um And so it was his mother's mother, the maternal or it's a maternal, you mean it's, so it was his mom. Um He said that his mom didn't go with him. Ok. So did,

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did they know this opportunity to leave like his other family? Let me um I say he said his family didn't know about it? Ok. So did they leave in the morning or at night? He said in the afternoon and where did they go? Ok. He said

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that uh at first he had no idea where they were going and they told him originally they were going to go to Australia but they didn't make it there. They went to Malaysia. Ok. And then what happened in Malaysia? Um I told Malaysia um what happened?

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Yeah. Ok. So he said once they arrived in Malaysia, they detained them and then gave them interviews to see whether or not they were candidates to be able to be refugees. So, there's the Malaysian government in Malaysia now. Yeah, he's in the Malaysian government. So they

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interviewed him to see if they were able to be refugees for the US, for the US. So he was able to be considered, was also his grandmother. Yeah. Ok. Ok. He said that, um, they were accepted because mostly because his dad was in the military. Um,

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and so how long did they stay in Malaysia? Malaysia? He said, um, maybe nine months, maybe a little more. Ok. So what do they do during this? Um, he said that just sit and wait and then there was also a little school there. Um, so, and,

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uh, was he still able to practice his religion, like wherever he went? Yeah. Yeah. He said, yeah, he was able to do that and because there are like, books for his religion and he just carried those along and then you read them? Ok. So, did he

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know he was going to be staying there for nine months or? Oh, he said no, he, he, he really didn't know what would happen. Ok. So how did he feel when they told him that he was able to leave now? Um, Malaysian. Happy New Year. Yeah.

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So, where did you go after, you know? Oh, he said after Malaysia he went to the US. Did he go with his grandmother? He went with his grandmother. So did they have a close relationship? Did you up in that time? He said they were super close.

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Um And so we're in the United States. Here you go. He said the very first time, the very first place he ended up in was Atlanta, Georgia. OK. And they flew and then uh uh Wichita Kan. OK. So Houston, OK. He said um he landed in

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Atlanta then they flew him over to Wichita, Kansas and then my time in a few more months then he arrived in Houston. OK. So, is that his first time on the plane? Yeah, he said that was the first time. OK. Um So did he immediately just

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like have a layover in Atlanta and then go to Kansas or was he in for a couple of days? He said one month he was in Atlanta for a month. OK. And what did he do? He said he did some construction work. OK. So it was

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easy to find for. So he said he found a job but it was really low paying. He said it was about $2.75 an hour outside. So, were they hosted by a host family? Yeah. Yeah. He said he had a family. Um, and what, I guess what

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race were they? Yeah. How do I keep the wine? I want wine at UCC in a Yeah. Yeah. Oh, we said it was a Catholic charity not to carry on? Ok. Um And was he able to like um communicate with them? He said they are Vietnamese?

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Ok. Um So do you still like or was he still in contact with him after he left it? He says he still till this day um calls in this time? Ok. Um So did they provide a lot of support for him, like emotional support if he

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needed it or I don't know how to say emotional support. Um Did they like take him out to restaurants? And he said they took him everywhere? Ok. Oh, what was his first impression of the US? He said it was really different and strange and he was

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like scared. He said it's because he um whenever he first arrived, the area he was in was predominantly black. So was that his first time? He said, yeah, he said he arrived there around like midnight, like his first night there and then they just fell asleep.

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And then whenever they walked outside the next morning, they saw black people and kind of startled him. So, do you have any stories about interactions? He had like first interactions you had with Americans? You? He said, he said so um after his first night there, the

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next morning, he got on a bus um to go to downtown Atlanta, but he had no idea that like, he, he didn't, he didn't know how to speak any English but he had like a label on him that would say that he was um an immigrant.

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And so he got on a bus was able to get to downtown but had no idea how to get back. Ok. So the label, he said US CC oh, it was the organization that took care of him. The Catholic organization, Catholic, basically, he,

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he got lost and someone noticed his, then the one of the police officers called the organization and then, then they spoke to him and then that's how he got back home. Ok. So, um was he scared when he got lost or he said he wasn't scared?

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Ok. Did he feel safe? He felt safe. Um, so did the, did he ever talk about, did you talk about the war with the, with the host family? Like, did they ever talk about politics? He said they didn't talk about the war? Ok. So then after

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a month of living in Atlanta, they moved to Kansas but I live in Kansas and he was there for I Kansas. He said a few months, a few months. Ok. And what did you do at me? He said he went to high school, high school? Ok.

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So he was like 19, I think around 18. Ok. Um, and as you remember the name of the high school? Ok. And, um how did he feel like, like, did you face any discrimination since he was Vietnamese? He said that a lot of the Americans. He

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felt like they didn't like the Vietnamese because they didn't know how to communicate, like. Yeah. Ok. Um, so was most of his classmates caucasian? He said it was a mix between white and black? Ok. So do you also stay with another Catholic family? Oh,

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he said, um, by the time they went to, um, Kansas, he lived with his grandmother but um, he still kept in contact with the organization just in case. Ok. Um and so, um how did he, how was he able to learn in like a totally English

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environment at school now? So we took the program. Ok. Um And he said at churches, they also taught a little bit of, they, they also held English classes. Ok. So he went to the churches to also learn after school. He would go there to learn. Ok.

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Um And his grandmother also practiced the same religion and the Yeah. Ok. So he's able to keep it up through the years. Ok. Um So besides a sl classes, he didn't take any other like math or history. He took all those classes as well. Ok. What

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kind of challenges did he face? Like during school? He said the, the language barrier was a big thing. Yeah. Um Did he also work? He said, worked after school? Where did he work? He said, like as a dishwasher at restaurants? Ok. And um do you remember

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how much she was paying you? The one about $3.50 an hour. And did his grandmother, like, cook Vietnamese food, um, like, I guess, what kind of foods did he? He said he had a lot of American food at that point? Ok. Um, and then was he

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able to contact his family back in Vietnam? He said he was able to contact them and bring all of them over? Ok. So, when did that happen? Oh. Um, he says he doesn't remember exactly but he brought them all over around either um 1990 or 1991.

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Ok. Um And so that was, he was already in Houston in Houston. So then from Kansas, he came to Houston and so did he know that Houston was his last destination come? He said he didn't expect it to be his last destination, but he enjoys it.

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He thinks it's a very good city. Ok. So he moved with his grandmother to Houston. He said that he came by himself first and then he brought his grandmother over later. So what him decide come to Houston. He said back then, at least in Houston there

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was some type of Vietnamese community and most of the other states at that time, they didn't have very many little to none like Vietnamese people. Ok. So that's why he chose to go to. Ok. Um And then so he just wanted to test it out before

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bringing his grandmother. Wait. So did he, yeah, I come here by myself foot and it, my grand grand mother and they have a family and they, they look around and then they see the Houston is good, good city and that's why they move over here. So

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he, he came first and then at the time his grandma had, um, got, let me call like she had her own Children. And so everyone was looking around at different places and then they decided that Houston would be the best city. So they, yeah, they joined

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him in Houston. So what neighborhood in Houston? And he said it was in downtown? Ok. What did he first do? Like how, how old was he when he came here? He said 18, 18, 17, in the letter? Ok. So around like high school age, high school

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after high school. So he graduated from high school, graduated, he said he graduated. Ok. Um And what did he do when he came to? He said that he helped them out on the water. He helped people out on the water? Oh, ok. Ok. So he was

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very comfortable in that field of work. Um, or let's see, like, um he, he did like carpentry work in Vietnam and then he like was a dishwasher in Kansas and then coming to Houston, he knew he wanted to also work near the waters. So I'm like,

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oh, he said he didn't know but like he just did whatever anyone needed. So that's how he started doing that. So then he just like word of mouth, like, ask around or did he like, look, look in the Yeah, he said word of mouth and like

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it was a lot easier for the Vietnamese community because they're able to communicate with each other. So that's how he started doing that. You know, if most of the Vietnamese works in like the fishing industry. So, um now I lambing, what's up, what's up? Yeah. And

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a couple of honking. He said at that time, um, a very, like a small percentage of the Vietnamese community worked um in the fishing industry. He said about like 3 to 4000 people. Ok. And then uh he lived by himself or do. Yeah. Yeah. He said

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he lived by himself. Ok. Um And how did he, uh, I guess like move around? Did he have a car? He said that he, um, he just asked for people for rides or he tagged along wherever we could? Ok. So what do you think about the

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weather in Houston? Yummy? They tell you um, good weather in Houston South. Yeah. Yeah. He said it's good weather of his. How long did he work as a doctor? He said he worked at a camp for three years and after that, the boat owner gave him

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the vote for Yeah, he said he just gave it to him because he felt that he was a hard worker. He was really genuine. So he just gave it to him after he was given the boat that time, he was able to make some real money

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to be able to bring his family over here from Vietnam. Yeah. So, is it still in Houston? Houston. Yeah. Yeah. Ok. And, oh, what kind of boat was it was? Ok. So, did you learn how to, like, you know, fish for crabs, like on the go

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or had, you know, in Vietnam he said back in Vietnam they didn't have any. So he learned over here. Um Do you find it difficult? Um in Vietnam or? And he said it was very hard. Um Did you think about trying to find a different job?

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He said he didn't think of other jobs because that's all he knew. And so he continued to do that. OK. And what, what, what kind of neighborhood you live in? Like the demographics? And he said back then he lived here in San Leon, but he said

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there was a large KKK population in this area back then. He said there are a lot of problems between the Vietnamese community and the KKK. So when did he move from Houston? He moved to in 1981 1981? OK. So he was here when there was a

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lot of tension between the KKK and the Vietnamese. So, yeah, um my name is um he said he was here before the, the, the tension between the two groups. So when they, there was an incident where they set fire to the fishermen's boats and um where

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one of the, I think one of the members from the KKK or had gotten killed. Um What did he feel like? What was, what was his emotion at the game? The KKK set fire to a boat or like some of the tensions ended up like a

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lot of the fishermen's votes for cotton. And he said during that time, he says that like, it kind of like he, he kind of had the attitude like it is what it is like. At that point, there's not much that he could do

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about it, but he, like, he's really grateful for the US government and stuff because whenever they can't help, they do help. So how does it help? Um He said that the government protected the Vietnamese people against the KKK

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and made sure that they were able to uh stay in the town. So the government was able to drive out the, it's not that the government um kicked them out, but like he said, um the government helped the Vietnamese people to the point where they were

00:48:44.264 - 00:49:16.330

able to take a stand against the KKK and then that kind of made them leave on their own. And um did you have any personal, like 10 like altercation with um like a KKK member or they, he said, not him personally, but other people have um

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and is he familiar with like, uh, oh, sorry um, so problems did he face as a fisherman? He said working outside is like really hard, like in the heat in the heat. So how long would he spend out on the water with him? I'm, um, around

00:49:51.689 - 00:50:12.510

5 to 6 hours. Ok. He was, he, did he work alone or work alone? Ok. Um Was that more near the shore or kind of farther out in the sea? Um, you know, did, like, what did I in the, in the, in the bank? Um Is

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there, there's a Vietnamese Fishermen Association? I think about a Vietnamese Fishermen Association, I think um not a Vietnamese one, but so did the first help each other out? You said they help each other out? Ok. So do they have like specific areas that they only have?

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And you said they have specific areas that they all have? Ok. And um let me see. And did, did he ever um buy a new boat after he was given that first boat? You know? Yeah. Yeah. He said um he would make repairs on the boat

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and, but some, some um he said that he would make repairs on the boats that were given to him. And then after um it was to the point of no more fixing, then he would just buy these boats. He never bought a new boat. Ok. Um

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Are there any problems specifically for Vietnamese fishermen? In my, my, my I can say he said there were a lot. But now the Vietnamese fisher, the Vietnamese population that does in the fishing industry. They are not very many of them. He says a lot of like

00:51:55.300 - 00:52:15.209

Mexicans work in the industry now. Ok. So do the previous Vietnamese fishermen, did they find the jobs? Do they move out of the city? Give me a and he said it was, it's a little bit of both. They found another job and then they moved out.

00:52:15.840 - 00:52:49.909

So he never wanted to find out. Give me a, give me a right now, 58 years old fish for, he said he only does crabs and who does he sell seafood? He sells it to restaurants and like seafood places, local, local area? Ok. And has he

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seen his business like grow or is it just based on like what out there? He says it's declined drastically. So there's not very many crabs. Um And how is he affected by hurricane Harvey? Hang out? He says that after the hurricane um he says that it

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um and I saw a lot of like trailer person come here. Did you see how his community was affected by the hurricane? He says, what was the question again about the community? Like how was it affected by Harvey? How it was affected by Harvey? Well, um

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Harvey affected because this is San Leon, right? And then we're neighboring to Dickinson and Harvey affected Dickinson a lot like they had a very high amount of water in their houses. And um a lot of people lost their homes and they're still recovering in Dickinson. But

00:54:24.669 - 00:54:41.375

in San Leon weren't affected by that much. But back whenever we had hurricane ike, that was very devastating for us. And he mentioned how our house, like right now, the one we're sitting in was a gift from the government because they helped us rebuild our house.

00:54:41.385 - 00:55:04.649

But we were more affected by hurricane Ike in 2008 than we were at Harvey. Yeah, back in whenever hurricane happened to our original house, we had 8 ft of water. Yeah, so then after that, the government built this house for us. And if you look around,

00:55:04.979 - 00:55:20.165

um I feel like there's a large um trailer and RV community because those people just like to um be mobile. But like if you look around a lot of houses that look similar to ours, it's because back in hurricane um I happened, a lot of the

00:55:20.175 - 00:55:36.715

government came down here and rebuilt a lot of houses for people in San Leon. So um we weren't affected by Harvey as much as people in our neighboring cities. But um what happened to them during Harvey is what happened to us during 19. OK. So um

00:55:37.284 - 00:56:19.979

what kind of organizations helped the community during and, and the Vietnamese community? And yeah, we, we got a lot of help from the Vietnamese community, got a lot of help from very many organizations. So it's like providing um assistance and the housing like how we

00:56:19.989 - 00:56:52.820

said, like they rebuilt houses for us. Um They gave money. Um Yeah, and then like a lot of food donations were made as well. He says that he would like, he would like to make it known

00:56:52.830 - 00:57:13.379

that not only him but the Vietnamese community and, and the rest of Galaxy County really appreciate what the US government and like FEMA and organizations as such has done to help better the community, especially after the hurricane. Like, he's really appreciated that for everything they've done.

00:57:37.280 - 00:57:59.010

So he said, um do you guys know who Hubert Lowe is? He's a representative um in Houston. And he says that um because of him and then also two radio, two Vietnamese, two local Vietnamese radio stations like little and um it's, it's called like, and that's

00:57:59.020 - 00:58:28.580

on 900 AM and then, which translates to um um the voice of our people, the Vietnamese. Um because of them, they were able to broadcast and um like bring help. Yeah, they helped out because they brought attention that um that we needed to be able to

00:58:28.590 - 00:59:04.830

rebuild the community. Ok. So how have you seen the Vietnamese community change in San Leon throughout the years? He said that usually whenever they find another work or um they just move out, but um he's just been able to remain here. Ok.

00:59:04.840 - 00:59:28.699

And it's a pretty small community here. So there's not very many people. Not many Vietnamese people. Ok. Um, so do you have any questions? Ok. So, uh going back to his religion, has he been able to practice it in the United States as much as you

00:59:28.709 - 01:00:16.830

want? Yeah, they get out there. They, they have. Yeah. Yeah. Ok. So, uh, I mean, he, I think he mentioned this before but, um, uh from like his still faces severe oppression from the Vietnam government. Um, how does he feel about that? He

01:00:16.929 - 01:00:34.760

says, um even back then, like the government back then did not like their religion. They don't know. And it's just gonna be that way. But he says that's why, like, you have to do what you have to do to be able to keep the alive. Um

01:00:35.909 - 01:01:03.399

And this, how is he active in this community? Um He says he volunteers a lot uh like, for example, um um like, if they need him for an event or something, he'll show up and he'll help them. Like he's done a lot of charity work. He's

01:01:03.409 - 01:01:17.139

um he's giving food to the homeless and on Chinese New Year and he likes to go downtown where there is a large population of homeless people. He likes to give out money to them. Um That's like the tradition he does every year. So like stuff like

01:01:17.149 - 01:01:39.689

that. Yeah, like, especially in the religion. Um like at the temple with the people in Houston, he goes there and as an organization, they find things to um they find event to go to, to be able to help out the community. So what problems you see?

01:01:40.169 - 01:02:07.169

Like what, what are the main problems he would like to solve, I guess in the, in the Vietnamese community, um he says there's nothing specific he could fix but if he, if he can do anything to help people. Mhm. Ok. Um And going back to like

01:02:07.179 - 01:02:59.229

the four principles of gratitude in his religion when it regards to country, what does he regarding his country today? So let me get um yeah, well, because his religion it derived from Vietnam. So to him, that will

01:02:59.239 - 01:03:28.620

always be his country but like like the US is like a second land to him. But um he still resides in Vietnam. Ok. Um And so his family um from Vietnam with uh um he said um it's in the Houston surrounding Houston areas. Ok. Um And

01:03:28.629 - 01:03:50.399

so does he have any family left in Vietnam there? Ok. Um And so how has he like, personally welcomed other immigrant families to San Leon? See or how to see how to see? Because I think I read an article where um he was from like Mexican

01:03:50.409 - 01:04:20.350

families. So how did he do? What did he do? Just give me my name? Um What is it? He says that he um he wants to make them feel really welcomed and like accepted. So he does what he can um to provide that friendly atmosphere to

01:04:20.360 - 01:04:43.750

be able to have them come and feel comfortable? Ok. Um, and how many Children does he have? He has 66, so daughters and he has five girls and one boy. Ok. And, um, um, so did he start having his family? And he, yeah. Ok. And, uh,

01:04:43.760 - 01:05:29.350

what were, what are his hopes for his Children? Yummy. He says that, um, he really wants them to focus on their education. Ok. Um And did he encourage his Children to go into his, into a specific field like medicine? Um He says, like there are

01:05:29.360 - 01:05:59.469

some fields that he would like them to um pursue but he is OK with whatever they decide to do? Ok. Um What kind of Vietnamese traditions does he celebrate at home? Um Tradition, tradition. Um We celebrate the Lunar New Year but also because religion means so

01:05:59.479 - 01:06:38.304

much to him that we celebrate the 18th of May, which is like the founding day of the religion. And also the 25th of February is a very important day for the religion as well. That's the birthday of the founder. Um So I know a part of

01:06:38.314 - 01:07:11.540

the religion is not to be like flashy, so like not going to temples but practicing at home. But does he still, he still goes to temples like pretty even? Yes. Yeah. He said the religion says that you don't have to go to

01:07:11.550 - 01:07:33.719

a temple to be able to practice the religion. Like what's important is what within and um how you practice it yourself. So that's why it's OK to do it at your house. And everybody, he says, as long as you're a genuine person and like you're good

01:07:34.070 - 01:07:56.659

then as long as you help other people, then that's what matters the most. You don't have to make an image for yourself. He says, because there are people who can go to temple and claim that they are part of the religion, but in their heart, they're

01:07:56.669 - 01:08:14.929

not really pure. And so like he says that, that's why you can practice at home because you don't have to prove yourself to anybody. OK. So are those um he mainly raise his Children with those religious principles in mind or any more specific ones? Yes. Yes.

01:08:15.969 - 01:09:24.934

Sorry. Um So how does he identify himself? Um Give me, yeah, I say, oh, my name is, yeah, I know what you're, he says, first and foremost, he would like it to be known that he identifies as a follower of the religion and that's what, that's

01:09:24.943 - 01:09:52.450

the most important thing to him. But then also like um he's Vietnamese and um open to help uh myself and my family and everybody, you know, and uh uh the government have a lot of people but on myself, thank you very much for the government to

01:09:52.459 - 01:10:11.379

help us know, to come over here to the new life. And that's why I know we all remember that. And the second thing, all my Children, I teach them have to learn how to live and help everybody. And remember the time when I come here by

01:10:11.390 - 01:10:33.509

myself and that time nobody helped me. Only the government help me. That's why I tried to tell all my Children remember when they were growing up and when, when they are um and they head back to the government or everybody, you know, if they need some

01:10:33.520 - 01:11:03.740

help, that's what I need. And that's what I wanted for my Children to do that for me before I pass away. So, what do you think about today's administration in the anti refugee, anti immigrant climate? So, um, ah, myself, if the President Trump, he do that,

01:11:03.750 - 01:11:27.399

it's no good. Nobody work outside, concussion. Nobody, uh, uh, work for the plumber. Nobody work the, the, I mean, something outside. It only the other, the people from our country, they come here and they help the country, build the country up because it, I think it,

01:11:27.839 - 01:11:44.990

no black, they work outside a lot. No white people work outside a lot. It only people a lot. I mean, they come out of the country, come out here in here and they try to build up the country, the United States government. And that's why I

01:11:45.000 - 01:12:03.330

know the way the president do it. I don't know, but I hope he changed his mind, you know, to have everybody come in here to build the United States growing up and what I, what I think. Hm. Ok. Um, so what are some of your hobbies

01:12:03.339 - 01:12:28.129

that you do in your free time, you know? Yeah, I, yeah, it's almost, almost gone, gone 58 already, you know, and, and I put a few more, you know, for a living and I try to do myself to help everybody, you know, if I can. And

01:12:28.140 - 01:12:47.040

I, I like to see all my Children, you know, be a good uh person. I mean, people and that's what I like to see it before I pass away. But only one thing again. Thank you. The United States government helped us a lot. Thank you a

01:12:47.049 - 01:13:21.540

lot. So, what, what would you say are your, some of your proudest accomplishments so far in life? Um Oh my proud, proud yummy, yum. Um I can get over there. They know that they, they um oh I'm up there, you know, there now you grow up

01:13:29.109 - 01:13:51.259

everybody, everybody. Um He um he would say that um his proudest moments would be like being able to help anybody who could help and the people he has helped before. Um And what is his, like his most memorable experience of like helping someone else? Yeah. Um

01:13:53.830 - 01:14:16.700

um Yeah, now they any time, any time when they need help and you haven't, you don't need to wait. You have no time to wait right now. It's almost 60 years old. You have no time to wait, you have to do what you can right now.

01:14:17.450 - 01:14:46.740

If not tomorrow, no, if they come, they need your help right now, help them right away because they need your help. That's it. So how does you balance um working and having a family? I have to have my public. But then if I have the time,

01:14:47.000 - 01:15:26.100

whoever, no matter what black uh black wine or Indian or Mexican, whoever they have, I have right away. No problem. What advice would you have for Vietnamese? Immigrants to the United States or immigrants in general? Um They

01:15:26.109 - 01:15:56.049

have no choice. That's why they come United States the new life. And when they come here they working hard, they try to build up a new life for the family and they try to build up the United States government. No, the big country. That's why uh

01:15:56.060 - 01:16:29.220

myself and I tried to talk to them your new life. You have to remember who helped you. That's it. And OK, so to remember who, who, um, and so he still keeps up with his uh host family from Atlanta. Atlanta. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. OK. Um And

01:16:29.229 - 01:17:09.169

so, uh Steven, do you have any questions? Um, I was curious and what, what about, did the Vietnamese government hate so much? I guess it's uh before 1975. Uh uh Where live it? No, no, no. I think what he's trying to say is, um where they,

01:17:09.180 - 01:17:35.919

they practiced their religion. There wasn't any um, there, so whenever they come, came, the religion kind of rebelled against them and that's probably why they don't like them. So, in San Leon, do other people also practice this religion? I mean, but he says there are people

01:17:35.930 - 01:18:00.729

who practice here as well. So, do they have like events together, like, specifically in San Leon? Um, um, yeah, then we try all, all together and we try to help each other and, uh look like today we have somebody, you know, from our town, they come

01:18:00.740 - 01:18:26.540

here to visit us from Mississippi, New York. San Antonio. Oh, no, they come over here to join us, you know, to help each other, you know, who ever need some help. Ok. Is there anything else you would like to add? Um One thing I remember, thank

01:18:26.549 - 01:18:45.669

you United State government. That's it. Yeah, my new life, you know, they, when I left my country, right? If nobody help me, only United State government, they opened a big arm to hold up for the new life. That's why, you know, I try to remember that

01:18:45.680 - 01:19:03.490

all the way when I pass away and I will tell all my Children remember that how I get over here and that's why if you are to help the United States government back, you know, when you grow up to try the back, you can know for,

01:19:03.500 - 01:19:18.220

to keep the, the, the country stronger. Yeah. So if it weren't for them, then he wouldn't have the life he lives now. So that's why he's very grateful for what they've done for him. OK. Oh, sorry, I have one last question but he, he said he

01:19:18.229 - 01:20:06.935

still shows gratitude to Vietnam. Is that through prayer or does he, how does, how does in his way, how does he show gratitude? I always wait, you know, to um my, at the time and all, you know, we try not to uh go no more. Yeah,

01:20:07.354 - 01:20:27.009

a lot for the country. Ok. Um So do you last question? Ok. Um So I think if he doesn't have anything more to add, um I can get the end of the interview, but thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much for

01:20:27.020 - 01:20:45.410

coming over here and uh uh listen, you know, but, but the only thing on my mind, thank you United States government. That's it. My, my new life. Yeah. Thank you.