Coming to America: The Journey
In April this year was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon which signaled the end of the Viet Nam War. In 1975, the USA pulled out an unwinnable war and left many southern Vietnamese desperately scrambling to flee the takeover of the South by the northern Communists. Using the best resources they had, many attempted escapes in their small fishing boats, which were not ocean worthy. If caught, they would face the certain punishment of the Communists government. If they stayed, they would be restricted to a very fixed lifestyle with no opportunities for education and good jobs. Her older brother was 18 and would be forced into a concentration camp by the Communists.
Risking the danger, they took to their boats to seek a path to freedom. This group of people became known as the Boat People of Viet Nam. And this is the story of Thuy Huynh, our next-door neighbor, whose father committed his boat to the service of his family and their neighbors. 36 refugees, including a baby, crammed into a 9 x 36 foot sailboat. The woman and children were secretly stowed below to ward off suspicion of their flight.
At first, Thuy and her younger brother were chosen to stay behind and live with their grandmother so if the family was caught or died at least some members of the family would remain alive. But in the end, her parents just could not leave any of their children behind and decided that they would all survive or die together.
Big storms twisted the boat rocking it back and forth causing their supply of fresh water to spill. Now there was not enough water for everyone on board. Thuy’s father took cherry flavoring and mixed it with the salt water so they could drink something, but that was worse because it made them thirstier. Thuy soon became seasick plus she was allergic to the iodine in the sea water, and she broke out in a rash that covered her body and was very itchy. Then the pump broke, and they took on water. The ship was slowly breaking apart and sinking. No water, limited food, they all knew that they were dying. The resolve to servive was all they energy they had to continue.
For 5 days they floated on the stormy water with no land anywhere in sight. Thuy was only 9 years old. Thuy’s mom was a very religious Buddhist. She prayed constantly. Then on the 6th night she had a dream that a great big grey whale came up alongside their boat to save them. In the morning, a cargo ship returning to Singapore appeared. They yelled and waved and held up the baby on board to get noticed. The ship came up close to the boat, and they grabbed onto its cargo net to scramble aboard. Thuy was left to carry the baby. Her little brother got caught in the cargo meshing. He screamed and cried and kicked to get free and board the ship. He was only 4 years old.
Once on board, they were given food and water and a new T-shirt. It was decided to take them to Singapore, but the next day another desperate fishing boat was rescued with 120 people on board. Too many people, so the captain of the cargo ship decided to redirect to a closer location in Malaysia. One had to gain authorization to go ashore or be beaten. Fortunately, Thuy’s father negotiated permission for the family.
Before leaving, Thuy’s dad exchanged all their money for gold. But in their haste to escape the sinking ship, they left it onboard. Thuy was looking right at the shoe where her father kept the money hidden, but they were so desperate, so weak, literally dying, that all their energy was spent just getting off the sinking boat and surviving. They completely forgot to bring the gold.
In Malaysia, Thuy’s family of nine had to stand in line for everything. Food, water, whatever. If there was a storm, they would be out of luck. There was never enough, only the basics. Everyone was just so hungry all the time. People got in fights and some went crazy. To deal with it, the authorities would load the crazy people on boats, and no one ever saw them again. Nothing was said. They were just gone.
Thuy’s mom sold her ring and bought the family a tent to live in plus supplies. It was Thuy’s job selling the extra provisions. Her brother and father would then buy more items to sell. Her older brother found some wood and brought it back and constructed a cabin for the family and a table. A place for the family to sleep and eat. For 9 months they lived this way waiting for an offer to be sponsored.
One day, a sponsorship to go to Australia came through. Thuy had wandered off to the local temple and when they could not find her, another family was chosen. Thuy’s mom was furious with her. The next day, a new sponsorship was offered to go to America and Thuy’s family was chosen. The family had to pass a medical test to be admitted, and her younger brother was rejected in fear of him having TB because he was so skinny. Thuy’s mom stayed behind with her son while the rest of the family flew to San Francisco and then onto Grand Rapids.
Thuy was only 10 years old and very afraid she would never see her mom and brother again because the United States was such a big place. How would they ever find them again? When they landed in San Francisco, Thuy was given a cup of noodles to eat. It was the best food she had ever eaten. To this day, she still remembers how good that cup of noodles was.
Within a week, Thuy’s mom and brother (TB free) were released to join the family. When they got to Grand Rapids, they were taken to the Catholic Church that had promised to sponsor them in Remus Mecosta, Michigan. They were then brought to a big house and given some hamburger meat to fix. Thuy’s family wanted to be respectful, so they just sat and waited for the next place they would be moved to. An hour later, one of the sponsors came back. “Why didn’t you eat?” Her family didn’t realize that they were in their newly rented house. A big, beautiful fully furnished home, and it was all theirs. That night the kids gathered in one bedroom to sleep. Staying together. A past security.
The bathrooms were amazing. In Viet Nam one finds a spot and digs a hole and does their business, but here there is a room with running water and in it a toilet no less. Thuy loved to flush the toilet and watch the water swirl down. She had never seen anything like it before. Living in Remus Mecosta was wonderful. Each church family volunteered to have Thuy’s family over for dinner and take them to local activities. Thuy even joined a 4H Club. Ask Thuy where she is from, and she will tell you Michigan not Viet Nam because it is the home of her “Michigan Family” with whom she is still in contact.
Thuy and her younger brother were placed in 4th grade in a Catholic School. She didn’t know anything before entering except her numbers from one to ten, but none of the alphabet. She had everything to learn. She remembered sitting in class watching everyone raise their hands, so she raised her hand, too, not having a clue as to what was happening. She studied all day at school, and then joined her parents at night to attend ESL classes.
Later her parents moved the family to Grand Rapids to seek a closer, better job and saved their money. With the money, her father, a natural businessman, drove to Chicago to buy food and sell to restaurants. Soon he bought a grocery store which her older brother still manages today.
While in Viet Nam, Thuy lived with her grandmother who was the village healer. She was not medically trained but she practiced “coining.” (cao gio pronounced “gow yaw”). A traditional Vietnamese practice of rubbing a coin or other smooth object over the skin to relieve pain, improve circulation, and remove toxins. It is used to treat a variety of minor illnesses by rubbing the skin with a coin, often after applying oil. The belief is that this practice helps to “catch the wind” and release negative energies believed to cause illness. Her grandmother would Coin their back, and they would get better because they believed in it.
It was during this time that Thuy felt she wanted to learn how to help sick people. Now, in America, she had the opportunity to attend nursing school and receive her degree in nursing and then her master’s to enable her to give medical attention to sick people. One of the dreams her parents had for her and all their children was to be educated and get good jobs. Now with hard work, they were realizing that dream.
In a couple of years, Thuy will retire from nursing, but her mission as a nurse is not over. She is considering returning to Viet Nam and helping the many poor people who have no access to proper medical care. She desires to share the gift of her American education in nursing with her cousins and others who never had the chance to leave. Those who still work in a factory under Communist control for $200 a month.
Thuy was introduced to Christianity first as a Catholic at their sponsor church in Remus Mecosta, and then at Rick Warren’s church at Saddleback in Lake Forest. She loved learning that there is only one God and that He is a God who forgives. He is just amazing. No more guilt, just forgiveness and that feels awesome.
Those who meet Thuy always comment about how happy she is. Thuy will say that she is a stronger person for what she endured and that everything happens for a reason. God has a plan. She says it taught her to be grateful for all she has. Thuy smiles when Americans complain. She feels that they just don’t understand what a great country this is and most don’t appreciate all that they have been given. Religious freedom, political freedom, freedom to move about and live where you want, the opportunity to work hard and accomplish whatever you desire. To reach for a dream and achieve it. For this she is very thankful.
Many immigrants have come to this county in search of the American dream. If each of us would reach back into our family tree, at the root is a refugee or immigrant who came and established their family with hard work striving then thriving in attaining their dream. I know Dave and I are most grateful for Thuy as are our neighbors and friends. It just would not be America without her and the many others just like her who braved the journey to our shores. Their courage has made us a great nation.
Happy Birthday America and a happy July 4th to all.
