Description

Thuy was born on November 23, 1956 in Saigon. Her father worked as an engineer for the Civil Department and used his contacts with Americans to get his entire family out of Vietnam since he was a government worker and therefore in danger in a Communist takeover. They arrived at Camp Pendleton in April 1975 and stayed there for one month in tents before moving in with a sponsor in Riverside. Thuy was a student at University of California, Riverside, majoring in Computer Science at the time of this interview. In this interview, Thuy discusses her family background and education, and how she and her family immigrated to America. She describes living at Camp Pendleton (where they first arrived), including the English classes and assistance programs offered there. Thuy offers her insights into the differences between American and Vietnamese customs, particularly within families and the educational system. She describes her impressions of the Vietnamese communities in San Diego and Riverside, and her satisfactions and dissatisfactions with her present life in America.