Some memoirs feel more trustworthy than others. Nhi tells her stories not in a straight line but more like a roundelay. Outsider, refugee, immigrant, outsider again. Vietnam, Queens, Brooklyn, Vietnam again. Full circle but, maybe like all lives, perpetually unfinished. Some of her memories are horribly sad, others are funny, and all are recounted with a simple grace and an admirable survivor's strength. John Strausbaugh, author of City of Sedition and Victory City.
Publisher : Autonomedia
Language : English
Paperback : 128 pages
ISBN-10 : 1570273545
ISBN-13 : 978-1570273544
Item Weight : 6.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.8 x 0.4 x 8.9 inches
Review: Among the Boat People: A Memoir of Vietnam
Years ago, I received an email from Jim Feast and he mentioned this memoir which he thought I might be interested in. He said it was by Nhi Manh Chung and titled Among the Boat People. Jim was the editor that worked on it at Autonomedia Press. He was kind enough to include a copy of the book for me to read. I later learned Nhi Chung is his wife.
Nhi's personal narrative is a difficult one as it is a story of survival. She provides readers with keen details of her experiences and gives us some insight into history.
Nhi came from a wealthy family. Her parents had an arranged marriage and her father, Thanh, owned a noodle factory which switched to producing dried rice during the war. She tells us when a boy reached 14, he was put in the army. So to keep her brother out of the army they hid him in an attic.
During the Communist takeover of Vietnam, Nhi spoke of how you have to hide all your gold because if they thought you were wealthy they'd capture you.
After the fall of Saigon people fled. While some people traveled to Thailand, most escaped by boat. Nhi's father had already died of a heart attack so her uncle paid for her and 3 other family members to escape by boat.
Nhi was allowed to take three pieces of clothing, one gold ring, and one gold chain on the boat. Unfortunately, Nhi had no clue at the time of boarding that the boat would be overloaded and capsize in the sea. Tragically, Nhi's family perished, while she choked on dirty water, listening to people's screams surrounding her.
Nhi arrived at a Philippine refugee camp and with the assistance of a sponsor, she made it to America. She had a 1-94 card and eventually got herself a job. Nhi went to college and in time became a teacher to immigrant children. Her heartwrenching memoir recounts she was Among the Boat People.