Crossing Flatbush Avenue - Vũ Đức Thái

Vũ Đức Thái is my 83-year-old grandfather. He fled Vietnam because his life depended on it. He was a government official in South Vietnam. When the communist from North Vietnam invaded the South, he was on a hit list. The man that took my grandfather’s office after he left was murdered in a most gruesome manner. That man was bound to another government official back-to-back, and the Viet Cong drove a spike into one forehead and straight through the other. He now lives in Fort Worth, Texas in a neighborhood of mostly Southeast Asian immigrants.

I have lived in the U.S. now for 32 years and am very lucky to have almost my entire family here. One of my daughters changed her mind and decided to keep her family in Vietnam for the sake of her husband’s parents. She and her husband now regret that decision, but there is nothing I can do about it now. They should have considered their children’s futures. I am very lucky to have the rest of my family here in Fort Worth. I was able to slowly have them join me over the years. The last to come to the U.S. were my wife and youngest son on March 28, 1991 (14 years from when I first left them).

I am currently retired and pass the days with my grandchildren and my garden. When I did work, my jobs were all assembly line type work. It was very straining, but I did not speak English and that was what I could find.

I chose to come to the U.S. because when I left Vietnam, America was THE place to be. It was #1. The belief was that everyone was wealthy and had a good life in America. That belief still holds today as well. A few years ago, I sponsored my younger sister for a visit to the U.S. She was disappointed to see that I lived an average life, in an average house, in an average neighborhood. She expected royal treatment from the “wealthy American” family members, but everyone had lives of their own and had to work or attend school. Her disappointment led to her returning to Vietnam early. A six-month trip turned out to be a 3-month trip. When I first arrived in America, I was shocked not to find everyone rich and wealthy, but I was happy to be safe and alive. I had no idea what my life would be like here, but I was grateful to be alive and safe.

I have been here for over three decades and still can not have a conversation in English. I have not really had to learn English. The church is Vietnamese; the supermarket is Vietnamese, that’s all I need. Anytime I do need to speak to anyone in English, like a doctor, one of my children or grandchildren are readily available. When I was working, there would be another Vietnamese person to interpret for me.

I am sure my lifestyle in Vietnam would be drastically different from what I have here. First, I probably would be dead already. I do not live in fear here, and that is most important. With everyday things, I definitely would not have a car to get around like I do here. However, I think I would get out of the house more if I were in Vietnam. Here I usually only leave the house to go to church, the supermarket, or take a walk around the neighborhood. In Vietnam, I was more social and got out of the house a lot more. If I were in Vietnam, I definitely would not have a big TV to watch football games either. And of course, that is very important.

I am a U.S. citizen now. I wanted to be a citizen, because I am an American now. I will never go back to Vietnam as long as the communist flag is flying. The Vietnam I knew and loved is gone and dead.

I feel my immigration experience is fairly common with other Vietnamese fleeing communism and war. Everyone was running for his or her life. Not everyone made it though, and I am very lucky to be alive today.

My only connections to Vietnam are my sister and my daughter and her family. I speak to my sister once a year during Tet to wish her a happy new year. I call my daughter every month or so. I also send money regularly to pay for my grandchildren’s education. I hope to meet the four grandchildren I have in Vietnam one day.

Where do I see myself in the future? I will still be in this house and living as I do today until the end. I have no complaints and I am very happy with my life, although I would love to have great grandchildren before I die.