I Am An Immigrant - Nu Tran Grinsteiner

I Am An Immigrant

Nu Tran Grinsteiner

ThankYouAmerica!

Community College of Aurora

CONTRIBUTORS Nu Tran Grinsteiner | Author

Sharona Grinsteiner | ThankYouAmerica! Coordinator Geoffrey Hunt | ThankYouAmerica! Faculty Advisor Bobby Pace | ThankYouAmerica! Project Director Ana Romero | Graphic Designer

Ashley Simpson | Education and Early Childhood Education Department Chair

I Am An Immigrant

Nu Tran Grinsteiner

ThankYouAmerica!

Community College of Aurora

My name is Nu Tran Grinsteiner. I am Chinese and was born in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1973. In Vietnam, my family was born into an ethnic minority, and we grew up speaking Cantonese in the household. My grandparents owned a peanut-processing factory, and my parents worked there as they raised my three sisters and me. Of course we didn’t have a car, so my mother would cram all four of us girls on one bike and ride us to different places. Many of my early memories involve playing with my nanny, since she looked after us most of the time.

Ethnic – a group of people sharing a common culture

“Sisters, our first day in our new house” Lan, Nu, and Thanh (1975)

After the Vietnam War, the new communist government was very oppressive toward my family and community. They took control of the family factory, and because we were a Chinese minority, we were not allowed access to opportunities. To escape the increasing poverty, my family left, along with thousands of others. We snuck away by boat in the middle of the night, because the government would not allow us to leave. I was only six years old at the time.

Communist government – a single-party government that controls how people live,

even though the people don’t vote for them Minority – a group of people who are different from the larger group in an area Oppressive – mean and not allowing freedom

I remember the boat being small and stuffed with hundreds of people. On our trip across the sea to Malaysia, several people died, and we worried about pirates coming to kidnap us. I still recall a poor little girl who died when she was pushed off the ship into the water. When we made land it was at night, during a storm, and the boat tipped over. I was thrown overboard, and people were scrambling to save children from drowning.

For almost a year we stayed in an overcrowded refugee camp on an island off the shore of Malaysia. I remember the food tasting terrible and always being hungry. We slept on cardboard mats in bamboo huts that were open to the elements. Two church groups finally sponsored us to immigrate to the United States. The flight to America was very long and, being a young child, I was bored.

Immigrate – coming into a new place (to emigrate is to leave a place) Pirate – a person who robs ships in the ocean Refugee camp – a temporary place to go for people who have had to leave their homes

because of war or disasters

Our first home was in Sterling, Colorado. I was shocked, to say the least, since everything was foreign. Everyone looked different and talked different. And since we were from the tropics, the strange white stuff on the ground, called snow, was completely unknown to us. We struggled to make ends meet, but everyone was very helpful, and friends were able to find work for my parents. After a year, we moved to San Jose, California.

Foreign – something from somewhere else, or something new to you

Growing up, there were no special schools for us, so we learned English by attending regular school. Of course, I didn’t understand anything at first, and I’m sure I cried on the first day.

It was very tough for us, but eventually we were able to learn the language and make friends. Although at home we spoke Chinese, ate Chinese food, and practiced Chinese culture, we became American. My parents wanted their children to get all the advantages this country had to offer, so they were very strict with us about completing schoolwork, getting good grades, and working hard.

In 1992, I started attending Westmont High School, where I was an honor student and played on the basketball team. After I graduated, I joined the Army and served for six years.

I wanted to get into aviation, so after the Army I went to flight school. I became a flight instructor and then a commercial pilot.

I love my work as a pilot and I still think the most beautiful sight is the sun rising in the morning as I fly above the clouds.

Aviation – flying airplanes or helicopters

I am married now, with two wonderful children. I want my kids to take advantage of everything this country has to offer. If I had stayed in Vietnam, I would not have had the opportunity and prosperity I currently enjoy. I had many disadvantages coming to this country but I never used them as an excuse to not achieve something. Instead I used my unique and strong family bonds for support as I worked hard to become successful in America.

BIOGRAPHY

Nu Tran Grinsteiner attended Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, receiving her certification as a commercial pilot and flight instructor, as well as her flight dispatcher licenses. She instructed at Sierra Academy for four years, helping students achieve their certifications from private pilot to flight instructor. She was also a stage-check instructor overseeing flight instructors and evaluating students as they progressed through their training at the academy.

Nu has been working for SkyWest Airlines since 2005 and currently lives in the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado.

VIETNAM

VIETNAM

Vietnam occupies the eastern and southern part of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas, and bustling cities. With the South China Sea along its entire coastline, China is to the north and Laos and Cambodia are to the west. The Vietnamese are descendants of nomadic Mongol races of north and east Asia, with Chinese and Indian influences. Its population of about 95 million people is surpassed only by Indonesia. Throughout its history, Vietnam has battled strong imperialism, finally gaining independence in 1973 as a communist government. Religion in Vietnam has historically been largely defined by the East Asian mix of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, known locally as the Tam Giáo, or “triple religion.” Vietnamese Buddhism has typically been the most popular.

ABOUT THANKYOUAMERICA! ThankYouAmerica! is a CCA student-driven civic engagement group. Our mission is to develop community events and a digital media campaign to showcase the integration and inclusion of immigrants into the heart and life of the city of Aurora while celebrating their diversity. The campaign highlights America’s tradition of embracing immigration, recognizing its contribution to the prosperity of our country.

ThankYouAmerica! aspires to be the vehicle of hope and inspiration to a society that champions the successful integration of all people while valuing and preserving ethnic expression.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF AURORA (CCA) The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high quality instruction and student support services to Aurora and eastern Denver, Colorado. The college offers courses on two campuses and online courses for degree or certificate completion. CCA students engage in programs that help them realize their potential by preparing them for transfer to a four-year institution and employment. For more information, visit us at www.ccaurora.edu.

Potential Realized.

The I Am An Immigrant book series was developed by the ThankYouAmerica! campaign. The purpose of these books is to showcase the personal stories of immigrants to the United States, and to highlight their successful integration.

It is our hope that these books will be a source of hope and inspiration to every child who reads them as they learn about the challenges immigrants face, and their successful journeys to citizenship.

I Am An Immigrant - Stories in these series: Nu Tran Grinsteiner Max Edja Jeanette Virginia Rodriguez Ivania Maricela Rivera