Trifold by Nicholas Te

2022 A Vietnamese Refugee’s Journey to the Us

“After living here over 40 years, I am very appreciative of all those who have opened up their homes and their hearts to help us navigate our new lives in our now adopted country”

By Nicholas Te

“We made the hard decision to leave our country and start a new life in the United States. Looking back, we recognize it was the right decision because we have freedom, and have supported and raised a family that has thrived under a country that believes in democracy.”

Life in America initially was a struggle. Living from place to place, she now had three children by the time she officially settled down.

Taken in by a Christian family, she was given a place to live while she found her footing. When she was eventually able to buy her own home, she was still living paycheck to paycheck, now with four kids. Her main career path had also forever been changed.

“Arriving in America with nothing but the clothes on their backs, my grandma and her family were forced to start a new life. From shelling shrimp to working as a seamstress, Dinh made sacrifices to provide her young family with a new chance to prosper. Her story is not unlike the story of many immigrants, who were driven to leave their home countries to find a better life. The choices she made then paved the way for the life my family enjoys now.

Now, she was a seamstress. She worked hard to make sure her children could pursue their education. Knowing the view many had towards immigrants at the time, I asked her if she ever felt unwelcome. To my surprise her answer was plain and simple, “No.”, saying that she was very appreciative of the people that took her family in and guided her in this foreign country.

Today, she feels that her family has been very fortunate. All her children had grown up to be successful, and all lived in the Bay Area. Now she lives in her eldest daughter’s home in Los Altos and is surrounded by all her family. Just as back then, she still has the same dreams for her grandchildren: to pursue a good education and live a happy life.