LAM THUY TRANG by https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4 Made with panache en-us 2022-03-18 02:24:00 UTC 2022-03-19 02:28:50 UTC hello@padlet.com "Tell me all your nicknames growing up, every single one, don't leave any out." denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101382567
"They called me Trang." (that's her name)

"Actually! This one giant guy would call me 1nhí and he was the only one who could call me stupid names and he was fat and gay so I called him gay elephant."

1nhí - tiny]]> 2022-03-18 05:37:26 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101382567 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101384929 2022-03-18 05:40:23 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101384929 Trang: Where & When denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101401293
Saigon, Vietnam

January 3, 1973

]]> 2022-03-18 06:00:16 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101401293 Leaving Vietnam denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101404954
My mom was 12 years old with no education and only two sets of clothes that had lasted her for 3 years up until the day they found out they could finally leave. That day, her great aunt bought her a brand new set of clothes. 


]]> 2022-03-18 06:04:00 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101404954 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101409260
"I was so excited to wear it, Nini. You could not believe it I was so happy, but I can't wear it until we left."

]]> 2022-03-18 06:09:06 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101409260 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101409957 2022-03-18 06:09:55 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101409957 Last day in Vietnam denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101414124
Officials that handled my mother's family leaving had consistently told them that they will never be able to come back to Vietnam if they leave. That made my mom convinced she was leaving the rest of her family behind and cried the entire time on the last night and morning. 

]]> 2022-03-18 06:14:51 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101414124 The Airplane denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101422459
My Great Grandmother was revered for her kindness and generosity of her wealth. A mother came with her 3 day old baby that she couldn't take care of so my Ba Co adopted him. 

Years later, the war began and life was rough. Eventually they found that they have built a strong case to get to America and begin the process. 

]]> 2022-03-18 06:24:36 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101422459 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101424353 The baby my Ba Co adopted had an American father and Vietnamese mother, so that gave them leeway to be able to travel via airplane]]> 2022-03-18 06:26:58 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101424353 "Did they give you food?" denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101428056
"They gave me, you know? That white sandwich bread and it was the most delicious thing we ever had we thought it was so fancy and tasty."]]> 2022-03-18 06:31:20 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101428056 2 Weeks in Thailand denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101429401
"It was just waiting and canh cai EVERY SINGLE F***ING DAY oh my god."]]> 2022-03-18 06:33:02 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101429401 6 Months in the Philippines denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101432282
"I was so happy that I could go to school, but I didn't understand anything."

"It was basically like Vietnam, but you couldn't play because the jungle people would try to catch women and children and blackmail American soldiers for money." ]]> 2022-03-18 06:36:39 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101432282 Last Day in South East Asia denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101434958 All the kids had a party to eat a dessert you would usually onlt eat once a year]]> 2022-03-18 06:40:03 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101434958 15 Hours to Freedom denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101436744 "Did you get the bread again?"

"HEHHLLLLL YEAH"

She got her first staple American cheese, turkey sandwich with some mayo. ]]> 2022-03-18 06:42:01 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101436744 "What did you look for once you stepped off the plane?" denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101439611
"American People in America, I saw the most beautiful women with nice dresses and heels and blonde hair and blue eyes and I couldn't wait to be just like them."

]]> 2022-03-18 06:44:59 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101439611 Earliest Childhood Memory? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101442909 "I didn't remember myself, it was 1978, but everyone here remembered that happening too so it was big and the entire country-side experienced a flood and my first memory was having to be carried to use the bathroom in the backyard because the water was too high."]]> 2022-03-18 06:48:38 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101442909 Did you play games growing up? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101444674
"Only in Vietnam we played house. After we left, the adults all had work on their mind and getting to America, the kids needed to be quiet." ]]> 2022-03-18 06:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101444674 Chores at home? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101447320
"Being the oldest child, I did every single thing for the adults and children. All the laundry, all the cooking, all the cleaning, vacuuming, everything. I bring 6 bags of laundry to the laundry mat every week at 12 years old for the entire house." 

]]> 2022-03-18 06:53:47 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101447320 Least favorite? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101447686
"Obviously the laundry."

]]> 2022-03-18 06:54:16 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2101447686 School was an Escape denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102041031 "At home I didn't get to have a lot of fun because of my step-dad, but school was where I could be happy."]]> 2022-03-18 14:34:27 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102041031 College denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102043959
"I was very scared and very nervous, I was only 19 and people weren't very accepting." 

]]> 2022-03-18 14:36:11 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102043959 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102044734 2022-03-18 14:36:43 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102044734 "I didn't know how to put letters together, but I put all my effort into school and finally got it!" denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102046754 2022-03-18 14:38:01 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102046754 What were your best subjects? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102048831
"Spelling."

"Not math?"

"No, my math was sh*t."

]]> 2022-03-18 14:39:15 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102048831 "You should've seen my clothes, Nini. 'Okay here let me sew those parts back.' Spots. Spots. Spots. Spots." denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102054332 2022-03-18 14:42:34 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102054332 What was your favorite style you remember? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102067213 "Matching tracksuits. I looked very very good."

"You're still bangin' moms."

"Awwwwwww"

]]> 2022-03-18 14:48:22 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102067213 Who did you look up to and say you, "wanted to be just like them"? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102068854
"Do you really want to know? In Vietnam, no one. Vietnamese was weak ass, I don't wanna be like them. But in America, my mom had a friend, I didn't know her name, but she dressed so nice and took such good care of herself after coming from Vietnam. I wanted to do what she did to get there."

]]> 2022-03-18 14:49:18 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102068854 World events that affected your family's life? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102154562
"Uhh, the war???" 

]]> 2022-03-18 15:41:41 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102154562 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102158998 The VietCong raided wealthy homes prior to the Vietnam War and one of them was my great grandmother's. She was murdered and that allowed her sister to flee with her money and leave her niece, my grandmother, behind with my mom at ~1 years old along with an entire family to feed during the war. ]]> 2022-03-18 15:44:27 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102158998 How is the world different from when you were young? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102657406 "I can do, say, eat, go wherever I want whenever I want because i worked hard for it."]]> 2022-03-19 01:44:36 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102657406 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102659093
I feel that my mother gave that specific answer and interpreted the question in that way because she may still be in awe by her own accomplishments throughout this interview.

]]> 2022-03-19 01:47:59 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102659093 What stories have come down from your parents? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102659705
"I didn't learn anything from my parents."

]]> 2022-03-19 01:49:07 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102659705 denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102672140 "Wait, hold on, this is a big question for me. I never met her, but it's my grandmother. She was always the kindest, most generous, smartest, person that everyone had respect for. If you hear the history of your Ba Co, it's like wow." ]]> 2022-03-19 02:14:15 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102672140 What accomplishments are you most proud of? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102673254
"My family, I didn't know how to raise my kids, but they turned out awesome."

]]> 2022-03-19 02:16:30 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102673254 What is one thing you want people to remember about you? denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102676504
"That I am a happy person."

]]> 2022-03-19 02:23:23 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102676504 A Proud Woman, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Cousin, & Niece denisenguyent https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102680025 2022-03-19 02:28:50 UTC https://padlet.com/denisenguyent/703ghc6ih7mykpt4/wish/2102680025