22. Working For The School District of Philadelphia One day, my boss called me over. “You should apply for this job,” she said. School District of Philadelphia Employment Opportunities, They needed a Bilingual Personnel Trainee for refugees. The next day I went to that place, Handed them my application with a straight face. The very…
21. Working as a Caseworker for NSC in Philadelphia The Diep Thai family lived in Philadelphia, Graciously, they let me sleep on their couch. The B.S. in PNG Engineering was just a piece of shit; It was useless for me, as if everyone thought it was a real BS. I went back to the restaurant…
20. Graduating From Penn State University Rice and chicken dipped in soy sauce, The same meal daily until graduation. Tomorrow was the day I had to move out, No gown, no ring, no diploma in hand, and penniless. The landlady stopped by to show students the apartments, Several future tenants were with her. While they…
19. Coming Back to Penn State After Summer Job After finishing my summer job, The Chinese boss lent me four-hundred bucks. I drove back to Penn State that evening; As soon as I got out of the car, I heard a loud voice from afar. “Give me all your money.” “I don’t have any money,…
18. Transferring to Penn State University In the Winter Semester of 1980, I transferred to Penn State As a student in a five-year co-op engineering program. I was allowed to live on campus, So cooking meals was not a problem for me. However, my second year there, All upperclassmen had to live off campus. I…
17. Who Gave Me The Name Lay? Once I had a chance to ask my Dad (July 1994) Why did you give me this funny name? No, we did not give you this name, Your nursing woman gave you the name. We were so busy working day and night, Cang, Ký, Lý, Trí, Toàn, Xuân,…
16. One More Vietnamese Family Arriving in Latrobe, PA I went along with the Tranquillas to Pittsburgh Airport To pick up another Vietnamese family of four. The family had just arrived from a refugee camp in Thailand. A couple with their young son, and Liên was his sister, The couple Trọng Nguyễn’s son was about…
15. Summer School at St. Vincent College The U.S. government had a plan to help students. Those who dropped out of school for whatever reason. Must satisfy this simple condition: Passing two remedial courses in the summer school. The GED exam I passed recently Was required for my admission. Saint Vincent College in Latrobe had…
14. The Ravages of a Civil War The most tragic fate we mourned for those young men Who were born only to die defending their leaders. Not knowing they were born North, only sent to South to die, Or losing limbs, eyesight, being handicapped for life. The saddest fate was for those Northern young men…
13. Recalling My High School Years in Vietnam My high school years in Vietnam were terrible, I was a reckless student bouncing from school to school. During my eighth grade in Bồ Đề High School, I felt bored and became a delinquent fool. I cajoled my classmates, Di and Thái, to play hooky with me….