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Tina Ho from Vietnam Escaping from Vietnam was an important event that I will never forget in my life. I remember the night that my mom told me that my 15 year old sister, my 14 year old brother and I (in my twenties) had to leave Vietnam the next day. Early in the morning on May 15, 1986, after preparing our clothes and putting dry food in bags, she told us with tears in her eyes: "Go with our blessing. You will have a good life there, and we're going to miss you so much." Later on that day, a strange lady came to my house and took us to a secret place where she planned our escape. We traveled by bus to a province close to the beach. We stayed there and waited for news. On the next afternoon, we changed clothes to look like farmers, carrying baskets filled up with vegetables. We walked about five miles to the escape point. We walked barefooted, going through the fields without water under hot sunshine. When we reached the escape point, we scattered and hid in the bushes. We waited there for the signal to get in the boat. About 20 minutes after we left the land, we noticed that a boat was chasing us, and some frontier guards stopped us. They pointed their guns at us and asked us to stay still. They handcuffed our boat owner, and the driver then took them to their boat. After discussing something, the owner came back to our boat and collected all the money and gold we had left. Then she gave the guards all of it. Finally, they let us go but opened fire from behind. We were so lucky to get away from the guards! It was very crowded for 38 people in a small boat. We stayed in the boat's hold. We sat next to each other with bent legs all day and night. The water came up from the sea mixed up with lubricant. It made us wet and smelled bad. Sometimes high waves made the boat rock. Everybody got sick from the rocking. The trip lasted three days and three nights. On Sunday morning, someone shouted. It was a big ship. Everyone was so happy and cried. An American ship saved us from our boat. They asked many questions, and then the doctor gave a physical exam to everyone. Two days later, we were sent to a refugee camp in Singapore and stayed there for three months. We also stayed at a Philippine camp for 6 months to study English before coming to America. Finally, on April 14, 1987 we came to America. We lived with my uncle's family in Florida. In July 1990 the rest of my family from Vietnam came to America. My younger sister, my younger brother and I moved to California to live with my parents and the four other sisters and brothers. The
trip was scary and dangerous but worth it. It was a
big change in my life. It's good to be an American.
The United States is a free country. No one can
hurt us here. I'm proud that I was born in Vietnam,
but the country we love is not there anymore. In
America, I have more opportunities. I have
confidence in America's educational system. I want
to go to school here and really want to be
successful in my future.
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