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Since 1975 the American army had left Vietnam and
the North Vietnam communist party had taken over the country.
I was homeless and had a vague future. I had gone from rich to
poor. I had to walk through the war-ravaged city. I was
stepping over dead people on a red river. There were black
buildings and smoke everywhere. I didn't have any more tears in my
eyes. The bombs went off in the distance, like the crackling of
fire from far away. Every night, my family had hidden in different
places in fear from the police.
I fled at night and swam a few miles in the dark, cold water. I
climbed on the boat with hundreds of people. After a few weeks
floating on the ocean, we ran out of food and water. A young girl
was dead, still sitting up, leaning against my back. Someone threw
her body into the water while the boat was running. No one had any
feelings of sorrow, because we didn't know what was going on to happen to
us tomorrow. Everyone was numb and hopeless. No one said
anything, only listening to the sound of the boat engine and the
wind. Frightening waters were grabbing my small boat, it looked
like it was being pulled under. We needed help!
I saw that far away, a boat was coming toward us. Pirates jumped
over into my boat and took a young girl away. She cried and called
for help, but we couldn't help because we were so weak. They stole
everything from us and went away. We were prey.
The next morning was landed on an uncivilized island. I saw more
people die on this island. A hand stuck out from a poorly dug
grave. My family was lucky to have had the International Red Cross
rescue us.
From a communist country to free democratic country, from my culture to
learn a new culture, my life has been upside down. At some places
people were treated like animals, but here animals have the same
protections as humans.
Life is always unfair. But it's alright, it is ok! The past
experiences led me to become tougher and learn endurance. I want to
be a good citizen and am thankful that America gave me a new life.
Brian
Hang 韓業光
New York, U.S.A. -
Tháng 04 Năm 2006
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