Kevin Week 15: Memories Across Oceans
Image Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/vietnam-street
It has been almost 10 years since I last visited Vietnam, but I can still vividly recall the thick humidity the moment I stepped off the cool, air-conditioned plane. The air was warm and humid and seemed to cling to my skin, heavy with the assorted scents of motorbike exhaust, fragrant flowers, and even a tang of fish sauce. I remember walking through the busy, labyrinth-esque streets and alleys, comparing it to Subway Surfers but on steroids. Yet my parents still managed to navigate through the streets with ease, effortlessly switching between Vietnamese and English while I just tagged along, overwhelmed yet in awe.
When we came back to the US, I noticed Vietnam never really left us. It clings to my parents, grandparents, and relatives, sometimes in obvious ways: their mannerisms, the food we share, and the shows we watch on the TV. But it also shows up in subtler things, like in their pronunciation or their tendency to turn up the volume on any device to the max. Habits they brought with them, things they don't consciously think about, but still show signs of home.
Over break, I had the opportunity to travel down to LA to visit my cousin in college, and there, we visited Little Saigon (basically Vietnamtown). The blaring music from loudspeakers, the incessant honking, and the crowds of middle-aged Vietnamese aunties felt all too familiar, and I couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic. There's something both comforting yet surreal about walking into a store and hearing the same music your parents play in the car; like there's an entire community and culture behind every song.
Memory is funny like that; it doesn't always live where you expect it to. These experiences remind me that I carry pieces of Vietnam with me, too. Not in the same way my parents do, but in a way that still matters.
Hi Kevin! Your blog was so relatable, and engaging to read. I loved the sensory description of the first time you visited Vietnam at the start of your blog. Your descriptions reminded me of the feeling of first arriving in India. I guess both India and Vietnam have humidity, and busy streets are common. Your blog was so refreshing to read, and I really enjoyed the relationship between how your family members bring parts of their life in Vietnam to the US. I think this experience is really common in immigrant households. In my own household, some of my parent’s habits such as drinking chai 3 times a day came from their life in India. It is always interesting to see how cultures cross continents, and how people bring a piece of their home with them everywhere they go. Overall, your blog was so fun to read, and I’m excited to see what you write next!
ReplyDeleteHey Kevin! I loved reading your blog, but sadly, I can't connect to it, and the reason is because I have never been to my hometown, India. Shocking, but we just never had the main reason to go. Both my grandparents and my first cousins from both sides are here, one in the LA and one in Hong Kong. Thus, the frequent visit to LA. I absolutely miss Hong Kong so much, it was super peaceful, and it was so memorable as well. I last went in 2016, and plan on going to India and Hong Kong soon. I love your last paragraph about experiences and memories. Memories are something that is so important in life, and it is something that fuels you. Looking back at all the good times of being a kid or even a memory that happened last Saturday, just always make you smile. It was funny, I was looking at a memory of when I went to oracle arena during a playoff game, and that just made me smile because the warriors are in the playoffs now. Overall, loved reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteHey Kevin, I agree with your sentiments about visiting your homeland. India is such a wonderful place that me and my family have spent so much of our time at. All the family we see, and all the culture I get to experience is what I love most about visiting. My roots which are full of so many different aspects are so refreshing to see, compared to the life over here. The smells and noises of India are what get me every time. They give me such mixed feelings because on the one hand, cleanliness is sometimes missing over there, but other times, there are those distinct wonderful moments which become core memories.
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