My Journey to America – An Introduction

My Journey to America

Summer is here, I am going to be in the fifth grade coming this fall. I can’t wait! I get to choose what language to learn – either French or English. Can’t make up my mind on which one I should choose. Oh but wait! Everything has changed. We are no longer learning French or English. I was told the other day that our new language to learn will be “Liên Sô” which means Russian.

Introduction

It was early in the morning. There was a slight hint of light shining through the clouds.  The street was empty.  I was holding Mẹ Ðức’s hand.  We were walking together down an alley in unfamiliar surroundings.

“Where are we going, mommy?” I asked Mẹ Ðức.  No reply.
I tugged on her blouse to get an answer.  She turned around and it was no longer Mẹ Ðức.  Mẹ Ðức transformed into a strange lady.  I quickly let go of the lady’s hand and I looked around for any signs of Mẹ Ðức.  Mẹ Ðức was nowhere in sight.  Quickly, I turned around, and the lady disappeared.  I was left alone in the alley lost and confused.

“No, please don’t leave me!”  I called out.  I was startled and woke up covered in sweat.  It seemed so real.

The same dream repeated over and over again on and off for months until I was 10.  The dream stopped recurring when my family and I left our beloved country, Vietnam.  We sought a better life in the United States of America.