Mai Nguyen and Michelle Bui

00:02 My name is Michelle Bui. I'm 28 years old. Today's date is February 8th 2018. We're located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and I'm with my mother today.

00:16 My name is mine when I am 63 years old today. So February 8th 2018. We in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and I am the mother of Michelle.

00:31 So when I first found out that storycorps was coming. I really wanted to kind of take advantage of being able to get a recording of some of the things you and I have talked about it home particularly.

00:48 I've always wanted to know like how it was that you felt when you were coming over here and when you knew it was the right time to leave Vietnam to come to America cuz I've heard your version of how you came over here and everything but we've never recorded it and we've never had any sort of documentation of it. So I've always just wondered do you remember how you felt whenever bug wine and all of you decided it was it was time to go?

01:21 Yeah, it was a long time ago and I think I can.

01:27 We we so naive. We believe that you know after the Southside collapsed to the North and the north to Calaveras the community.

01:39 We still believe that everything that my mom your grandma learned about the war and about the communication was different because it was in the water in the water. So when does Northside took over let me know and then we believe that and now we live in case everything would be different. So windy would not have to feel about our safety political differences something like that.

02:14 The denim after few years. They sting started to show a bun. They started to harass to take any members of the form of government or any family that anybody involved into the form of government, you know, especially social and something like that. They took away and they and then they took away your wealth to because they said you had to have something to connect with the capitalism there for you could be that rich and that means they cram for the people up.

03:01 I didn't have Madden.

03:03 So I don't go he tattoo Callaway into some meditation came. That's what they call that actually just a label recently or something like that.

03:18 Salem Alliance couldn't take it anymore because it he saw she saw that we suffer everyday we didn't have enough food to eat.

03:26 I know she encourages and and then and then then we started to see that a lot of people trying to escape it to flee out of it now so she encouraged she said okay, don't worry about you guys should go for your future because over here it's it's that bad as you see it. It's really bad.

03:48 And I think that's why how it started and

03:55 So we we got it out things and them.

04:00 We paid an old you know, whatever we have to somebody so Morgan some people who organize or something. Oh and one go numb when first cuz I'm get out of here by himself because he was small boat to what I talk to you guys about Jezebel.

04:28 8 meter long with a new engine and he disguised himself from a banker. He was a banker. Yeah deluxe edition Madden and then he

04:47 GM was able to and then he he he spend so much time in the wind and the Sea, you know and had to see so he's Huskies can get soda can soda candy.

05:02 You look at him and you would think Michelle. Can you ask your mom? What year this was? When do you remember? What year was that? You guys stayed was at 1990s 1979 was that went gone unless they're all of them laugh about May of 79 of and your dad and I Love The Way You Lie up 79 few months later, and I've always wondered how you felt too because when you came over here, it was what it was with his dad and his brothers were some of his brothers, but I've always just wondered how you felt knowing that you and your siblings were split.

05:52 I mean you cuz you guys didn't go together. We got connected giving the time that I was still in that trailer leak. That's why she came under the name gallon in Indonesia. And I knew that by then go numb already decided to go to Canada. So he sent me some paperwork and asked me if I wanted to go to Canada to but for some reason why I believe in more in USA, so we sign a thank you spell 14 months before we could get here. Okay. Okay. We had to go through all kind of Health examination waiting for the paperwork's.

06:44 Did you know where cuz I know you best stay in Vietnam, but did did you have any idea when you swallow left or back?

06:58 A year later, I saw her because she she could not go she then already hadn't they they was about three years ago, and she wanted to wait for her husband to come home to you leave already taken away because he was there a captain. Okay, he was in India and they believe that if they said okay just bring with you food or something in her for 10 days, but that is not the case. He's gone. They took all of them away for

07:41 And it was a 75 and undo a 79 or 80. He was released because I pulled some strings. Otherwise, I don't think that he could be home yet. Oh, I better yeah, so I waited for him to come home and then they all laughed about

08:02 82

08:05 Sometime, you know you too and so did they know right away that they wanted to go to Australia or did they want to go to that he just wanted to lay. Yeah. I didn't know where it would take them, but they just went today because he was a former Soldier for my soldier looks like that they came and they say hey you on the top right by day. We will we will take you guys to you. I say whenever you want. I mean if you want to yeah and they came later you I'm in Australia came first and an update. You note to self the baby in the rough. She came like that Sophia.

09:05 After they they accept the off of Australia in America.

09:16 Yeah, cuz I I remembered hearing all the stories of how you would come over here with like that and his family and I just always wondered how you felt about how buys whole family is here in Oklahoma, you know, but yours was split up. So I just didn't know how you felt about that or what you thought of how you guys weren't able to stick together actually.

09:43 Let it come to thinking about seeing lion eBay Vietnam. I had no hope that morning when I walk away and turn around and say bye to my mom. So last chance that I could see them forever. There's no hole that I could come back and I know and he's helped you just won my heart but then about you so I'm going numb. I know that even though we're far away upon from it's a free country is now I could see them I could finally come to visit them and that's what I thought but then

10:28 I have no hope of seeing the light again but then few years later they started to open, you know, the relationship between Vietnam and America has changed recently changed and then we could come back and visit and something but that the Mets doing lion me it's late too late. I already passed away a few years made of and we were able to make the trip back to Vietnam and receive are there when we came over here? No, hope no hope of anything just like we couldn't even we didn't even thing that we could send a letter home because of how much we know because if we know that how much enemy come and visit now, I'm hated America, Tennessee Mega one, you got out of that country to see if you cut the time you cut the screen. There's no way you can come back.

11:30 But then few years, I think it was a 1981 881 to send a letter home so we could send some small keep it believe it in the small box. Whatever you sent home dream it in 2 lb package came home. They will call me back, you know, ask your family.

12:15 You come today post office to time to receive the package, but by then the package already cut open because I want to see what they know and what's inside so sometime they would somebody else would I tried to make a few dollars is something in a bottle of soap to toothpaste or something, but then you know some the first I thought they didn't know but then they found out and then later every package over the two states that are too so they they

12:55 See what's in it if there's anything were you able to at least get something like right to her or I was able to ride to hell and we wrote back and forth. So it was a lesson 81 or so. That way we could write a letter home.

13:25 Do you cuz you've always kind of taught us kids like you've always had the vision of seeing it as a journey and going through Journeys and I remember recently when we were talking about death and passing that you saw us like then why when she passed away that it helped you cope thinking that she was going on a journey exact. So I've always seen that parallel and wondered like what Journey do you do you envision for yourself since coming to America and then like what like what Journey do you envision for the three of us kids now that you've seen us get older and kind of like figuring ourselves out still.

14:13 So I just always wondering like what you imagine for us to go on Wheatland. We took that Joanie because if we couldn't stay there. Yeah, it's a matter of I don't care. I didn't we didn't care but that's a matter of life or dad. You know, I know that out there in the ocean, which is a teeny tiny dog in the ocean and I didn't have any fear because I knew I knew that okay.

14:43 I got to go or I stay back and I and I'm so even though it was still dangerous if we don't get there before you guys over here and you don't have it. You don't have your not going to encounter that you know, so there's no way you will have to go through what I would I already went through so

15:09 As a it come to for life or something nice. I am happy that you guys were born here and things that how he is so easy. It's so good already. So just make sure that

15:25 Don't do anything that leave a good lines to your cell have people around you as I always wanted to you guys to do and I did not see it and make sure you don't.

15:39 Do anything that I did not say that we always wanted you guys to just stay in line. Yeah.

15:52 I wanted to be a Titian people remembered about it woke untreatable help out. I didn't tell you guys.

16:14 So I remember one time give other came to me and you really said I'm a I'm sorry, I'm a doctor now, but I don't care nothing about three days in the jungle had achieved so much, you know when through so much difficulty yet. They are able to do this. What about us and seem like it's so easy around here. I don't know if I can.

16:49 Have a chance to prove myself that I could go through that thing don't have to think about it. No, don't look at that as I'm challenged. You have to meet someday. I don't want to see that happen to anybody.

17:05 Yeah, cuz I remember I remember you mentioning that you'd wanted to do that before. I thought I just didn't I'm a doctor now, but I can't I'm not going to go. Yeah, he doesn't even like really camping. So yeah, I just I just always wondered like because there's so many times where we talked about it and you describe things as like going on a trip. We're going on a journey and so I just never really knew.

17:38 Like what you had envisioned for us or even before you had kids like what what life did you and that imagine here in America? Like what was it like getting here? How do you remember how it felt when you finally got here finally got the not even in that we got here it was.

17:59 Already that it was October. So, you know 8:07 o clock in the evening. So we waited to pick it up pick us up. And now he brought us home is home and everybody is waited for the waiting for us at the house and I came home and I and I

18:26 It was a house that now I say it is just a n d normal house here and you ask but to me like I enter a castle, I feel like I felt like that because here I see all the lies. You know it just brighten up the whole house mirrors on the wall cabinet from wall to wall and oh my God. Oh my God. Yeah.

18:53 You know because the other day I in Vietnam, it was so hot nobody. He was Cabot.

19:07 Yeah, I remember that night. That's why you know when God and you may have came to New York can do that Chicago airport? Oh, yeah, they were here and she said oh my God, everything is so he was so different. That's why I text her back and they said enjoy that moment. You see that we had to watch you knew before because you never guess. That's that moment again when otherwise

19:45 And if another house but I miss that feeling. Yeah, I am I remember when will wait where What state were you guys in besides? Yeah is in Texas Garland, Texas. I remember when cat came and you been all them when they landed in Chicago just a year or so ago you best at something once you got off there are airplane. I'm pretty sure she said something like a

20:18 Like she knew like I'm never going back yet. I'm staying here. Like this is my new home.

20:27 And so I just always wondered like what it was like when you guys got here too because I'm sure I'm sure would you guys it was a little different, you know, cuz her her process was like a 20-year long Visa process and she wants to stay in the jungle for a month or so before we go to the Big Island.

20:58 For the future or you just explain who you're talkin about your

21:07 So whenever you been cat like your sister and their family whenever they got here, did you get the ask them like what?

21:19 But how they were feeling like knowing they're coming to the states where is coming here and what it's been like for them and the last year so eBay and my sister she said I know is there sometime look back and she still feels she still said You know that I don't know if you knew that she refused to go. She looks she refused and that she could go here about 15 years ago. And then after she gave then she decided to, you know Real by applied because she she wanted to have a better future.

22:04 So, you know the whole story like that, so now I'm still a little sometimes she would say mad. I don't know why I was so now you know why I was so dumb like that. That's what she said. I just always wanted to know and because really like I said whenever we hear about everyone's journey is coming over and especially your brother go numb.

22:34 He's feeling a little quiet. So he

22:40 Acting like a fisherman built that boat and actually had dad build the propeller for him so that he could get his family out. But I just never I just wanted to know so bad what was going through everyone's minds and how they were feeling because like you said, like we'll never experienced that you know, and we'll never know exactly what it was like to think that they you never see some of your family again.

23:10 So yeah, I just I just always wanted to know and hear it and I even get insight on what you guys would expect out of Us kids or hope for us kids being over here.

23:24 I guess we we grow up with the confusion. So we met up with that philosophy. So we always believe that.

23:37 Human as a human being and you will bond Ryan correct nice and not an evil in general.

23:48 So just stay that way, you know, that's all we want and no, of course. We also have an influence of Judaism to stay like that. Then you yourself be a good person and help around with you can see some of my friends. I'll tell people because it was normal in our household, you know, totally normal when I'd say, my dad is Buddhist but my mom is Catholic and a lot of people are like how old do you got his van is that and I said that has three kids just kind of believe whatever and you guys were very accepting of us believing whatever, you know, he's not a religious teaching and so we could go to Temple every now and then and butt

24:48 Growing up, but like like I said, we all just kind of did whatever. So when did you start following more Catholic teachings if you feel like your grew up,

24:59 Believing the Buddhist teachings and Confucius say he was 80s in anybody contusion.

25:22 Be a good kid to my parents as a parent. Do I get a good friend to my friends? You know, what is that? That wasn't what he believed that her infusion.

25:34 But then at 1 then one summer because I'm a semi accident. I lost two older brothers at the same time.

25:46 So by then everybody should I mean my dad just have somebody he's not go with my fault because I didn't believe in anybody own. Oh, yeah. Yeah, so be over around started to say, you know in the village and even relatives started to say because I have a Maya one of my aunt. You know, who's the oldest sister of my mom? She be at Temple

26:12 She had a temple of her cell and then a sister up my dad.

26:18 The sister of my dad married to a man my uncle by law and then they had a temple up in 2020. Well, not lying but he's a temple. Yeah, so and then what in the meantime my dad was atheist and when that happened to my two brothers here I can. Okay. What happened? Is it mine? Was it my fault? So those relatives say, okay. Why don't you turn around and end?

26:52 See if you can get some peace, you know for your mind for your soul. So he he changed a little bit. He started to go to the 10 to the to the temple since that is where the beauty some came to the family.

27:09 And

27:11 But for me as a suddenly become a Cadillac because I don't know why it being all the sister and Rodger Stanley Band why your grandma decided to send me off to a private Gallery private school know why I could be maybe I was the only one that I thought the rest of you went to know. Okay, miss me.

27:41 It is crazy. But I thought that was why I don't know you yeah. Okay. Yeah, I totally always thought it was all of you guys weren't you the one that she felt the most okay with going on the journey to here.

28:02 So why do you think cuz you're not the oldest I'm not the owner didn't go away in that that reason can't do so, why do you feel like like have you always have you ever wondered why she felt that you were ready to go? And they said she knew you mean my mom get up her kid by the character or something, you know, like a new look at 80 and my dog jump, I will ask a table. Yeah, I know but you know that I can handle leaving by myself.

28:54 I don't know what she feel so she believed that I could do it. So she send me off.

29:06 Your mom what she was like like as a young teenager or young adult serve during those times like if you want to that might be so what was it like before coming here? And what was it like whenever you were growing up in Vietnam during all of that or even just in general? What was it like

29:31 What do you mean as a kid? What was it like growing up in South Vietnam? Were you like aware? What was going on like or wise around you? Like, what was it like growing up in the country?

29:46 Very peaceful, even though around battle constantly. And so and so

29:55 I don't know why I grow up very peacefully so I witnessed some death, you know her from somebody I know or something, but I stay so time. I file kiss even though

30:12 And then even when I lost Sunday lost two brothers and I still feel like okay people come and go.

30:21 I didn't take it as a no. My God is terrible thing happened, you know, so I don't know why I don't know why I but I found case I have to Mendes believe in whoever up there like at a time when I we were in the

30:39 In the jungle before we got cancelled do that because I feel she came I wasn't worried about it. And I'm not lying. I would like to okay, everything will be okay. I didn't even think about it. So in Vietnam

30:56 As a teenager, I enjoy my childhood and then grow up.

31:02 I did not desire anything. I just feel like okay and it is so my family that is my land.

31:12 I will go up and then when I was in 11th grade go high my brother, he wasn't working where he will he had a job working with them.

31:26 The president show

31:30 Alex's and you know that the government over there and he already arranged that after I finish high school after I finish my college or something for your degree or something. He will get me a job in the

31:49 In the kind of Secret side of the state, you know some job there so I can travel around the world and me to study how to say in Japan so very much I would just say okay Daddy said, oh, wow, I can do that. So I just go ahead and were you bummed when none of that panned out. No, I cannot believe that that's why you know, I went to and through the Jhene Aiko 3 days old on this day over over the ocean. How many how many people were in the boat in my boat about 11. Along and eat? Well, there were like a hundred and ten hundred

32:49 Flush with the cell face and beside, you know about yourself floating on water and when it was it when we relation International, whatever we we had no idea. We not we won't worry about, you know, being chased by the Vietnamese security guy on police or anything and if so, which is slowly and then you and then we can see you know that

33:28 The fish

33:31 The dolphin. Oh, yeah. Yeah along And Me swim along with the boat like this is so cool. What what where do you go? If you can beat that I know I don't know why cuz you and I were talking about traveling the other day and you were like, I don't want to go anywhere. Yeah, it's so cool. I guess I've never really been able to like sit and hear more of the details cuz I remember writing about your story before, you know, and I remember like I think both my sisters and I have all written stories about like how the family came over but yeah, I've always wondered more of the little details. But yeah,

34:15 Growing up growing up in Vietnam. I got a lot of books. I read a lot of books, you know like you name it, So I let my imagination run wild. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, nothing could take that away. Even though the water how many people died in the room for some reason?

34:51 And to know that I'm I don't have it. I don't I'm not worried about anything. I do not have a safe here. I'm good here and make sure I don't go and kill myself.

35:08 What's been one of your proudest moments in your life?

35:15 So you been asking me a lot of questions now after all that and you tell me and I know you'll 28 years old. Yeah, what's been doing?

35:26 Moment that you feel so proud and I know this moment in your life.

35:32 I'm like, I'm tearing up thinking about it came from.

35:40 Immigrant families

35:44 Oh, yeah.

35:46 I think earlier when you were talking about how you're like, there's no reason to compare the hardships you and Dad went through because I have a lot of guilt for and we talked about this. I have a lot of really weird Gill for some stupid stuff, but I did feel a lot of guilt and how yeah and I might have a bad day and then I think we'll buy it and live in a cardboard box for 14 months.

36:15 I remember talking one night and you were just saying, you know, I'm just proud that.

36:21 The three girls that we raised our just really good and caring people, you know, and so I I I do feel very proud and I try to stay humble about it. Just trying to be a good person that you and I really ingrained into us.

36:41 And a good reminder that it isn't a challenge in life and see who makes it through something harder because I can never imagine how at 22 how old were you when you left?

36:58 2424

37:02 I can't even remember what I was doing when I was 24, but I can't even imagine it being you graduated from will you finish before you even like me sitting there graduating instead of in a room with a hundred ten people it would have been in a boat. Like I just can't I mean

37:24 I don't know. So I am very proud of being able to be the daughter of immigrants, you know, and to know that this is a story that.

37:35 I can help pass on you know, I'm so friends or family or anyone and to say like yeah, we did come from that but we're here now. Yeah. Yeah. I am just very proud of knowing that you and buy of all people were the ones that raised us after everything you've gone through. Okay. I'm glad to hear that, you know, just like, oh sometimes I look back and I just have no idea how we build this our life because when we got here literally we had only $0.25 in our pocket.

38:14 LOL, yeah.

38:17 So thanks a lot to the family that has over. You know, they took care of us humans so we can get some job and make money and earn some money and stop saving and then go back to school and then get him let it out.

38:36 Hey Sonny, did you ever meet that family? It's a Buck Owens family.

38:52 I just wanted to provide a space if you wanted to tell your daughter a proud moment. I know that you had her.

39:01 Either of you wanted to share just like one hope you have for the other in the next 5 years.

39:09 Do you have I guess a moment that you were really proud of me or us or any anyone in the family the family and general?

39:21 You know sometime I am always proud of you guys for the fact that every day on the news. I have a business, you know that and I had a chance to speak to people and they have a hard time in life. You know, when Casey went the wrong direction and something.

39:41 And I always thank God that nobody in our family, you know still to that direction.

39:50 And I hope I can say something to you. You are not just you could just stay and be good and have all the us if you can.

40:02 And don't worry about me. What do you hope to see from me in the next few years in the next 5 or 10?

40:20 Does it mean I can watch you out right now? Yeah, I don't expect you to go down to the ocean and then take a journey and see if you can meet my life. I wouldn't make it out of you. I'm so proud of you.

40:43 Dad and I will always working and I know we not always there with you guys. But at least yeah, you took what I died this you and you let it show so just be that way. I know that's good enough for me.

41:09 I don't I don't really know what more to say. I mean I just

41:17 It just means a lot to hear that you guys are proud that you're at least proud get so stressed, but I think every kind of whether or not they're a total mess up and I guess I was so staged when we talk. I know better even I know that it wasn't meant that my mom when she know what she talking about. Yeah, but we all pass out and we look like

41:53 So thank you for

41:58 Like being so open and letting me know and reminding me that I guess you guys are proud like it's not super affectionate family. So sometimes when I doubt it. No idea how to even ask. Thank you. I love you. I love you, too.