Image About Me ^-^
Over the years, I have been called many names including Minh Hiêu, PresiDante', and even Pro Nacho Maker. Each name has a unique story that I cherish. However, for those that do not know me, they simply call me Dante'. I hail from a small rural town in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, where my Vietnamese mother immigrated after exchanging letters with my dad for 3.5 years. I have come to UO to study multidisciplinary sciences with an emphasis in bioinformatics and minors in global health and anthropology.
My First Week in Vietnam
“If you could go anywhere, where would you go?”
Vietnam. Without a doubt, my answer has always been Vietnam, the home of my culture and family, but a place I have never been to before. When I was granted a chance to study abroad, I immediately knew Vietnam would be my final destination. Fortunately, after spending many hours in interviews, emailing, and filling out forms, I was accepted into a study abroad program.
I spent over 24 hours traveling from Eugene to Ho Chi Minh City. I remember the heat and humidity when I stepped off the plane, the welcoming faces of my uncle, his wife, and my cousin, and the roads where it seemed there were no rules. (Also that I threw up on the airplane 30 minutes before we landed- sorry to my neighbor.) I spent the next few days with my family, as they showed me around, took me to salons, and prepped me for the journey ahead. Later on, my family departed and I was introduced to my internship mates - some of the most genuine and interesting people I have ever met. Before our official internship started, we had an orientation, toured the city, and tried a variety of foods before our internship started.
Over the course of the week, I questioned, “What makes me Vietnamese?” It was apparent living in a town with a population of less than 3,000 limited my access to other Vietnamese communities, language schools, etc.. Walking along the street, I blend in. I look Vietnamese, but all I felt was my identity slipping from my fingers.
Yet, at the same time, I was introduced as the half Vietnamese girl, the girl who had family in the country, and the person who maybe didn’t speak fluently, but tried their best to ask how. At work, I heard phrases such as, "You’re Vietnamese, I believe in you" or, "You have Vietnamese in your blood, you got this." Being Vietnamese seemed to raise the standard of my work output, which was sometimes challenging, but it also affirmed my experiences. Yes, I blended in, but no one ever made fun of the way my eyes were shaped, the color of my skin, or anything else I cannot control.
Ultimately, I can’t deny being Vietnamese, nor can I deny being American. My fluency, experiences, and appearance, although maybe different from others, are still valid. At times, I feel this divide, but I think that is a part of being split between two identities, and one of the struggles is navigating this balance.
I have roughly three more months in Vietnam, and I look forward to learning more about myself and culture.
I’ll keep y’all posted.
By Dante James, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
GlobalWorks Internship in Vietnam, Summer 2023
Read More From Dante'
Lessons from Abroad: Racism and White Saviorism in Vietnam