The Eastern Graphic, PEI, Canada-July 2, 1980

Vietnamese family

Enjoy hospitality

By Elizabeth Boehner,

Nguyen Thuong Chanh and his family arrived in Montague last week after a three month odessey from South Vietnam, and despite the culture shock and homesickness for family and friends in Saigon, they are glad to be here.

Thuong Chanh, his wife Ngoc Lan, five year old daughter Ngoc Lan Chau and three year old son Thuong Nghia, left their home on March 25, joining the ranks of boat people on the precarious voyage to Thailand. Pirates and lack of food and water marked the grueling trip and the four arrived at a refugee camp in Thailand with only the clothes on their backs and no shoes.

Thuong speaks English but had difficulty finding the words to describe their feelings upon arriving in Montague last Tuesday night and being ushered into a fully furnished, grocery stocked mobile home.

“ We lost everything in Vietnam but we have more here” marvelled Thuong. Despite the upheaval in their lives and the uncertainty of a new country, the Nguyens covet their newfound freedom.” We can go to sleep at night without fear of the police breaking in”, related Thuong and added “freedom is priceless”.

He made a few remarks about the political climate in his country and then nervously requested that any such comments be omitted from any story written about them.The fear of reprisals still apparently looms large in their minds after years of conditioning to the communist regime in their homeland.

Thuong is amazed at the hospitality they have received in Montague. “I walked down the street and people said hello and I've never met them before”, he related with pleasure.

Accustomed to a few bowls of rice and a small piece of meat or fish as their daily diet, the Nguyens may be a while getting used to their refrigerator full of western foods. They are also trying to get used to the slow pace of the area after the bustle of Saigon.

“It's so quiet here” he exclaimed adding, however, that the Island landscape is similar to the resort area of Dalat which is 300 km from Saigon.

Training in English is the priority in their lives right now and as for the future both have hopes of eventually being able to return to the professions they had in Vietnam. Thuong is a veterinarian and his wife a pharmacist.

Hillcrest United Church, St Mary's Parish, and a group from Cardigan have sponsored the Nguyens.

Montreal, tháng tư, 201