The Happiest Refugee

The German ship takes the family to an island in the Malaysian archipelago. Three months later, the family receives news that Australia is willing to receive them as refugees. The family arrives in their new country in August 1980. They are given free clothes by nuns. The family is amazed by the many privileges to be found in Australia—including free healthcare and welfare. Anh’s father Tam finds a factory job, and the family soon moves from the hostel they had been occupying to a two-room flat. Their neighbor, Ms. Burke (whom they refer to as “Ms. Buk” in a Vietnamese accent), is extremely generous in helping them find their feet.

In 1982, Anh begins school at St. Bridget’s Primary—a Catholic school. His parents are so grateful to the Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke for giving them shelter that when Anh is asked in school what he wants to do when he grows up, he says he wants to be prime minister. From this early age, Anh is already absorbing his father’s attitude of “You can do anything.” However, he is influenced by his mother’s advice that it is important to be generous to those less fortunate than himself.

The family moves to a two-bedroom house in the Earlwood neighborhood of Sydney. There, Anh’s mother buys a sewing machine, with which she hopes to earn an income as she looks after Anh and Khoa’s newborn sister Tram. Anh’s father soon quits his factory job, and he and Anh’s mother launch a business making clothes for wholesalers. The business is demanding—requiring many hours of work—and Anh’s uncles and other members of the extended family also start working in the business.

As the business grows the family moves again to a factory building in Newton. Part of the building is filled with V8 sewing machines, which the family uses to make garments. Anh’s father invites Uncle Two and his wife and four children to move in with them. Anh is happy to have the company of his cousins at home—the children play together and go to school together.

Uncle Two and his family live with Anh and his family for two years, but then disagreements erupt between Anh’s mother and father and Uncle Two and his wife. Uncle Two and his family leave, but are soon replaced by Uncle Three, an uncle who arrives from America, as well as Anh’s grandmother (his father’s mother), and Anh’s father’s younger sister, who arrive from Vietnam. Other people from the larger Vietnamese community stay with the family—Anh’s parents are known for their generosity, always allowing needy members of the community to stay with them. Uncle Six, Tam’s adopted brother, also arrives to live with them.

In primary school, Anh has his first public speaking engagement. He must give a speech to compete to become school captain. His English is still not very good, and he stumbles through the speech before the packed auditorium. Some of the children and even teachers laugh at him, but he’s encouraged by his other classmates, who cheer him on. Anh doesn’t win school captain, but his father Tam nonetheless throws a big celebration. This teaches Anh an important lesson: that what matters is trying, not winning. The following year, Anh wins a big school prize. His father is so proud as he goes up to collect his award that he gives him a standing ovation.