It's a Start.

So, usually when my mom, dad, and I drive to Fairfield University to drop me off, I listen to my Ipod. This time I forgot to bring mine home so I thought I'd have to sit through the whole ride with my mom talking my ear off about stocks and business and stuff, but I was wrong.

We were talking about our plans for Vietnam, what we're going to do and what we'll see. I'm so excited because we're gonna be there for a whole month! I'm actually hoping to pick up some more Vietnamese language. I think if I'm surrounded by the language, I'll become a better speaker.

I feel like every time I tried to start learning again, I stop and then have to start all over again and again and again. I have no clue why I can't remember anything I learned as a child. My mom said she sat my brother, sister, and I down every Saturday and taught us Vietnamese. There must be some mental block there or something because nothing comes to mind.

I need to speak more Vietnamese.

Mom then talked about Vietnamese literature, which oddly, I've never heard about. Vietnam apparently has a national epic poem called Đoạn Trường Tân Thanh, or simply Truyện Kiều. It's supposedly famous and all true Viets should know it. When I found out about this, I felt a bit ashamed because aside from my parents' childhood stories, I know nothing about Vietnam and how it came to be. I learn about America and I know some stuff to get me by, but I have no clue about the history of Vietnam.

So, after I said goodbye to my parents,  I went online and bought a copy of Truyện Kiều and also a 800page history book on Vietnam. They're coming Tuesday.

I'm excited! I feel like I'm really going to get it this time. I can't stand it, knowing that I am Vietnamese yet know nothing about my family's background. Now I feel like I will :)