A Dragon Child: Reflections of a Daughter of Annam in AmericaA Dragon Child: Reflections of a Daughter of Annam in America is the story of a Vietnamese Catholic raised within the structure of the French colonial system. Her upbringing was somewhat privileged as the daughter of a provincial administrator in the central highlands of Vietnam. As a child, and later as a young woman, she embraced French culture and aspired to French ideals. She was educated at a French boarding school for the children of the elite. Subsequently she received a degree in French teaching from the University of Saigon and became a lycee teacher and administrator. In 1975, she left on one of the last military planes accompanied by her four children and entered a new life as a refugee in the U.S. She ultimately resettled in Western Massachusetts. She then went back to school and obtained her Ph.D. in Francophone literature. After seeing to her children's education she began her academic career and started to teach French in the Five College academic community. She has fulfilled the "American dream" as have her children. In the process she has rediscovered her cultural roots and has helped others to negotiate the same path. |
Other editions - View all
A Dragon Child: Reflections of a Daughter of Annam in America Lucy Hong Nhiem Nguyen Limited preview - 2004 |
A Dragon Child: Reflections of a Daughter of Annam in America Lucy Nguyen-Hong-Nhiem Limited preview - 2004 |
A Dragon Child: Reflections of a Daughter of Annam in America Lucy Hong Nhiem Nguyen No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
American arrived Asian asked became become began believed brother called Catholic Center church coming continue course culture daughter died English especially exam experience father feel felt followed four French friends front future garden girls give graduate happy high school husband idea important knew land language later learned leaves living looked married month morning mother needed never night nuns parents passed Phạm Văn Ký prepared priest problems received reflects refugee remember represents rice Saigon seemed sense sister stay studies talk teacher teaching thought told took town traditional tree tried turned University Vietnam Vietnamese village waiting wanted western whole wife woman women young younger