» Read the Vietnamese version of this story

Author: Nguyen thi Van
Storyteller: Nguyen thi Van
Community Language School: Wollongong Vietnamese School
Main School: Keira High School

The story of my family's migration.

My family.

Hello friends! My name is Nguyen thi Van. I live in Fairy Meadow, NSW.2519. There are six people in my family. I live with my parents and three younger sisters. Their names are Thanh Hong, Thanh Uyen, and Dung. Hong is ten years old, Uyen is eight and Dung is seven. I am fourteen and study in Keira Technology. My sisters study in Towradgi Public. My father works for BHP and my mother works for Crystal Bears.

My family come from Vietnam. My dad left first by boat. He stayed in a refugee camp in Thailand, then a few months later he was accepted and flew to Australia in 1977. My mum came by plane in 1984.

In his childhood, my dad's family was very poor but he was a very good student. Every day he looked after his younger sisters and brothers and cooked for the whole family. He loved to play volleyball, badminton and weight lifting. All his dreams were never realised because the Vietnamese Communists occupied the South of Vietnam. My dad left his country to look for a new life.

My dad has been living in Australia for 25 years. He is not really happy because he misses his family, country and friends. My mum always feels free and happy here.

In three years time, I'll try my best to get into university.

Nguyen thi Thanh Van.