21/02/2024
Sometimes we choose our destiny but more often, our destiny chooses us.
Left Vietnam in May, 1979.
Landed in Edmonton on Feb 20, 1980.
Our boat fit 180 people then local authorities forced another 60 people on. It was a small wooden fishing boat (image 2, 3).
Two nights later, we arrived near Singapore and can’t by a large oil rig. They gave us water and cookies but we were turned away by the authorities because they were already dealing with too many Vietnamese refugees. We eventually landed in Indonesia, and again were turned away, for the same reason.
Back out to sea, where we were robbed by pirates. My mom said she thinks they were a group of women because they left all the women and children unharmed and noticed under their layers of clothing, “swelling” (breasts). My mom hid her gold jewellery in a rice bowl.
The Malaysian navy took our compass and discouraged us from going back out to sea. Eventually, we were towed by a very large Malaysian ship for days across the China Sea. At one point my dad was worried about the large ship towing our small fishing boat. He thought if they turned too sharp, we would we capsize so he sat at the front of the boat, ready to cut our rope. The whole time, he worried about who to save if our boat was to capsize, his parents, his 6 kids, his wife, or his wife’s two younger sisters. Fear and panic sunk in.
We were at sea for a total of 7 days.
We eventually landed at Galag refugee camp in Malaysia and were taken in.
After several months, we were sponsored to Canada by a church congregation in Strathroy (image 1 was us leaving the refugee camp for Canada). They flew us to Edmonton 44 years ago today. After we landed, I was 3 years old so have no memories of this trip.
A few random memories my sisters shared with me:
The smell of lemon hand wipes on the plane ride to Edmonton.
Accidentally calling Diane, one of our sponsors who had a motherly presence, “mom”.
Wanting to touch our sponsor family’s daugher, Suzie’s blonde braids (image 4).
Eating canned beets at refugee meetings.
Learning the song, Jesus Loves Me, Yes I Know.
Forever thankful that destiny chose my family to survive and has protected each of us very well since then. 🥹💛
