Michael Nguyen

Map of Vietnam (http://www.vietnamventure.com/images/vietnam/vietnam_map.gif)

In the year of 2004 the Nguyen family was just starting a new adventure. This adventure took place in Vietnam. The homeless people ranged from any ages. In Vietnam there are a lot of cities that are polluted. The air is hard to breathe in. Water is hard to find; it is almost rare in some places. Michael Nguyen, my father, had an exceptional idea to help change Vietnam.

In 2004, on a visit to Vietnam with his family, his plan was to feed some of the homeless and poor people there. The Nguyen family started to donate tons of food and medicine. Some of the food was rice, sugar, and coconut juice. Michael, at the same time, asked some friends from America that were doctors to help give check ups to the people for free. Michelle and Jimmy Nguyen (daughter and son) were very young and couldn’t understand much, but the only thing they remember until now is the reactions on those peoples’ faces. The people were so happy to see food that they started to cry.

This is a different boat also escaping (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e3m2cCZ7hUI/RhqOHdJPN_I/AAAAAAAAANM/nyrlo_BtDMY/s400/PrintBoatPeople.jpg)

Michael wanted to donate and help because of his his personal history. Michael grew up with 16 brothers and sisters. They were really poor. Michael’s “job” when he was just 4 years old, was to sell ice cream everyday biking over 10 miles. Michael’s brothers and sisters would go to school then come home to raise money for their household. The Vietnam War was taking place. People were forcing men to go to war.

In the year of 1988 Michael and his brothers finally had had enough, and they wanted to escape Vietnam. They wanted to live in the United States of America for a better experience. The escape wasn’t easy because the Vietnamese government did not want their citizens to go to the USA because of their hatred for America at the time. Michael and his brothers got caught and still kept their hopes and dreams up. This whole entire escape took about 2 years. Finally their escape was a success and they were considered lucky because others failed. Some escapes led to many people dying. Everyday the people on Michael’s escape boat would get just a little handful of rice and two tablespoons of water.

The Nguyen Family (my mom Diana, my brother Jimmy, my dad Michael, and me)

I think he is my hero because this was a lot of hard work and to just donate your time to people you don’t know. I look forward to growing up and donating to many charities and helping as much as I can. My dad is the only reason why I was born in the United States and grew up here too. I think it is very amazing that I get a chance to know two languages. To this day, Michael is still supporting, donating money, and medicine to people all over in Vietnam. Michael is my hero forever and also my dad! Michael will always support others and his family no matter how hard it is.