Two of Lam's stories which discuss Vietnamese immigrants' passages of boats to their new homes are "Sister" and "Yacht People." The hardships they face influence their new identities as refugees. I was inspired by the woman in "Yacht People" who brought mango seeds with her on the boat. The mango seeds are a physical reminder of Vietnam for the woman; it is all she can manage to save from the home she is leaving. Despite (or as a result of) the hardship experienced, those seeds sprouted. I drew a mango tree growing from a boat in stormy seas. The storm represents both the physical and emotional turmoil which plague the refugees as they make the journey, their identities stuck in limbo between the past and their futures in a new country. Two children are by the tree, which symbolize these two stories. One child remains in the shade and protection of the tree. She represents a refusal to abandon traditions. For her, the tree represents strong-rooted tradition and culture which is worth saving. The other child is climbing the mango tree, looking to the sunshine above the clouds. This represents hope for the future in a new country and culture, as well as a departure from tradition and a Vietnamese past. The mango tree is symbolic of the growth of the children's new identities as a result of this boat ride to the United States; the direction in which each child's identity grows is dependent on the individual.
By Paige M.
Paige, I really like your visualization of the struggles refugees face due to living in exile. Your usage of the tree as a metaphor for Vietnamese traditions and values makes sense to me and it also reminded me of the family tree in "Show and Tell", even though in that story it would represent American traditions and values.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the two children can be seen as a personification of the gap between the first generation and the 1.5 generation. In the short stories the older generation tries to hold on to the Vietnamese tradition, whereas the 1.5 generation strives to live in the American way.
- Storai K.
Paige, I love your perspective here regarding the refugee’s hardships regarding their struggles during the war, and how these struggles develop even though their in America. The mango seeds stuck out to me, too. Not only do they serve as a reminder for the woman in “Yacht People,” they also serve as a representation of fertility. Mangos, are tropical, but grow well in America. It is possible that these mangos serve as a representation of herself, and her potential to grow and flourish in America too.
ReplyDeleteKristen P.
I really like how the way you planned out your drawing, Paige. The visual of the mango tree growing on the boat towards the sun is a very imaginative composition for a drawing. Seeing how the tree is on the boat helps reinforce how rooted the characters are to their birth country. While the tree may grow to greater heights and closer towards a better future in the West, there will always be that part that will be firmly planted in Vietnam, kind of like how the brother in "Sister" was happy to be able to make contact with Vietnam after years of being in the US. I also like how you placed the two children in different parts; one by the trunk (and the ground), and the other on the branches (and close to the sun). It's a good visual of the conflict immigrant children face; whether to hold onto their family and traditions, or risk having a more successful life at the cost of straying from their family. It's a common problem that I've seen my Filipino/Indonesian/Vietnamese friends and I face on a regular basis. Good job to you.
ReplyDelete--- Neil G.
The contrasting paradoxes in your drawing are well explored and designed. The tree is symbolic of life itself with all its nuances, variances and characteristics. History can be traced through its roots and its bark shows the trials it faced along the way. The branches show all the potential pathways of possible futures that a wait the refugees. Adding the mix of sun and clouds on top is reflective of the bittersweet life that lies ahead of them amidst so much loss. The boat also symbolizes the many ways that refugees have journeyed to America and explores how it has affected them. Such as in "Sister" when Jaden calls their former home because he is curious about what exists in their homeland, whereas Eevie wants to leave it permanently in the past.
ReplyDelete-Jennifer V.
I love your conception of the mango seeds as potentially having sprouted "as a result of the hardship experienced," as I believe that many seeds only sprout under such conditions. Your inclusion of the clouds and sun that seem to enlighten the children makes it easy to visualize the journey overseas as a sort of "limbo," related to a religious experience, during which the refugees seek new identities and struggle to retain old ones.
ReplyDeleteThe placement of the children was most interesting to me upon viewing this drawing. Before I read your explanation, I imagined that the child in the tree was fixated on remaining aloft with Vietnamese mangoes, reaching towards a sky that represented past knowledge and familiarity, whereas the child at the base of the tree had descended onto the boat that would eventually deliver her onto American soil and ensure the establishment of a new identity. I imagined that she was calling up to the child in the branches, coaxing her to come down. Funny how pictures can speak thousands of words, but the words we hear are often of different origins!
--Sandra H.
Paige, firstly I would like to start off by saying how much I loved the fact that you drew a tree and then proceeded to make the trunk into a boat. That was simply genius. However moving on to the juicier stuff, the fact that you were able to summarize those two stories in such a brief manner is truly commendable. Coming from a Mexican American background, I definitely understand what it means to try and not lose ones traditions and feel as though you were able to capture those emotions extremely well.
ReplyDelete-Scarlett S.
DeleteIt is very interesting for you to use the mango tree from "Yacht People" to represent both, attachment to tradition and embracement of a new culture. This offers a insightful perspective on the internal battle these immigrants are forced to fight; a battle between clinging to their Vietnamese roots or completely letting go and adopting American traditions. I, however, believe this battle is unnecessary. It is possible for them to find a balance between both. Once they find a healthy balance between both cultures, they can truly be happy. A lot of their turmoil comes from a sense of guilt. Adopting American roots makes them feel guilty, as if they are betraying their country. This guilt can be avoided through a balance of both cultures.
Delete-Gaby F.