Interviewer: Cuc Truong
Interviewee: Hung Tran
Relationship: neighbor
Date: November 2, 2002
 

He may go back to Vietnam to find a wife

What is your full name?

Hung Tran

What is your nationality?

Vietnamese

What is your date of birth?

October 11, 1970

Where were you born?

Vietnam

When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?

1985

Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?

Move to the United States with my family

What did you like/dislike about your home/country?

I don't like the communism.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

It is really nice and my family decided stay here.

How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?

Airplane, I don't want to change it because airplane is safe.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

By a close friend who lived in the United State.

With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]

Mother, father. 2 sisters

Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?

Memories of childhood and I used to have a farm in Vietnam

How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?

My life change pretty much, the language is difficult but I learn to adapt to it.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

Freedom of speech, religion. I expect it to be nice and like heaven

What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?

Accomplish a job, family and a home. I am still single.

What are the differences between when you came here and now?

Language, I have to learn a second language.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

Nothing.

What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?

I Learn to communicate with people around me

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?

Not much money, by a close friend.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Difficult to adapt and the environment and the communication is hard.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Communism in Vietnam, came here to have a better life.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

No education in Vietnam, I have to work all day in the field. First year I came to Philly I start high school and then graduate after that.

Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?

No regret, I am having a nice life though sometime I do want to go back to visit.

What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?

Want to find a wife in Vietnam. No lady here wants to love me.

Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, how did you get money?

From a friend. I was cleaning the hotel for 5 dollar an hour.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Nothing really, I have been grateful to be here and that one day I would like to come back to Vietnam to do business to help out the community.