Her name is Tram. We’re just barely related. And it’s her house I’m living in while I bum around in Saigon. I’d never met her before I arrived five weeks ago. In fact, I’d never heard of her. But when Tram’s aunt asked her to open up her home to this distant relative, she did so gladly and without question.
This is the Vietnamese way. We take care of one another. If we’re family, we’re family. And we do anything for each other. Even if we’ve never met.
Six years ago, I packed up everything I owned and left home (Sound familiar? Yeah, I have issues. But that’s a whole ‘nother topic). I drove my little Honda from Olympia, Washington to Southern California to start a new life. I had no job, no friends, no place to live.
Guess where I ended up? OBviously in Orange County at my mother’s godparents’ son’s house with his wife who he just married a month before I showed up on his doorstep. Duh!
We’re not even “real” family. And not only did these newlyweds agree to take in this girl they’d never met or heard of – they agreed to take in TWO. My sister made the bold move to California as well and we would share a bedroom in this house for what felt like an eternity (sorry Vy, but I think we can agree that was a nightmare, ha!).
It probably could’ve been an eternity and it wouldn’t have been a problem. We’re Vietnamese and that’s just how we roll.
Tram has never asked me how long I’m staying. I’m just here until I’m not here anymore. There are already six family members living under this roof, what’s one more?
There are a lot of things to love about the culture here. But I think this one’s my favorite. You can truuuuuly count on family.
“that’s just how we roll” lol. love it.