I have always known that I’m a true Vietnamese because my ancestors have lived in Vietnam for many decades. No one in my family, including aunts, uncles, or cousins from different generations, has never immigrated to any other country; Vietnam is our true home. But since I’m the first person who came to Canada with my aunt, this will definitely be one of the biggest defining moments not only for myself, but for my entire family because it might change the history of my family genealogy from now on. I never asked why my dad would be comfortable letting me coming to Canada, so through this assignment, I had a chance to have a better understanding the differences between two countries: Vietnam and Canada. Interesting enough, now I know that my life would be totally different if I had stayed in Vietnam.
I came to Canada almost three years ago on August 28th 2014 with the purpose of having a better education. This is my first study visa in Canada:
I asked my dad why did he choose Canada out of other developed countries. He said “well, partly because your aunt settled here, so it would be better for you to have someone to take care of,” but that is not the major answer, he continued, “I have done some research about Canada, and surely it will give you a better environment to be in and has a better view of the world since you can have an opportunity to associate with other international students come from different countries”. He was right. Now I have friends from all over the world: Japan, China, Philippines, Mexico, Germany, Spain, South Sudan, India,Portugal, and even Syria. I have learned so much from them, yet I might not have that opportunity if I had stayed in Vietnam. 
As I experienced both aspects of the two countries, I think that my life would be very different if I have stayed in Vietnam. Canada is value more to freedom and equality whereas Vietnam prefers more about respect elders and culture’s manner. I can explore about who I really am and have more freedom of choices in Canada without worrying about social formality, which is hard to do so in Vietnam. Through the interview, my dad has a very similar thought as I do, but he added one major factor that can make my life so different: Education system. “If you have stayed in Vietnam and continue to go for school in here, I’m sure that you will not have a deep perceptions on your future according to the forceful education system in Vietnam,” my dad answered, “yes you still have knowledges about stuffs, but do not have that practical skills which Canada can provided.”
Vietnam’s education still does not have enough facility and infrastructures to help students involve in practical skills because Vietnam is still a developed country with a GDP per capita is $6,400, whereas GDP per capita in Canada is $46,200 (CIA World Fact Book). That is why the education system in Vietnam has traditionally been expected to "sit down, shut up and listen” because it has no ability to improve their old system (worldbank.org).
I also interviewed one of my friend in Vietnam. He currently studying in one of the best high school in the main city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city. He said “We must to take all 13 subjects per grade for advance high school (grade 10-12), and they not allow us to fail any of the subjects. One of the most stressful things for students in Vietnam is University Entrance Exam, which can determine your social status in the future,” he continued, “that test cover all the knowledges from grade 10 to 12 and if you failed, people will treat you like a failure”. Like any other Asian countries, Vietnamese value learning. They also see education as both the path to success and consistent with their sense of filial piety, the way to bring esteem to their family. That is why we have to work so hard and keep improving even if there is no room for improvement. Though the education system in Vietnam is very stressful and fairly out of update, it still give students a strong basic knowledges in advance subjects (Math, Science, and Literature) compared to other countries. According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test, Vietnam is rank 8, just after Canada, despite the fact of low infrastructure development.
In contrast to Vietnam’s education, Canada’s education system would allow student to be more freely to express themselves and have more responsibility toward planning their own future. They only have to take 4 courses per semester, have wider elective courses that can be very helpful and practical in their future like: cooking, welding, business, etc. this kind of learning environment will help to increase creativity in student, which is what Vietnam’s education is missing.
Though keeping the knowledges of culture and heritage is very important, I would still encourage my children, who might be a shift for my family genealogy, to take an amazing education in Canada because it can really help to guide themselves for the future. However, I still hope my next generation will visit their homeland every year to learn and explore the beauty of the country that exist inside their blood.
Such as the unique culture of foods, culture festivals, and especially their family (by the way,I’m the one in the phone, facetime with my family, and taking pictures with my cousins for Lunar New Year).
Works Cited
Nguyen, Thua. Interview. 27 May 2017.
Nguyen, Tung. Interview. 29 May 2017.
"The World Factbook: VIETNAM." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 01 May 2017. Web. 01 June 2017.
Hays, Jeffrey. "EDUCATION IN VIETNAM." Facts and Details. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.
"Vietnamese Food." Vietnam Food Stylist. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.
McColl, Sam, and Lehoang3004. "Hoi An Travel Guide Archives." Hoi An Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017.
"PISA 2015 Results in Focus." PISA in Focus (2016): n. pag. Web.
This is a very insightful perspective on how your life has been permanently altered by your chance to join us here for a few years. I love the picture of you with our ESL students, who have created your own community here in our school. Just as you learn from us, we also learn from you. You show students what hard work and respect look like on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it seems that in Vietnam that respect is demanded and enforced with punishment and shame should you embarrass yourself or your family by doing less than your best. The mandatory tests do show that your people have been performing well, but it does not measure how deeply they have learned the concepts. We have moved away from standardized tests in the past few years, and the emphasis is on the experience of learning, rather than the assessment that happens at the end. If you could stay in Canada and become a citizen, would you take that opportunity? What do the next few years hold for you?
ReplyDeleteI am really proud of what Vietnam’s culture had give me: discipline and respect, yet I still wish to have a chance to become a citizen of Canada. As I know, Canada provides such an amazing education system as well as health care system, but it is really expensive for an international student like me since I currently have to pay for high school and pay twice of the amount of the tuition fee in university. Despite the expenses I have right now for living in Canada, I believe that will lead me to a better career and set my future children into a good environment.
DeleteThis is a very good blog post about your heritage. I loved how you interviewed your friend still in Vietnam about how his life is in that country now vs your life now. The stress level in school must be very high for him. I would like to know how difficult it was for you to immigrate to Canada in 2014 and if you think it is easier now to do. In your home country where you were born, and you were still getting educated there, would you be at a high level or a low in your classes?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I was really hate school in Canada when I just came because I could not make any friends with my little english. It was difficult for me to adapt to the new system of education in Canada because in Vietnam, we only study based on textbook knowledges, but in Canada, the education prefers to use more of practical skills like projects, assignments, and interviews. My family also banned me from speaking in Vietnamese, so it is really hard for me to get help in the language I know very little. However, I see a better result after a few years staying in Canada. I am really happy that I can receive this kind of education in Canada because I can see it has really set me off for a bright future with all the skills I would never learn in Vietnam. Before I came to Canada, I was an average student in school since I have no idea about what my future will be and give no effort into it, so I think I would still be an average student with a forceful education system in Vietnam.
DeleteIt is very brave of you and your Aunt to venture to a new country. It must have been a very emotional and difficult decision for you at the time to leave your family. I find it interesting that you could be the one person who changed the genealogy in your family. In years from now your name will be on Ancestory.com and mark you as the deviation to a new country and then you have made history for your family. Then in Grade 11 English your future family will write about you!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that your Father feels Canada is such a peaceful, positive, and safe country to send a loved one. I too think he made a good choice! However, it is just recent that Canada has recognized and made efforts to reconcile it’s cruel treatment to some groups of people such as the indigenous people. It is a step in the right direction.
There seems to be a common theme for those who have left their home country for Canada; Education, freedom and opportunity. This is what makes Canada such a diverse country. It makes me proud to be Canadian.
Yes I was really surprised when I learned about the Indigenous History in Canada. I could not imagine a country be praised as a peaceful multicultural country like Canada had such a negative impact to their own people, yet it is important to realize that Canada does not try to hide it but take it as a valuable lesson to educate the next generation. Even an outsider like me get to know about the dark past has really made me think that Canada is making such a big impact on others with how Canada takes responsibility of its actions. And I had learned a lot from Canadian's Values, thank you ^.^ .
DeleteGood Job Tram! This is a great evidence of bravery. Leaving your family in Vietnam and pursuing to get a better education in Canada must be tough for you. It is very brave for your family in Vietnam to let you settle in in Canada to get a better quality of education. As an immigrant, I feel how it’s better to get education in Canada. Canada has better things to offer. It is very interesting how you could change your family's heritage, by the first ones who settled in in Canada within your family. After you’re done education in Canada, would you include sponsoring your family to come to Canada and settle in with you or would you rather go back to Vietnam to live with them?
ReplyDelete