Tran explains the Vietnamese word “Nuoc” means water and country. When you ask where are you from, you are literally asking “from what waters are you from”.

I was able connect with Tran’s #memoir on a profound level. My parents are Vietnamese boat people aka refugees during the Vietnam War. Similarly, I’ve had a hard time connecting with them because of the American vs Vietnamese culture and language barrier. Domestic violence is a common thread in Vietnamese culture. There were parts in the story where I thought I was reading my own story. My stronger desire to protect my own sister and mother, so I submit in order to preserve the peace. This is what Tran did for his younger brother.

Tran names his chapters with titles from great works and seamlessly weaves literature into his experience. This coming of age story is the foundation of what is to come in the next decades of his life. He is who he wants to be, and he found his way while navigating his complicated family life. I get it. I really do. I’ve also been there. Not only that, but I still get called oriented now, in 2020. As Tran’s NYC cousins would say, “Waddya? A rug?”