Cheers for the insight, There are some posts I found quite interesting, in this blog.

Online Assignment

1. The rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans fits the Asian American myth of “model minorities” due to the fact that they’re self-starters and returned before the local African American and Hispanic resident in order to rebuild. They united together in times of desperation to re-established what was theirs and not sit around and wait for the government to come in and save them, they united to save themselves. According to the local African newspaper, the Vietnamese sheer determination, self-sufficiency and refusal to place “its salvation” and “well being” in the hand of the government help them to regain their sense of community and pride and a voice to say that they received inadequate assistance from the state and city in times of dire need.

2. Due to the fact that the Geneva agreements in1954 split the country into two-with the Communist governing the north and non-communist in the south, it lead a large movement of refugees to flee the country in search for a better life elsewhere. Many of these residents had a strong sense to rebuild because they knew that all was not lost and their strong social network within the community help them to regain and rebuild what seemed to vanish after the devastation of Katrina. An individual that was a recent immigrant and resident in the community stated that the hurricane was “nothing” because “you always have your family with you”. It was leaving their native country and culture that was the hardest for most refugees because it was a “complete relocation from one’s place of origin” rather than rebuilding of what was still left behind.

3. Memory and history go hand in hand due to the fact that the war in and around 1975 has been ingrain in most of our memory which has helped to empower us to be resilient in spite of difficult circumstances that may come our way. Our memory in many ways has helped us to thrive in the second country we call home because the older generation such as our parents wants to give us the opportunity that they could never have ascertain. The success of the Village de L’Est in New Orleans was also contributed to past memory because these people wanted to recreate a community in which they could relate back to their native country in Vietnam before it was it lost into the hands of communism. This community re-established their cultural identity through their cohesion in faith. The visionary leadership of Father Vien from the Mary Queen of Vietnam church helped the community to regain what was lost and raised a voice to say they’re strong despite of hardship, tribulation and the perpetual memory that still lingers on in the lives of these individuals.

Extra Credit

1. The most prevalence aspect of Vietnamese folklife that will continue to exist for generation to come would be preserving Vietnamese literature, traditions and cultural values. Vietnamese cooking will most likely be the longest surviving cultural artifact. Despite of where we’re born or raised, Vietnamese young and old will almost always prefer their way of cooking and eating due to the depth and flavor these meals bring as compared to other cultures. Other elements that may continue to survive would be the traditional Vietnamese long dress “ao dai”, traditional holiday such as “Tet” (Vietnamese New Year) and “Tet Trung Thu” (Mid-Autumn Festival). On the other hand, cultural aspect that would not fare as well would be traditional occupation such as fishing because the younger generation able to attain a much higher education which in turn leads to more prestigious job finding within the community. Another aspect might be certain old traditional folk music because many of the younger generation can’t understand the in-depth meaning of these songs which in turn will probably not get passed down from future generation to generation.

2. Through the tradition and practice of each family maintaining a sacred home altar within the home it has contributed to the preservation of the Vietnamese language and culture. Public and private altar for worship within the Catholic and Buddhist community is a way of keeping the culture and tradition alive in order for it to pass on from one generation to the next. The altar hold sacred meaning and practices are taught by the older to the younger generation. It’s a practice to remember decease ancestors and to pass on religious and spiritual belief to the younger generation while also emphasizing Vietnamese language and culture.

3. In many ways public and private altar intertwine with one another with only minor detail aspects that seem to differ. Business altar on the other hand, slightly differ in the fact that it’s mainly associated with Buddhism in which incense is lighted and hot tea is served to the Buddha on the altar. Depending on how the day is going within the business, different prayer said such as health, profit, safety and much more. Public altar is usually in an open area in which different individual can come and offer their prayer and it’s open to everyone. Private altar is within the home and it’s slightly different when it comes to Catholic and Buddhist altars. In similar aspects, both are adorned with pictures of deceased family member and are located in the central of the home. Candles, flowers, light and holy water adorn the altar. Buddhist altar is divided into male and female side, food offering is made and incense is lit in prayer. On the hand, Catholic ancestor altar is almost always directly underneath the main religious altar in the home. For Catholics, items on the altar are considered very sacred especially the statues, pictures, and holy water because these things have been blessed by a priest. Vietnamese American acknowledges that altars within the public, private and business life helps to keep the culture and religion alive, all the while, maintaining traditions for generation to come.

Assignment:

1. The myth of Asian Americans as “model minorities” states that Asian Americans have “a strong work ethic and an innate identity.” The media used the fact that “in less than three generations the New Orleans Vietnamese refugees had seemingly mastered the po¬litical system and overcome Katrina through the self-sufficiency and hard work” as proof that the myth is true. The rebuilding of their community support this myth because the Vietnamese Americans community rebuilt their community by themselves with minimal government help.

2. The church played a major role, the local leader, in the rebuilding process of their communities. The reason the church serve as a local leader is because of the history of the Vietnamese Catholic persecutions. The persecution they received before 1945 forced the Catholic communities to revere their priests as a local leader because he was often the only source of leadership and assistance for a community. This view of the church as a local leader was brought along with the Vietnamese Catholics when they moved to America. Also, the Vietnamese Catholics were already used to helping their neighbor because “The celebration of feast and saints’ days facilitates community building among neighbors.” The preexisting leadership structure also allowed the church to keep track of its members’ locations in Katrina’s diaspora.

3. “Because migration occurred within the past three generations and under the conditions of war, the community has sustained the strong social networks that operated during the refugee and migration experience as well as confidence in the efficacy of those networks.” The rebuilding of their community after migrating from Vietnam was much harder and much more dangerous so that experience prepared them for the rebuilding of their community after hurricane Katrina. The memory of the past can also function as a significant source of community resilience and transformation.”

Extra Credit:

1. The folklife that will last the longest is Vietnamese cooking. This is because most Vietnamese people prefer this style of cooking to any other style. Traditional dress, ao dai, will mostly likely last but it will not be used in the same manner as it once was. In Vietnam, ao dai was wore on a regular basis but in America they are only wore for special occasions. Although it has been changed, I believe it will still persist because ao dais is not only a dress; it’s also an important facet of Vietnamese culture.

2. To help children learn their language and culture, Sunday school is taught in Vietnamese and all the activities are performed in Vietnamese. This allows the children to learn their about their religion in Vietnamese and allows them to practice their native language. The religious service is also performed in Vietnamese to further help the children learn Vietnamese and because many of the elderly people cannot understand English. The Vietnamese religious communities also hold many cultural activities that are performed in Vietnamese like the celebration of the Lunar New Year. All this helps to preserve their native language and culture.

3. Alters are used as a way to pay respect to Buddha and our ancestors. It is also used as a reminder of how fragile life is and how each moment should be cherished. Along with the two usages already mentioned, alters also serve as a way to communicate with Buddha and our ancestors during times of hardship.

Week 5 Assignment
-Leong, Karen, et al. 2007

What is the myth of Asian Americans as ‘model minorities’ and does Vietnamese Americans’ rebuilding of their community in New Orleans fit this model?

According to the passage, the myth of Asian Americans as “model minorities” was the ability to adapt so fast to a “strong work ethic” and an “innate identity.” The media covered the “Vietnamese Versailles community” which was displayed in a “narrative that fit the stereotypical Asian American model-minority myth: in less than three generations the New Orleans Vietnamese refugees had seemingly mastered the political system and overcome Katrina through the self-sufficiency and hard work associated with Asian Americans in general.” This explains that theVietnamese Americans’ rebuilding of their community in New Orleans does fit this model because the community adapted fast and worked alone without government support.

How does history play a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans?

The church played a role in rebuilding of the Vietnamese Amercan Community; “it grew out of a pattern of church leadership that had developed in Vietnam over several hundred years” and the “preexisting leader structure was one of the most important community resources in the rebuilding process, allowing the church to keep track of its members’ locations in Katrina’s diaspora.” When permission was granted for people to return to New Orleans, the pastor asked available council and hamlet representatives to meet in Houston to plan for the return to the parish. On October 5th, more than 300 parish members helped clean up right after returning to Louisiana and “the Vietnamese community’s collective dispersal and return to New Orleans serves to define both a cohesive faith identity for the Catholic Vietnamese Americans and a broader refugee identity of survival and sociocultural adjustment that includes all Vietnamese American residents regardless of religion.”

How does memory play a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans?

From the source, “Because migration occurred within the past three generations and under the conditions of war, the community has sustained the strong social networks that operated during the refugee and migration experience as well as confidence in the efficacy of those networks.” Memory played a role in rebuilding of the community because they experienced migrating fromVietnam in which helped them know how to adapt easily in evacuating and rebuilding. In quote from a refugee, “It is harder leaving from your culture. Hurricane is nothing. In the hurricane, you have your family with you all the time.” Observing that “our life is not as hard as it was before,” this individual, like many others in the community, perceived the evacuation and rebuilding of New Orleans as less difficult than complete relocation from one’s place of origin. That memory, along with the experience of adjusting to the United States, is shared by Catholic and Buddhist Vietnamese Americans and further contributes to a collective community identity.”

-Extra credit
-Kilbourne, Kathy. 2006

What elements of Vietnamese folklife will likely persist while other may not?

According to the passage, Vietnamese food traditions will probably survive the longest with the fewer changes than any other elements.
“Vietnamese cooking will probably survive longer and with fewer changes than any other cultural artifacts that Vietnamese have brought to this area, because the Vietnamese — young and old — prefer it to any other style of cooking and prepare all their meals using Vietnamese recipes.” Another element that may also survive is the traditional dresses for vietnamese women; the ao dai. But these dresses are only worn on special occasions in America while it is worn regularly in Vietnam. However, it is one aspect of Vietnamese folklife in which has become widely cerimonial to Vietnamsese in America.

-Tomingas-Hatch, Emma. 2009

How do the Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana contribute in maintaining language and culture?

Joseph Doan explains the importance of a community. He explains that asians want to live in a group and that they do not want to separate because they are not fond with the american culture and customs. There is an issue in Language so living near each other is a way to help one another when needed. “The communal aspect of the Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana plays a large role in the maintenance of their language and their culture. Religious institutions provide a community in which language and culture are top priorities. ”

Explain the role of altars in public, private, and business life of Vietnamese Americans in Louisiana.

In the article, it explains that individuals “work to keep their culture alive through the use of public and private religious observances, specifically, public and private altars.” Same for businesses, Vietnamese alters are used in their stores or shops to be present to anyone in that religion to pray.

Online reading
1/The myth of Asian Americans as ‘model minorities’ is about Asian American very independent in rebuild their communities after the Katrina in New Orleans. Unlike the Latino Americans and the African Americans, who were waiting for the help of the government to re-build their homes after the storm. Asian American included Vietnamese American came to the United States generations after Latino and African American but they have adopted the new life ways faster and better than the other two. As the media said:” in less than three generations the New Orleans Vietnamese refugees had seemingly mastered the political system and overcome Katrina through the self-sufficiency and hard work”.

2. In the past, in 1945, after the French left Vietnam. Vietnam was split up to two sides. The North was communist and the south was democrat, so a lot of people have to leave their home, their families to follow the side they have chose. And during the wars in Vietnam (against the French, the Japanese and American) Vietnamese have been through many things that even more terrible so that the Katrina do not affect them that much.

3. In Vietnamese memory, there are many bad things have been stored. Many of them have seen people die everyday. They even seen their own family’s member die. They have seen their neighbor’s houses or their houses destroyed by the booms and many terrible things so that the Katrina was nothing compare to what they have been through. The most important thing that help them deal well with the storm was that they have their family always with them.

Extra credit

1. Vietnamese cooking will be the Vietnamese folklife that last longest because not only Vietnamese like to eat Vietnamese foods but also American. This make Vietnamese cooking easily fit into American life and can be pass on for many generation. Another thing that will last will be the traditional dress, even though you can not wear them everyday for any normal events but Vietnamese will not be Vietnamese anymore without ao dai

2. There are classes have been opened to teach the generation that born in the United States how to read and write in Vietnamese in Vietnamese’s church and temple. They also teach Vietnamese culture in there. Most of the classes are free. The older generation want their kids to know that they are Vietnamese and understand where they came from by understand the language and culture.

3. If you are a Vietnamese then you have to know about alter. Alter is a way that let you connect to Buddha and your passed away family’s members ( some Vietnamese don’t connect to Buddha but have have to have alter to remember about their grandparents or so). The roles of alter in public, business and private are to maintain ” culture alive through the use of public and private religious observances, specifically, public and private altars.”

Online Reading
1. The myth of Asian American is as “model minorities” because they gather together after an event that disperses them. Vietnamese Americans rebuilding of their community in New Orleans fit the “model minorities” because they returned and rebuilt their community after the Katrina hurricane. The Vietnamese Americans got together to rebuild their community so other Vietnamese Americans could return home and help to re-established the community. However, there were other minority groups that got displace due to the hurricane and waiting for help from the federal government and local authorities. The Vietnamese Americans were able to rebuild without the aids from the government because they believed that New Orleans East is their second home, small Little Saigon.

2. History plays a main role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans, because they learned to adapt, regain, and rebuild after every horrific events. By learning for history, the Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans believed that a community is like a stronghold, and where all memories, culture are kept. The Catholic Church plays a main role in supporting and maintaining a social network for the Vietnamese Americans.

3. Memory plays a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans such as keeping the culture, rebuilding the old Saigon through memories of Vietnamese that migrated to the US to escape the Communist. With a strong social network, the Vietnamese Americans used those memories to reconstruct like the way it’s used to be before Katrina. By using the memory, the Vietnamese Americans were able to maintain, regain, and strive to hardship to recreate a community in which they believed it’s their native home.

Extra Credit

1.Traditional dress is one aspect of Vietnamese folklife that has become largely ceremonial in Louisiana. The traditional dress for women is the ao dai, a tight bodice with a long, split tail that reaches below the knees over white pants. Although many women in Vietnam wear this regularly, here it is only worn for important occasions. Folk Dances are also the elements of Vietnamese folklike, and the Vietnamese cooking recipes. Small gardens in the back yard, Tet Trung Thu are also the elements of Vietnamese folklife will likely to persist.

2. The Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana contribute by having traditions of maintaining home altars. For Buddist, a special event will gather thousands of people to celebrate and pray in Vietnamese at Tam Bao temple. By participating in both religious events, Vietnamese language will be required to communicate since most of the people are middle age. The Vietnamese religious communities will help to preserve the language and culture.

3. The role of altars in public, private, and business life of Vietnamese American in Louisiana are bringing in good luck and successes. In private home, the role of altars is to pray and worship, also the Vietnamese believe the altars will prevent evil from coming in their houses. The role of altars in public is to attract people to worship, praying, and ask for something they really want.

First Reading:
1. The myth of Asian Americans being “model minorities” is a stereotype that they are self sufficient and hard workers. They do not rely much on the government and work through hardships independently. The Vietnamese Americans rebuilding their neighborhoods and community in New Orleans fit this model because they came back to New Orleans quicker than the other minorities. They came back and began rebuilding their community together, and did not wait for government assistance.
2. History plays a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans because in Vietnamese history religion played a strong role in the communities. This relates to the rebuilding because in history, religion tied the communities together and usually the leader of the community was the church. The priest of each community was usually the leader of the community. As this was the case in the past, it is still today in the rebuilding of New Orleans. Father The Vien Nguyen at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church in New Orleans is the leader of that Vietnamese community and he is important to the rebuilding of their community.
3. Memory plays a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans because the Vietnamese Americans there call New Orleans home, just as they once called Vietnam home before they migrated from there. Since many of them have migrated from Vietnam to America or have been affected by it, they already have some experience with being a refugee. This experience helps them because it reminds them of how difficult it was being a refugee and how much easier life is with a community that helps each other and has a similar culture.

Reading 2:
1. The element of Vietnamese Folklife that will most likely persist to me is the food. Vietnamese food obviously is different here in America than in Vietnam but it with the community growing and the availability of all the ingredients and markets to purchase it from it should be here for a while. Also, Vietnamese restaurants are very popular. Also traditional clothing such as the ao dai will likely be around since it is a ceremonial dress. Ceremonies or festivals such as Tet Trung Thu will be around because of the strong Vietnamese communities in America celebrate them. Strong Vietnamese communities will keep many elements of folk life and culture alive.

Article 3:
1. Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana contribute to maintaining language and culture because the communities worship in Vietnamese and gather together and associate with each other just like in Vietnam, except in America. Many Vietnamese religious communities have classes for the children that teach them language and culture and also lets them be around children of the same ethnicity.
2. Altars are important in the life of Vietnamese Americans because they are used for religious observances and for their ancestors. This is a part of Vietnamese culture that the Vietnamese Americans still keep with them.

What is the myth of Asian Americans as ‘model minorities’ and does Vietnamese Americans’ rebuilding of their community in New Orleans fit this model?

The myth that Asian Americans are “model minorities” is because when Katrina came down and destroyed their home/communities, they were the first ones back to rebuild and start all over again. Even the Latinos and African Americans didn’t return. The Asian Americans came back even without government aid but rebuilding the community with one another. The Asian American culture seems to have adapted and succeed better than other minority groups such as the Latinos and African Americans.

How does history play a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans?

The Vietnamese communities tend to hold their grounds better due to the fact of what they have gone through. They gone through with leaving their home under hard circumstances and learn how to adapt to a new environment and succeed. When Katrina hit it was like another drill that has already been done. But the Vietnamese have a very strong mind and will to rebuild so starting over in New Orleans wasn’t bad. The Church is also a source of leadership that represents a strong community identity. Many people look up to the church for guidance and leadership.

How does memory play a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans?

Memory plays a huge role in the rebuild because of the Vietnamese people who fled their home land holds their memories strong. Their mentality grew stronger and their will to rebuild is stronger also as they come back to rebuild their homes in New Orleans. After going through with leaving Vietnam, coming back to rebuild New Orleans isn’t as bad because they can come back.

Extra Credit:

What elements of Vietnamese folklife will likely persist while other may not?

Vietnamese traditions such as Tet, moral values, language and food seems to be the main things that will stay the same through the next generations. But with the ao dai the traditions seems like it would not work out because of the American lifestyle and especially with the younger generation being so much more Americanized.

How do the Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana contribute in maintaining language and culture?

They contribute in maintaining the language and culture by uniting the Vietnamese culture/communities together. Sunday schools either at the temple or church generally offer classes to teach the younger generations on reading, writing, and history. It’s a good way to pass down the language skills and history of the “mother land”.

Explain the role of altars in public, private, and business life of Vietnamese Americans in Louisiana.

With the public alter are things like the altars at a temple open for anyone to pray at. The private altars generally are to pay respects to our ancestors which generally consists of a picture of them. The business life is generally hoping for a prosperous, profitable and good business.

Extra Credit:
1. The elements of Vietnamese folklife that will most likely still persist is thetraditional cooking. This will probably survive longer and with fewer changes than any other cultural artifacts that Vietnamese have brought to this area because the Vietnamese young and old prefer it to any other style of cooking and prepare all their meals using Vietnamese recipes.

2. Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana contribute in maintaining language and culture by offering Vietnamese mass on Sundays and offering Vietnamese Sunday School for the youth where they practice their Vietnamese language skills and perform all of the Sunday school activities in Vietnamese. Thus, the children not only learn about their religion in Vietnamese, but also are given the chance to improve. Having a religious service in their native language also works for many of the elderly people who cannot speak English very well. This way they can understand the entire service and take part in all of the aspects of their religion in America.

3. Altars in the life Vietnamese Americans in Lousiana is to help them have a place that they can express their religious views or use it as a place of rememberance of their ancestors. This tradition is prevalent in both the Vietnamese Catholic and Buddhist practices. Both religions traditionally have a main altar in their worship center. They also have traditions of maintaining home altars. The Vietnamese, both Catholic and Buddhist, have two kinds of home altars: one is dedicated to general worship and the other is specifically dedicated to their ancestors.

1. “Model Minorities” refers to the recovering and rebuilding process after Katrina, use what they have to gain what was lost. The Vietnamese Americans’ rebuilding their community in New Orleans fit the “model minorities” because the Vietnamese people worked together, helped one another, and used limited help from the government.

2. Through all the experiences in the past, history plays a huge role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community especially the Vietnamese community in New Orleans. At the time they have to rebuild New Orleans, the Vietnamese learned to adapt quickly to the new environment. With the support from the Catholic Church, and with strong belief they already have for the church, the Vietnamese community was soon able to rebuild what was left.

3. Memory plays a huge role in the rebuilding of the community, because it was memory that kept the Vietnamese refugees survived and stayed this strong till now. Escaping from Vietnam 30 years ago was horrifying enough, so when the Vietnamese have to evacuate from New Orleans during hurricane, they returned right away to rebuild what so called “their second home.” Without the memory, they wouldn’t be able to have such strong faith in rebuilding the community.

Extra Credit:

1. Some Vietnamese foldlife that will most likely to persist are Tet tradition, Vietnamese cooking. Old folk music, extensive garden, and fishing will most likely not get passed down to future generation, simply because young generation are adapting to new things, and become modernize. However, ao dai might get passed down though the true definition of “ao dai” might change due to the more modernize designs.

2. The Vietnamese religious communities kept the Vietnamese language and culture alive through the weekly mass, and event hosted by the communities. Also, all the special event, and classes were offered to younger generations. All these help contribute in maintaining the language and culture.

3. The role of altars in public, private, and business life of Vietnamese American are to worship, to pray, bringing good luck, and health. It’s the belief that the Vietnamese American has and wants to pass down through younger generations.

1. The myth of Asian Americans as “model minorities” is that they were able to recover quickly to a strong work ethic and an innate identity. Yes, Vietnamese Americans’ rebuilding of their community in New Orleans fit this model because they were able to return and rebuild their neighborhoods after Katrina on their own will without government assistance.

2. History plays a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans by demonstrating how collective history and memory as well as how spatial concentration of this small Vietnamese American community contributed to the ability to rebuild so quickly after Hurrican Katrina. The history that reflected the pattern of church leadership such as Catholicism that developed from several hundred years ago motivated villagers to flee their homeland for fear of religious and political persecution.

3. Memory play a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans by reminding them that migration occurred within the past three generations and under the conditions of war, the community has sustained the strong social networks that operated during the refugee and migration experience as well as confidence in the efficacy of those networks.

Extra Credit:
1. The elements of Vietnamese folklife will likely persist would be the celebration of Vietnamese holidays. Holidays such as Tet New Years will be celebrated with proper rituals and traditions. Such celebrations will be passed down from generation to generation. Also, Vietnamese religious rituals will continue to thrive because Vietnamese people are deeply rooted in their faith whether it be Catholicism or Buddhism. The practice of religion will continue to be passed on forward to future generations.

2. The Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana contribute in maintaining language and culture by implementing Vietnamese Sunday school for children where they are able to learn more about their religion as well as learn more about their Vietnamese native language. Another way is by having Vietnamese children participate in cultural customs in Vietnamese holiday celebrations.

3. There are different role of altars in the public, private, and business life of Vietnamese Americans in Louisiana. Vietnamese people choose to place an altar inside and in the front of their business or workplace. An example of this is a nail salon. This would usually be accompanied by daily incense burning and sometimes fruit offerings. A prayer is said in hopes of better health, profit, and safety. Other Vietnamese have altars in their homes that usually have pictures or statues of religious gods or goddesses and also pictures od their ancestors or deceased relatives. Here incense and food offerings are done on a daily basis. There are rituals that are carried out during religious celebrations of deceased relatives on their death anniversary.

The myth of Asian Americans being “model minorities” is a stereotype that they are self sufficient and hard workers. They do not rely much on the government and work through hardships independently. The Vietnamese Americans rebuilding their neighborhoods and community in New Orleans fit this model because they came back to New Orleans quicker than the other minorities. They came back and began rebuilding their community together, and did not wait for government assistance.
In terms of History, New Orleans holds fond memories for those that started off there and strengthened ties to their community in that area. Many believe that that is their closest origin to Vietnam because in a sense, that’s where they rebuilt their life so they pretty much have to return. On another level, the Church in their community holds them together and is also a part of the roots of their origin.
Memory plays a huge role in the rebuild because of the Vietnamese people who fled their homeland holds their memories strong. Their mentality grew stronger and their will to rebuild is stronger also as they come back to rebuild their homes in New Orleans. After going through with leaving Vietnam, coming back to rebuild New Orleans isn’t as bad because they can come back.
Extra Credit
The elements of Vietnamese folk life that will most likely still persist is the traditional cooking. This will probably survive longer and with fewer changes than any other cultural artifacts that Vietnamese have brought to this area because the Vietnamese young and old prefer it to any other style of cooking and prepare all their meals using Vietnamese recipes.
There are 3 main religions for Vietnamese community in Louisiana: Catholics, Buddhist and few Baptist. Their religion is a something that unites their community and plays a role to keep their culture alive. Vietnamese youngster can learn their languages and culture in church and temples. There are many ceremony and events to attract youngster to come such as: Tet, Tet Trung Thu, and many other religions events. All of these create a place for Vietnamese children to come to study, have fun and participate in culture events to help them preserve their language and culture.
The role of altars in public, private, and business life of Vietnamese American are to worship, to pray, bringing good luck, and health. It’s the belief that the Vietnamese American has and wants to pass down through younger generations.

• What is the myth of Asian Americans as ‘model minorities’ and does Vietnamese Americans’ rebuilding of their community in New Orleans fit this model?

“Model minorities” refers to a minority group that has a higher success rate in income and education compare to the average in a populated area. The Vietnamese American community in the New Orleans East fit this model in the sense of rebuilding its community after hurricane Katrina for numerous reasons. The return rate of Vietnamese to New Orleans East after the hurricane is far higher than other groups in the area. Two years after the hurricane Katrina, 90% of the Vietnamese American had return to New Orleans East whereas only the 50% of the African American had return. Only a comparison to African American is made because it is the majority in the area or 68% of the total population before the hurricane.

• How does history play a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans?

One of the major reason for the quickly rebuild the Vietnamese community in the New Orleans East is self sufficient church development community tradition to avoid religious and political persecution from the government. When catholic community first develops in Vietnam, they experience political tense as the French was getting more involved in Vietnam. During the 50’s, Vietnamese church from the North Vietnam escape the communist government under Ho Chi Minh by fleeing to the South Vietnam. Once again, many of such community flee Vietnam and settle in the US after the Fall of Saigon in 1975. With such history of self sufficient and recuperate as a community, Vietnamese community has a higher success in rebuilding it community than other groups in New Orleans East after the hurricane Katrina. To many Vietnamese, the Katrina experience is not a big deal compare to their history of migrations that are still surviving or being pass down to the next generation.

• How does memory play a role in the rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans?

One of the main ingredients of successful of rebuilding Vietnamese community in New Orleans East is the strong social network through memory work. The strong social network value was strengthening as the result of generations of war experience and the experience of refugee. With strong social network not only that they were able to pull resources from federal and local government, but they were also to gather resource and help from other Vietnamese community from many part of the country. They also learn what meaning of hard life and adaptation. As quoted “It is harder leaving from your culture. Hurricane is nothing. In the hurricane, you have your family with you all the time.” Rebuilding Vietnamese American community in New Orleans East after the hurricane was not a challenge of a life time for them.

Online Extra Credit Writing

• What elements of Vietnamese folklife will likely persist while other may not?

Some of the Vietnamese folklife will likely to persists among Vietnamese American community are ao dai (long dress) , Vietnamese cooking, gardening behind the house, and Tet Trung Thu. Ao dai is a Vietnamese long dress that also always appear in a Vietnamese celebrations or festival. One can also see ao dai in a Vietnamese new year festival, music fiestial, certain meeting, and even in protest. These traditional events are not likely to be abandon and therefore ao dai are here to stay. Vietnamese cooking are very popular and a part of Vietnamese community. There are many Vietnamese restaurants in a Vietnamese community. Pho (Vietnamese beef soup) seem to be very popular. Vietnamese cooking are also importance in many Vietnamese families gathering including birthday party and dam gio (paying respect to the ancestor day). Another folklife likely to persist is gardening behind the house. For some reason, both old and new generation love to have hard to find plant and tree, especially those origin from Vietnam, in their backyard. A subdivision with lot of Vietnamese family will display many bamboo and banana tree. Tet Trung Thu (Mid Fall Festial) is also likely to persist. It is traditional make up time and show appreciation for the children. Tet Trung Thu is held yearly on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month throughout many Vietnamese education and cultural centers.

• How do the Vietnamese religious communities in Louisiana contribute in maintaining language and culture?

Language and culture are most likely to be preserve in environments of large social interaction. Two popular religious worship of the Vietnamese community in Louisiana are church and temple. Both Vietnamese church and temple offer many services that would promote language and culture. Services like Vietnamese language class for the children. Religious study and sermon in Vietnamese help children learns Vietnamese. They can also practice their Vietnamese with their friends while they are there. Accompany these class are scout like activities that strengthen their Vietnamese and help preserve their culture. Learning language go along with learning culture. At this Vietnamese religious community culture are observed at every occasion. Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration pull people together. Every year Tet is held at churches and Temple. For me, this is a good opportunity to see old friends and long distance relative. Beside Tet, other celebration as Tet Trung Thu (Mid Autumn Festival) and Le Vu Lang (Mother Dedication) are also popular. Moreover when love one pass away, these center provides spiritual guidance and show the values of tradition and heritage. Without these religious centers, it would be extremely difficult to perverse both the language and the culture.

• Explain the role of altars in public, private, and business life of Vietnamese Americans in Louisiana.

Altars take different role in public, private, and business among the Vietnamese community in Louisiana as well as other Vietnamese community throughout the United State. In private, an alter of the family religious helps remind member of the family of their religious. Beside religious alter, a Vietnamese family often has a separate alter of their ancestor. Respect to ancestor alter equivalent to appreciation of life that one has been given and respecting the heritage. In public, these alter representing the common point of the community gathering. It is also a glimpse at how dedicate that community is dedicated to their rebellious and heritage. In Business, a Laughing Buddha is usually place close to the front door for prosperous . Beside they believe that will bring them luck for their business, the alter also signify that this business establishment is belong an Asian.

1/ I guess the myth of Asian American is the strong work ethic and innate identity. They represent as model minorities in the States. Sharing a similar culture and ethics, Vietnamese American fully fits inside this model of Asian American. The rebuilding of their community in New Orleans East is an example. According to the articles:” in less than three generations the New Orleans Vietnamese refugees had seemingly mastered the political system and overcome Katrina through the self-sufficiency and hard work associated with Asian Americans in general”
2/ History actually plays a big role in the process of rebuilding the Viet-Amer community in New Orleans. There are more than 75% of Vietnamese in NL are Catholic, and they bond really tight together. It was way back to few hundred years ago when Church religious first introduced to Vietnamese back to Vietnam. Since that time, those who went to church had a deep connection, even when they came to the US. Through the church connection, Viet-Amer gather together, help each other out and rebuild the East NO community in such a short time.
3/ Memory plays the important role for most Viet-Amer in NO. Those memory about war and how difficult that was for them to came to the US dig deep inside each member. Compare to the experience that they had been through to the evacuation of Katrina, hurricane is nothing to them
Extra Credit:
1/ Accept the strong element such as language and cultural, such elements and skill concerns with their new life in the new land would continuously persist, like building the fisher boat. Back to Vietnam, fishers used to do their own boat and after generation, it eventually became a form of art. But when it came to the US, it generally faded out and forgotten because no fisher man would want to build their own boat again. They prefer buying it. It just a example of some missing element of Vietnamese folklife.
2/ By religion, Vietnamese Community is united and maintain their traditional value together. Catholic, Buddhist and some of Baptist organizations act as a leader for community activities. They are responsible to gather people in any communities event, and teach younger the value of old traditions. Vietnamese language is maintain continuously, elders teach younger, public performance in Vietnamese language. It is some example of how culture and language are keeping in Louisiana
3/ It is a believing that the Buddha and other worship figures could bring luck, health, profits for the business as well as for the owner. They clean a altar throughout the working day and pray to the Buddha, light the incense and offer some kind of drink or fruits.

The myth of Asian Americans being “model minorities” because they are a symbolic role model to other communities and ethnic groups through their hardwork and dedication. They fit this status because atleast 90% of the Vietnamese population came back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. They were the fastest minority group to rebuild their community with depending on government fundings.

History plays a role in rebuilding the Vietnamese community in New Orleans because Vietnamese people are strongly tied to their community. After migrating to the US, New Orleans have become their home. I guess after having one home taken away, they don’t want to lose another home. Therefore, they rebuild their community as quickly as possible.

The tragic that Hurricane Katrina left, although caused by nature disaster, and the evacuation from one state to another brings back memories of the fall of Vietnam when everyone was fleeing for their lives. Remembering the events helped the Vietnamese rebuild again because they have worked hard to establish their community and they don’t want to see it perish.

EXTRA CREDIT

Cultural values, holidays, art, music, literature, and culinary arts are the elements of Vietnamese folklife. Vietnamese cooking will most likely persist for many more generations to come because there are growing businesses of Vietnamese restaurants because almsot every ethnic group likes to eat Vietnamese food. The one that will least likely to exist or may even be forgotten soon is Vietnamese folk music such as Cai Luong. Even a great number of the older Vietnamese generation do not enjoy this music. However, an old man once said “wherever there is Cai Luong, there is Vietnamese people”.

The Vietnamese religious community contributes to maintaining and preserving the Viet culture and language through education at religious facilities such as Vietnamese Sunday school at the churches and temples. The classes are also taught in Vietnamese to keep the younger generation associate with their language. Cultural holidays and events such as Tet Trung Thu, Le Phat Dan, and such attracts young people to participate in the events to keep the heritage alive.

The public alter is open for everyone to come to worship their gods and hold religious ceremonies. At home, the Vietnamese Buddhist people have an alter for their gods and a seperate one for their ancestors in remembrance of the person(s) and prayers for protection of their family. The business alters have a Lucky Buddha which is believed to bring good luck and prosperous growth to the business.

Alters are used as a way to pay respect to Buddha and our ancestors. It is also used as a reminder of how fragile life is and how each moment should be cherished.

Thanks, James

We need to pray only and to do everything that only in our forces what to prevent repetitions of these events. Very terrible time was valid.