Lost in Translation: My Year in Vietnam and the English I Left Behind
Submitted by Steven Pham
It was the spring of my third-grade year when my world shifted dramatically. My family decided to spend nearly a year in Vietnam, a choice that felt both exhilarating and daunting. Little did I know, this journey would lead me to a profound moment of change in my life.
In Vietnam, everything was vibrant and new—the bustling streets filled with the sound of laughter and the fragrant aroma of street food. Surrounded by my family, I quickly became immersed in Vietnamese. With everyone speaking the language, I found myself picking it up effortlessly. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, while my English sat neglected in the corner of my mind.
When we finally returned to the United States, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. I couldn’t wait to see my grandma and my cousins again, but deep down, I was worried about how much I had changed. As I stepped into my grandma’s house, the familiar warmth enveloped me, yet something felt off. When my Asian American cousins arrived, I opened my mouth to greet them, but the words didn’t come out as they used to. English, my primary language, felt foreign to me.
“Hey, do you want to play?” one of them asked, but the words jumbled in my head. I could barely respond. It was shocking to realize I had created a barrier between us. Confusion washed over me. I felt vulnerable and frustrated, a child struggling to express himself in a language that once flowed easily.
This transition was unexpected, leaving me with a swirling mix of emotions. I hadn’t anticipated the steep decline of my English skills during my time in Vietnam. Each interaction became a puzzle I couldn’t solve, and I felt the weight of my disconnection.
Determined to bridge this gap, I began to reflect on my situation. I realized I needed to practice English again, to ease it back into my life. I approached this challenge with patience, understanding that adapting would take time. I started by watching TV shows and movies in English, immersing myself in the stories I once loved. I also reached out to my American friends, eager to engage in conversations, hoping that with each exchange, my language skills would gradually return.
Over the months, I slowly regained my footing. I felt English reemerging in my speech, and soon enough, I could converse with my cousins like I used to. Each conversation was a small victory, a reminder of how far I had come.
Reflecting on that experience now, I wish I could tell my younger self to be aware of the changes that might arise. I could have maintained connections with my friends and family back in the U.S. through calls and video chats, keeping English alive in my daily routine. I didn’t fully understand how crucial it was to seek support during that time.
But perhaps the most important lesson I learned was to embrace change as a learning opportunity. I could have seen my time in Vietnam not just as a disruption, but as a chance to become bilingual and appreciate the richness of two cultures.
Looking back, I realize that language is not just a tool for communication; it’s a part of who I am. My experience taught me the importance of nurturing my language skills and maintaining connections, even when faced with significant life changes. In that year of transformation, I discovered not only the challenges of adaptation but also the beauty of resilience and growth.
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