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WCU - Western Carolina University Publications

Western Carolinian Volume 56 Number 03

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Item 1 - Western Carolinian Volume 56 Number 03
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Western Carolinian Volume 56 Number 03

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Western Carolinian Volume 56 Number 03

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  • Volume 56 Number 3 People tw Western Carolinian Page 8 Monday, August 27, 1990 Escape from Vietman: WCU student flourishes in America Nine years ago Thanh Tran was a V ietnamese refugee. Today he is an honors graduate of Western Carolina University with offers from several graduate schools. Thanh, who received a bachelor's degree in mathematics education in May, credits his achievements to the Rev. Paul H. Felkerand the members of the Wald- ensian Presbyterian Church in Valdcse. "The church members brought me, my sister and two brothers to the U.S.," he said. "They gave us shelter, clothes, food and an edu- "We chose the eve of the Chinese New Year to escape because we knew the guards would be at home celebrating." cation. I will never forget their kindness." Thanh's story of courage and hardship is like that of thousands of other Vietnamese boat people who have adjusted to American culture. At age 17 Thanh was the first in his family to flee the communist oppression and crumbling economy of Vietnam. "I escaped," he said, "because there was no hope for PUZZLE SOLUTION a young person." Thanh was inspired by his fifth-grade teacher to become a math teacher. But college in Vietnam is reserved for the extremely intelligent and for those whose parents work for the communist government, he said. "I learned about an underground escape network from my classmates in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)," he said. "Every semester students would be missing from class. Later we would leam that they had escaped." Borrowing money from an aunt, Thanh bought his passage on a 7-by-35-foot boat and fled to Thailand across the South China Sea. Three months later three of his 11 siblings followed him. "We chose the eve of the Chinese New Year to escape because we knew the guards would be at home celebrating," he said. "For four days I sat on a layer of coconuts, the food and drink for 75 passengers aged 1 week to 80." During the trip a thunderstorm almost sank the boat, and the inexperienced captain lost his way. "There were times that everyone was crying and praying," Thanh said. "I thought that I had made a mistake, that I was going to die." The most frightening occurrence was on the last day, Pkoto by Mark HaHLttt Thanh Tran, a former Vietmanese refugee, enters WCU's Math Dept. as a grad student this fall. we used buckets to pass the water out." For the next 16 months Thanh lived in four refugee camps m Thailand and Indonesia. "Life as a refugee is sickness, hunger and waiting," he said. Camp life became tolerable after he found his brothers and sister. "Thai pirates jumped into our boat with machetes and demanded gold and jewels." "I found them by accident in Thailand. I didn't know that they too were going to flee." Together they waited for acceptance by the U.S. Immigration Service. Finally, it came and so did a sponsor, the Waldensian Presbyterian Church. On June 26,1982, Thanh and his family landed at the Charlotte airport. "We were greeted by two church members who drove us to a freshly decorated home stocked with an abundance of food. We couldn't believe our good fortune." Thanh graduated from East Burke High School, then he and his brother, Long Tran, went on to graduate from WCU last spring. Now Thanh is working three jobs at WCU's Hunter Library until he enters graduate school this fall. One day Thanh hopes to return to Vietnam to teach math. Why? "Because there's no place like home," he said. within sight of shore. "Thai pirates jumped into our boat with machetes and demanded gold and jewels," he said. "But we had already given eve- **++<>*■••*••*•••*<<<.<+<*.&>*+++*<, ^, "There were times that everyone was crying and praying." rything to fishermen who helped us find our way when we were lost." The pirates repeatedly rammed the boat, putting a hole in the right side, he said. "As we did during the storm, WCU Bookstore Special Hours Monday, Aug. 27 Open til 8 pm Tuesday, Aug. 28 thru Thursday, Aug. 30 8-8 Saturday, Sept. 1 Closed : Monday, Sept. 3 Closed Regular Fall Hours Monday thru Friday 8-6 Saturdays 10-2 f^CITY LIGITO New and used Books; Magazines; Music; Videos 55 East Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779 (704) 586-9499 OCGWt *»>•«<)>•*«»*> Jay Gee's Art & Craft Supplies Artist Materials Oils, Water eoless, Acrylics Brushes. Stretched Canvas, Water color paper Drawing Pencils, Charcoal, Inks Counted Cross Stitch Fabrics, Floss, Patterns GREEK Crests Mats & Frames Basketry Cake Decorating Basic Craft Supplies Present Your Student Id. for a 10% Discount August 29th-September 22 nd 47 East Main Street, Sylva 586-6659 - -|TfnTrm..»nni| llllliinilllllimmniill MiimnrTtTT»TnnTTw " ■■mini nliiiiinmimniim7iri°l ■ *T^1 Watch this space for future information ! Highlands Cleaners and Laundry Sylva, N.C. 28779 586-4314 High Hampton Inn & Country CCu6 Jobs available at cool scenic mountain resort. (Both inside and outside zv or (^available. (Part time and full time schedules. Please call personnel department At 704-743-2411 I HI Located on Campus 227-7348 SCHOOL k OFFICE SUPPLIES ART MATERIALS WCU CLOTHING YOUR FAVORITE TRADE BOOKS CARDS, GIRS, AND MUCH MORE Wolayrrvi, \DoJk hhuAfi/nJA. GO CATftMOUNTS OPEN MONDAY-hklDAY 8 AM-6 PM
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Western Carolina University Publications

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University’s student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolin...

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