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 Dr. Karen Head led her Asian American Literature class on a tour of Washington, D.C. in March. The evening degree students were guided through “Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon” at the Smithsonian Institute’s Asian Pacific Program by Director Franklin Odo.
The exhibition tells the story of the Vietnamese American experience in America, from the significant influx of immigrants in 1975 to the present. By showcasing themes of challenges, contributions and change, the exhibit emphasizes the vibrant diversity of this ethnic community.
“It was a tremendous experience, and we were very fortunate to have Dr. Odo take time out of his off day to come in to give us the personal tour of the exhibition,” noted Mike Panzeca.
Planning the trip “sparked class discussion and helped us to focus in on the topic of Asian-American culture,” said student Ron Womack II. “The trip delivered everything promised to us, and more. I learned more about Asian culture in the first five minutes at the Smithsonian than I had ever known before. Getting to see the images from the important and life-altering moments of the Vietnamese people was both intriguing and haunting at the same time. Also having a Vietnamese-American in our class brought to the table a unique perspective that none of the rest of us could have provided.”
Although Danthanh Tran did not struggle to leave Vietnam during war time, she knew many who did. “I heard stories from friends who described their experience in refugee camps and being on a boat, fearful of pirate attacks. The exhibit did not fail to convey this piece of history.”
After the Smithsonian tour, the students visited the Vietnam Memorial on The Mall and a Chin National celebration at the Textile Museum.
“This visit [to the Textile Museum] was very helpful to understand more complex issues in the Asian countries,” said Tran. “These people still exist now in their natural environment, almost untouched by modern influences. Their preservation of their culture amidst a changing world is amazing to see and representative of cultural conflicts that we discussed in our class.”
“Professor Head provided us with a better understanding of how great the impact of the Vietnam War was and how the displaced refugees have made an impact in our American Culture,” said Scott Parker. “This trip brought to life what we have been reading this semester, and I can not thank Oglethorpe enough for a lifetime of memories.”
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