Housekeeper

February 17, 2016

Even when I'm away from home, I still carry the soil in which I was planted.

During my last day in D.C., I walked out into the hallway to ask the hotel worker, an elderly Asian woman, for more shampoo - because, you know.. freebies to take home.

"Hi, could we get more soap for our room?" I asked.

"Cháu người Việt, phải không?" she responded.

(You're Vietnamese, right?)

"Whoa! Dạ, cháu người Việt. Làm sao cô biết vậy?" I asked.

(Whoa! Yes, how did you know?)

"Cô biết tại cô thấy tên cháu trong phồng này," she responded.

(I know because I saw your name associated with this room.)

Tongue-tied, I couldn't enunciate a word quick enough, because I rarely speak Vietnamese in the East Coast.

"Đây, cô cho cháu một bao dầu gội đầu, cà phê, trà - đầy đủ. Cháu đêm về đi," she insisted.

(Here, I'll give you a bag of shampoo, coffee, tea - everything you need. Please take it take home.)

"Cắm ơn, cô. Chúc mừng năm mới!"

(Thank you. Happy Lunar New Years to you!)

Because resources are scarce in our families, she knew that I knew this is a routine, in which a lot of Vietnamese immigrants and refugees take advantage of all the freebies they can get. Because survival means helping each other out, while #Nguyening together. Even when I'm away from home, I still carry the soil in which I was planted.