The Happiest Refugee is a memoir of hope and challenge. Anh and his families’ lives have greatly changed by the impact of the Vietnam War causing them to flee their homes and communities as refuges in the desperation of seeking out a better life for themselves as well as their families. When Anh was a small child, his family gambled everything in their desire to escape the crippling poverty in Vietnam on a barely seaworthy boat crowded with 40 others. “I look across the water and am mesmerised by the beauty of this magnificent setting. My parents set off on a boat trip many years ago to provide their children and grandchildren a better life. And here we are, thanks to them, enjoying this perfect day.” (pg 229).Anh and his family explore the
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However Anh explains how his family had to flee Vietnam in search of a better and safer life therefore he tries to represent the story towards other people who have experienced these hardships. Hardship is when a person or their surroundings is in severe suffering of a circumstance for example Anh and his family faced hardships when coming to Australia as refugees. In act of kindness the family receive clothing’s from organisations such as St Vincent de Paul. Anh’s parents establish a sewing business, working long hours in difficult circumstances for meagre pay. But the family always faces financial challenges. It was even harder for Anh’s mother to support 3 children when Anh’s father had left them. The fees to send both boys to school were extremely high for Anh’s parents. Hardships could as well be as bullying and racism. Anh explains the racism of his Year 9 teacher (pg 104) and the racist comments from the opposing football team “I’m going to smash the gook” (pg 105). Anh also tells about almost not being allowed into a venue where he had been booked to do a stand-up comedy routine. The security guard did not want to allow him into the club, announcing, ‘We don’t really like your types in here’ (pg
However Anh explains how his family had to flee Vietnam in search of a better and safer life therefore he tries to represent the story towards other people who have experienced these hardships. Hardship is when a person or their surroundings is in severe suffering of a circumstance for example Anh and his family faced hardships when coming to Australia as refugees. In act of kindness the family receive clothing’s from organisations such as St Vincent de Paul. Anh’s parents establish a sewing business, working long hours in difficult circumstances for meagre pay. But the family always faces financial challenges. It was even harder for Anh’s mother to support 3 children when Anh’s father had left them. The fees to send both boys to school were extremely high for Anh’s parents. Hardships could as well be as bullying and racism. Anh explains the racism of his Year 9 teacher (pg 104) and the racist comments from the opposing football team “I’m going to smash the gook” (pg 105). Anh also tells about almost not being allowed into a venue where he had been booked to do a stand-up comedy routine. The security guard did not want to allow him into the club, announcing, ‘We don’t really like your types in here’ (pg