In 1998, a civil war broke out around the district of Mai Chau in Vietnam and Luang Prabang in Laos.

Both sides respective leaders had a conflict regarding the goal of uniting these two countries under
a communist rule ruled by the Army of Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Instead of discussing the
current issue together, both sides decided to become juvenile and resort to violence instead.

Almost all districts of Hanoi were severely disrupted. Historical buildings and residential compounds
collapsed and destroyed by the tanks and military armies. The town suffered a rash of arson attacks.
Dead corpses lying on the ground, children crying and screaming everywhere, terrifying sounds of
gun shots and bombs. It was an utter mess.

Before the war was getting much more chaotic than it already is, my family and I decided to flee
from Vietnam. We packed all the necessary things and sneaked out of Hanoi using an overnight
train that lead us to the city of Bac Ninh. Upon our arrival, we rushed to the International Airport of
Bac Ninh. Luckily, with the help of our cousin, Vrinh who worked as an officer there, we were able to
bypass the strict airport checkups and landed ourselves in Minnesota, USA.

Things were complicated when we first started our new lives in the United States of America. My
parents and older siblings were trying their hardest to make ends meet in order to support the
family. Being a naive 10 years old I was back then, I could only sit there and watch. After awhile,
my family was finally financially stable; we were able to buy a comfortable ranch-styled house big
enough for us to live in and I was enrolled to an Asian American private school. 15 years later, I
find myself working as a music teacher in a public school.

Every time I played the piano, I always reminisce the memories during my time in Vietnam. So, me
and my brother decided to pay a visit to our home in Vietnam. Both of us flew to Mai Chau to
witness the current condition of the area.

As I stepped forward to the isolated and deserted place, cold air around me slowly dissipated as the
sudden warmth enveloped around me to the core of my spine.

This is the place where I grew my wings. This is the place whom I shared memories with my
deceased grandmother. This is the place where I used to run around with my dear friends, Ming and
Cho. This is the place in which I developed my interest for music after listening my former neighbor
played the violin and piano. My childhood memories are still vividly attached to this place.

As I squad down feeling the dusty ground with my bare hand, tears pierced through my eyes and
rolled down my cheeks. I braved a smile and whispered

Home.