In fact, they have left their country of birth behind forever. Most refugees did not realize their eventual destination would be the United States because their only intention was to escape the political oppression and reforms instituted by the authoritarian communist government of North Vietnam. Upon arriving in the United States, Vietnamese refugees were settled sparsely in four temporary refugee camps across the nation and entered "U.S society primarily through the family sponsorship method" (Do 36). After getting sponsored, however, Vietnamese refugees faced emotional, social, and psychological difficulties adapting to their new environment, being separated from their extended families and having to reply for support on sponsors who did not speak their language, understand their customs, or celebrate their culture. They became isolated in their new "home" and were deprived of support from their shared customs and culture (Do 41). Unlike other groups who immigrated at will, the first-wave Vietnamese refugees were pushed out of their home country, fleeing from fear of persecution. As a result, they have struggled to reclaim their heritage and reestablish their roots in America because they were unprepared for this evacuation and its aftermath. .
After a period of time living with their sponsors, many Vietnamese refugees began to relocate to different regions throughout the United States, and California was a primary choice for the majority of them with its warm climate, abundance of unskilled jobs, and most importantly, the existence of Vietnamese communities (Do 42). They concentrate in one place and continuously work hard to adjust to the new world, to make the most out the opportunities given to them, and to educate their children and have a better life themselves. Exactly forty years have passed, and Vietnamese refugees and immigrants have proven extremely successful in recreating the sense of identity in America through cultural enclaves and entertainment.
