Inside Out And Back Again

Clear endings and beginnings mark Hà’s literal and figurative journey from Tết 1975 to Tết 1976. Leaving Saigon with her family, Hà says goodbye to her childhood home much the way her friend TiTi did a month before. Hà’s family must leave behind photographs, clothing, and other possessions. The step-by-step journey on ships is marked by images that denote both endings (the lowering of the flag of South Vietnam; the burial of Brother Khôi’s chick and Hà’s doll) and beginnings (the American sailor with golden hair, a “savior” from the rescue ship). In the refugee camp on Guam, time seems to stop and all the days of June are rolled into a blur of cowboy movies and English lessons, but pungent food items mark the beginning (fruit cocktail) and ending (fish sauce) of Hà’s time there.

The beginning and ending of the Florida refugee camp is marked by the decisions of others: Mother chooses America as their destination, which brings the family to Florida; the cowboy chooses to sponsor them, which brings the family to Alabama.

Once her physical journey is over, however, it is Hà’s own decisions that set the beginnings and endings of her figurative journey toward contentment.