I have lived in the U.S since this January as an international visiting student. On campus, I met many kind friends who came from various countries. My roommate is one of them. She is Vietnamese American. In Lunar New Year Day, she invited me to her house, so I spent my holidays with lovey Vietnamese Americans.

     It was the first time that I met Vietnamese culture, so it made my heart flutter. In her house, there were many Vietnamese traditional ornaments. I was quite glad to see Asian decoration here in the U.S. My roommate dressed up into “Ao Dai,” Vietnamese traditional women clothes. The top is very tight, sleeves and leg width in pants are loose. Her Ao Dai was very fluffy and beautiful. And then, we drove to the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Nebraska.

     The temple was really big. It has parking lots, a cafeteria, Buddhist Sanctuary, and so on. First, we went downstairs. A recreation show and a prize lottery were held. I appreciated Vietnamese songs and dances. It was fantastic. Also, I ate Vietnamese traditional food, “Banh Tet.” Ban means bread, and tet means new year day. It was delicious.

     After the show, all people went to the Buddhist Sanctuary. I heard Vietnamese traditional instruments beating loudly. Then, the “lion dance” got started. There were four lions: two boys were wearing one lion mask and clothes together. They danced going round and round on the floor. Vietnamese believe that this dance brings good luck. After a few minutes, people started to put a small amount of money into the lion mask’s mouth. I tried to do so, and it was really fun. And then, we kneeled down and reverently prayed to Buddha. 

     My roommate and I came back to her house. We ate a lot of delicious Vietnamese food. Vietnameses have a tradition to give lucky money to younger people, just like New Year’s cash gift in Korea. I received lucky money from a red envelope with a goldcolor decoration. It was an unforgettable memory to experience Vietnamese culture in the U.S.

By Lee Chae-Yeong, Honorary Reporter
lcy0909@pusan.ac.kr