Faces of GM

Coming Full Circle: Dreams, Cars and Family

August 11, 2010 at 4:12 pm

Quick Stats
Days: 60
Double shot espressos: 33
Rides on the River East Shuttle: 54
Getting stuck in a RenCen freight elevator: 1

Since we’re still in the introductory “getting to know me phase”, I’d like to share a very important part of my background with you. I am second-generation Vietnamese-American. In other words, my parents immigrated to the United States and I was born and raised in America. My father was a captain in the South Vietnamese army and when Saigon fell in 1975, he was immediately forced to flee. My mom and brothers weren’t as fortunate. It would take them another 7 years, filled with failed attempts to leave and a short time in a communist prison, to finally make it out of Vietnam.

While my mom and brothers were half a world away, my father quietly persevered on his own. He worked many meager jobs and saved every penny he could. For his first big purchase in America, he bought a beat-up, powder blue Oldsmobile. The paint was chipped, the seats were ripped and it was pretty much an eyesore. But to my father, it might as well have been the Queen’s Rolls Royce.It was his beauty on wheels, a tangible  reward for a decade of sacrifices and struggle. My father was so proud of that car. It was this car that made it possible for him to get to work, save up money and somehow find a way to bring my mom and my brothers to America. Ultimately, it was a symbol of his American dream.

After years of separation, my family was reunited once again in Texas in 1982. Unfortunately, the happiness of the reunion didn’t last too long because my father lost his job. Looking for better opportunities, my parents packed up the Oldsmobile and drove to California. In this car, they were headed towards a brighter future. In this car, they envisioned a dream home in the suburbs and sending their children to college. In this car, they imagined growing old with lots of grandkids.

My family wound up in Sacramento. It wasn’t the most glamorous of California cities, but my parents felt it was a nice place to raise a family. So they finally settled down and I was born not too long after that. By that time, the powder blue tank was pretty well-worn and it was time to part with it. It wasn’t even around long enough for me to remember; I only have those old photos to go by.

After my parents got rid of the Oldsmobile, my parents bought another modest used car. Not being old enough to understand, I asked my dad why we couldn’t get a brand new fancy car like everyone else. I remember my father telling me, “Mom and I can’t buy a nice car now, but someday in the future if you work hard enough, you’ll be able to buy a beautiful fancy car of your own.” Being the comedian that he is, he added, “And maybe when I’m retired and you’re really successful, you can be me one of those big Cadillacs our retired neighbors drive.”

Twenty-five years later, almost all of my parents’ dreams have come true. My brothers and I all went off to college (I one-upped them and went to grad school). They fawn and spoil three beautiful granddaughters (of course they are constantly asking for more). Just recently retired, they both spend their days taking walks around their quiet suburban neighborhood. Now with my short stint on the Chevrolet Communications team, I feel that my parents’ story has come full circle. It started off with a beat-up, powder blue Oldsmobile and now I’m spending my summer working on the launch of a brand new GM car.

I remember reading in my introductory paperwork that GM interns are eligible for the employee discount. A few people have even suggested that I take advantage of it. I’m not personally in the market for a new car, but now that my dad is retired, maybe I should look into that Cadillac he always talked about.

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