Young scholars pioneer Vietnamese studies in the US

13/04/2006
In the 1950s, there were only few Vietnamese language classes in America. Since then, several Vietnamese Studies Departments have been established at famous US universities and have educated many scholars in Vietnamese studies. In recent years, many of these scholars have visited Vietnam on study tours.

Nguyen Bich Marguerite is a Vietnamese-American scholar who was born in California. There were very few Vietnamese people in her hometown and at her university, so she decided to study Vietnam in order to learn more about her ancestral homeland. Though she has studied the history of Vietnamese literature extensively, Nguyen Bich Marguerite has not learned much about current affairs in Vietnam. This is the first time she has visited her homeland, so at first her impressions of Vietnam were complicated and confusing. After a few months of living in Vietnam, she is able to understand more. Her mother also came back to Vietnam and enjoyed the renovation. In the US, there are many people are interested in Vietnam but lack of Vietnamese studies experts.

 

Nguyen Bich Marguerite loves to read and study the works of young Vietnamese writers. She wants to know their thoughts o­n Vietnam’s future as well as study their writing styles.

 

Martin Loicano, a student researcher, has an Albanian father and an American mother. At present, he is doing postgraduate work at Cornell University. He is attracted to studying Vietnamese and Chinese language and cultures. He has lived in Vietnam for a long time in order to study its history, especially past wars. He has read books o­n the wars in Vietnam by American, Vietnamese, Russian and Chinese authors and subscribes to the view that Vietnamese wars have been changed by different periods. According to Martin Loicano, the Vietnam War ended over 30 years ago, so it is necessary to re-examine it. So far, most research about the Vietnam War was analyzed by men who took part in the events of that time, so their thoughts have been affected by social pressure. Later generations may be more unbiased. Vietnam should encourage Vietnamese-American readers to devote their talents to the nation.

 
Though she is an American citizen, Maria Stafford, an International Studies student, can speak fluent Vietnamese with a Hanoi accent. Maria did a Master’s at Harvard before becoming a researcher in Vietnamese studies. Both of her 2 visits to Vietnam have left deep impressions o­n Maria. She has worked in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta. At present, she has got many Vietnamese friends. Maria hopes that she can be a friendship ambassador for expanding mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries

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