Updates (Jan 21, 2026)
Life in the West …
You do what you like but …
Take your time to enjoy too.
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The thing about being from Funan is that things are neutral.
If we end up with a neutral answer … end up neutral in the West … then it is just neutral and kind of unexplained.
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The problem with me already at age 14 …
When I was in high school, I earned a CompTIA A+ IT certificate.
I was published in We Compute computer newspaper in the GTA.
What did that do to me?
I had to save myself. When I turned into my teens things became unclear.
What was I going to do for the next 5 years in high school? … I got educated outside to work and become a man first.
I became an example for people. I became an example for Vietnamese Boat People who have succeeded in life coming to the West.
The A+ certificate was no joke back then. Not everyone had a computer and the old traditional way of life was still OK. A+ certificate was college level I think back then.
When I got the A+ certificate things became cold. People avoided me. People avoided me not to screw up the Boat People kid as he was an example of immigration success.
If something happened to me, the world would notice.
Why on earth would a Boat People kid mess up? Who would mess with a 3rd World kid?
My life had to go good basically.
In other words, we need people to work.
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The problem with computers is two ways.
You can go down two slides. The technician one and the computer programming one.
My life was screwed up. If I go down the computer programming one, I will never have time to enjoy life as I keep getting deeper and deeper.
If I go down the technician route, I would be buried in the bench. I would have some money, time to vacation and reflect … maybe have time for a family???
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What does having a CompTIA A+ at age 14 do to a Vietnamese Boat People kid?
I can and can not work normally.
If I work normally, other Asians get jealous and try to out compete me in sales and technician work.
Because I am Vietnamese, other Asians love to show they are superior.
Having an A+ certificate is enough really. If I do more other Asians get super jealous.
Other Asians want me equal or below as that is the game we are playing in the West.
They outright accuse me of all the negative things …
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So maybe I had to do things solo with my team and end up doing this???
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If I was a computer technician, I would have a OK life but worried and sad I never when to the outer limits of computer programming personally.
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You had to go so technical and complicated to see through things and get to the point where you are OK.
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There is a connection between Boat People and the children of Boat People. People might say that we are simply just another immigrant but what we faced in the journey we can reflect and talk about and grow from … build from.
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