two million dollars for the needs of over 2,000-3,000 children that would be What I am saying is that she could have had a fun pen-pal, kept in loose contact (at least) and slip the occasional $20. This was the movie that I most intimately connected with. discharge from Danang is a accusative about Mai Thi Heip. I wholeheartedly agree.-Bernadette McCullough. My mother who loves me dearly never says "I love you" in such a way. Ann enforcing her domineering authority kicked I am also of the opinion that culture is shaped by the elements of community and family. I recommend that Heidi reads more literature about Asian culture and she will better understand why before her departure in US, her siblings asked her to financially contribute to her mother. Vietnam lacked many of the modern conveniences Heidi had having a bucket of water poured over you I really don’t know if I could survive gaining freedom and independence. Heidi says this makes her feel like she is the mother rather than the daughter. American Values. “Daughter from Danang” takes you through to a powerful, culturally shocking ending. other AmerAsian children). This happened to Heidi, as she explains in the film “Daughter from Danang”, in which 22 years after she was given up for adoption, decides to go back to Vietnam and meet her biological family. Heidi certainly did not expect to be thrust into the position of family matriarch (as far as finances were concerned). Little did she know her mother had also been looking for her? various struggles of life. I found this story to be quite heart-wrenching and difficult to watch. Besides the obvious culture shock, I'm sure that many of them (like Heidi) were mistreated and never got the opportunity to be loved and nurtured in a safe family environment. However, the theme of culture shock is explored in depth in Daughter from Danang , as Heidi finds herself adrift in an unfamiliar culture and failing to communicate and the unable to cope with reality. To all outward appearances, Heidi is the proverbial "all-American girl", hailing from small town Pulaski, Tenn. Heidi was getting smothered by her mother and siblings. In America, when someone gets older, they are usually put in a nursing home. She caused so much grief for her mother. Heidi continues to reflect on Many American soldiers had left behind what was referred to as national embarrassment, American soldiers had slept with the enemy and fathered children with the women of Vietnam, these children came to be known as Amerasians. drama of longing, identity, and the personal legacy of war." She was not properly prepared for the reunion. She is brought to a more than confusing world where she is told to forget her past and who she is, when in life that's really all that matters, and all that is really known especially at such a young age. When Heidi's brother asked her to financially support her mum (and not her siblings in Vietnam), it was a real shock for Heidi. realities of her Vietnamese family far too difficult to handle and returned I was annoyed throughout the film with Heidi's ignorance and selfishness that cannot be purely accounted for with "culture shock". Follow these Steps to Writing your “Daughter from Danang” Essay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AU_VUe2HX0 Dear Students, For Weds, delight flourish these steps. Micro Assessment We were hurt when she decided to seek out her birth mother. The poverty and culture of Vietnam would be a huge shock. A Vietnamese mother and her Amerasian daughter are joyously reunited after 22 years, but their illusions are quickly shattered when the reality of cultural differences and years of separation sets in. vehemently heaped the obligation of financial responsibility of caring for Twenty two years would elapse before the two Heidi is suffering from culture shock, the unsettling experience of feeling adrift in a foreign culture. The documentary film, ‘Daughter from Danang’ explores the story of Heidi Bub, an American woman brought to America from Vietnam during the ‘Operation Baby lift’ in 1975. Amerasian children. I agree some reseaarch should have been done. clash between the two cultures she embraced. However she needs to relativise this. Heidi and her Vietnamese relatives find themselves caught in a confusing clash of cultures and at the mercy of conflicting emotions that will change their lives forever. here having the luxuries that I do.”. Could she not appreciate their way of doing things? I realize she was hurt because of the culture shock, but I think losing her the second time was probably worse than losing her the first time. I found that this movie was very though-provoking and easy for me to connect and understand some of her emotions and thoughts. However rescue efforts continued relocating many The majority of developmental theories say that children must develop a secure primary attachment in order to develop in a healthy manner. When she went to visit, first of all, she experience a huge culture shock since she has been living in the United States since the age of six, and has no idea about Vietnam. Her mother was so emotional, too emotional for Heidi. "Daughter from Danang" takes you through to a powerful, culturally shocking ending. The Vietnam War ended with the South Vietnamese Replies . This documentary is a little over an hour, so give yourself some time to watch. (36) IMDb 7.3 1 h 18 min 2002 PG. A secure and strong attachment is clearly essential for healthy future relationships. Her other family members constantly want to touch or hug her. I can imagine that Heidi's life will be much painful if she had to grown up in Vietnam. Howdy All, Below find the links for the readings for the Daughter From Danang … I also think there is a correlation between when Heidi left as a child and when she returned as an adult. -Bernadette McCullough. Heidi sought the independence of a maturing young adult. In the Vietnamese culture, the family is really important and in general, you will find extended families. the vast differences in cultures and standards of living,“A shower consists of I feel like she should have been a little more educated on what things were like. Guilt Intuitive Substage Egocentrism: Believed she was sent away from her mother because she had "Daughter from Danang" takes you through to a powerful, culturally shocking ending. In “Operation Baby Lift,” many of the children weren’t actual orphans--bereaved of both parents and all other relatives. They thought it would almost make up for lost time. Heidi can pretend that her mum look after them and this is normal that they look after her. Daughter from Danang originates with American’s ethnocentrism and the declaration of “Operation Babylift.” by President Ford. very first flights ended in disaster, filled beyond capacity crashed resulting liesb. American soldiers had “slept with the enemy” and fathered children with the When she saw her mom for the first time, they didn't stop hugging and her mom didn't stop kissing her for a long time. It's more typical for Vietnamese to demonstrate affections through gestures. and a Vietnamese woman, Mai Thi Kim abandoned by her husband yet striving to My heart goes out to Heidi's mother, I hope she is okay now. She was not properly prepared for the reunion. Heidi is overwhelmed by the open Here, my daughter is, thinking all I involve is bills (I want to connect this to the end by showing how Heidi go finished CS and use the language barrier as an example). survive agreed to a relationship of convenience and need. From this liaison was I felt sorry for both Heidi and her birth family because neither understood the culture of the other. Two years after the treaty to cease fire was In fact, it was unusual to see in Daughter from Danang the mother being overly affectionate and saying "I love you" repeatedly. memories go away. However, because she had been Americanized, she didn't think she could survive the Danang culture. This operation saved many Vietnamese children’s life and gave them an opportunity to grow up and out of post-war chaos. Class Videos. And all those last year’s not matter anymore.” Unbeknownst to However, Kim’s life would forever be changed. Heidi the reunion that her mind envisioned and heart sought so deeply would Pulaski Tennessee and insight into Heidi’s adoptive family. She was able to adapt and survive in America as a child, so why not now as an adult in Danang? families aggressive demands of financial support. Our motivation as filmmakers is always inspired by passion-driven stories and the opportunity to step into the unknown and capture life as it reveals itself. The money is not going in one way in Asia. her birth mother. Vietnamese family because it is so painful. She is brought to a more than confusing world where she is told to forget her past and who she is, when in life that's really all that matters, and all that is really known especially at such a young age. Daughter from Danang is a powerful documentary about war, culture shock, and family. I can't imagine how they would feel, knowing that their children would be raised in another country. Had she not lived in America, this way of life would have been normal to her. You could see the two drastically different cultures colliding at every turn in this reunion. The movie Daughter from Danang produced by Gail Dolgin and co-directed with Vicente Franco is one of the most depressing movies I've seen lately because this beautiful story didn't have to end so tragically. airlifted out of Vietnam to thwart a mass slaughter of the innocent. Finally, does anyone know the currency conversion rate from 2002?? Heidi has chosen not to keep in touch with her This theme is explored in depth in Daughter From Danang, a documentary directed by Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco. Heidi found the All adoptions are unique. One of the thing things that really hurt me was Heidi's adoptive mother Ann wanted Heidi to totally disregard her heritage. I wasn't surprised at Heidi's reaction. Although "Operation Babylift" was intended to be a great rescue mission (by the U.S.)at the end of the war, it further traumatized the Vietnamese children that were ripped from their mother's embrace and dropped into a culture that was totally foreign to them. One of the reacquainted with her Vietnamese family. It just shows that sometimes where you come from doesnt have too much of an affect on the person you turn out to be; it matters how you are raised. Daughter from Danang tells the dramatic story of one of these children, Heidi Bub (a.k.a. Daughter from Danang tells the dramatic story of one of these children, Heidi Bub (a.k.a. Hien expressed her financial need and asked for help. The first one that I recognized was the lack of understanding between Hiep and the people of Vietnam. This happened to Heidi, as she explains in the film “Daughter from Danang”, in which 22 years after she was given up for adoption, decides to go back to Vietnam and meet her biological family. If you believe what was said in the movie and what the director had to say, this kind of culture is common in Vietnam. The Vietnamese culture feel that if another member of the family is doing well, they are supposed to help. In some ways it seemed as if I can only imagine how tough this felt to Heidi; she was in a foreign land, hearing a foreign language, and basically living in a third world country with foreign customs to her. signed, Operation Babylift was declared by President Ford. It's obvious that Heidi experiences severe cultural shock upon her arrival in Vietnam. Mai Thi Heip goes through her first culture shock at the age of seven. the conception of Mai Thi Heip also known as Heidi Bub, one of more than 2,000 Daughter from Danang, which took seven years to make, follows Vietnam-born, American-raised Heidi Bub as she makes her first trip back to Vietnam in 22 years to find her birth mother, Mai Thi Kim. Sunday, July 29, 2012 ABC2’s Sunday Best documentary The reason lies as much in what Dolgin and Franco don’t do as in what they do. Without such a relationship, Culture Shock In Mai Thi Kim's Daughter From Danang, n 1975 as the Vietnam War was ending, Mai Thi Kim sent her seven- year-old daughter Mai Thi Hiep, later known as Heidi from that war-torn country to the United States in “Operation Babylift”. n 1975 as the Vietnam War was ending, Mai Thi Kim sent her seven- year-old daughter Mai Thi Hiep, later known as Heidi from that war-torn country to the United States in “Operation Babylift”. I also felt that the family, at certain moments, played to the camera. she’d left off yet she experienced the devastation of unrealistic expectations women of Vietnam, these children came to be known as Amerasians. After some time Heidi was encouraged by a friend to find Not only was she expected to embrace then but the family shrine as well. However, in Vietnam, you take care of your elders and provide for them in any way that you can. I really enjoyed reading everyone's perspectives in this blog-we all are hitting on very good points. dreams and anticipation of family love and restoration collided with her I could almost feel the wall going up immediately. grown accustomed to as evidenced during her visit with her mother during their I also think that its very interesting to think about how southern Heidi is. Vietnamese culture 1. Daughter from Danang tells the dramatic story of one of these children, Heidi Bub (a.k.a. When we first began watching “Daughter from Danang, I thought the idea was heartfelt and profound. … It is safe to assume that $20 would have gone a long way to help them. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/family. She learns She also can't deal with what she perceives as her mother's clinging behavior. Amerasian children sent to America to escape death. The Holt Adoption Agency would be the catalyst that would merge the two. We see the culmination of this in the breakdown Heidi has when burdened with the money responsibility. If Heidi were exposed to (and allowed to embrace) her Vietnamese culture after landing on American soil, I'm sure that her life would have yielded much different outcomes. Also, Heidi could have reacted to the question with a lot less drama, but I understand she was really agitated with her situation even before she was asked that question. I grown up in Europe and live there for more that 35 years. All the parents do love their children and her mum was forced to send her in the US, due to the fact that kids born from an American father was discriminated. Behind the Scenes. “I grew up not John Bowlby’s studies in childhood development led him to the conclusion that a strong attachment to a caregiver provides a necessary sense of security and foundation. that you don’t serve yourself you just take a little bit. I felt Heidi's Vietnamese family's tactics were indeed manipulative. Heidi grew up with a mom who wasn't affectionate and ultimately ended up kicking her out of her home. Daughter from Danang originates with American’s ethnocentrism and the declaration of “Operation Babylift.” by President Ford. I think that is the problem with many American people, their refusal to accept other cultures and their reliance on luxuries we are so spoiled with here in America. At the core of our discussion here, I think we can all agree that Heidi's life experience was rife with hurt, confusion, and disappointment. Vietnam War babies: grown up and low on luck (stories of welcomed the opportunity for Heidi to step up and take over. First of all, she wasn't used to families being that affectionate toward one another. At first she wanted to just look at me and hold my hand and hug me which was very uncomfortable for me. Even though your parents have enough money to survive in Asia, the fact that you give money to your parents is a kind of proof that you care about them. Daughter from Đà Nẵng is a 2002 documentary film about an Amerasian, Heidi Bub (a.k.a. Daughter from Danang. Heidi ponders on the differences in cultures as she is now a college graduate naivety that will soon come crashing down around her. However, she needs to put a limit for the financial contribution she can give, because some Vietnamese people do live in a very poor condition, and do not understand that life in Western can also be hard. Her mum wanted the best for her as all the Asian mum. However, the theme of culture shock is explored in depth in Daughter from Danang, as Heidi finds herself adrift in an unfamiliar culture and failing to communicate and the unable to cope with reality. the two cultures. I could imagine the uncomfortability intensifies when she was expected to participate fully with things that are so unfamiliar. She was taken from her mother at age 7 during the Vietnam Wars operation Baby Lift. Heidi is engulfed in a state of Mai Thi Hiep), and her Vietnamese mother, Mai Thi Kim, separated at the war's end and reunited 22 years later. Daughter From Danang There were many cross- cultural problems in the documentary Daughter From Danang. Heidi's expectations were not very realistic, and the let down was overwhelming for her. This poignant documentary reveals the confrontation of Heidi was a too sensitive person and still do not understand the Asian culture. soldiers had left behind what was referred to as “national embarrassment” Through intimate and sometimes excruciating moments, Daughter from Danang profoundly shows how wide the chasms of cultural difference and how deep the wounds of war can run--even within one family. I too have met and tried to maintain a relationship with my biological mother. Mai Thi Hiep), and her Vietnamese mother, Mai Thi Kim, separated at the war's end and reunited 22 years later. Through intimate and sometimes excruciating moments, Daughter from Danang profoundly shows how wide the chasms of cultural difference and how deep the wounds of war can run--even within one family. The typical pattern of experiencing culture shock is like a U curve. This is an example of the cultural difference between the Asian traditions versus the US traditions. Americans will help their family members, but we are not expected to support them. There was no guarantee the reunion would be all flowers and sunshine. Heidi has no prior knowledge of Vietnamese customs, food, language or culture. She and her children would face the ridicule and scorn for Kim’s indiscretion. But, the same kind of scenario happened where expectations, after 30 years, were not met. If you find a clip that shows this aspect of potential culture shock or cultural difference, feel free to include it. her family and avoided further communication in the pursuit of getting As a child she was forbidden to inquire about her heritage, so it was never discussed and she was never encouraged to learn about the Vietnam culture (Dolgin & Franco, 2002). But her birth name was Mai Thi Hiep. In 1975, as the Vietnam War was ending, thousands of orphans and Amerasian children were brought to the United States as part of "Operation Babylift." But then again, this would be no different than mothers in other countries that give their children up for adoption. This rattles Heidi, as she grew up in a home with little affection. that the Communists threatened to kill both mother and child of this mixed race She made it sound like she would have to get a second job to support them!-aldixon1, I think what Heidi wanted more than anything was love, her adoptive mother wanted her to be 101% American and deny her heritage and her biological family wanted money and they also wanted her to embrace traditions that were unknown. I also found it very interesting that it seemed like Heidi did not know what to expect when she arrived there. referred to as the “national embarrassment.” President Ford made available over -Monica Clevenger, Heidi states at the end of the movie that she feels bad about how she handled things she says "the door is closed but not locked." ahead for many years to come. considered this the Vietnamese way and since she had been gone for so long they Because she had been Americanized, Heidi was much different from her family now. When Heidi returned to Vietnam to reunite with her family she experienced a dramatic culture shock. Food, music, religions, and values of people within the film, presented by. If she were ever to donate to a church again in her life, ever to drop a few quarters in the Salvation Army pot during Christmas, she should think of that family.I'm not implying that she should completely embrace her birth mother and financially support the entire family; that would be unreasonable. Anyway, you also receive it back from your parents unless they are in a very miserable condition. Asians are very community based and it is expected that children support their elders, whereas Americans in general are more individualistic and independent in nature. This happened to Heidi, as she explains in the film “Daughter from Danang”, in which 22 years after she was given up for adoption, decides to go back to Vietnam and meet her biological, The Importance Of The Communication Process, Analysis Of Gwendolyn Conley's 'Kitchenette Building'. One of the thing things that really hurt me was Heidi's adoptive mother Ann wanted Heidi to totally disregard her heritage. This happened to Heidi, as she explains in the film “Daughter from Danang”, … plane in a place of what she thought was security, she had no idea of what lie Holly E. Brown Some of the feelings she was sharing upon her arrival in Danang I thought were probably similar to the feelings she had when she first arrived in America. Although she was very happy to be reunited, her emotions were far more subdued than that of the rest of her family. Analysis Of Daughter From Danang 802 Words 4 Pages The documentary entitled, Daughter From Danang, is centered around Heidi, a Vietnamese/American mixed person, who was one of the many mixed children who were made from a result of American soldiers intermingling with Vietnamese prostitutes during the Vietnam war. These are things I asked myself during the film. Kluckhohn & Strodtbeck Value Orientations. My jaw dropped when I saw the continued push for money during the first visit! The film follows a half-Vietnamese, half-American woman named Heidi as she returns to visit Vietnam and the family … The vivid and emotional images of the mothers giving up their children were quite tragic. Heidi's Life in America Summary When Heidi was six years old and leaving Danang Erikson's Psychosocial stage Piaget's Pre-Operational Stage of cognitive development Initiative vs. Grand Valley State University It is not only that everything around her is different, she is also feeling "suffocated" by the continual closeness and touching by all her relatives. Daughter From Danang . reported both Heidi and her Vietnamese family are fine but have suffered with All in all, the earlier proclaimations of "love","daughter" and "family" seem very superficial coming from Heidi. It was definitely a culture shock for her and that was evident to see. In Asia, the kids is a kind of pension fund for the parents. To some extent I would have to think Heidi's mother should have expected something like this might happen. Babylift affected many, we will peer inside the life of one. It was feared Mai Thi Hiep), and her Vietnamese mother, Mai Thi Kim, separated at the war's end and reunited 22 years later. I have a very close cousin that was adopted. I don't think anyone knows for sure what would have happened to the Amerasian children if they were allowed to stay with their mother's. Without hesitation her sister, It definitely didn't show up in the textbooks when I was in school years ago. I understand the need for space, but she was only there for a short period of time and she could have been accommodating. Follow link to view an excerpt from the town of Their happiness at seeing their lost relative again is real, as is their financial need and their belief in the tradition of generation-to-generation assistance. and tremendous culture shock. The youtube link provided above was really cool. I am sure even $20 a month would greatly help out her siblings and mother. Unknown December 5, 2012 at 5:59 PM. Upon meeting, Mai Thi and Heidi hug and cry tears of joy, but this reunion soon gives way to culture shock. Many people have never even heard of cultural shock until after they have experienced it. Mai Thi Heip goes through her first culture shock at the age of seven. Heidi out of the house. It's obvious that her romantic vision of finally having a mother who would take care of and protect her is hopelessly naive. One of the major challenges Heidi faced was the dreadful I wonder how much this operation was publicized. Please Vote For Me. Over twenty years after Heidi was flown to the U.S., she takes an emotional journey to Vietnam to reunite with her mother and long-lost siblings. If we're open and embracing it, it can be a positive and world-changing thing. Many American Reply Delete. Yet, in portraying the background and the live drama of the story, Daughter from Danang is remarkably accomplished in its naturalistic visual narration and emotional power. Heidi’s brothers, Tinh informed her and PRI's The World Assignment. This documentary delivers a very non cliché ending no one expects. basin with a bar of soap dishes were also washed outside in basin as well. “Daughter from Danang” takes you through to a powerful, culturally shocking ending. I was absolutely amazed that her birth family thought that just because she was from the US that she was made or money or would feel it was her responsibility to financially support them. would embrace again. The fact that a woman could go her whole life not knowing her mother and then take the risk to find her and get to know her was astounding to me. Heidi’s Vietnamese family revered her as their savior of Mai Thi Heip … In my heart I really wanted to see her try harder also.-Bernadette McCullough, I had never heard of Operation Babylift prior to watching Daughter from Danang.