Anh Giàu
My tour of duty on Pulau Bidong started in 1989. I was an English teacher for 6 months before I was tasked to setup business studies course (was it ‘Kế Toán Thương Mại) for the next 3 years. I still remember my Vietnamese teachers – Mr. Hung, Mr. Duc, Mr. Kiet, Ms. Pham, Ms. Phuong, and Ms. Ma, who lectured in my classes – Introduction to Economy, Account, Marketing, and Management.
We had a good time. I still remember how our open day was well organized by our teachers and the classes were fully booked within first hour. Then came the graduation ceremonies, filled with songs, dances and of course speeches. The surprised birthday party they threw for me and the hand-made embroidered pillow case still hung on my wall till today.
I still remember the melody of songs we sang during those formal and informal functions. I was given Vietnamese name by them – “Anh Giàu” (might misspelled) which means ‘rich brother’?
For your information, I went to Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) many times since I joined this Salam Malaysia Foundation. We started with two projects; to build capacity of Art and Culture Department in Hanoi University and assist homeless children project in HCM City.
I wish I had Vietnamese speaking people to practice the language, I was once spoke.
By the way, how did you trace my existence? I have been wanting to get in touch with ex-Bidong, whether refugees or workers for old time sake and to know how they are doing. And if I can get some news of my former students, it would an answered prayer.
Ghani Ibrahim
ghani@salam.org.my
Posted with permission from the author.
Ghani sent the above article to Lamvi Dao on August 08th, 2008
i was was in bula bidong in 1987 went i was 5 so think i knew u
i was in pulau bidong in 1986 til 87 i stayed at khu D i have a big sister name Van , big brother name Hai if u think u know us so email me.
Hello “Anh Giao”,
I was in Bidong for a long 14 months from 1978 to 1979. My boat was the 425th one the island and we had 295 people on it totally; 2 died at sea. My family moved a few times from Zone A, C, F…over the course of 14 months for various reasons. I left the island for the U.S. 30 years ago, but my memories of the island are still vividly fresh. Unlike my brother, I enjoyed exploring the island by myself a lot and I stumbled onto the trails to a secret white sandy beach which what they called the “Zone G Beach”. I do remember seeing a stream that you talked about, but I did not swim in it because I had to find my way back to then the “urban area”. I did not know that there were forbidden zones on the island because I was too young, around 9 years old, but I had climbed some sections of the mountain countless times for woods to burn for cooking for my mother. Now with the Internet, I could see the whole island on GoogleMap and know what parts of the island are forbidden. If time permits, I have a lot to write about my experience on the island; I will probably write more later. I have been thinking to see Pulau Bidong for a number of years now, but never really had the right time. I read your writing and people’s responses and I am quite happy to know that the island is being cared for in some ways. I cannot wait to see it again.
John Soe, San Francisco, USA
I was in Palau Bidong for a very long time from May 19th 1989 to 1991 and in Sungei Besi from 1991 to 1994. MC 471.wow .Terrible but sweet time.I hope i can connect you and friends .
Hello Trang Dung (and all others who shared your stories), sorry to hear that you had to stay that long. I hope that everyone in your family made it out of the Island safely and settled down in a country of your desire. What country are you in now? Frankly, I am not familiar with Sungei Besi because we were lucky enough to leave Bidong for the U.S. in May of 1980 after 14 months on the Island. After 2 or 3 weeks of “processing” in a temporary camp in Kuala Lumpur, we left for San Francisco in late June of 1980. Are 30 years residing in the U.S., I never forgot my days in Pulau Bidong because they were bitter as well as sweet. Sadly, I haven’t had a chance to return. However, I am very happy to read stories of former refuguees at Pulau Bidong. I particularly enjoy the videos of those returned and filmed their journeys. These days, I keep checking up on this website to see if more people posted their stories. I would never get tired of reading former refugees’ stories of Pulau Bidong. I look forward to read more people’s stories of their lives on the Pulau Bidong Island. Many called it a “Second homeland” and I agreed because we made it thru hell on the high sea before landing on forein soil and subsequently ending on an island Named Pulau Bidong. John Soe, San Francisco