Migration/Immigration

My name is Linda and I am Vietnamese but I was born in Slovakia. I lived in Slovakia for 6 years, and then my family immigrated to Vietnam to live. It was our first and might also be our last external migration. The pull factor that “pulls” my family to go to Vietnam was because my parents thought it would be better for our family to move back to Vietnam so we would live closer to our grandparents. And also, my dad’s company transferred him to work in Vietnam so we were really glad because if we go to Vietnam, my dad won’t have to find another job to work.

When I moved away from Slovakia, I was very sad. Some negative effects happened to me like I had to leave my friends behind; I had to leave my lovely home there behind, too. I don’t think I had any positive effects when I leaved Slovakia, because I was very young and I didn’t really know anything much. My family moved to an urban city, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and the environment here is very different to Slovakia. When I first arrived to Vietnam, many negative effects happened to me, I got sick from the pollution, I had to learn Vietnamese and make new friends at school and also, I couldn’t get used to the trash they put outside the street here. I also had to get used to the new culture, new foods, new people, new everything. But after years, I found many positive effects such as I became a stronger person; my dad’s job became more and more successful and I LOVE my friends here. I had settled in Vietnam for more than 7 years now and I really love my new home here and I am enjoying it a lot.