This was Christmas Day 2007
I was born in Dalat, Viet Nam on January 11, 1975 to Trieu Tan Vuong and Bach Le Vuong. My parents were both educators by trade and were very popular with their students, who were mostly young adults. If they were active members of the church back then, I could imagine them working with the youth. My mom was a real tomboy, getting into lots of fights with boys, and riding bikes, climbing trees, etc. She taught French. My dad was very athletic, and was involved in soccer and aikido. He later taught aikido at the community college when he came to the States. He was also a musician, singing lead and playing guitar in his own band. Both mom and dad were very social and had lots of friends! They still keep in touch with them!
Dad served in the South Vietnamese army and fought in the Viet Nam War. He was a lieutenant and was later imprisoned in their “reeducation” camps. He later escaped to Thailand and on to the United States. My mom missed him too much, so she followed. She planned her own escape with me on her back. We are what you would call Boat People. My parents are very brave people.
After our adventure at sea, complete with pirate encounters, we also came to Thailand and later to the United States where we were reunited with my dad and sponsored by my uncle (my mom’s brother, Ben). We arrived in April of 1980 to our first American city, SPOKANE!
After a while there, we headed west and have been in the Pacific Northwest ever since. Anthony, my only brother was born in 1984. Anthony graduated from the University of Washington and is now attending the University of Southern California (GO TROJANS) Dental School. He’s in a lot of debt, but we are banking on him taking care of the whole family when he is a bonafide dentist (not to mention take care of our dental needs!)
I graduated from Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, WA. I was on the Varsity Volleyball team for three years (my favorite sport!) and took a year off to be on the Dance Team (dumb move, but it was fun). I was also Sophomore Class President (what was I thinking?) and played Varsity Tennis my freshman year until my appendix burst after a match, and I was out for the season.
After marrying Jeremy, I enjoyed life as a stay at home mom (my most favorite job of all time). Somehow, I got certified as a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, Kickbox instructor, Yoga instructor, and a Bachelor’s in Special Education. I taught kickbox and yoga at the gym we owned, for the Naval Air Station on Whidbey, and for the community college (that was fun).
I picked up running when we moved to Bellingham and ran my first 15K (Fairhaven Waterfront) with my friend Francys. Then I ran the Ragnar Relay (12-man, 189 miles, 24 hours) with some friends from church. My foot now is injured and hurts and I am dying for the day I can run more than a mile without having to quit.
I enjoy most hanging out with the family, going out on dates with Jeremy, and watching sports the kids are involved in or any sports!
