Hanoi girl Vu Anh Phuong kept her promise after 6 months. When Chance held Phuong’s hand at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, they officially became lovers. “The moment we held hands, I knew my heart was his,” said Anh Phuong, 27, who now lives and works in Indiana in the United States.
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Chance and Anh Phuong first met in Hanoi in 2018. Photo courtesy of Phuong |
Anh Phuong and Chance Clark first met in 2018 when Clark was a biotechnology student at Purdue University (ID) and visited Vietnam with a group of 17 peers as part of an exchange program. students.
Vu Anh Phuong, a third-year student at the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture in Hanoi and president of her school’s English club, was responsible for welcoming the delegation.
The group of American students was divided into two groups for further guidance, and Anh Phuong decided to be the tour guide for Chance’s group, saying, “I will guide this group, there are more beautiful people here. !” aloud. Laughter quickly broke out, breaking the ice of the first encounter.
While guiding the group, Anh Phuong actively talked with the American students and helped them with questions in case the teachers’ answers were not to their satisfaction.
“She was so confident and interesting and beautiful,” Chance said, recalling the first time they met.
Chance also managed to impress Anh Phuong with her smile. Throughout the trip, he became interested in the local culture. “When we got on the bus, everyone was sleeping, but he kept looking outside and asking questions,” Phuong said.
Listening to how local agricultural experts and farmers grow their crops, most American students were either indifferent or had a hard time understanding. Only Chance eagerly jotted it all down with pen and paper while actively asking questions.
He asked to add the Vietnamese girl on social media and actively texted her. On her fourth day in Vietnam, they went out together every night. Chance and Anh Phuong’s hearts were beating, but he always said to her, “I love you very much, but America and Vietnam are too far apart, we can’t have a relationship.”
When Chance Clark came home, he told Phuong, “I’m sorry we can’t be together,” and then he hugged her. She told the boy to wait for her in a year because she could see the path she was about to take.
Anh Phuong had already intended to apply for a scholarship in the United States. She had recently received the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) scholarship from the US State Department, as well as numerous full scholarships from the United States, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan.
But she hadn’t decided which school and which state to go to. The appearance of Chance Clark convinced her that she should complete her thesis and graduate studies in the United States before applying for a doctorate. scholarship to stay as long as possible.
“During the six months we were apart, we texted and called nonstop,” Anh Phuong said. “Every second, every minute, I just wanted to hold his hand. It was my motivation to work harder every day.”
When she returned to the United States to complete her thesis, Chance picked her up at the Chicago airport. Anh Phuong spent 5 months in the United States working on her thesis from 7 a.m. until late afternoon.
After Anh Phuong successfully defended her thesis in the United States, Chance spent $5,000 of her scholarship to buy a diamond ring to propose to her. “I think she’s the missing piece in my life,” he explained.
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Chance and Anh Phuong attend a friend’s wedding together. Photo courtesy of Phuong |
Anh Phuong returned home and continued to apply for doctoral programs in the United States. She applied for the same major at the same school as her current fiancé as well as at four nearby schools. In April 2019, Anh Phuong was invited to pursue a PhD at Purdue University. She was overjoyed and immediately called Chance.
“A lot of people say that Asian women marry American men to get a green card, but I proved that I came here with my own efforts and abilities,” Anh Phuong explained.
Anh Phuong was 23 and Chance was 22 when they married in November 2019. “From the moment we started dating, I told Chance that I would always live in the same house as my husband.” , she said. “He respected my decision, so I thought he really liked me.”
However, their first year of marriage was full of ups and downs. “You’re getting fat these days!” Phuong teased her husband. “And your face has so many wrinkles!”
But Chance didn’t take it as a joke and felt hurt by the criticism.
When Anh Phuong cooked Vietnamese dishes for her husband, he would often ask things like “is this ingredient okay?” and “is it safe to eat?” which made him feel like he didn’t trust her.
Chance frequently slapped his hand on the table when he got angry, and Anh Phuong kept repeating his reproaches. Frustration gradually grew, resulting in conflict. When Anh Phuong made pho, Chance asked, “Are you sure this is the right way?”
“Maybe I married you too soon!” she exclaimed, irritated.
Her husband was shocked and broke a glass of water on the floor.
“I meant that we both got married when we didn’t fully understand each other, and he thought that I should marry someone other than him,” Phuong explained. She fell asleep in the living room, but that night they both stayed awake.
Chance apologized to his wife in the morning and promised to be quieter. Anh Phuong was also aware of cultural differences and her way of speaking was prone to misunderstandings. They sat down and talked, agreed to be honest about their feelings, to express themselves clearly, and to learn to listen.
While the United States was sorely short of manpower in 2022, Anh Phuong’s industry salary increased by 40%. Knowing this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she put her studies on hold to work at a leading biotech company a 10-minute drive from her home.
Chance drove his wife to work and then to school every day. At 27, he is about to receive a doctorate with eight scientific articles published. Stand achievements are rare in the United States. The man values marital fidelity and always shares household chores with his wife.
“Not only is he my ideal life partner, but he is also my idol,” laughed Phuong, “After all our efforts, this house, this job is really fulfilling for me.”
Although an American wife for four years, Anh Phuong has not changed her nationality. She wanted her future child to know that their mother is 100% Asian and that they come from Vietnamese and American bloodlines.
