Hi!

My name is Anh Ton, but my grandma named me “Ben” when I began to move to the United States. I was born in Saigon, Vietnam in an alley next to a popular night market and stayed there for about 6 years of my life before I moved to Georgia.

When I first arrived in America, my family and I witnessed a massive culture shock. From the social interactions to the masses of forests that surrounded the area, I felt like as though the world was much darker in contrast from the city I was born in. As we passed everyone in the streets, smiles were exchanged and even efforts to get to know my families were given. Even my first friend that I made, in America, was through an apple pie that my next door neighbor's family made for us. America's melancholic atmosphere turned out to be much brighter than I'd anticipated.

Due to my family working hard to keep food on the table, most of my childhood in America was in afterschool daycares and summer camp. Though not being able to speak English for a few years hampered my ability to make/ communicate with friends I still had fun trying to use my body language to talk to my teachers. One distinct memory I had was going to summer camp at Trinity Lutheran Church after the school year ended. Being born a Buddhist believer, I was thrown into a church as it was the cheapest option for a daycare back in the day. The feeling of being taught two religions simultaneously confused me and almost led me to lose some of my Vietnamese heritage, as I became accustomed to American ideals in the church. It was because of that Daycare that I quickly assimilated into American culture and understood Christianity in an elementary fashion. Although I had to admit, vacation bible school melted my small mind, as I felt like as I was being brainwashed with Jesus macaroni arts and gospel music and sing alongs. Although my religious beliefs differ greatly, I never felt as though I was excluded from any activities given nor did I feel as though I was trying to be converted from my original beliefs. I found a home in a place that I had never thought I would step in, but as I would find out for the next six years of my stay there, being kind and inviting bears no restrictions whether it may be for religious reasons or cultural reasons.