Phoetry Night: The Rich Flavors and Words of the AAPI Community
By Kathy Pham
Being a third-year first-generation college student to immigrant parents, I take great pride in my Vietnamese heritage and background. Being once ashamed of my complexion and home-made packed school lunches, I now proudly share these things as a part of my identity. Throughout high school, I embraced my differences and learned to love every part of my Vietnamese self. With my acceptance into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), I especially relished the diversity of students and found myself among other like-minded individuals.
“I am ever so grateful for the privilege of having my mother make home-cooked, authentic Vietnamese dishes passed down from her ancestors in Hue.”
Growing up in a predominantly white K-12 school, I always felt like part of the “other”. I envied people’s shiny blonde hair and their American school lunches consisting of turkey sandwiches and yogurt. I remember shrinking in embarrassment when I opened my container to release the aromas of pungent spices and interesting-looking meats. I wolfed down my meals every time I was at home, but self-consciousness bubbled in my stomach, rendering me too full of insecurity to eat. Eventually, this fear dissipated, and I am ever so grateful for the privilege of having my mother make home-cooked, authentic Vietnamese dishes passed down from her ancestors in Hue.
A bowl of pho from Pho Vegas in Las Vegas. Image courtesy of Kathy Pham.
Pho is one of the most iconic Vietnamese dishes. It is a savory broth soup served with rice noodles, thinly sliced meat, and a myriad of toppings such as cilantro, bean sprouts, lime, and green onions. It can be customized to be light or hearty, simple, or complex. This soup has always been deemed a Vietnamese comfort dish.
This semester, I am lucky to be an Events Intern at Nevada Humanities, in partnership with the Neon Pacific Initiative, a Mellon Foundation-funded initiative to expand the study of the race, place, and culture of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Las Vegas. I learned a lot about the humanities, which, to me, is the study, observance, and celebration of the cultural aspects that comprise our daily lives. In particular, I gravitated towards folklore and learning about the everyday application of the humanities, where I learned that there are both oral traditions (where the art involves spoken word) and material culture (traditional hand-crafted objects, including cultural foods). It was exciting to me that the little things we carry in our lives, such as the food we eat and the clothes we wear, can be studied and preserved as a part of our identity and heritage.
Digital flyer for Poetry Night.
For my end-of-the-semester program, I am organizing a community event that highlights AAPI voices through the sharing of food, storytelling, and expression. Join us for Phoetry Night in the Beverly Rogers Literature and Law Building (RLL) Room 101 on the UNLV campus on Sunday, December 14, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm for a conversation between Vinh, the owner of the restaurant Pho Vegas, and Dr. Mark Padoongpatt of UNLV. Free pho samples are limited to the first 20 registrants, but feel free to Bring Your Own Pho to participate in the tasting notes! Afterwards, local AAPI writers Mei-Mei Mijares and Niko Mendoza will perform readings of their original poems, followed by a group writing workshop.
I am grateful for my experience at Nevada Humanities, and I truly learned a lot about the Asian American community. I hope my event will bring individuals together and leave them with both their hearts and stomachs content. I can’t wait to see you there!
Kathy Pham is a third-year sociology student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, currently serving as an Events Intern for Nevada Humanities. Kathy enjoys working with nonprofit organizations to make an impact in her community and uplift marginalized voices. She is passionate about the AAPI community, women’s rights, education, and mental health. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and trying new foods.