Conversations with my Parents by Oanh Thi Tran

1. What is ironic about the way the author and the father become close? What has to happen to the father?

The irony seen in how the author and the father became close is through life threatening sickness is the only way the Author can become close to their father.

2. How would you characterise the conversation that the author has with her parents?

The conversation mainly revolves around the father asking about the well-being of the author while the author continuously asks how everyone is feeling but is constantly ignored.

3. What is it that worries the author most about these conversations?

How quick the conversation is and how all the conversations are "lacking sentiment" this can be seen in the conversation with the author's niece where she tells her that she doesn't miss her. The author also worries about how "the phone dies before I even say goodbye" and how they want to say that she loves her family.

4. There is a gap between the author’s need to express feelings common in western countries and her family’s lack of desire to express their feelings verbally. How does the family still express their feelings for their child, just not verbally?

The family expresses their feelings through little actions such as making the author's favourite foods, "you like to eat banh xeo so much . We will remember you".