Little Saigon ? but you live in Garden Grove CA.

It is great they have stood on their own feet and become rich through hard work.I wonder if they have got the green cards and have ever been in trouble with immigration office due to having no green card.

I have seen many neighborhoods settled by people from the East. In fact, I went through a place I lived back in the 60s and it had a sad tale to tell. Vietnamese and Laotians moved in in the 70's and the place thrived, was respectable and practically crime free and lovely. Then all of a sudden they moved out, as if they'd received a notice. The neighborhood is now mostly populated by illegal immigrants and it is a cesspool. I was brokenhearted. I've noticed that the places in which legal immigrants live are mostly wonderful, prideful places whereas the ones where illegal aliens live generally have high crime, are junky and run down. I would like to see more legal immigrants, not to make that the main point of my reply but to point out that people often appreciate that which they earn and work for. The rest of us should take a lesson from the Laotians, Vietnamese, Sudanese, Indians and all the other legal immigrants that value their families above all and take pride in their property and accomplishments.

I lived in Thailand for 9 months back in 1973. I loved every minute of the experience. I found the SEA (South East Asian) people to be very considerate, polite, loving, giving and protective people you could find. I traveled all over the country alone and NEVER worried about my safety. This was the case all over SEA. As I have said many times I would move back to Thailand in a heartbeat if I had the money. Because of their religious beliefs, the people are very non violent and very giving. They are there for you if you're ill or in trouble...and don't hesitate to help take care of you. If they steal from you the one and only reason is because their family needs the food. I rode in samilars constantly ((they are three wheeled bicycles with a seat in the back for the passenger) and I always had a piece of fruit or some sort of food for the "driver". I rapidly became a favorite passenger with the drivers because I didn't act like I was a rich person doing the drivers a favor, I treated them as an equal that I was giving lunch to because we couldn't meet at a diner. Whenever I had problems with the Americans, it was a Thai that helped me out...and more often it was a samilar driver that was there for me. Their work code is also extremely different than the Americans, especially since their wages were all of five bhat (cents) an hour. The higher paid Thais received 7 bhat an hour (thirty five cents), they were working for the American government in various positions. The other Thais not only worked in various positions in the outside but they would also collect what we consider trash to recycle. Also because of the economy of the country they didn't have the luxury of placing their elderly in "homes" or having the medical care for their special needs children. I would see hydrosyphallic (that's water on the brain with no way to drain..we, normally, have that fluid go through our system and we eliminate the excess fluid through our bodily excretions.) children cradled in their mother's arms, the baby's heads were three times larger than the average adult's. My respect for the Asians knows no boundaries. Unfortunately as a country, we still hold bad feelings towards the Asians. It is wonderful that there are people that can open their hearts and minds to Asians after the war in the Pacific. It is also incredible that we can embrace and appreciate their way of life. It is rather unusual that it is noticed that a particular neighborhood is kept free of violence, the friendliness, their quietness, and their hard work...especially because of the American way of life. Because the Asians are foreigners, we expect the total opposite of what they actually are. Like with any nationality we should show the intelligence and compassion to wait and make the assessment of the person on what they are on the inside rather than the packaging on the outside. It is like a present. I often find that many of the gifts I receive are beautifully wrapped and look like they will be something wonderful and they turn out to be a horrible gift. Then you receive a package that is wrapped horribly and is very ugly on the outside and the inside turns out to be the most wonderful thing in the world! It would be incredible if everyone in the world had the powers of observation that you have! If we all could set aside our preconceived notions and open our hearts and minds to others, maybe we could create a world that has more understanding, compassion, and willingness to compromise with each other. If this happens, maybe we can eventually eliminate wars all together. Sorry that I got so long winded, but Asian people are one of the peoples that fascinate me and are very close to my heart.

There has been a surge in immigrants in my area over the past few years. There are certain areas where the businesses there look like the country they are from. I can't say that they have been accepted by everyone in the community though. There are a lot of people very upset by their presence. I would like to see this "Little Saigon" that you refer to. It sounds charming.

We live in Central Kentucky and just over twenty years ago, Toyota moved into the county north of us for their first major production plant in the United States. Before they started to move in, we were educated at school about the differences between ourselves and Japanese people. Well, there isn't a Japanese community anywhere around her per se, however I do think that having this cultural diversity added to our area all those years ago has really made this area a better place to live.

I frequent an Asian village here mostly because I like to eat different types of food from different countries. I can find food from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippine, Thai, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, China, and India all in one place. I also like the atmosphere of eating there; it's a big food court with many long benches, kind of like a hawker type place. The vendors are very friendly; and families as well as singles or couples seem to enjoy eating together sometimes on same tables. As I frequent the place, I actually make friends with the vendors and other regulars.

A couple of situations come to my mind. I did this post earlier and as I hit "post response" the lights flickered and it went into nothingness. Not MyLot's fault, but it was because of the wind I think. First thing, in the history of our country, many times we have had influx from various European countries. Sometimes, like for the Irish, it was the potato famine. My husband comes from a Finlander background. Often the younger sons in a family came to the new world, because the inheritance went to the oldest son. People from Finland found that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan reminded them of home. They were good at mining and harvesting lumber and so that is what they did. I also think of the German Mennonites, who had originally settled in Russia, and been promised immunity from conscription. As time went on, the government began to require them to serve in the army. They left,and came to America, where they would be allowed to register as conscientious objectors, and work alternative duty. These immigrants brought Hard Red Winter Wheat and settled in Kansas and Nebraska. The flour from this wheat makes excellent breads.They were sometimes discriminated against because of their beliefs. Some served in alternative services. Sometimes their spouses lost their jobs because the husbands would not serve. In the past I knew people who had this happen, but through hard work they still flourished.

hi there hatley. here in my country there are a lot of foreigners who have settled in. in the capital city of manila, there is a place called chinatown and there are a lot of chinese settlers here. there is also a huge community of koreans as well in various parts of the country. aside from that there are also american, british, and german communities. i think, nowadays, people from different cultures and countries are able to live amicably. sure, there are differences, but these differences are embraced and accepted openly. it is a known fact that there are thriving filipino communities in most countries around the world so i see this as a very good thing. cheers and happy mylotting!!!

That is an interesting bit of American history. Or Vietnamese. Things we don't really realize. We had some japanese people settle here in our Garden City and grow vegetables on a terrace type garden in our foot hills. You used to be able to see what was left of the terracing but it is all built up over now. Glad to hear they are good neighbors. I am seeing alot of foreigners coming to where I live. Whites were the majority here and now there is only about three or four white families. The rest are from Afganistan, Africa, Iran, Iraq and such countries. They are friendly and most are nice except for acouple we have had a run in with.

I was reading through and i agree with most all said on this topic. we went out today and i was gone most of the day shopping. so just got here and yes it seems the legal immegrants are great good people to live with and they respect our country and show they want it to be thiers and make it theirs but the illegal ones are a disgrace and its one of the issues i have with our president wanting to sue our state for really making an attempt to fix the problem. when we seem to be the ones doing(or trying to do) the most about it!! dont worry, i have issues with the other candidate also. not voting. dont want to feel bad about the one that ends up winning

dear Hatley, Here in our country we have this place called "China town" a little village for Chinese residents. This China town exist not only here in the heart of the Philippines, but also in some parts of the country. In Baguio City, there's a Korean and Japanese community as well. And here in Manila- an Indian community starts to have their own as well. Have a great weekend ma'm

Hi Hatley! Yah, I hear there are a lot of Vietnamese out your way! Do you ever go to the restaurants - maybe have some pho? Let's see . . . back in the days when my parents (who are Japanese) moved out to SFV, there weren't too many Asians - or at least the Japanese were scattered here and there in the SFV but not too many in our particular area. In school, there were not many Asians - and I only knew a couple Japanese kids. I was definitely in the minority (one of the few Asian in a "white" community). I went to Japanese school on Saturdays in the mid-Valley and there I met my Japanese "peers" who were from all over the Valley - and it was a community center for the adults. Not exactly a village, but at least it was a meeting place for the Japanese and Japanese-Americans. I don't know the story behind Little Tokyo in downtown but we used to go there a lot. We still live in the same area - but it seems in the past couple decades, people from Korea have come settled out here. There are many Koreans in a particular residential area where people are known to be sort of "rich". Many Korean businesses have popped up. There is a couple Korean/Asian stores now and it's thriving well - whereas many of the little Asian stores that have tried to make it never made it too well in the Valley. One of our local schools have even installed a Korean immersion program . . . but I've heard many non-Korean parents are not too happy about that. There are many Koreans living here - and I personally don't have a problem with it (we have many Korean friends). It's certainly more than just a village they have built . . . I think they've boosted the economy out this way!

Hi aunt Hatley! What a great discussion. We have some people from India and people from Pakistan. We also have people from Mexico. There are a lot of illegals here, and many are very poor. They fled Mexico for a better life and it really didn't work out for them. There are apartments and houses that have several families sharing a dwelling and splitting the cost. Some if the Mexicans have done well and carry around wads of cash. It seems that they don't do banking. I guess because they have no documentation. However they got here, they are mostly very kind and peaceful. They are just trying to eek out a living to provide for their families and the relatives back home in Mexico. There are two Pakistani fellows I know from going to to the Shell Station. They have done very well for themselves. They are always very friendly to me. I always refer to their store as "The Good Man's Store." Whichever man was managing the store the days I went there to get gas or get a diet coke or a gallon of milk, they always had kind words and a smile for me. I don't drive much anymore, but when I do drive, I really enjoy stopping in there. They are always well dressed and look very Americanized.

Yes, there is alos a place called little Mexico in s. california. its near the usa- mexico border. And of course when you tell me about it- they assume its in Mexico.

I see what you're saying. A small area wih such a large population of another country, that it becomes a small community of that country's residents. When I think of the post you made yesterday, or a few days ago, about the lady yelling it Vietnamese, I had no clue you lived in a Vietnamese community. I'm really surprised that there are't more people working at your retirement home, that speak their language.

Hi Hatley. Yes, we have certain suburbs in all our cities here that are like Asian cities almost when you drive through them. When you are in them, it is hard to spot a caucasian person and all the shop signs are in the Asian language of the folk that have settled there. There are always those people who are put off by these suburbs, they do not feel safe in them and resent these places popping up in "our country" but I actually like the fact that these little pockets of different cultures exist. It makes life interesting and they provide a variety of food choices that do not exist in the "normal" suburbs. And like you say, they are mainly hard working law abiding citizens.

we had a facility called philippine refugee processing center that was opened in morong, bataan (outside metro manila) in 1980. it accommodated vietnamese, laotian and cambodian refugees and was funded by the UN high commissioner for refugees. it is like a small city where the refugees stay and helped to prepare for resettlement in other countries like canada, norway, australia, france and the us. a lot of filipinos have chinese or spanish ancestry. we've also had waves of foreigners coming here through the years like the japanese and taiwanese. the latest are the koreans. because a lot of filipinos now work or live overseas, a lot of children in recent years are born of mixed parentage, like half-european, half-middle eastern. what i've learned is there will always be good and bad apples and in the end, it's up to us how we behave and be good examples. at the same time we decide how we perceive other people, whether they are good by nature and whether as individuals or as a group.