Vietnamese wife turns farmer in the US

Born and raised in the southern Vietnamese coastal city, she met Jason Sciss, an English teacher from the U.S., at a local English center in 2010.

When Sciss proposed to her in 2011, he also agreed to her condition he had to settle in Vietnam and live with her family though he had only considered his time in the country part of his global exploration plans.

The birth of daughters Lily, now 11, and Violet, 9, led to an increasingly fulfilling life in Vietnam.

But as the children reached school age, Nhan recognized the opportunities available in the U.S., and decided it would be a good idea to move there.

She says: "I realized that many people put in a lot of effort to send their children to study in the U.S. If my children could have that opportunity so easily, why shouldn't I go?"

The children had been immersed in Vietnamese language, culture and the love of their maternal family.

Nhan also felt it was time for them to experience their paternal heritage as well.

In 2021 Sciss and their older daughter moved to the U.S. to set up their new life, with Nhan and their younger child joining them a year later.

They settled down in Clinton, Arkansas.

(From L) Jason Sciss, his eldest daughter Lily, his wife Hoai Nhan and youngest daughter Violet at Lily's primary school graduation ceremony in Arkansas in 2024. Photo courtesy of the family

For Sciss, it was a return home. The children quickly adapted to their new life in the U.S. Only Nhan struggled to adjust, as she landed in winter and found the cold overwhelming.

She stayed indoors for three months, fearful of the chill.

As the family settled into their new surroundings, Sciss took Nhan to visit his childhood home in Jasper, Newton County, about two hours from Clinton.

The scenic beauty of the area in spring left Nhan impressed.

Noting her enthusiasm for the area, Sciss and his parents said: "Why not stay here?"

Encouraged by them, Nhan agreed to move to Jasper, reassured by the modern school facilities and a curriculum matching Clinton’s.

They spent three months preparing and moved in the summer.

Hoai Nhan (3rd, L) with her mother-in-law Juanita Blanchard (L) and two daughters. Photo courtesy of the family

The warm summer had caused wild plants and grass to grow densely.

Nhan recalls: "I felt like I was lost in a jungle; the road to our house was just a narrow path for cars surrounded by grass taller than a person."

Besides snakes, the area was also teeming with bees, mosquitoes and other bloodsucking insects.

Local people relied on groundwater for daily use and mostly lived self-sufficiently. There were no other Vietnamese, and the nearest neighbor was a few kilometers away.

Shocked but determined to adapt, Nhan, though inexperienced in farming, put on boots and joined her husband in the garden.

But after just a few steps she was terrified to see snakes and centipedes crawling at her feet.

"I was overwhelmed with homesickness, missing the close-knit community, city streets and familiar foods of home."

Feeling for his wife, Sciss spent every weekend cutting the grass and clearing their living space.

Her in-laws also pitched in, driving tractors and lawnmowers to help improve the place.

At first the children were frightened, but gradually they got used to helping their father clean the garden, imitating whatever the adults did.

Nhan often cried at night, pitying herself. The thought of returning to Vietnam frequently crossed her mind.

"People come to the U.S. to live in modern, bustling places, but I ended up in the countryside.

"While other Vietnamese return home from the U.S. with pride, I’m covered in mosquito bites."

She tried to suppress these negative thoughts, but they only worsened. Even minor issues made her sulk or snap at her husband.

After one argument, she was so upset that she went to a tree in the backyard to cry.

Her mother-in-law, Juanita Blanchard, 60, came home from work one day and could not find her anywhere. When she finally saw Nhan with red, tear-stained eyes, she hugged her and comforted her, saying, "What’s wrong, Dear? Do you want to go somewhere? I’ll take you. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you be happier."

Looking at her, Nhan suddenly felt a strong sense of guilt.

She told herself: "I have been so childish. I need to learn to adapt and consider this my new home."

Hoai Nhan sits at her family's dining table with her husband and parents-in-law. Photo courtesy of the family

From that day Nhan began to learn how to be a real farmer. She started reading books and joined gardening groups to learn more about soil, climate and best planting seasons in Arkansas.

She also connected with Vietnamese living in different states to get seeds for Vietnamese herbs and vegetables, which she sowed on her land.

As she gained confidence, chainsaws no longer seemed like tools meant only for men.

"I remember the first time I held a chainsaw - it was loud and jerked in my hands, and I just wanted to throw it down and run. But now, I can handle it well."

She is currently learning to use the lawnmower and tractor with her husband and father-in-law’s guidance, though she is not yet confident enough to use them on her own.

The weather in Arkansas, with its four distinct seasons like in Vietnam, meant she had to adapt her gardening accordingly. Plants would go dormant in winter, be planted indoors in spring and moved outside in summer.

"It's as exhausting as raising children, but seeing the results is truly rewarding."

Now, in summer, her garden is teeming with mustard greens, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, and herbs: There is more than her family can consume.

She enjoys using them to cook traditional dishes for her in-laws.

"I am so proud and grateful to you," Sciss often tells her when he sees her covered in sweat and dirt but always smiling.

Nguyen Thi Lan, Nhan’s 70-year-old mother, was astonished when she saw the couple and grandchildren on video call.

She says: "In Vietnam, my son-in-law always dressed smartly; now, in the U.S., he’s like a true farmer. The children, who rarely did housework in Vietnam, now do everything."

Nhan herself is surprised by the changes in children.

They now cook meals for the family of six and have taken to farm life as if born to it.

Every morning and evening, the family enjoys meals together, relishing the sunrise or sunset.

Living through all four seasons in the valley, Nhan observes nature's transformations each season.

Being part of these changes deepens her appreciation for rural life.

"I now feel I made the right choice," she declares.

 

 

Vietnamese wife turns farmer in the US

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