When Heaven and Earth Changed Places: A Vietnamese Woman's Journey from War to Peace

To obtain a job from the American employment office, Hayslip had to obtain a birth certificate. She approached her landlady, Hoa, who put her in touch with the right people. To get this “replacement documentation” (378), Hayslip had to pay hefty bribes. Once she had the certificate, she got a job at a US Army Officers’ Club but quickly transferred to the Navy Enlisted Men’s Club, which paid more. Soon thereafter, she met Paul at a coffee shop and they started dating. He and Hayslip moved in together, a fact that caused Vietnamese neighbors to snub Hayslip. She, however, “felt like a queen” (382). Then, without telling her, Paul shipped out to the US. While hurt, Hayslip decided not to be bitter but instead to be forgiving and thankful for the time they had together. The latter sets you free, she reasoned, while hatred keeps you powerless.

For the next few months, Hayslip refused to go out with anyone. One day, she was flagged down by a Vietnamese woman who was with an older American male, Ed. The woman asked her to go with Ed, as he had paid for this introduction. Hayslip initially refused, as she was not a sex worker.