By Marie Mulvenna

Just four months ago, Juliette Vu arrived in Atlanta, a refugee from her native Vietnam. Now, she is actively assisting her fellow countrymen in their efforts to begin a new life in Atlanta.

Having experienced the same problems and concerns, Juliette is well equipped to identify with the problems of resettlement and the many facets of becoming part of a new environment in a new country. Juliette is now with Catholic Social Services, Inc., Resettlement Unit and spends her days on the phone, in meetings with refugees, in interviews with prospective sponsor families and generally being available to give a helping hand to their many needs.

The mother of two young sons, she fled to America in May as one of the last Vietnamese to escape from Saigon. Her husband, an airline executive, was unable to leave the country with them. Juliette was fortunate to have a sister in Atlanta and after leaving Saigon in haste she stopped in Guam, spent four weeks in Hawaii which she describes as "a really nice place," and then on to Atlanta. "I was very fortunate that I did not have to stop in a refugee camp," she says softly.

Juliette is a slim young woman of 31 with a vivacious personality and determination to help her fellow refugees. "I went through some of their problems and it is very easy for me to realize the fears they have as well as their needs. Helping them adjust to their new home here is a very rewarding experience," she adds.

Juliette has a post-graduate degree in French literature, taught in Saigon and has traveled throughout Asia and Europe. Here in Atlanta she sees unusual parallels to her Saigon homeland, especially in the trees and flowers of Georgia. Commenting that she somehow expected lots and lots of concrete buildings, she says, "sometimes I think I am back in Saigon." She says the landscape is very similar and "it's sort of like feeling half in reality and half in a dream."

Her duties in Atlanta involve several areas of resettlement, including housing, employment, food, clothing and education. The bulk of her time is spent interviewing prospective sponsors of Vietnamese families and working directly with the Vietnamese people themselves.

Communication seems to be the biggest problem of the newcomers, according to Mrs. Vu. She relates that often times the sponsor misunderstands the refugee and vice versa. "It's a delicate job to explain something from both sides." She explained that most Vietnamese people know nothing about the availability of community services for employment, health, etc. She often pitches in to try to make the necessary contacts. She adds that she too had the same problem being unfamiliar with the areas of the city and whom to turn to for help. Laughingly, she says she just doesn't have a sense of direction and still has problems navigating around Atlanta.

In the area of employment, Juliette reports that many of the refugees in the city are highly educated and skilled persons who are having great problems finding local employment. Working closely with the state Labor Department, Juliette refers clients to them for placement and also handles some personal requests herself. She commented that very few people have called to ask about workers for domestic positions and when one does, she feels a sense of injury. "It bothered me that people thought the Vietnamese person was a perfect candidate for domestic work." She adds that many of the refugees are highly skilled in technical areas. She recently placed a number of Vietnamese ladies in sewing positions with a local uniform factory.

Housing needs are acute and Juliette says most housing questions are handled through Villa International and Rev. Tom Biggs who aids in finding shelter for the refugee family. There is no Vietnamese community area yet in Atlanta, Juliette says, adding that her people are scattered through the metro area. "The telephone has been a life saver for us," she says with a broad smile. "We can get in touch and the sense of community we lack geographically is kept alive thanks to the telephone."

Although there are problems in the area of education, Juliette feels they will shortly be overcome. She explained that neither of her two sons, nine-year-old son who speaks fluent French or three-year-old Linh, speaks any English. "They keep telling me they understand everything at school. I don’t know how they could yet, but in the neighborhood near Emory, they seem to get along well with their American friends."

Today, over 150 families have come to Atlanta from Vietnam and according to Juliette, more will continue to arrive from U.S. refugee camps throughout the nation.

Finding sponsors for the newcomers is a huge task and involves interview with families interested in sponsoring a Vietnamese family. Juliette says the interview covers such areas as size of house, income, background, education, letter of reference. "I have to judge the person to see if they are really interested in helping the family or if they just want a maid or laborer. Fortunately, most of them are very sincere." Sponsors, she said, can bring a family into their home if possible or they can help pay rent for an apartment for the refugee family. She related that parishes and churches in metro Atlanta have been sponsoring families and more will continue to do so as the newcomers arrive here.

Describing her transition to Atlanta, Juliette says she does not miss the rice diet of her country, having been exposed to European cuisine, but added that her fellow refugees miss it a great deal. She confesses she is thrilled with American ice cream and adds that she and her sons happily devour it daily.

Refugees are presently voicing their concern with the advent of cold weather, a distinct new experience for them. So many calls come in requesting warm clothing to combat colder temperatures. In Vietnam, Juliette explains, there are two seasons -- one is rainy and the other hot. Even during the rainy season the temperatures are warm so the Vietnamese person has never been exposed to low readings and brisk weather. In the area of clothing, Juliette sports American blue jeans and adds that she feels most comfortable in American attire. She says that when the U.S. Army came to Saigon the people got used to American food and clothing and for ten years have dressed like native Americans. Denim is a top favorite and Juliette adds that "everybody in the world loves American fashions."

She is lavish in her praise of Atlantans and their response to the needs of her people. Juliette seems to feel right at home after only four months of being in America and now she is actively involved in helping scores of others feel the same.