Catfish and Mandala, by Andrew Pham

I was told that the easiest way to touch cultural heritage from an early age was to use food. Many good memories and cultural traditions are conveyed through food. Food is a way to bring people together and bring good memories from the past. Food has a way to heal old wounds and make people happy. You know that you are connected with your own culture through food and you are proud. However, there are times when there are questions about the choice of cultural cuisine, especially if you are not raised with a specific dish. Reading squid and mandala reminds me of my cultural proximity through food.

In the book "Squid" and "Mandala", Andrew Pan fought his identity after leaving the country of Vietnam. For Fam, leaving his country in the United States has become a major turning point in his life. This turning point changed his life as I changed my body and spirit. Meanwhile, I got a better life, education and freedom in California; on the other hand, no matter where I go, there is always a strong sense of being homeless. "Uncontrollable Despair" (Pham 50) Always in my head. With this despair, Pham decided to overcome adversity and endless journey from California to Saigon.

Andrew Pham, author of Catfish and Mandala, is on a journey of self-quest. Fam returns to Vietnam and can not find the meaning of life between family dysfunction, past illusions, living before and not living in the two cultures. Contrary to spreading both hands and being welcomed, Andrew was called Vietnam when he was in Vietnam, but this is a derogatory term meaning Vietnamese American. The Vietnamese believe that the Vietnamese Communist Party gave up everything about its culture when it was transplanted to the United States. This is another challenge facing Andrew. Andrew's life is divided into many parts. His family had been plagued by deep-seated hostility and trauma long before he was born.