... Since the day the South was conquered by the communists, so many things happened in society as well as in every family. From the trick to lure the officers of the Republic of Vietnam into education camps, to the campaign against comprador-bourgeoisie, the currency revaluation and confiscation of private property, forced relocation of city dwellers to the new economic zones and compulsory labor in irrigation projects. But all these new drastic upheavals paled before the mass panic of people running here and there to find a way to escape the country. There was a popular saying that "If a lamp post could walk, it would also try to run away". So did everybody, including me, who was trapped for one reason or another ... My escape of Vietnam by sea route after the fall of South Vietnam to the communists was just like that of other boat people. It was a harrowing, costly experience with high risk of imprisonment if caught and death by drowning if not saved by God's grace...