If you are also feeling lost between two cultures, I hope you may peacefully find your way to who you are.
Cooking and eating has always been a big part of my life. Whether everyone is gathering for a Nebraska football watch party or honoring the death day of our elders, food is always a main part of a get-together. Now, living away from home and where I grew up, cooking Vietnamese food for myself has become about grasping familiarity, trying to recreate the tastes and smells that I once shared with others.
Through learning more about Vietnamese cuisine, I have learned more about Vietnamese people. I've observed that Vietnamese cuisine is all about making the best of what you have to balance flavor, nutrients, and satiation. When I see how Vietnamese people can make so much out of such simple ingredients and techniques, I feel so much respect for my culture and proud to be part of it.
Many of the ingredients are estimates; I grew up cooking without measurements, only being told by my mom to put “vừa vừa,” enough of what I needed. And often, it's up to the preference of the cook anyway. If you taste as you go, you will be fine. Good luck!