Cafe Am serves up coffee, culture

  Illustration by EDWARD OYAMA/Daily Bruin

By Chris Young
Daily Bruin Staff

This weekend, students can see talented groups of their peers
perform in a casual setting on campus ““ and there’s
free coffee, too.

The Vietnamese Student Union’s Cafe Am, which means
“warm coffee” in Vietnamese, presents its 15th annual
show in Ackerman Grand Ballroom on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Eight acts will showcase students’ talents in music,
dance, comedy and acting. During the show, the audience will be
served Vietnamese coffee and tea.

Kent Nguyen, a student director for the event, said that the
show reveals aspects of Vietnamese Americans’ experiences in
America.

“Part of Cafe Am is the atmosphere, the coffee, the whole
experience,” said Nguyen, a fourth-year business economics
student. “The audience can see how Vietnamese Americans view
themselves, how they express themselves.”

VSU started Cafe Am in 1987 as a way for its members to show
their artistic talents. This year’s theme is
“Randomness.”

“Anything could jump out of anywhere, it’ll be
crazy,” Nguyen said. “There will be a skit before each
act, and the skits will have elements of randomness,
too.”

Based on the show’s popularity in past years, VSU expects
between 300 and 400 people to attend. Its audiences usually include
UCLA students, family members of VSU students and people of many
different ethnic groups.

“It’s generally packed,” Nguyen said.
“Two years ago we ran out of seats, so people were standing
in the back, watching.”

“It brings unity to us and helps us remember our
past,” said Tung Tran, a fourth-year biology student and a
performer in the event. “A lot of our songs have Vietnamese
and English in them; it bridges the gap between the two
cultures.”

The VSU produces Cafe Am separately from its culture night
because the events differ in size and scope. Culture night focuses
on traditional Vietnamese culture and values. It requires following
of certain traditions, such as playing the Vietnamese national
anthem and having portions of the show spoken in Vietnamese.
Students follow an artistic director’s lead but don’t
have the freedom to perform whatever they want.

Cafe Am focuses more on the Vietnamese American experience,
allowing students the freedom to create their own performances and
reflect on their experiences as Vietnamese Americans.

“With Cafe Am you have the full creative spectrum to
express yourself,” Nguyen said. “You use talents you
might develop in America, blended with your own roots, and express
yourself in that manner.”

For people unfamiliar with Vietnamese culture, the show may
provide some insights.

“Everyone knows about Vietnam because of the war, but they
don’t really know exactly what the culture is about,”
Tran said. “It gives you an idea of how we feel and
act.”

Nguyen said that maintaining his Vietnamese roots is important
to him because he grew up in America, speaking English for most of
his life.

“I can keep up with relatives in Vietnam, understand their
history and values,” he said.

Long Le, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, said that
his Vietnamese American identity includes keeping the Vietnamese
language, family values and foods and celebrating holidays such as
the lunar new year.

“UCLA is all about different cultures and
activities,” said Le. “I think it’s good that VSU
does this event.”

EVENT: Cafe Am takes place Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
in Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Admission is free.