Diary+Entry+4

1945. 9. 1

I somehow decided to stay in Saigon for little more. I feel even more uneasy with my life in Saigon. More and More Japanese people on the street with guns since they've launched the Second French Indochina Campaign.I started to become fearful of Japanese. I knew that from reading newspapers that the Japanese power is growing more and more powerful. They were the only Asians who are able to compete with mighty Europeans. This is why the Japanese were a great threat to the Europeans. And even more dangerous thing was that the Vietnamese finally started their revolution under their leader Ho Chi Minh. The Japanese had contributed to this revolution, imprisoning Vichy French officials. I heard this from other rubber plantation owner. I am even suspicious if I can leave right away. I wanted to leave right away after the Japanese had occupied Indochina but I had to cope with my business problems. Although I've learned a lot of money, I still had to pay employers. I could see their anxiety in their eyes, worrying that I might just leave Saigon without saying anything to them. Since I didn’t mention anything about the incident about my brother, they are still nice to me. The one who killed my brother quit voluntarily. I just can’t leave these people without saying anything. Sometimes I just don’t want to leave here. I chose to bequeath my business to my most diligent and smartest worker. Since the Vietnamese workers I work with have not received a formal education, they basically knew nothing about owning a business. I had to teach him how to manage the amount of rubber plantation in an effective way. I hope that this rubber plantation business goes well even after I leave so that these people would not starve. Then I had a meeting with other rubber plantation owners to discuss the problem with the invasion of the Japanese and upheaval of the Vietnamese. Everyone agreed that it is dangerous to stay in Saigon. Some French plantation owners went back to their homeland as soon as the Japanese arrived, agh, those irresponsible, ones who did not even care about their business. They are just cowards. This morning I packed my luggage with other plantation owners. Some came to Saigon with their families, some alone. Some are adopting Vietnamese children and going back to France together. They say that their memories in Saigon were just like nightmares. I do not agree with them. When would I have a chance in my life time to own rubber plantation in countries in Indochina? It was a good experience which helped me to cooperate with new people. Before I came to Saigon, I think i was a bit xenophobic and had a biased view on foreigners. My life in Vietnam, although not that long, influenced me a lot in a great deal. By observing how the native people suffered from colonial rule, I concluded that even though we could gain economic benefit from colonized countries, its detrimental impact on native people make me to reconsider facts about colonial rule. Finally tomorrow, I am going back to Paris, my homeland. Bye people in Saigon, and hi my new daughter Camille. I am ready to start my new life in my homeland.