Establishing a successful business is a challenge for all entrepreneurs, but for immigrants, it presents special challenges. But nothing has slowed down Lee Ngo of Beyond Nails.
She came to the United States at age 16 for the same reason many of her fellow Vietnamese were exiting the country. "The Viet Nam War was ending, and the Communists were beginning to take over the country. My family and I relocated to the United States because we didn't want to live under a Communist rule," she said. "Fourteen of my family members made the journey: my grandparents, mother, three older brothers, two sisters-in-law, five nephews, and myself."
The journey to freedom wasn't easy. "My family and I started our journey on foot, travelling through the rain and extreme heat for two weeks. Sometimes we would even cross places where there was still battle taking place. I can remember only having one pair of flip flops. Along the way I lost one and had to walk the rest of the way barefoot. We weren't alone, as there were thousands of people fleeing the country for a better place. No one knew what his next step in life would be," she said.
Along the way, Ngo and her mother became separated from the rest of the family. "Luckily, our family was prepared for something like this. We had planned that if anyone were to get separated, we would meet at a certain village as soon as possible. Three weeks later, our family was reunited. We left on a small fishing boat the day Saigon fell to the Communists. Everyone was packed in with limited food and water, but we survived the heat, violent ocean, and storms. After days out at sea, we were picked up by an American ship. They only allowed the elderly, women, and children, so my brothers were left behind. We were taken to Wake Island, and once again our family was separated. Four months later, by the Grace of God, we were reunited."
The family then traveled to Port Chaffee in Arkansas, where they were sponsored by Holy Angels Church in Aurora. "They helped us find schools, jobs, and a place to live," Ngo said. "In the 1980s, the Vietnamese community here in Peoria sponsored three families with the help of the Catholic Social Service. It can be a long and tedious process. It takes a lot of paperwork and even more patience."
Before their departure from Viet Nam, Ngo said her family planted tea and vegetables. "Much of the work was done by hand because we didn't have many tools or machinery to use. When we first arrived in the United States, we started by doing odd jobs here and there. Slowly, we worked our way up. My oldest brother worked at a prosthetic shop for years, and he now owns it. The second oldest worked in a steel factory and now owns his own lawn care service. My youngest brother went to school and is now a computer consultant."
As for herself, Ngo married her husband after high school and became a housewife for several years. "In 1983, after I finished cosmetology school, I worked for a year at a JCPenney Hair Salon. In 1984, my husband and I had our son, Andrew. Shortly after he was born, I decided to put my job aside so I could take care of him full time. But even though I was at home, I still did my friends' hair on the side."
She always wanted to own a business of her own, she said, but was committed to taking care of her family. "When my son got old enough, I decided to go back to work. After working at a local nail shop, I was inspired to open my own. I finally had the courage to give it a try, and so far, I can say I'm happy with my decision."
At Beyond Nails, Ngo and her staff offer spa pedicures, manicures, acrylic nails, and facial and body waxing. "Also, we offer private parties for any occasion. We've had private events for birthdays, wedding parties, and group outings. All of this isn't just for women. We've also had children and men come in. The growth of the business has exceeded my expectations in just this short time; all the credit goes to our customers and our great staff," she said.
Because she's never owned a business, Ngo said it was hard to know what to do or expect. "We pretty much just had to ride it out. My husband and I had to put in a lot of extra hours to make sure everything in the shop was put together right, the shop would open on the date planned, and we had enough time for the other things in our lives."
Opening her business is yet another reason to celebrate the decision to come to the U.S. "When we arrived, it was already a dream come true. Imagine coming from a war-torn country where you didn't have much, and now you're in a place with freedom and endless potential."
She said one of the most obvious adjustments was the weather. "In Viet Nam, it's warm all year around, so we experienced cold weather for the first time ever. But the biggest adjustment was the language barrier. It was so hard when I wanted to communicate with someone, but I didn't know how to speak the language. Also, the foods were different. It took time to get used to the taste of things like cheese and bologna. Moving to the United States from Viet Nam was like day and night."
Ngo, who became a U.S. citizen in 1983, said even though it's difficult, she would encourage other Vietnamese citizens to emigrate as well. "The rewards for coming to the United States are endless. A person coming here may have many difficulties, but their children and generations to come will prosper because of it. And Peoria is a great fit for me. It's a good place to raise a family. Also, I've met a lot of kind and supportive people. There really isn't anything about Peoria I would change-except maybe the freezing weather of the winter months."
Like any other business owner, she said her success is due to support from friends, family, and clients. "I really enjoy my work because I get to interact with a lot of wonderful people. Nothing feels better than to see a customer leave with a smile. That's how I came up with the name for my business. When a customer comes in, I want her to leave with more than good looking nails; I want her to leave with a great relationship." TPW