Since coming to America in 2008, Noina Bruno has made the most of her opportunities.
In the turbulent times in which we live, it’s easy to become depressed, unmotivated, and withdrawn.
Then there’s Noina Bruno.
Noina is one Menifee resident who makes the most of her time on earth, to say the least. Since migrating to the U.S. from Vietnam in 2008, she has opened up her own beauty salon, run an unofficial animal rescue, entered competitions in ballroom dance, excelled in pencil pet portraits, and traveled around in her Airstream trailer.
“My mom always taught us that we have to go and get a life. I don’t think we can sit and get what we want,” she said. “I’ll sleep when I die. I’m a big, big girl in a big, big world.”
Bruno was born in Vietnam in 1980 – five years after the end of the war. Her life was one of humble beginnings, but also of a loving family.
“We grew up very poor,” Bruno said. “My parents had food stamps so we could eat. But really, it was a great childhood. We mom would always make sure we had everything we needed. She worked her butt off.”
Her mother also told her three daughters of the importance of getting out on their own and finding their purpose in life.
“My mom sat us all down and said, ‘You all need to go and find a life for yourself.’ So after college, we all took off,” she said.
Bruno was fortunate enough to earn a scholarship to a university to study architecture. Later, she went to Thailand to get her Master’s Degree in architecture from a university there. Again, it was a challenge just to have the basic needs in life, but she was determined to succeed.
“My scholarship covered my tuition fee, but it wasn’t enough for me to eat or have housing or books, so I had to find a part-time job,” she said. “I found ways to make money, selling stuff I bought during my travels.”
Bruno couldn’t afford to pay for a dorm room, so she was homeless for three years while studying for her Master’s degree. She would sneak into the school at night and sleep on a table in her classroom. After getting her degree, she returned to Vietnam, where she met an American man whom she married, eventually getting her papers to move to America and gain U.S. citizenship in 2008. They lived for a time in Westminster. Later, on her own, Bruno moved to the Inland Empire.
“I couldn’t practice architecture here because I don’t have the credential in the United States,” she said. “So I followed in the footsteps of all the Vietnamese that come here. I went into the beauty industry. I got my license and started my own journey in the beauty industry.”
Bruno rented a booth in a salon for a while, then opened her own business. That keeps her busy enough, but she couldn’t put off her love for animals. Today, she’s the one many friends call to rescue stray or unwanted dogs.
“Every time someone sees a dog running around, they pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey Na, there’s a dog over here,’” said Bruno, who has enough land on her rural property to accommodate her “family” (she has no children).
“Someday I want to have a big property and have a dog rescue,” she said. “I imagine having a big piece of land with lots of dog runs, dog hotel, dog spa, vets on site, to take care of animals.
“We need to have better education for the people. Stop breeding, stop getting dogs you don’t understand. They start with a commitment to them for a couple years when they’re cute, then dump them off when they get older.”
At one time, Bruno had 11 French Bulldogs dogs in her care after accepting them from their former owner. She has housed other breeds, including Great Pyrenees. She has a hairless cat named Fifi and she once had an iguana named Iggy – an inappropriate name, as it turned out.
“I got the iguana from a lady,” said Bruno. “I asked if it was a boy or girl. I didn’t want a girl because I didn’t want more lizards. She said it was a boy. I had him for a year, but in winter he stopped eating. It was during COVID and vets were closed. I finally got hold of a reptile store owner in Lake Elsinore. She was so scared of COVID, she couldn’t even see me. She told me to send pictures.
“She called back and told me, ‘She is pregnant.’ I said. ‘It’s a he.’ She said, ‘No, it’s a she and she is pregnant.”
According to biologists, female iguanas have the ability to retain viable sperm for years after mating. This allows them to fertilize eggs later, even if no male is present at the time of egg production.
Bruno admits she learns something new every day. She also admits learning a lot about relaxation, exercise and happiness from her experiences in ballroom dancing.
“I got burned out from working, so one day I decided I’ve got to do something for me,” she said. I bought a pair of dance shoes and walked into a ballroom in Temecula. It’s been nine years now. Dancing is a great outlet. Studies show that dancing will help with dementia and Alzheimer’s.”
Bruno doesn’t have to worry about the chance of those conditions anytime soon. She keeps herself busy with her beauty business, dog rescue, dancing, and things like pencil portraits of animals from people who send photos of their pets to her. And if it’s time to get away, there’s always the Airstream.
“I have the Airstream because it’s such a symbolic American thing, you know, a silver bullet. I’m always fascinated by that,” she said.
Bruno and her partner Bart became “movie stars” during one trip in the Airstream. They were camping at the best scenic location in a campground near the top of a mountain when a band showed up. The band members wanted to shoot a music video. Guess who was part of it?
So basically, Noina Bruno lives a full life. She has adapted to a new country and a new culture, and she refuses to give in to the negative vibes of others.
“People treat me well, but I present myself well,” she said. “I truly believe that people treat you the way you allow them to, the way you teach them to. It’s just my personality. I don’t complain because I know no one will listen to complaints anyway.”
