I want to introduce you to the paternal side of my family. My father (pictured in the second row, first from the left) was only about 3 years old when he, along with my grandparents, aunts, and uncles, were forced out of their birth country, Cambodia, to escape what is now known as the Cambodian Genocide. My oldest uncle (pictured in the first row, second from the right) attempted to lead his family from Cambodia to the Laos border in an attempt to escape Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, the radical communist movement responsible for the deaths of over 3 million people. They traveled along the Mekong River, discreetly walking and climbing mountains so as to not get caught. At the border, they were unfortunately turned away since, at the time, Laos was not accepting any refugees. They were forced to either return to Cambodia or flee to Thailand, of which they decided to go to Thailand. Somewhere along their journey, they were caught by Thai Police. They were sent to jail for 2 weeks before they were relocated to a Thailand Refugee Camp. They lived in this camp for about 3 years until they were relocated again to the Philippines. Finally, after about 7 months, my family landed on American soil in 1985. Today, our family’s history is preserved through the pictures we hang on our walls and the stories told to myself and my 12 cousins, who were the result of successfully escaping one of the most brutal tyrants in modern day history.

– JC

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant