Sareth.htm
Sareth
My parents are from Cambodia. We came to the United States in 1984 because of a war. Both of my brothers and I were born on the way to the United States. My two brothers were born in Thailand and I was born in the Phillipines. When we came to the United States I was only two weeks old! Only my mother's side of the family came. They had to leave some family members behind because they were either trapped or trying to escape.
Every month or so, my dad sends money to family still there to help them live their lives better. Sometimes my parents cry because they miss the family they left behind in Cambodia. My dad is thinking about visiting Cambodia in 1996 or 1997.
My parents always tell me that they had to work a lot harder then I do when they were young. My parents bought us orange trees so that we could see what they look like. They are always telling us that they never had to buy food at the store. All they had to do was climb a tree and pick what they wanted. My parents miss the mango trees, and bamboo trees. My mom says that, in Cambodia, they have turtles which bite you and won't let go until a thunderstorm comes. Even if it did rain, you could even go swimming because the water is so warm.
My parents didn't really want to come here because they had to leave their culture. All they brought with them was some Cambodian money.
Some of my parent's family and friends say that they are going to go to Cambodia some day and try to help the people build houses and provide them with clothing and things like that.
Cambodian weddings are kind of interesting, they can last four or five days. The bride wears a beautiful dress and both the bride and groom wear a lot of jewelry. This is a picture of my aunt's wedding in California. Monks preach at the wedding and wish the bride and groom good luck. The bride and groom have to sit there for many hours. Family members come and tie a rope around their hands and then tie money around to help them have a good start and to buy their own house.
Cambodians have wierd New Year's tradition. We play games. There is a weird game that has a board with a picture of a star with yarn wrapped around it, and shrimp. You can bet on any of the pictures. The person that is in control puts some dice with pictures in a bowl and he shakes it. If you bet a dollar and you win, then you win two dollars. There is also a game that is just like hacky sack. We take an empty milk container and cut it in circles. Then you take feathers and poke a hole in the middle of the little circles nad put the feather in the little hole. Just like that you have a hacky sack.
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3400 Hollywood Ave.
Bellingham, Washington USA 98225 (360)676-6404
