HAPPIER LIFE: Chheun Sean, right and his wife Channdeth Uch, enjoy a happier life in New Zealand.Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Dargaville News (New Zealand)
Chheun Sean is glad to be living in New Zealand and enjoying all the freedom a peaceful country can offer.
Life has not always been peaceful for Chheun.
Born and raised in Cambodia, he came to New Zealand as a refugee 19 years ago.
He recalls those days as 'a very stressful time'.
"It took a couple of years to adapt to the New Zealand way of life and I couldn't speak any English back then," he says.
Chheun was a baby when the rebel uprising started in his home country and he says his parents became caught up in the crossfire.
"My father was captured and taken away to jail by rebels because he was suspected to be a spy. He was destined to be killed," he says.
However, one of the rebel leaders, who his father had grown up with, recognised him and vouched for his innocence and he was freed.
There was pressure for people to join the rebel movement back then, Chheun says.
"My parents would have had to join and I would have just been left on the streets to die because they would not have been able to take me with them and they would have had no choice."
A cousin of Chheun's did find himself in just that predicament but was luckily picked up by an uncle.
Chheun's parents farmed before the war and then they cooked food to sell, from their house.
"I used to have to sell the food on the streets in the mornings and then I would go to school in the afternoons," he recalls.
Because the schools were overcrowded, children would attend only half days.
However, Chheun's family opted to escape the inrest and they arrived in New Zealand when he was about 13.
Chheun's wife, Channdeth Uch, has been in New Zealand about eight years. The couple have two children, seven-year-old twin girls - Soktaera and Soktaeradh.
Life has not always been peaceful for Chheun.
Born and raised in Cambodia, he came to New Zealand as a refugee 19 years ago.
He recalls those days as 'a very stressful time'.
"It took a couple of years to adapt to the New Zealand way of life and I couldn't speak any English back then," he says.
Chheun was a baby when the rebel uprising started in his home country and he says his parents became caught up in the crossfire.
"My father was captured and taken away to jail by rebels because he was suspected to be a spy. He was destined to be killed," he says.
However, one of the rebel leaders, who his father had grown up with, recognised him and vouched for his innocence and he was freed.
There was pressure for people to join the rebel movement back then, Chheun says.
"My parents would have had to join and I would have just been left on the streets to die because they would not have been able to take me with them and they would have had no choice."
A cousin of Chheun's did find himself in just that predicament but was luckily picked up by an uncle.
Chheun's parents farmed before the war and then they cooked food to sell, from their house.
"I used to have to sell the food on the streets in the mornings and then I would go to school in the afternoons," he recalls.
Because the schools were overcrowded, children would attend only half days.
However, Chheun's family opted to escape the inrest and they arrived in New Zealand when he was about 13.
Chheun's wife, Channdeth Uch, has been in New Zealand about eight years. The couple have two children, seven-year-old twin girls - Soktaera and Soktaeradh.
3 comments:
Since there is no comments on this article, I volunteer to have one.
This Cambodian dude looks unusually fat for a Cambodian.
He is well fed in New Zealand, is'nt he?
Welcome to boring Kiwi paradise.
Why look a the Cambodian dude. His wife looks loverly, just as all Khmer girls do.
Does she look happy standing next to the fat dude?
If you really love me, come on let it show...
This may have been an arranged marriage.
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