Sakhon Nhek: Using art to explore culture, life and spirituali​ty

Originally posted at http://khmerican.com/2012/09/06/1910/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRg_E9Ivj-0

Sakhon Nhek is a photographer, floral designer and artist. She was also born in the refugee camps of Thailand like many other Cambodian immigrants to America.

In this interview with Khmerican, she explains how photography helps her deal with her tumultuous past, overcome cultural barriers and explore her spirituality. She also shares four of her pieces: Kiwi Spine, Genesis, Trumpet and Noki.

For more information on Sakhon Nhek's work, visit her site: www.sakhondesign.com.

Cambodian Weed - ដំណាំត្រកួន របស់ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ នៅ រដ្ឋ តិចសាស់

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The invasive plant water spinach is banned in some states — and essential to Asian cooking. In a small village outside Houston, relocated Cambodians are growing and selling it across state lines, up North, out West, hoping to get rich.

Thursday, Sep 6 2012

By Terrence McCoy

Houston Press (Texas, USA)

In a small farming village hidden down dirt roads among shrubs and tall grass, everyone's sleeping, and the rain won't stop. It's early afternoon on a Tuesday near Rosharon, a small town south of Houston, and the downpour has canvassed the paths with deep crevices and pockmarks, making driving all but impossible. Not that anyone here would ever be driving at 2 p.m. Afternoon is when they sleep.

Afternoon is when the only sounds flitting across this intensely insular and homogeneous community of Cambodian farmers are the warbles of swamp frogs and the cackle of a smoldering trash fire. Mobile homes, their frames expanded with slabs of corrugated iron and long, slanting awnings, line the dirt roads. They look almost exactly how they would 9,000 miles away in Southeast Asia. "Little Cambodia," villagers call this place. But looming behind the rusting shacks is something you wouldn't find anywhere in Cambodia: dozens and dozens of greenhouses.

Perhaps 90 Cambodian families live here, but like so many other mysteries coursing through this village, no one's really sure how many there are. Some say 50. Some say 120. The Cambodians cringe at exactness. In a community completely dependent on cultivating and exporting a prohibited — and highly profitable — plant, ambiguity and secrecy are crucial to survival. You can't trust anyone, not the other villagers and especially not newcomers like Johnny Bopho. He and the other sharks moved to town around six years ago with big-city entrepreneurialism and a rapacious business plan to wring a fortune from what, by every measure, is just a weed. But a weed that has so consumed this village that it's all anyone seems to talk about, all anyone thinks about. It's omnipresent, heaped in large piles outside most homes, stuck to the ­bottoms of shoes, poking out of the mouth of a ­passerby.

Cambodian Republicans in Florida Prepare to Vote in November

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-tJivOtkoY

Cambodian Voters in US Weigh Benefits of Presidential Candidates

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaign buttons are displayed ahead of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 26, 2012.

Issues that affect Cambodians in America are similar to those the rest of the people in the country.

31 August 2012

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

Democratic supporters are those who lean more toward the improvement of their circumstances in the US, he said, while Republican supporters tend to be more concerned with what is happening in Cambodia.

WASHINGTON DC - Cambodian-American voters say that as the US presidential election approaches, they are most interested in a president that will help them with community issues here and political issues back in Cambodia.

Presidential candidates Barrack Obama, a Democrat, and Mitt Romney, a Republican, are in a tightly contested race for the White House, with both sides campaigning hard before the Nov. 4 election.

Schanley Kuch, a Cambodian-American from Maryland, told VOA Khmer he will vote for a candidate who can better the living standards of Americans, but will also espouse the principles of human rights and democracy that will help Cambodians back home.

“For the Cambodian people, in my view, it’s a necessary obligation to decide whether we choose economic growth in the US or think about our homeland, which is under the restoration of human rights, freedom and democracy, which needs the support of a powerful country.”

Cambodian Community Day Sees Campaigners for Presidential Candidates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnS0P-y2ko

Khmer Rouge refugee a rare ‘Miss Cambodia’

Phanith Sovann, the Cambodian-American who will compete in an international beauty contest next year. Photograph: supplied

Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Seth Kimsoeurn
The Phnom Penh Post

A Cambodian-American singer who was nearly killed as a child by the Khmer Rouge will be the first Miss Cambodia to compete in an international beauty pageant since 2006.

Phanith Sovann has been selected as an entrant in next year’s Queen of the Universe 2013, an annual beauty contest in California.

Sovann, born in a refugee camp in Kao-I-Dang, Thailand in 1989 to young parents who, orphaned by the Khmer Rouge, escaped to the border, said her family was lucky to have survived.

They were forced to run and hide from Thai soldiers who raided the camps periodically, forcing refugees who did not have permits back to the killing fields of Cambodia.

“My mother always said that my family almost died many times,” she said.

Khmerican partners with the oldest Khmer student organizati​on in the United States

Established in 1959, the Cambodian Student Society (CSS) at Cal State Long Beach is America's oldest Khmer student organization. On Sun, Aug 19th, Khmerican formally went into partnership with CSS, setting a strong foundation for Khmerican's long-term goal of connecting with student communities and educational institutions.

Learn more about CSS at http://cambodianstudentsociety.com.
Learn more about Khmerican at http://khmerican.com

Miss Cambodia 2013 first endorsemen​t letter

Photo: Sotheara Chhay

Introducin​g Phsar, your online marketplac​e for original products and crafts

Khmerican is excited to announce our first new product called, Phsar, an online marketplace for original products and crafts.

We just launched preview mode with a FREE PROMO where visitors can sign up to receive one complimentary product list upon Phsar's release. The website is http://phsar.khmerican.com.

Thank you for your continuous support.

Team Khmerican

Khmerican interviews actor Francois Chau

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkLiMl0lKgA

François Chau has appeared in Lost, Grey's Anatomy, 24, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II and dozens of other films, television shows and plays. He was also born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Khmerican interviews this Cambodian-American actor on his early life, what drew him to acting, and how Hollywood has changed for Asian-Americans over the past 30 years.

To see some of the episodes and movies mentioned in this video, go here: http://khmr.cn/francois-chau.

Cambodian Christians gather in Stockton for conference

Central United Methodist Church on Pacific Avenue in Stockton. (Record file 2008)

July 31, 2012
By Lori Gilbert
Record Staff Writer

Night of Joy

• What: Cambodian concert by local musicians concluding the Cambodian National Caucus Annual Conference
• When: 6:45 p.m. Friday
• Where: Central United Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Ave., Stockton
• Admission: $10
• Information: (209) 470-6509, (209) 423-0842 or (209) 815-8545

Seeking ways to spread their faith to others in the Cambodian community, church leaders from 13 congregations across the country will gather in Stockton on Wednesday through Friday for the Cambodian National Caucus Annual Conference at Central United Methodist Church.

"It's the biggest Cambodian Christian conference in America, or at least in Stockton," Vathanak Heang, a local pastor, said jokingly.

It's the first time the conference has been held in Stockton, which is home to more than 16,000 Cambodians.

Three days of meetings for pastors and lay leaders of United Methodist Churches will address successes and failures and different churches, aimed at helping all of them thrive. The conference will end with a concert by local musicians, open to the public, scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. Friday.

"The music is more contemporary music, with a little bit of Cambodian Christian rap," said Sylvia Phon, one of the organizers.

Review: Memo Jackson's "Plz Confirm"

Front cover, Plz Confirm

Originally published at
http://khmr.cn/plz-confirm-review

MEMO JACKSON - PLZ CONFIRM

Review of Brooklyn-based R&B artist's freshman album

“Plz Confirm” is a 15-track album consisting of Top 40-style songs that will surely get heads nodding. With McNub of Washington state as its executive producer, it features some of Khmer America’s most promising musicians and promotes a much more relaxed approach to hip-hop. Phanit Duong, known as Memo Jackson, is a man of many talents, from songwriting to musical production. He also has comedic abilities, as previously seen in his “hella chluy” videos. “Plz Confirm” combines rap, R&B, and pop with an electropop feel.

Track 1 – The first song, titled “Track 1,” speaks to other indie artists who either supported his endeavors or the complete opposite. He addresses his current position in the industry and plans for his career. He also uses this opener as an opportunity to showcase his singing and harmonizing abilities, which are in evidence throughout the album.

TGIF – Can’t have a dance album without a celebratory track to commemorate the beginning of a weekend and endless parties to attend. That is exactly what fans will findfrom “TGIF.” “I gotta thank God it’s Friday / Got a fresh haircut and my bills paid.” This song appeals to any party-goers listening. It’s upbeat and refreshing, with very catchy lyrics that anyone of any age can sing along to. “TGIF” is a perfect karaoke track.

The talented Phanith Rama Sovann

Kdey Sneah (Studio Version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyZtLPzwxRU

Bless the Broken Road:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpFnRJSWj7s

Stanford Concert 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAlHvnJByUo

Congratulations to Phanith who will represent Cambodia in the upcoming Queen of the Universe Pageant in January 2013!!!

Phanith Rama Sovann to represent Cambodia in Queen of the Universe Pageant in Jan 2013

Photo: Sotheara Chhay

BREAKING NEWS

The Khmerican is excited to announce a partnership with Phanith Rama Sovann who will represent Cambodia in the upcoming Queen of the Universe Pageant in January 2013. Stay tuned for the launch of her official pageant website and future news related to one of Khmer America's Must Watch List recipients.

Lil Lazy: from breakdanci​ng to building communitie​s

Ly's collection of event posters and photos showcasing the many travels over the years. © Bunthay Cheam

Originally published at
http://khmerican.com/2012/07/09/lil-lazy-from-breakdancing-to-building-communities/

SEATTLE, WA -- From its inception in the 1970s to its worldwide appeal in the present, breakdancing or “b-boying” has transcended boundaries: politics and geography, ethnicity, language, and even seeming to defy the laws of space and gravity. Seattle is home to the Massive Monkees, a world-famous breakdancing collective of over a dozen and half members, including Samnith Ly, also known as Lil Lazy.

Khmerican: What got you interested in b-boying and when did you start?

Lil Lazy: I think I was in the fourth grade, about eight or nine years old. At school, a friend named Jeff introduced me to breakdancing. I didn’t have much to do since all of my childhood friends were living in Seattle and we didn’t have video games, so I started breaking at home. I got ahold of the movie “Beat Street” and watched it over and over and tried to copy the moves. I would collect cardboard boxes and tape them together and practiced in our basement.

Khmerican: When did things start to pick up with regard to b-boying?

Lil Lazy: I was going to Meany Middle School and there was an after-school program where I met other breakdancers. One of the spots I used to practice at was the Union Gospel Mission. At the UGM, there was a counselor, Tim Scott, who created a breakdancing crew called Showcase. I started dancing with them, and I was battled in. Showcase was my first b-boy crew. That is where it all started and where everything popped off.

Introducing Lidi Chea of Providence

Published at http://khmr.cn/lidi-chea

“I think that we should start examining the struggles and shortcomings of our culture and community,” says Lidi Chea, of Providence, Rhode Island. “We can’t prosper as a people if we continue to neglect certain stories.”

Her list is formidable. It includes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the dichotomy of gender roles, intergenerational barriers, and the ostracization of homosexual and transgender community members. She believes Khmerican can generate dialogue and understanding about these issues.

In fact, as a young girl who was a member of the 1.5 generation, born in Cambodia but raised in America, Chea had little connection to the Cambodian American community, and little desire for any. It seemed patriarchal and extremely conservative, and she mostly saw the negative stereotypes, such as domestic violence, gang involvement, and gambling/alcohol addiction.

Mr. Pol: from Battambang to Thailand, to California and back

A winding section of the Mekong River. © Ryan Hoffman, 2005

Originally published at http://khmr.cn/LHuIaZ

By Gea Wijers
Special to Khmerican

“Before, I would be outraged by injustice, and that made me take action. But now I am not outraged by injustice. I think Cambodia changed me more than I changed Cambodia. I am getting used to things. Desensitized by many of these things.”

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – “Returning to Cambodia was really hard. I had to explain to my family here that I did not come back for the money. That I had come to find some kind of satisfaction. I was looking for fulfillment in doing something I care about. But this is where it had to happen...”

Following the last episode’s brief introduction to my PhD research, in the weeks to come I would like to present some cases to you--cases of real live returned Cambodians as they narrated their stories to me. Surely there may be themes you can relate to, as they may be relevant to you, your family or people you know. If so, your feedback is very welcome as are any stories you would like to share.

This study focuses on experiences of members of the first waves and first generation of Cambodian French and Cambodian American exiles. These refugees, arriving in both France and the United States before 1979, are distinguished, in general, by their relative independence in resettlement. Findings confirm that, due to their prominent positions as community leaders, they have been able to work for the transformation of Cambodia both in exile and upon return (Chan, 2003: 23; Coleman, 1990; Prak, 1992). The return of these refugees in order to ‘do good’ and work on the reconstruction of Cambodia, however, is central to this paper. It questions why the contributions of these returnees are not easily accepted in Cambodian society. In fact, they have to rein in their expectations and find a way to deal with a Cambodia dramatically different from the one they left.

Next time the story of a Cambodian French female returnee will be the published by Khmerican.com. This week it’s Mr. Pol’s* story, in his own words.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Fellow American,

We call this day Memorial Day. Once it was known as Flag Day - when small flags were placed on the graves of fallen soldiers.

I view the proud history of our country with the perspective of an immigrant from a war-ravaged land. If only the land of my birth had been blessed with a military as strong and brave as we have here in America.

This weekend we take time to ponder the lives, the courage, the valor, the suffering and the sacrifices of our military men and women who have given us this proud free country.

We remember and honor the 1,343,812 dead, 38,159 missing, and 1,529,230 wounded Americans from all our wars. We feel their loss. We share both the grief and the pride of their families. They were our very best, and they gave us a chance to become better and freer people.

This weekend - and every day - as we remember our fallen, our missing, and our wounded, - let us vow to lead lives worthy of their sacrifice. Let us keep alive the Flame of Liberty, so that our cherished land will forever be the Beacon of Freedom and the example of Democracy for the rest of mankind.

As we remember and pray for our departed, and for their families, let us vow to remain strong, vigilant, and to act with courage and wisdom. We owe them that much - and so much more!

Sam

Sam Meas is running for State Senate in Massachusetts

"I'm running..."

Dear Friend,

Last week I submitted my nominations papers to the Secretary of State. We collected over 580 certified signatures and I am officially on the ballot!

I am humbled and honored to be a candidate for State Senate in the First Essex District. I have worked hard my entire life to provide for my beautiful family and create a setting where my kids can grow up to be anything that they want.

America is the land of opportunity and I have lived it first hand. Now I desire to give back to this country that has given me so much. I want to ensure that the same dream that was offered to me as a young Cambodian immigrant is offered to all Americans.

Massachusetts has been heading down a difficult path in recent years. Businesses are leaving, jobless numbers are still high and our government on Beacon Hill seems to be out of touch on every issue.

I hope to change all of that and provide a fresh voice of change and responsible governing to the State House.

Please join me in my campaign. Visit my campaign web site to learn more about the campaign and sign up to volunteer!

With your help, we can bring responsble and responsive leadership to Beacon HIll.

Sincerely,

Sam

To learn more about Sam Meas or to donate/join his team, click here

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A letter to my mahk by Phirany Lim

Originally published at http://khmr.cn/a-letter-to-my-mahk

Mahk,

We often in silence express our gratitude and love towards one another. This time I’m going to tell you I love you out loud. I missed that chance with dad before his passing. I never once uttered I love you to him and now I do it in spirit hoping he hears it. I don’t want to make that same mistake with you.

Our relationship is not perfect. I’ve yearned for that “TV mother and daughter relationship” where they both laugh, go shopping or dining together, and most importantly confide with one another. Because of our individual trauma histories, having this type of emotional bond is hard for the both of us. The lack of communication is not due to resistance, but what was culturally ingrained that passed on to each other. We bicker when we can’t handle raw emotions. It’s how we managed these unfamiliar territories. It meant a one sided relationship where I was silenced.

The recent event changed my perspective when I was forced to confront you in tears that ended our silence. I realized that we need each other to heal our wounds. We need love to get through our pain. I finally learned to forgive you for not being the ideal mother that I wished for. What I’ve learned instead is to give compassion and sympathy. I know you’re doing the best you can from what you learned and suffered. I will never understand the fear as you escaped Cambodia to the Thailand refugee camps. I can only imagined what it may have been like to flee from the travesty called the Khmer Rouge. You must have been exhausted from running and the lack of food in your stomach.

Today, I want to acknowledge you for your strength and the wisdom you passed onto me.

As a widow you knew how tough it was going to be caring for two children on your own. You worked 9 hours a day standing as you assemble grills. Your business savvy skills kept us from financial pitfalls. Not once have you hesitated, complained, or questioned the challenges that came to us. It is unimaginable the level of stress you may have to deal with on a daily basis. While grandpa may lack faith by calling us failures, you showed me that his words should not slow us down from achieving our goals in life. I admire your tenacity and respect you for this.

You taught me independence at the age of 8. You told me to let go of my fears and walk into that convenient store to buy the snack that I wanted. “Don’t be afraid! Speak up!” That moment changed my life. I am a strong independent woman just like you.

Mahk, I’m so grateful to have you in my life. You’ve done so much for me more so than I have in return. I know I am not a perfect daughter and gave you grief from time to time. I hope this letter shows how much I appreciate you and the work you’ve done. Thank you for being my mom. I could never ask for someone else to replace you. Happy Mother’s Day.

Love always,

Your daughter
–
Phirany Lim is a Cambodian/Chinese American from Chicago, Illinois.