Everyone,

I am glad to be back and contribute to this group.

Here's my first write up.  Please take a look at my article before my 
posting it.  Don't hold back, for I am open to any criticisms or 
suggestions.  I still have time to make the necessarily changes... 

Thank you...

Sacki

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Satjadharm presents:


"The Journey," by Anousack Thammavongsa


	It was a lazy Sunday evening which all the weekend events were 
winding down.  People would pack their belongings and head back home if 
they were at an outing, or if they were at home, the most ideal thing 
to do was to just kick back and relax in front of the television set.  
The latter is exactly what I did.
	I was watching a very interesting nature show.  In this show, a 
mother lion was carrying her cub by the neck to a new location.  At 
every step, she was very careful of her environment, for she wants her 
cub to be safe, and she would do anything to protect it.  As this show 
progressed, I found myself not really watching it, but reminiscing 
about my past which I was in the situation of that particular cub.	
	Our journey had begun on a breezy, cold, wintery night while
the world was still fast asleep.  It was a night that we would never
forget and according to me, it was uncomparably adventurous.  Just as 
the cub was under its mother's protection, we (my sister, brother, and 
yours truly) had the reassurance of our parents that we would be taken 
care of.  Even on this eventful and dangerous night, we felt just as 
safe as if we were at home.  The looks on my parents' faces were that 
of determination, as though nothing else matters that night.  Every  
move that they make along the journey seemed like it had been printed 
on a map,  It was as though in which they had studied that map to its 
finest details. 
	In the beginning, we really didn't have any idea of what was  
going on.  While fast asleep, our dad had awaken us and directed us to 
put on our jackets.  As quickly as we had awaken, we were out of the 
house in matter of minutes, in the very early hour of the morning.  
During this ordeal, our mom and our little brother were not with us.  
She had taken our baby brother to a night duty at a local hospital for 
she was a nurse there.  As we walked, I noticed that the night was 
decorated with bright stars and the moon was also shining brilliantly.  
The moonlight was a guide along our path.  
	In the meantime, we were approaching our grandfather's house.  
I then thought that we were coming to visit him in this early morning
hour, and as we came near, I had started to turn into the house, but to 
my surprise, my dad had told me otherwise.  It was then that I had 
reallized what was going on, and that it was time our lives under puak 
ai nong (the communists) were about coming to an end.
	As we turned toward the Mekong River, my dad had stopped and 
directed my sister and me to go hide behind a bamboo bush and not to 
make any noise.  He then disappeared under the moonlight.  The time 
that we spent in the bush seemed like an eternity.  It was dark and 
desolate.  We were frightened.  All these scary thoughts came running 
through my mind.  What if a big snake came crawling?  Or what if a 
tiger was out searching for food?  Or what if pee ma lok?  However, 
with my dad's direction imprinted in my head, I was able to obtain my 
composure and did as told.  My sister also cooperated very well.
	A while later, my dad had reappeared with my mom and our baby
brother.  It was a very quiet approach for we didn't reallized they 
were back until they were within a couple of feet from us.  We then 
proceeded quickly down to the shore.  Soon after, we found ourselves on 
the Thailand side without any confrontation.  
	Within a couple of days, we were transported to Camp Ban Tong.
It was a small camp just on the outskirt of the small town of Chiang
Khong, which is straight across from Ban Houyxai of Laos.  In the camp,
we had to abide to all the Thai's rules and regulations, whether we 
like it or not.  We didn't have any other choice.  If anyone were to
to disagree, he or she would have to suffer the consequences.  
	The living conditions in the camp were very poor.  The houses 
were made of grass (ya~ kha).  Instead of houses, they were more like 
huts.  The only well made structure in the camp was the offices for the 
Thai and other immigration personnels.  The only source of water was 
from a shallow well dug in the middle of the camp.  If we woke up late, 
the well would be dry for everyone else had beaten us to the water.  
Therefore, my sister and I had to get up really early each morning to 
go draw the water from the well.  Food and rice, however, were 
distributed twice a month.  With all the people in the camp, the 
distribution didn't amount to anything great.  One day, my dad had 
heard of a job opportunity so he went and gaveve it a try.  It was some 
labor job at some kind of baking company.  When he returned that day 
about 12 hours later, he was all smelly and dirty.  He handed my mom 20 
baht.  Yes, all day, he was paid 20 baht, which is less than $1, after 
he was deducted for one meal that they had originally said came with 
the job. 
	Well, most of you can relate to my story, so I will make it 
short.  After about 6 months spent in the camp, we got our chance to 
leave for this wonderful third world (pathet tee 3) that everyone had 
talked about.  It was suppose to be the land of opportunity, and soon 
after, we got our chance to find out first hand.  
	Indeed it was a land of opportunity.  When we first came, I was 
overwhelmed with all the lights, automobiles, tall buildings, etc.  
Everything just seemed so wonderful.  Ban Houyxai was a small town, 
with few lights along the main downtown street and cars were scarce.  
To this reason was why we were so overwhelmed.  With the support of our 
church and the government, we were able to adjust to the drastic 
changes.  And within the first year, my dad and mom were a part of the 
work force in the American society.  And my friends, that's the story 
of how our lives had begun in the United States of America.
	I was too young at the time to reallize of any danger when
our journey began, but with the guidance of our parents, we were 
without fear.  Looking back now, I am deeply touched by how much risk 
that was involved since the time we left our house in Laos until the 
time we reached the United States.  When I think about it now, all 
these questions come to mind.  What if we were spotted by the ai nong, 
would they have open fired on us?  And when we got to the other side, 
if the Thai spotted us on the shore, would they have killed us for the 
little valuables that we have?  Or what if they sent us back, how would 
the Lao government treat us?  Or what if our parents never found us in 
the bush that day?
	My friends, I would like for us to reflect back and thank our 
protector for bringing us here safely, and provide us with the 
opportunity to better our lives.  It wasn't easy, but nonetheless, we 
should be thankful for the people who brought us here.  Whether this 
was on your own, or through your parents, or anyone else, this was a 
very crucial sacrifice that was a part of lives, and given the 
opportunity we all should make the best of it.  My parents have never
seen this land of opportunity, but they made the sacrifice for their
children's future.  They didn't know what they were getting into, but
it was the instinct that pursuaded them to bring us here, and given us 
the opportunity to start a brand new lives, rather than becoming  
another farmer or the Communist army, back in the motherland.
	To this day, I have my parents to thank for giving me the
opportunity here in the land of opportunity.  As a result of their
bravery and sacrifice, I am now a graduate of the University of Texas 
at Arlington.  As you can see, the real heroes in my life are none 
other than my parents.  


Regards,

Sack

PS.. Any comments, questions, or concerns, you can write email to me 
     directly at sacki@ix.netcom.com, post your viewpoints to
     this news group, or email us Satjadham members at 
     laolit@tuddy.cc.monash.edu.au


Thank you for you time.