Your parents came to the United States as refugees from Laos, with both ultimately resettling in San Diego. Can you share with us a little bit about your family’s refugee experiences?
Both my parents and my paternal aunt, who helped raise me since I was a newborn, had no choice but to run from the communists who were hunting them down since they used to be involved with the old Laotian government. My late uncle (my aunt’s husband) used to be the mayor for 2 to 3 cities in Champasack, after the third city he decided to retire since communists were going to take over the government. He then fled first because he knew they were going to arrest him just for the fact that he worked with the old government instead of the communists. After he succeeded in escaping Laos, the communist soldiers came to their house questioning my aunt and looking for him. She had to lie, saying she didn’t know where he went, and as she was crying, she questioned the communist soldiers themselves, wondering if they had arrested him without telling her. They told her they did not arrest him, and in fact they could not find him. After this was all settled, my aunt came up with a plan to flee with her adopted son and her youngest sister whom she raised herself.
My uncle who was a mayor.
Their plan to flee together failed on the first attempt; the second time was also a failure because my aunt’s youngest sister was just starting nursing school at the time and she couldn’t leave because the communist soldiers kept an even closer watch on her since her first attempt to leave. Her journey was long as well: she fainted many times while her son and others who were fleeing, including a married couple who had medical backgrounds, helped her along the way. She was exhausted from the countless miles she had to walk within 2-3 days at night, but during the day they hid.
My strong aunt and I at Wat Lao Buddaharam’s Lao New Year event.
My dad waited for it to be summer break, since he was a math/physics teacher for the 7th and 8th grade students. He took advantage of that time and lied saying his father was ill in order to go home for a few weeks to come up with a plan on how to get to Thailand. He lied his way through everything in order to escape and had to leave his entire family behind. He walked and ran through a jungle. He heard the news of others who tried to flee before him going the same route he was going to take, but were stopped by the fact that they lost limbs from stepping on hidden bombs. My father had nobody but himself. When he finally reached a refugee camp in Ubon, Thailand, he happened to run into his sister and brother-in-law. They cried because they didn’t know if they would ever see each other again or make it out alive, and plus their youngest sister wasn’t able to escape with them. My dad and aunt were given the option to resettle in France or America. My dad came to Florida first because of his cousin. Then my aunt came to San Diego because her husband had family here. Afterwards, my dad came to meet up with them in San Diego and they just decided to live their lives here. My mom doesn’t seem to remember much about her experience, but I know my mom’s father helped her escape by paying someone to help her flee to a refugee camp in Thailand called Nong Khai. She came to San Diego as well because she had friends and relatives here too. My parents actually met in San Diego through mutual friends.
My parents and nieces with 7/9 Dok Kulap Sinlapakorn dancers.
Did you ever learn about your refugee or Lao American history in school?
I actually did not learn about Laos at all in school. The only reason I even knew where Laos was located on the world map was because I looked it up myself. I learned everything about our culture through performing and from my elders.
For those interested in learning about this history, I suggest watching YouTube videos about the Secret War of Laos. I also recommend First They Killed My Father, the film based on the memoir by Loung Ung about her experiences during the Khmer Rouge regime. My whole family dedicated a night to watch this film and we all cried because it was the same thing our parents and my aunt went through.
You have been heavily involved in the Lao community in San Diego for many years, which is so beautifully reflected in how proudly you carry your Lao identity. How has your community shaped your understanding of what it means to be Laotian-American?
My community has shaped my understanding of what it means to be Lao American by teaching me we can be our parents’ or family member’s voice. The new generation(s) that are born in America are the future to restore all stories or any cultural background. Being Laotian-American gives us the advantage to teach others more about Laos and the culture itself. To me, it’s hard to say I am Laotian-American rather than simply Laotian because English was not my first language and I grew up with Laotian traditional values rather than American values. The only thing that makes me Laotian-American would be the fact that I am an American citizen and I’m given opportunities not many Laotians in Laos have when it comes to school or a career. I am grateful to be Laotian-American though because I can use my privilege and my platform to be a voice for my people.
7/9 Dok Kulap Sinlapakorn dancers posing with a couple of their parents in the Nang Keo outfits. The man at the far right end is Andrew Manisouk who helps us by lending us outfits.
There have been many times I felt proud to be Laotian. One time was when I was able to share with my peers in high school about the War and about our Laotian culture, since the history books don’t include this. Another time was when I found out someone painted an image of me on Asia Wok’s ceiling. And the most recent time was when I was given a special shout out by one of the board members of Wat Lao Buddaharam, Tom Sayarath, for always giving my all to help out the Laotian community here in San Diego since I was a very young child.
The Asia Wok painting.
The day I unexpectedly received a special shoutout from Tom Sayarath.
The Lao community here in San Diego is massive in my opinion. LAOSD (Lao Advocacy Organization of San Diego) is one of the main Lao organizations out here in San Diego. It's an organization that is trying to spread more awareness of Lao culture. They are also trying their hardest to have Laos’ history taught in history books from grades K-12, which is amazing because nobody really knows about the Secret War except Laotians. The only reason my family is involved with LAOSD is because of me. I'm the one in my family who cares enough to do something about the history being taught in schools. I was always a supporter of their movement since the first day they started LAOSD: I have gotten petition signatures, advertised their posts, and informed others of any new or old LAOSD-related information. We also hold events like our very own candle festival, fundraisers, Lao New Year, etc.
There are many other Lao organizations that are helping to bring awareness to Lao history and the Lao diaspora as well. I deeply admire every single Lao association, dance, or music group here in the U.S. because WE shed light to the culture. WE are contributing to the fact that our culture isn't forgotten. WE are continuing the legacies of our elders and ancestors. I cannot wait to see what else is in store in terms of community projects.
When 5/9 Dok Kulap Sinlapakorn dancers performed at Sourita Siri’s wedding.
Can you share with us more about your experience as a Lao dancer? How has dance actually been a family endeavor for you, and do you feel a responsibility to carry on the tradition of Lao dancing?
Wat Lao Buddaharam’s Lao New Year Princess Parade of 2019.
What drew me to dance was the historical Thai movies that consisted of dancers or singers with dancers in the background. I loved watching the dancers so my mom reached out to others in the Lao community to start a group when I was just about 5 or 6 years old. Although my interest started when I was about 3 or 4, my mom just wanted to wait until I got older to know if I was serious about dancing or not.
It seems to be rare for a Laotian-American to be very determined to continue our traditions by performing. In my family, only my sister and I have danced. My sister stopped because she just grew out of it, but I seem to be stuck on dancing because it keeps me sane and it is something I am very passionate about. My mom has always been the one to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong throughout my whole journey, and she is the hero behind the scenes: the one who has always taken care of my traditional outfits and accessories, doing the performers’ hair-dos since I was 5 years old, teaching me about my worth in all of this. She is clearly my rock through this journey and it’s crazy because back in Laos, she was a performer herself!
Some of Wat Lao Boubpharam’s committee members with my mom and I at the temple for the American New Year’s blessing.
I feel extremely proud whenever I put on my traditional Lao attire because it makes me feel like a whole different person. When I put on the outfits, I’m representing not only my passion, but my family, the outfit itself, and my community. I’m proud because I know the significance each outfit holds, that each one tells its own story. When I perform, I’m constantly looking out to see who is out in the audience to support me. Even though I’ve been doing this for a while, I still get nervous. I’m just so afraid to mess up especially because every practice, I try my best to be perfect or on beat.
5/9 of Dok Kulap Sinlapakorn performing Kinnary for Wat Lao Buddaharam’s Lao New Year.
The reason why it is crucial to carry on the tradition of Lao dancing is because nobody else will be able to teach others if someone doesn't teach first. You have to step up if you want something done and in this case, teaching Lao dances can prevent our culture from being forgotten. Within the songs performed are stories that are being told and taught by our ancestors. The movements, clothes, accessories, and songs are from our ancestors, so we should keep the culture alive. I have spoken with two different board members so far from two different temples and agreed to help when I am able to. For example, I was given the responsibility of coordinating last year’s Lao New Year Princess Parade for Wat Lao Boubpharam of San Diego and dance schedule. I actually started my own dance troupe in July 2019 called Dok Kulap Sinlapakorn (literal translation means The Rose Performers) for teens and girls my age, so I will be holding a lot more responsibility than I am used to. I want to do everything in my power to educate our young girls and boys about our culture.
I was the main Princess for Wat Lao Boubpharam’s Princess Parade in 2015.
Special thanks to:
Von Phathanak, Photographer
Snap Pilots, Photographer
Inpone Vongphakdy, Photographer
Dong Sengaloune, Photographer
Vannasing Antoine Keodara, Photographer
Jenny Nambounmy, Make-up Artist