With so much seriousness going on, I wanted to lighten the mood and share a funny memory with you. It is the story of a group of Khmer Krom youth meeting in New York on a mission to raise awareness of the Khmer Krom issues at the United Nations.

If you have been to New York City, you know it’s a city that never sleeps. There are blocks and blocks of high rise buildings and Starbucks at almost every corner. 

If you are a woman, you would also know that you should never walk with high heels and always bring a pair of sneakers. And a jacket especially when the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPII) meets in April or May. The UN is nested next to the East river and while the views are beautiful, the wind can be biting and cold.

It was 2007. A group of us had spent the night on the cold floor of a basement of an apartment in the Bronx. We had been traveling back and forth between the sessions and it was the end of the week.

We had to bring all of our stuff back to the UN and would be picked up by our friends after the session.

The stuff included a 50kg grey luggage bag that I had carried with me from Australia. I had packed two weeks worth of clothes in this luggage in preparation for the UN. It was heavy.

The only way back to the UN was by taking the train. Many of us had our own luggage to carry. Those that flew within the US had small carryons but some of us that flew internationally had large size luggage.

We woke up early that day and prepared for our journey. We ate some rice porridge cooked by Sophac and  before long, we were on our way, walking towards the nearest train station to catch our train. 

About 20 mins later, the train stopped and we hurriedly jumped off ready to catch our connecting train. It was on the platform above the tunnel. As we walked around the corner of the tunnel, we all stopped and stared at the 2 sets of stairs that stood before us. 

I looked around for a sign of an elevator and with a heavy heart, realized there was no elevator. 

How was I supposed to carry my luggage up these narrow stairs? 

I remember looking at Romy and then Sokhun, seeking their help. Romy had his own 50kg luggage to carry. 

Romy looked at Sokhun and Sokhun looked back at him, apprehensive and eyes wide in fear.

Romy was a little bigger and taller than Sokhun. 

I waited. There was no way I could carry it up myself.

There was a moment of silence before it was broken by Sokhun.

“ I am sorry, I can’t be that gentleman,” he quickly backed away and started walking up the stairs.

SoDa, Don and Sophac had already made it up the stairs. A loud whistle indicated that the train had arrived at the station.

Taking a deep breath, Romy squared his shoulders, lifted the 2 heavy bags and walked determinedly up the stairs. I walked next to him, so gratefully for his help. And telling myself never to pack so much stuff ever again if I came back to New York.

We reached the top of the first set of stairs. Romy rested the luggages briefly on the floor and with a quick breathe, picked it up again and climbed the second set of stairs. BArely catching our breathe, we ran across the platform to joined our team.

Being the gentleman that he was, he continued to help take my luggage and his up and down the stairs of the subway as we changed trains.

We finally made it to the Grand Station and rolled our luggage to the front of the UN. We were exhausted but we and our luggage had made it.

In time and before the session of Permanent Forum started. Thanks to Romy.

As for Sokhun, well he knew it would have taken a lot of strength to walk up those stairs with 50 plus kilos of luggage, plus his own and I can’t blame him 🙂

And as me, I will never pack that much to haul across the streets of New Year City, ever again!