Sometimes when I think back to my childhood, it’s hard to believe that I am really the same person. That once, I was a child that walked through a forest littered with landmines and snakes. That we drank water from ponds and lakes filled with lilies and leeches.

It’s hard to believe that against all odds, we, my parents, my sister and I survived and were given a second chance at life. To live fully and without fear. Free from hunger. Free from persecution. To be supported and treated as equals by the people of Australia and now my adopted home of America.

As I reflect on where I am in my life, these are the things that I am grateful for: 

1. The warmth of a solid brick home. 

When we were traveling through the forest, all we had were the clothes on our back, a mat and a mosquito net. The trees were our shelters, providing temporary shade from the sun and the rain. At the camps in Thailand, our hut was made of leaves and bamboo. It kept the rain and wind at bay but provided little security against intruders. 

2. Electricity

Candles were our only source of light in the dark hours of the evening. We burned sticks, branches or coals to cook our food and boil our water. 

3. Running water for a shower

The lakes and ponds were our sources of water in the forest. In the camp, we had to wait in long lines to fill our quota of water from the trucks that had water. We collected rainwater in big large barrels or clay pot and used a plastic pan to wash our dust baked bodies.

4. Flushing Toilet

Bathroom trips were often done in nearby bushes or forests, the leaves were our toilet paper. Yes. Still is in some parts of the world. 

5. Access to medical help

Most ailments such as fevers were often cured by Khmer method of “kors kyol” , which roughly translates to “coin the wind”. It is the process of using a coin to stroke the skin of one’s back with an ointment such as monkey palm to release the wind in our bodies. The more sick a person is, the redder the streaks on their backs. My parents swear by this method and it’s always the first thing they do when they don’t feel well. And while this works to some degree, I am grateful that we have access to state of the art hospitals, especially for medical conditions such as kidney or cancer and vaccinations,

6. Abundance of food

In the forest, we fished and hunted for our meal, picking wild berries and fruits. In the camps, we were fortunate to have rations of rice and canned fish. We grew fresh vegetables next to our hut or brought it from a flea market nearby. Here in America, a short trip to the grocery stores gives us access to all the foods we could dream of, beautifully packaged and at our fingertips.

7. Education & Opportunities

My dad always says that “people can take away your things but never your education.” It is expensive to have an education but at the very least, we have access to loans and scholarships. An education not only opens our minds but opens the door of opportunity for a better life.

8. Value of a person 

We are more than a number or a statistic. Everyone matters. And while there much to be done in terms of racial injustices, there are pockets of places that are doing it right. Like the school that I work for that encourages conversations on peace and justice. There are Governments like Australia and Canada who  recognized its past wrongs and publicly apologized to its indigenous peoples. Such actions are important because they place the importance and value of the peoples central rather than ambition or goal of a nation. 

And the list could go on and on. 

It hasn’t been an easy journey but it’s been a worthwhile one. I am grateful that my parents decided to embark on this journey some 30 years ago, risking everything so that we could have a better life. 

It is because of this knowledge and the experiences, I start my day with a grateful heart and embrace each day as an opportunity to do something good and positive, for my family and my community.

How do you start your day? Have you been through something similar or know someone who has? 

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