Curious about who you are but not sure where to start? Like many of you, I was in the same boat. I was born in Cambodia and raised in Australia. I had parents who grew up in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. They made a treacherous journey through the borders of Cambodia and Thailand so that we could have a better life. Was I Australian, Cambodian or Vietnamese? I had no idea. 

At the age of seventeen, I was starting to be curious about my Khmer identity and my place in the world. A google search and a follow up question to my dad opened a new world for me, one that has allowed me to learn more about the history and culture of my ancestors than I thought possible. 

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”

Henry David Thoreau

Are you curious about your Khmer identity or Cambodians in general? Download this Free Guide or keep reading below.

1. Do some basic research.

Start  by asking your parents or your relatives. Some questions may be:What brought you here? Could you share some stories of when you were younger?  It might be difficult at first to start a conversation, especially if your Khmer isn’t great or their english isn’t clear but try. Be prepared to listen and ask questions.  Perform a Google search with the “Khmer” or “Khmer Krom” and see what comes up. 

2. Visit a local Khmer Temple.  

Search “khmer temples near me” and see what shows up. Khmer temples are a great place to meet new people and learn more about the Khmer festivals and traditions. Here is a post about Khmer’s Festival of the Dead and why you should celebrate it.

3. Join a Khmer youth group.

If you are young and looking for opportunities to meet new people, a youth group is ideal. Some youth groups may  have dance classes or even traditional dragon boat racing.  Check out your local Khmer associations or temples for more information. 

4. Learn the Khmer language. 

You may know some Khmer or none at all. It is okay. My Khmer was rusty but the more I volunteered for the community, the more confident I became in learning to write and speak Khmer. Some temples offer Khmer classes but you can also find them online. Check out this review on the five best apps to learn Khmer.

5. Be part of a Khmer Association, Community or Non profit Organization. 

Volunteering for a community not only looks great on your resume, you get to meet new people, learn new skills and most importantly make an impact to the community. I was a writer for the Khmer Krom Network, helping to write articles that helped to bring focus and attention to the plight of the Khmer-Krom people.

6. Visit Cambodia and/or Kampuchea-Krom (Southern Vietnam).

Nothing compares to seeing the home of your parents and ancestors then visiting it in person and beholding the sights and wonders first hand. If I hadn’t visited the Mekong Delta in 2005, I would have never believed that there were hundreds of Khmer temples in the Mekong Delta of Southern Vietnam. 

Likewise, If you haven’t seen Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, be prepared to be amazed at this archeological wonder built by our ancestors. You can also sign up for a tour company and support the locals.

Final Words

Remember this is just the start of your lifelong journey in finding YOU. Being Khmer is something I am very proud of and I know that you too will be absolutely amazed by richness of our culture, traditions and language.

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