a life story

We all have a story to tell. We all have many stories to tell. :-) My new job requires me to ask and record the stories of refugees who have fled their countries and are applying to flee again from their country of asylum; their final destination being the United States . I recorded some of my first persecution stories today. It’s one thing to read through numerous stories that have already been completed; it’s another thing completely to be sitting in front of a family while they are recalling their flight of persecution. I don’t know how to explain the emotions that emerge while listening to their stories and trying to diplomatically record. A young family of five sat before me this afternoon. The wife was a tailor in her home in Burma . She had a little shop. One rainy day the rebel group came into her shop to get out of the rain. The military found out. They imprisoned her and threatened her life. They told her if they heard of anymore encounters with the rebels she would be tortured and killed. She was detained underground; beneath the local police station. Two days later, after her family had bribed a police officer with a large sum of money, she was released. Time passed by. One afternoon as she was pounding rice in her home, the rebels again walked in. They didn’t speak to her, they didn’t harm her; their presence alone endangered her life and the lives of her family. That evening she was attending a worship service at the church when her brother found her frantically and told her to hide – the military had heard of the rebel visit earlier that day. She was in danger. So she hid. She hid in an open tomb. And then she ran. For days, by foot, until she reached Thailand and then Malaysia . She is now safe. Her husband caught up with her months later after escaping imprisonment from the military due to her absence.

I’ve got some crazy stories to tell in my life; but hiding in a tomb…in a cemetery…I can’t beat that. Nor fleeing by foot through the jungles and mountains of Burma . I drove through the Thailand side of those mountains just the other day. They were majestic. And for the hiking enthusiast they would be grand. :-) But I would not survive that hike by foot. And especially not alone. And the jungles in Burma , well…they are something fierce. This woman is a year younger than I am. She and her husband now have three young daughters. The youngest is still nursing. He has been learning English and the girls are excited to go to school – they only had the opportunity to learn from a volunteer teacher in an informal classroom. I’m glad I’m not the officer to make the decision on their case. I don’t know how I could turn them away.

I am now in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia for the next couple of weeks. We are interviewing cases at the UNHCR compound before the state department comes in and gives the final decision on each case. I will see an average of 5-6 families each day; recording and verifying information, as well as writing their stories of persecution.

I looked up the word “persecute” in the dictionary. It is defined as to oppress or harass with ill-treatment. Persecution by definition is the act or practice or persectuting on basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs that differ from those of the persecuter. And to “oppress” is to keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority; to weigh heavily on; to crush. To cause to suffer.

I want to keep perspective when working at this job. I don’t want to get caught up in the emotions of the persecution stories; nor do I want to be desensitized to the reality of what is really happening. Each of us suffers from a form of persecution; each of us has oppressed someone in one form or another. The extent of that persecution is vastly diverse and how we decide to live with it and what we do with it is up to us individually. But what if we don’t have a choice in our physical safety? What if our persecution stories, our suffering, is too much to bear? Where do we turn for help? I think too often we turn inward and the answers become hard to find. I imagine that feeds the suffering to continue. I also imagine it causes those who are in our lives to suffer as well. And I’m learning through my travels and through my work that we are not here to suffer alone.

For those of you interested, I found a couple websites that have many good articles as well as photos of both the Burmese Karen (who I've been working with in Mae La) and the Burmese Chin (who I'm now working with in KL, Malaysia.) The photoset on the KHRG site is good. And pretty much what it looks like up there. :-) And the articles on the CHRO site are very interesting. Though after reading a couple of the persecution stories it becomes difficult to continue. I'm hoping my job doesn't! :-)

http://www.khrg.org
http://www.chro.org

Hope you are all well! I'd love to hear you. It's a bit isolated traveling and not having internet. It's been hard to find these past few weeks and we've been working really long hours so my energy to find a wireless Starbucks is low. :-) But I'm doing well and enjoying this new challenge.

Mae La Refugee Camp

I smell like pigs. Covered in dust; sweating through every pore. It’s the end of day two. And I will be so happy when we are done with form filling and I can do my job of casework. However, the casework will consist of verifying all the form filled information and then writing the persecution story. It’s hard for me to ask about the deceased relatives – how did they die? When did they die? Where did they die? I’m not sure how it’s going to be to ask about the persecution story and to write it objectively. It’s not objective. It’s someone’s life. But I do understand the importance of keeping it diplomatic and truthful so that there are no discrepancies that would keep them from being resettled. Resettlement is not the greatest life. But it would be much better than this camp life. And the future of Mae La refugee camp is unknown – the Thai government could shut it down and force them to return to Burma at any time. We are in a village – the refugees look like what most of us would think of as people who live in a very poor and secluded mountain village. They live very simple lives, have very little education and speak a minority language. It will be very difficult for them when they reach America . When I asked a woman if she had lived at the same address for the past five years in the camp, her response was, “well we’ve lived at the same address but have needed to change the bamboo several times!” :-) Houses are made of bamboo. Our “offices” are made of bamboo…its’ like walking on a balancing pole each time you walk around. Very very dodgy. :-) I had an unusual case today. There was one case left to interview and it was a case of two – I was very excited it was a small case! Until I looked at the bio forms…an elderly man who was lame and blind and his son who was “mad”. Now I was a bit confused as to why this case existed as it was not linked with any family members. It did not seem in the family’s best interest to resettle due to the delicate age of this man and that once he passed away, his son would inevitably be placed in a mental institution. But that’s not up to me to decide and my job was to interview the case. Except…the son was too “mad” to come to the interview – according to the father. I ask what is to be done and they send me in a vehicle with the man to his house inside the camp! It turned out that his son was mentally handicapped but was in no way “mad” (a term I later found out they use in this culture for all mentally challenged). I had been a bit nervous about going to a mad man’s house all alone – but it provided a very unique opportunity that I was able to experience. :-) I did conduct the interview in his home and it was even more simple than our hoisted bamboo huts we call offices. :-) Inside the camp it is very much built up along the mountainside. The terrain is rough with dry dirt and uneven rocks. The houses are all bamboo huts hoisted at least four to five feet off the ground. (I’m assuming that’s for the rainy season) There are little food stands lining the crippled streets. (A vehicle cannot drive through the majority of the camp as it has overgrown its space over the years). I followed my interpreter and this adorable 80+yr old man with his cane up this tiny windy trail through bamboo huts with beautiful flowers and vines draping from the trees and the sun shining through. I was thinking that yes, the lives of the refugees are hard; but there is a beauty in such a place as harsh and difficult to live as a refugee camp. I obviously am not living in the camp and may be completely arrogant to make such a statement – but speaking with the refugees today and visiting with them in their home, I get this feeling of genuine peace. The reality of the worst is behind them. After fleeing for one’s life and trekking through jungles and over mountains, the feeling of safety has to surpass all worries and provide a sense of comfort. That comfort is shown through their smiles and wai’s of hellos. They are welcoming of visitors. They are nervous for their interviews as the understand this to be their ticket to the outside world. The camp has a feeling of home to it. People go through their days just like we would. You enter our work site and you can see people walking over foot bridges and washing clothes in the river. Babies are cooing and crying. Children are content to play in the dirt with a stick – drawing pictures for their friends to see. And refugee families are sitting quietly and patiently on the bamboo benches waiting for us to arrive and start our day. This is what they call field work. :-) And aside from smelling like a dirty pig and enduring the heat of the sun; I think I’m going to enjoy it!

entertaining angels

My friend used to tell me that we often are entertained by angels – random people who were sent to encourage or enlighten or guide us. This long journey across the Pacific has reminded me of those simple acts of kindness that people give. I’ve experienced several of them already and wonder if we crossed paths for just that purpose. My connecting flight in Tokyo was canceled and I was put up in a hotel by the airlines. There were 200+ passengers that were also rebooked and were in the same situation. I had the chance to speak with many of them; and was surprised with each conversation of their kindness and concern for other people. Many were tourists, some were humanitarian workers, and others were English teachers or missionaries. All were very unique in their life experiences and wanting to share them as we passed the time waiting! :-)

I’m feeling encouraged. I have survived my first few days of my new job and although they were quite overwhelming, each day has been easier. I suppose it’s to be expected to take some time to familiarize myself with this new city and a new job. I find the Thai culture to be very welcoming; the people are friendly and wanting to help when there’s a need. The sun has shown brightly each day and I’m enjoying the warmth of it very much!

I had great success yesterday as I toured the city with a realtor in search of an apartment – and found a sweet little modern place tucked away on a quiet street, within walking distance to the sky train, and with the most beautiful rooftop garden and pool – which has a fantastic view of the city! I can’t wait to move in! :-) (And there's plenty of room for visitors as well!)

I will be traveling up to Mae La, a refugee camp on the Burma/Thai border, next Sunday. And will spend the next three weeks performing my first pre-screening circuit ride! (Tis what we call our refugee pre-screening interviews when we travel outside the city.) I’m looking forward to being outside of Bangkok and spending some time in the refugee camp. The pictures I’ve seen show very lush green mountains, very muddy terrain, and lots of little children running around with big smiles. :-)

I’ve been wanting a new adventure for a long time. And now that it’s begun, complete with all the unexpecteds I am to expect :-), I am really happy to be here. And I hope that my excitement will continue to grow and I will be able to pass on some of that simple kindness to others that I’ve been shown in this last week.

A big hello to you all! I’m in Thailand!! Another journey has begun…wish me luck!

Kristi