I’m back up in Mae La Camp on the Thai/Burma border interviewing refugee clients this week and next. I haven’t been here since the first of January; we are now at a new work site! It’s complete with air-conditioned trailers and toilet seats! There has been some action going on up here this past week – bad action. The Karen National Union (KNU) has been launching missiles from inside Burma and firing at the camp. They’ve moved farther north, so we are told our worksite is now safe; though a few days ago the fighting was only six kilometers away. I’m a bit nervous, but trust that the situation is being monitored closely. I don’t know if I’ve ever been this close to fighting before. It’s oddly unsettling.
It’s also been a few weeks since I’ve interviewed applicants as I’ve spent a week on vacation and the two previous in the Bangkok office updating files. I enjoy interviewing. The questions are mundane and the paperwork is tedious; but each story is unique. And I’m always entertained watching the kids squirm in their seats. They never say a word; but they watch me and they squirm. :-) I had two little boys in a family today that took turns making faces at me and then giggling when I’d catch them! They didn’t know quite what to do when I made the face back at them. :-) I also had some nice conversations with my interpreter today. The interpreters here are local refugees who speak English; they too are applying for resettlement. Most of the interpreters are young; early twenties who have had schooling. My interpreter’s name is Justin. He was telling me how bad things were getting up here and how difficult it’s becoming to live in the camp. I asked about the recent action. He told me they all have their bags packed and are ready to run. I asked where to? He pointed up into the mountains; the jungle. He said some of his friends and family are already there and hiding for their safety. I didn’t know what to say. His bags are packed. I wished him a safe night and prayed for their safety.
It’s very quiet up here. The air is much cleaner than in Bangkok. Though, it’s quite dry and dusty; they are hoping the rains come soon. Our new work site is just outside the camp borders, within the boundaries of the camp police. There are not so many onlookers watching the site in curiosity compared to the UNHCR site inside the camp. I forgot how many children are here; they are all full of smiles and giggles as I walk around the site. They sit outside my door and watch as I continually trip from the lip of the floor. And they laugh. Every time. And I am aware of this lip, but I still trip. :-)
I had some incredibly beautiful people whom I interviewed today. A little girl had this angelic round face with dark hair curling around it; her eyes twinkled. She was maybe 9 years old. Her two brothers were the ones making funny faces at me. Her mom was also gorgeous. And my last case of the day was a woman thirty four years old and her husband. She was so beautiful. I couldn’t stop noticing how her face just lit up when she smiled; her eyes held laughter. And I noticed they had quite a few laugh lines around them; but they were so beautiful. Funny how we freak at the wrinkles around our eyes and moan at getting older; slathering on eye cream to plump up the skin. But on this woman, it was those wrinkles that made her so beautiful. I was a bit fascinated. :-)
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