February,1995
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Theresa Anoorson Revisits Her Homeland of Lao 
By Teresa Anoosorn
My family fled our homeland of Laos to escape persecution by the communist regime, the Pa-Thet-Lao. I left behind a large extended family and a culture of which I remember little because I left at such a young age. Recently, I had the opportunity to return to Laos. The trip was both a joy and a heartache, leaving me with some understanding of the journey I've taken in my life.
Laos is located between Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1893, French Imperialism took over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It brought the three countries together and renamed the region Indo-China. The people of these nations united together and helped each other fight the French Government for their Freedom and Independence, but the political situations in each country became worse. Civil War broke out. The war lasted until Pa-Thet-Lao, a Lao communist party supported by North Vietnam conquered the nation in 1975. Almost half the population was killed by the Pa-Thet-Lao. Many families had to flee the country for their lives, including my family.
After the Pa-Thet-Lao gained power in December, 1975, Laos was caught up in the Vietnam war, when the United States used Laos as a base to help fight North Vietnam. Laos was also the most important route for North Vietnam to move, reinforce and transfer their troops to South Vietnam. During the reign of the Pa-Thet-Lao, a lot of people were arrested, jailed, and then killed. The officers and soldiers from the old government were sent to concentration camps for Re-education, a euphemism for brainwashing their minds to follow the Lao communist party. The conditions in the concentration camps were very unclean. The people lacked love from their families, medication, clean clothing, and they were put through very hard work. No one would be expected to return home to their loved ones.
Also the officers and soldiers who worked for the United States Agency, or did anything that related to the American Government were the first to be arrested, jailed, and then later to be killed. My father was one of these workers, so in order to save his life, my family and I escaped from Laos, riding in boats until we made our way into Thailand, where we stayed in refugee camps for two years. None of my family members had to experience living in concentration camps, but many close friends that did, never returned My father worked as a teacher in Thailand, and received a government grant that made it easier for our family to leave and come to America for the chance of a better life.
Arriving in America our family remained at a church that was housing immigrants from other countries. We stayed there until two loving Americans decided to sponsor us, and help to stabilize us with a healthy environment, which provided housing and a source of income for our family. They lived near us for about eight years, visiting us and checking on us. Since I didn't have any relatives in the United States except for an Aunt living in California, my sponsors became the closest thing to my extended family back home. I love them dearly just as if they were my Laotian grandparents. They left us to start a family business in California. Now we spend a lot of time writing letters and talking on the phone with each other.
My family is very special and important to me. My parents are always involved with everything I do. They are always there to encourage me and help me. Taking a trip back to my native country was the opportunity I coveted most in my life. I got the chance to go back and not only learn about my own culture, but to see the extended family I left behind fourteen years ago on another continent.
I apprehended a real life look at what my parents went through by seeing my relatives who were still living the hardships in Laos. They existed as a huge family under one roof, having to do the laundry everyday because there was not enough clothes to make it through the week. They worked so hard from morning until night just to have enough money to buy food and eat the same evening.
I realized why my mother and father are supportive and involved in my life. They want me to work just as hard as they did, but not to struggle to survive with back breaking work and the worries that they were put through. Not only did they fight for an education to better themselves, but they fought for their children to have enough to eat, and stay alive.
I felt deeply ashamed of myself to see my relatives existing the way they did. They were so happy to see me, and asked so many questions about America. They felt we must be extremely rich since we lived in America. In a way, I felt we were rich. We had clean running water, electricity, a bathroom with a flushable toilet, and food enough to last for weeks. The most important thing that I had and they didn't was a remarkable education system. The small things I usually take for granted, moments to myself and those to be with my family, time to study for school, and the chance to be a child are now being seen in a new light, because these moments are luxuries to my relatives in Laos.
My relatives were so happy to see us. They tried to offer everything they possibly could to make me feel more at home. I learned from them that being in need makes one unselfish and always willing to lend a helping hand without expecting anything in return. Returning to Laos has changed me in many ways. I have learned how lucky I am to be in America receiving a strong education. I've also realized how fortunate I am to have what others can only hope and dream about. Most importantly, I'll remember my family and their struggle which has brought me to a land where I am receiving all the freedoms and gratifications that life has to offer and the opportunity to toil hard to achieve my dreams.
