Escape on the Mekong: I wanted to make the same journey in reverse, without fear.(TRANSFORMATIONS) From: Colorlines Magazine | Date: July 1, 2007| Author: | COPYRIGHT 2007 Color Lines Magazine. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

WHEN I WAS 22 DAYS OLD, my mom cradled me gently as we drifted along the Mekong River. It was the evening of Cambodian New Year. The Khmer Rouge soldiers were drunk, making it the perfect night for our family to escape. My dad made a small raft that stayed afloat long enough for us to reach Laos. From Laos we found our way to Thailand, where we lived in a refugee camp. Three years later, we were sent to a reprocessing center in the Philippines. Finally, after six months, we were approved for resettlement to the U.S.

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Not all of my family members ...