ITEMS
Interview with Ka Sin, Burmese Muslim Refugee. 2015-05-17
Dublin Core
Title
Interview with Ka Sin, Burmese Muslim Refugee. 2015-05-17
Description
Ka Sin and his family live in a different apartment complex than our other interviewees. He works at JBS meat packing plant. His family includes his wife Ser Geda; daughter Kem Pu, 16 yrs; son Zat No 10 yrs; son Mo 20 yrs; and son Myo 14 yrs.
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Ka Sin
Present: Deanna Allred, David Giles, Cami Dilg, Ka Sin, Har Be Bar, Kem Pu[?]
(Ka Sin’s daughter), Zat No (Ka Sin’s son), Mo (Ka Sin’s son), Ser Geda
(Ka Sin’s wife), Myo (Ka Sin’s son)
Place of Interview: Ka Sin’s home, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 17, 2015
Language(s): Burmese
Translation:
Interviewer: Deanna Allred
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: David Giles
Photographer: Cami Dilg
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-18RL
broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic microphone
Transcription Equipment: Express Scribe with PowerPlayer foot pedal.
Transcribed by: Susan Gross, May 20, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Ka Sin talks about his journey from Burma, to a Thailand
refugee camp, to Japan, then New York, then California, and finally Utah. He talks about
working and learning English in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then later moving to Logan, Utah. He
talks about his life during the war in Burma and in the refugee camp in Thailand. He discusses
his life in America, and the way his children are growing up here, versus the life they may have
had in Burma.
Reference: DA = Deanna Allred
DAI = Deanna Allred’s words interpreted by translator
KS = Ka Sin
KSI = Ka Sin’s words interpreted by translator
DG = David Giles
DGI = David Giles’ words interpreted by translator
KP = Kem Pu
ZN = Zat No
M = Mo
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MY = Myo
NOTE: [You will have to modify this as appropriate—whether using CommGap or in-person
interpreter.] The interview was conducted with CommGap Interpretive Services; the interpreter
joined the interview via a cell phone. False starts, pauses, or transitions in dialogue such as “uh”
and starts and stops in conversations are not included in transcript. All additions and added
information to transcript are noted with brackets.
TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
[Part 1 of 2 – 00:01]
DA: Yeah, will you introduce who is here with us? I’d love them to stay.
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: His daughter and then his youngest son.
DA: Youngest son?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s daughter] And what is your name?
KP: Kem Pu[?]
DA: Kem Pu? How old are you?
KP: I am 16.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s son] And what is your name?
ZN: Zat No.
KS: Zat No.
DA: Zat No – can you spell that?
ZN: Z-A-T N-O.
DA: N-O.
DG: Okay; exactly like it sounds, actually.
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DA: And how old are you?
ZN: Ten.
DA: You’re ten.
DG: [Speaking to Kem Pu] Okay; are you getting your driver’s license by chance?
KP: Yeah.
DA: Yeah?
DG: Cool.
DA: [Speaking to Kem Pu] What school do you go to?
KP: Logan High.
DA: Logan High? Good. My daughter went there for a little while.
[Speaking to Zat No] And what school do you go to?
ZN: Wilson.
DA: Wilson? Yes.
DG: Okay.
DA: Okay, good.
DG: Would it be okay if we closed the window?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: It’s just the sound – for the sound.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: Okay.
DA: Sorry; will that make it uncomfortable?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Do you guys want him to open the fan?
DG: Let’s try it. Yeah, I don’t think it will be a problem, but let’s try it.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: Okay.
DG: Alright, so let’s begin the tag.
DA: Okay.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: I’m going to look at Cami’s notes about this. I liked what you did there.
[Soft talking in the background between field school students.]
DG: Okay, so I think –
DA: Okay.
DG: These are the questions that you want.
DA: I’ve got the questions here.
Alright, my name is Deanna Allred.
KS: Yes.
DA: We are here at the home of Ka Sin, a Burmese Muslim refugee that we’re doing
interview for the “Voices 2015: Refugees in Cache Valley” (here, in Logan). I’m also
here with Har Be Bar (who is our translator), and David Giles (who is our recordist), and
Cami Dilg (who will be taking pictures). We are also here with Ka Sin’s daughter and
son – are you another son?
??: I’m his son, yeah.
DA: And what’s your name?
M: Mo.
DA: Mo?
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DAI: Mo.
DA: Okay; how old are you, Mo?
M: Twenty.
DA: Twenty? Okay.
So, and I saw your wife here too? Yeah, your wife was here. And what’s her name?
KS: Ser Geda.
DA: Ser Geda?
KS: S-E-R –
KSI: S-E-R –
DA: S-E-R?
KS: G-E –
DA: G-E?
KS: D-A.
DA: D-A?
KS: Yeah.
DA: And this is your wife?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Thank you for letting us come.
I’m going to try to translate a little slower – as I’ve listened, some of it’s gone a little fast
and we’ve not gotten it all.
DAI: Um-hmm?
DA: So I’ll try to just translate slower – just a couple sentences at a time – and then I think
that will go a little better.
DAI: Okay.
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DA: So you can explain to him that we will probably be going a couple sentences at a time.
[03:36]
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: And it is Sunday, May 17th, 2015. We have another son?
KS: Yeah, Myo.
DA: What’s your name?
MY: Myo.
DA: Myo?
MY: Yeah.
DA: How do you spell that?
MY: M-Y-O.
DA: And how old are you?
MY: Fourteen.
DA: Fourteen? You have a great family.
KS: [Laughs]
DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah, this is great. Okay, did I get all the tag?
DG: I think so.
DA: Okay. So we are just going to start the interview.
What is your full name and birth year?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: K-A S-I-N.
DA: Um-hmm.
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KS: Yeah. Birthday – December 18, 1967.
DA: Fifty-seven?
KS: Sixty.
KSI: 1967.
DA: Sixty-seven; okay, good. What languages do you speak?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Burmese and Karen.
KSI: Burmese and Karen.
DA: And Karen? Good. Tell me about your family?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Yeah. [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He has a total family of six people in the family: four childrens, and him and his wife.
DA: Um-hmm. Describe for me your religious community, your ethnic community; describe
for me what it is for you to be a Burmese Muslim?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Living here it’s the same, but the ethnic group and religious group is a little different.
DA: It’s a little different?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: In what way?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: How do we like practice the religion.
DA: Right, um-hmm. Is there a place where you can go to practice your religion?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Here they have it, but it’s a different language –
DA: Oh, right.
KSI: But in Salt Lake they do have it in the same language.
KS: Yeah.
DA: In Salt Lake?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Okay. Tell me about Burma? You were born in Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: What would you like to know about Burma?
DA: Is it hot? Is it beautiful?
KS: Ah, yeah.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[07:28]
KSI: There are three seasons –
DA: Um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, summer, rainy, and foggy.
DA: Summer, rain and foggy – that’s good. We haven’t heard that before. How long did you
live there?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Like 21 years.
DA: Uh-huh? Twenty-one years?
KS: Maybe 25 year.
DA: Maybe 25; yes? Why did you leave?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s hard to live because there are civil wars going around, and they are like ethnic groups
(like Karen group) that didn’t get along with –
DA: That didn’t get along with the government?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Or each other?
KSI: Yeah, with the government, with the soldiers, and with the Karen ethnic group.
DA: Okay, okay. So what was that experience like – leaving Burma? What was that like to
leave your country, leave your home?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He felt very bad, like because at first he had some educations in the city, and then he had
to move because in Burma there are all still civil war. He felt very bad.
DA: Yeah, I’m sure; I’m sure. Where did you relocate first?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: At first Burma to Thailand refugee camp.
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DA: Yeah. And then where?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He relocated first in the Thai city for about three years and it did not work out, so he had
to move to a refugee camp.
DA: Um-hmm, okay. What was your experience like in the refugee camp?
[11:07]
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are like –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: A lot of different peoples –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And different situation – like sometimes they are same level.
DA: Yeah. Describe to me what you ate (the food), what was the medical care like? If you got
sick, what would happen?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They gave free food from rice, oil, salt, and they don’t do meat or other stuff – because
he also want to eat those meat –
DA: Yeah. But there wasn’t any?
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find a way –
DA: To get food?
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KS: Yeah.
KSI: All the medical care out there are free.
DA: Was it easy to get to? Was it close?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that easy to go to the hospital because no transportation –
DA: Right.
KSI: I have to walk.
DA: And it was big – it was a ways away?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah.
KSI: Like 15 minutes.
DA: Yeah. Describe your work and school, there in the refugee camp, for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: For the school, there is no school for an adult (like him). And then a job – he had to go
outside of the camp and work for it.
DA: Um-hmm. Tell me what your life was day-to-day; so you would get up about what time?
You would eat breakfast, or – tell me what a typical day was like for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He would wake up like early in the morning (like four) –
DA: Um-hmm? And then that’s – what time would you go to bed at night?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like nine to ten.
DA: Yeah, yeah; okay. What did you do for work in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[15:15]
KSI: He help with the road –
DA: Okay?
KSI: Fix the road, and also the stables[?] –
DA: Okay. Do you still get up at four?
KS: Huh?
DA: Do you still get up so early?
DAI: Now?
DA: Yeah.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Sometimes; and sometimes earlier than that.
DA: Really?
DG: Wow.
DA: Tell me about the holidays (or the celebrations) that you celebrated in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah. He wants to talk about the Eid.
DA: Uh-huh, yes?
KSI: In the morning he will wake up and go to mosque and pray, and then he will find new
clothes for his children to wear.
DA: Um-hmm. Someone else had said you needed a new outfit for Eid, is that right?
KSI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: Yeah. Okay, what was the government like – how did the government behave with the
refugees? What was the climate there? Was it helpful? Was it combative? How helpful
was the government when you were in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: This would have been Thailand I guess, yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t know about the government because he don’t see it; but there is a
sharing[?] group that helped. And then sometimes they are good, sometimes they are very
bad peoples. If you want to go out and work, they close the gate – they never let him go
out. And then he would find a way to get out from the gate and then go find job. And then
once he came back the soldier will stop him and then take some money.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Why wouldn’t they want you to leave to go work?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They thought that they already gave free food to the refugees, and then they thought that
it’s enough for them.
DA: Rice, but no meat?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Was enough? Okay. Did you feel safe in the camp? Did you feel safe for you, and safe
for your family? Was there safety there?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[20:45]
KSI: It’s not safe because the refugee camp in Burma – it’s very close; sometimes the Burmese
government will come and shoot and burn their houses.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm; we’ve heard that story before, yeah.
KSI: They want control the camps –
DA: Yeah, and it was very dangerous.
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah. How did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: There are a group that would take care of the camp that would come and let them know –
like, “You can go register for the American, for Denmark, for Australia.” And then he –
yeah, from there he come here.
DA: Okay. Who helped you apply?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Thai also helped, he don’t know exactly –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: Yeah, Thai – that group also help – it’s called like OPE –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
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KSI: OPE.
DA: Tell me about coming to the U.S. – I’m sure that was a lot – very emotional – to leave;
I’m sure it was scary. Tell me about when you came to the U.S. – where did you come
first? What was that first day like?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[23:50]
KSI: It’s very emotional because totally like different people. In the camp, like people are not
like human [laughs].
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, because they are all dirty.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. Where did you first land? Where did you first come? Where was your
first stop here?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: First, Thai, Bangkok (bigger city) –
DA: Yeah.
KSI: And then to – where was it?
KS: Japan.
KSI: To Japan, and to New York, to California, and then to Salt Lake.
DA: Did you live in Salt Lake for awhile at first, or did you come right to Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He was in Salt Lake about one year –
DA: Um-hmm?
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KSI: And then he also work at DI. His wife work as a babysitter to other people houses.
DA: Um-hmm, good; good. So if you worked at the DI, did you get help from any churches or
any other organizations in the U.S.? And what about – what was helpful, what wasn’t
helpful about your assistance?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: The church helped – did the most.
DA: How could that be improved?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: What improvements could we make?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: DI help a lot with teaching English. He can only work for a year, and for the
improvement – it’s not – he don’t need that much improvement because he think that it’s
kind of enough.
DA: It was enough? Okay; that’s good to know. How long have you lived here, in Logan?
[27:44]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: About six years.
DA: Yeah?
KS: Yeah.
DA: What do you do here?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: He work at Miller.
DA: At Miller? Um-hmm.
KS: Yeah.
DA: What is it like for you and your family to live here, in Logan? Is it a good place, you
know, do you feel accepted by the community? Do you feel the schools are good and
helpful?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Compared to the camp it’s a very good place here; the community is also good – he can
make friends easily.
DA: Um-hmm. Do you like working at Miller’s?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: Is that a good thing?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He can’t say, because he don’t know if he like or not because he have to work.
DA: Yeah, you have to work – it doesn’t matter if he likes it or not –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yeah, that makes sense. What would make you feel more at home here, in Logan, for
your family and for you?
DAI: What was that question again?
DA: What would make him feel more at home here, in Logan?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Now he don’t feel like this is his home because he is just – only him working, and then he
have a lot of children.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. So he does feel like this is his home, or he doesn’t?
KSI: He doesn’t.
DA: He doesn’t? Why? What could we do – what would need to change for him to feel at
home? Or where would he feel at home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Government help him, but he know that he have to work for himself. And also, in the
future, his son and wife maybe if they could help him work, so that way he could buy a
house –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Is there anything specific – like would it be helpful if there were
more cultural events? Does he feel like he has a community here that assists him and
helps him, you know, if he has to go to the grocery store or get gas, or whatever – you
know, is there anything that we can do to help him feel more at home? Or is it just a
language barrier, you know? I mean, what sorts of things would help him feel more at
home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[32:26]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he feel like – yeah, if they would help he would feel like he is part of the
community.
DA: Okay, okay; great. Tell me what is the difference between your home here, and your
home in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s a big difference as like brown and the sky.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Do you have a good experience with your landlord?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he has a good experience. If he need help he can call them –
DA: And they’re very helpful?
KSI: Yeah, they are.
DA: That’s good; that’s good to know. What would you like the people of Logan to know
about you? And then what would you like them to know about your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like to let everyone know he don’t have much time –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And then for his kids – like their friends, they could tell by themselves.
DA: If you had more time, what would you want to do?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[35:48]
KSI: Once he was younger, he always interested in English, he always want to like, know. And
now if he have time, he would like to take classes.
DA: Learn English?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: If they came to Miller’s at lunch hour a couple of days a week and taught English, would
you be able to go to those English classes?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: At Miller, there is no time because he only get 30 minutes of lunch time –
DA: Oh.
KSI: And then after that he have to go to use the restroom.
DA: Yeah, yeah – just take care of yourself.
KS: Yeah.
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Um-hmm. That makes sense. Would you like to go back to Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he would like to go back because he has parents – his father (who is unhealthy), but
he cannot go back now: his childrens are still young, and money problems.
DA: Um-hmm. Can you communicate with your father?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he can communicate; and he also send like $100-200 a year.
DA: Um-hmm, to them; does it help?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: It helps them? Do you send pictures to each other? You know, does your father know
what your family looks like in pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was a friend who went back to Burma, and then he send one picture, and now he
don’t know how to send it.
DA: Um-hmm; because he’s not there anymore?
KSI: Yeah.
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DA: What are you most proud of?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[39:35]
KSI: He is very proud of his childrens that come here and live their life; he can’t imagine like,
seeing his childrens, like in the camp working in the jungle.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. What are your dreams for your future, and the future of your family?
What are your dreams and what’s the dreams for your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He don’t have his own dreams for himself, but he do have a dreams for his childrens to
like grow up and get better jobs (not like him). He would like to buy a house here for his
family.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. That’s good. Is there anything that I haven’t asked, that you would like
me to know? Are there any other questions; is there anything you want me to know that I
haven’t asked?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: If you like, he can talk about his experience more.
DA: Yeah, yeah; I would like to hear more about your experiences.
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DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[43:27]
KSI: In Burma, in the city, he lived with his family there (five people in the family) –
[Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He is the middle one. When he was younger he don’t have to do any work, and then when
he get older he had to work. And then his older brother, like somehow with the soldier,
got to refugee camp.
DA: So where is his brother now?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Still in Thailand.
DA: Still in Thailand?
KSI: Oh no, Burma.
DA: In Burma? So not in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DA: No? Okay. That’s all of my questions. David or Cami, do you have any questions?
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DG: Yes, I did. Let me see. So you said that when you first left Burma you tried to move to a
city in Thailand? Can you tell us a little more about that, and what that was like trying to
live in a city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not in the big city; it’s just like in the kind of city in the jungle, so like a lot of
creatures.
DG: Okay. So why did you leave the city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was only three months of work in a year, so it’s not enough. And then he cannot go
back to Burma, so he had to leave.
DA: Go back.
DG: Okay.
DA: Do you talk about this much with your kids – about your experiences in Burma? Do they
know?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He did not talk about it because he don’t want his childrens feel like sorry or feel bad,
and then feel fear.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: Now just one more question (for me): you mentioned that you were having a hard time
sending pictures to your family? Do you need help figuring out how to do that, or is there
some kind of problem just getting it to your family?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[47:30]
KSI: Yeah, he would need help with it.
DA: Okay. Does your father have a computer?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DG: Okay, yeah; I know how to like send pictures through email, but if he doesn’t have a
computer, that’s going to be difficult.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah.
DGI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DG: If you like, I can show you how to do that when we’re finished today.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughs]
KSI: Well they don’t even have computers, so –
DA: He doesn’t have a computer, so it wouldn’t help?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: Well I do know that if you can send him a letter, I know you can take your photos to like,
I think Wal-Mart with print them out for you, so you can you know, just put them in a
letter and mail them. I haven’t had to do that in a long time, but I think Wal-Mart would
be able to help.
CD: I think it’s more of a problem of a physical address getting it –
DG: Ah.
CD: To him.
DA: Yeah.
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DG: Okay, I missed that detail.
DGI: Yeah. [Laughs]
[Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Cami, did you have any questions?
CD: Yes, I’m going to move a little bit closer to the microphone.
We’ve interviewed some other people that were also in the refugee camp, and they
mentioned (like you did) the need to obtain new clothing for Eid. I’m wondering where
you would get the new clothing from?
CDI: In the camp?
CD: Yeah, to celebrate. Yes, in the camp.
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find money earlier, yeah, and then he would buy it for them.
CD: And would the clothing be purchased outside of the camp, or inside the camp?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Inside of the camp. Inside of the camp.
CD: I wasn’t sure, maybe you picked up on this – are both of your parents alive, and they are
still in the camp, or just your father?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are both alive, but not in the camp – in Burma.
DA: In Burma; and it’s hard to get the things to Burma.
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CD: So you have family members still in Burma – are they more safe or less safe than if they
were in the refugee camp?
[50:53]
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They don’t have to worry about their lives; because they are old, when the civil war is
coming the soldier won’t take them because they cannot work anymore.
DA: So they’re older –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: And so they’re safer?
KSI: Um-hmm, they’re safer.
DG: That’s a terrible way to be safe.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: I have just one more question. When you left your home in Burma, and then when you
left the camps, did you have any of your children with you at that time?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: When he come to Thailand, he had to walk like three days and three night. He is not
married yet; he got married in Thai camp.
DA: In Thai camp.
KSI: Um-hmm. So once he leave Thailand with his children.
DG: What was that like, having to move to a new place with little kids?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that hard, he just want like all together safe, and get whatever he want to do.
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DG: Okay. Those are all the questions I have.
DA: Do your children participate at school in other things? You know, do you go to the school
to the things that they’re active in?
DAI: Here?
DA: Yeah, here in Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t participate, but when his children still go to school he force them to go to
school. And then only his wife participate in like parent-teacher conferences –
DA: Conferences; yeah, that makes sense. Do you like American food?
[54:29]
KS: Hmm?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughing]
KSI: He like hamburger –
DA: A hamburger?
KSI: But it’s kind of expensive for him.
DA: It is expensive; it is expensive, yeah.
KS: The pizza a lot.
KSI: Pizza –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He says there it’s less expensive: he can buy a box and they’re whole family can eat.
DA: Yeah, pizza – everybody loves pizza!
[Laughter]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: If he only have to eat American food, it will be more expensive –
DA: Yeah, yeah. Do you grocery shop in Salt Lake, like most of your community does? Do
you have to go to Salt Lake to get your groceries?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like two months.
DA: Yeah, yeah; where is that grocery store?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He bought rice here, and in Salt Lake – I don’t even know the address –
DA: Yeah?
KSI: Like Redwood Road.
DA: What’s the name of the store?
KSI: There are like Cambodian store –
DA: Cambodian store?
KS: Chinese.
KSI: Pakistan and Chinese, I think.
DA: Yeah. I’m sorry you have to go so far.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he had to go buy like half of the food over there, and then half of the food here.
DA: Here? Where do you like to shop here?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like Smith’s.
DA: Smith’s – that’s where we all go, yeah.
[Laughter]
Good; good. I don’t know that I have any more questions. You have been very delightful.
Your family is beautiful.
DG: Thank you.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: Thanks.
DA: So we just have some forms to sign. Oh –
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: This just says we can use the interview for the presentation.
DAI: Oh, this is already signed.
DA: Oh yeah, yeah; sorry. Yeah, I can’t give you that one [laughs].
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah; this just says that we can use the recording: it will be stored at Utah State
University. And then do you mind if we take pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[57:58]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, you can take pictures.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: And we do need you to fill out all the blanks, and we need to talk about that last one a
little bit – so when you’re done with the rest, we’ll talk about it.
[Background discussion between the folks present; both in English and Burmese.]
Okay, do we want to end the tape?
DA: So we’re just making sure we have consent to use the audio tape and the pictures in the
Special Collections, and he understands.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yep.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Oh, we don’t need that one.
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: Is it in English?
[More discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: I can’t read Burmese [laughs].
DG: Oh, you can’t?
KSI: I can’t.
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DA: It’s beautiful; I mean, look how pretty it is. Do your children – do you read Burmese? Do
you speak much Burmese?
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese as they fill out the information and
release forms.]
CD: I’m just going to take a few photos to make sure that the light is okay, if that’s alright?
DG: And email, if you have one.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No, he doesn’t have email, so –
KS: Is that finished?
DG: That last one is – I would love if you could translate for me – that last blank is
restrictions: just if there is something you don’t want us to do, you can write it there.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: So if you don’t want us to share your name, or share your photo, or something like that.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Okay, this is the celebration – I know it’s in English, but maybe your kids could translate
that for you. This is what – thank you – this is where we will be showing the photos and
the presentation that we put together for the community.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
[End part 1 of 2 – 60:02]
[Part 2 of 2 – 00:01]
KS: If he is, he will come.
DA: Okay, good. Thank you.
[More background discussion with the folks present.]
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[Speaking to Ka Sin’s child] So will you be a senior next year, or a junior? A senior? And
how do you like Harry Potter?
ZN: It’s a great story.
DA: It’s a great story; yeah, it’s my favorite [laughs].
CD: You don’t mind if I take some photos?
DG: Oh, the recording is still going.
DA: The recording needs to – yeah, we’re done with the recording. Thank you.
DG: Alright, we are done with the interview.
[End Part 2 of 2 – 00:50]
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Ka Sin
Present: Deanna Allred, David Giles, Cami Dilg, Ka Sin, Har Be Bar, Kem Pu[?]
(Ka Sin’s daughter), Zat No (Ka Sin’s son), Mo (Ka Sin’s son), Ser Geda
(Ka Sin’s wife), Myo (Ka Sin’s son)
Place of Interview: Ka Sin’s home, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 17, 2015
Language(s): Burmese
Translation:
Interviewer: Deanna Allred
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: David Giles
Photographer: Cami Dilg
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-18RL
broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic microphone
Transcription Equipment: Express Scribe with PowerPlayer foot pedal.
Transcribed by: Susan Gross, May 20, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Ka Sin talks about his journey from Burma, to a Thailand
refugee camp, to Japan, then New York, then California, and finally Utah. He talks about
working and learning English in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then later moving to Logan, Utah. He
talks about his life during the war in Burma and in the refugee camp in Thailand. He discusses
his life in America, and the way his children are growing up here, versus the life they may have
had in Burma.
Reference: DA = Deanna Allred
DAI = Deanna Allred’s words interpreted by translator
KS = Ka Sin
KSI = Ka Sin’s words interpreted by translator
DG = David Giles
DGI = David Giles’ words interpreted by translator
KP = Kem Pu
ZN = Zat No
M = Mo
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MY = Myo
NOTE: [You will have to modify this as appropriate—whether using CommGap or in-person
interpreter.] The interview was conducted with CommGap Interpretive Services; the interpreter
joined the interview via a cell phone. False starts, pauses, or transitions in dialogue such as “uh”
and starts and stops in conversations are not included in transcript. All additions and added
information to transcript are noted with brackets.
TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
[Part 1 of 2 – 00:01]
DA: Yeah, will you introduce who is here with us? I’d love them to stay.
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: His daughter and then his youngest son.
DA: Youngest son?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s daughter] And what is your name?
KP: Kem Pu[?]
DA: Kem Pu? How old are you?
KP: I am 16.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s son] And what is your name?
ZN: Zat No.
KS: Zat No.
DA: Zat No – can you spell that?
ZN: Z-A-T N-O.
DA: N-O.
DG: Okay; exactly like it sounds, actually.
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DA: And how old are you?
ZN: Ten.
DA: You’re ten.
DG: [Speaking to Kem Pu] Okay; are you getting your driver’s license by chance?
KP: Yeah.
DA: Yeah?
DG: Cool.
DA: [Speaking to Kem Pu] What school do you go to?
KP: Logan High.
DA: Logan High? Good. My daughter went there for a little while.
[Speaking to Zat No] And what school do you go to?
ZN: Wilson.
DA: Wilson? Yes.
DG: Okay.
DA: Okay, good.
DG: Would it be okay if we closed the window?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: It’s just the sound – for the sound.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: Okay.
DA: Sorry; will that make it uncomfortable?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Do you guys want him to open the fan?
DG: Let’s try it. Yeah, I don’t think it will be a problem, but let’s try it.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: Okay.
DG: Alright, so let’s begin the tag.
DA: Okay.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: I’m going to look at Cami’s notes about this. I liked what you did there.
[Soft talking in the background between field school students.]
DG: Okay, so I think –
DA: Okay.
DG: These are the questions that you want.
DA: I’ve got the questions here.
Alright, my name is Deanna Allred.
KS: Yes.
DA: We are here at the home of Ka Sin, a Burmese Muslim refugee that we’re doing
interview for the “Voices 2015: Refugees in Cache Valley” (here, in Logan). I’m also
here with Har Be Bar (who is our translator), and David Giles (who is our recordist), and
Cami Dilg (who will be taking pictures). We are also here with Ka Sin’s daughter and
son – are you another son?
??: I’m his son, yeah.
DA: And what’s your name?
M: Mo.
DA: Mo?
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DAI: Mo.
DA: Okay; how old are you, Mo?
M: Twenty.
DA: Twenty? Okay.
So, and I saw your wife here too? Yeah, your wife was here. And what’s her name?
KS: Ser Geda.
DA: Ser Geda?
KS: S-E-R –
KSI: S-E-R –
DA: S-E-R?
KS: G-E –
DA: G-E?
KS: D-A.
DA: D-A?
KS: Yeah.
DA: And this is your wife?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Thank you for letting us come.
I’m going to try to translate a little slower – as I’ve listened, some of it’s gone a little fast
and we’ve not gotten it all.
DAI: Um-hmm?
DA: So I’ll try to just translate slower – just a couple sentences at a time – and then I think
that will go a little better.
DAI: Okay.
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DA: So you can explain to him that we will probably be going a couple sentences at a time.
[03:36]
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: And it is Sunday, May 17th, 2015. We have another son?
KS: Yeah, Myo.
DA: What’s your name?
MY: Myo.
DA: Myo?
MY: Yeah.
DA: How do you spell that?
MY: M-Y-O.
DA: And how old are you?
MY: Fourteen.
DA: Fourteen? You have a great family.
KS: [Laughs]
DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah, this is great. Okay, did I get all the tag?
DG: I think so.
DA: Okay. So we are just going to start the interview.
What is your full name and birth year?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: K-A S-I-N.
DA: Um-hmm.
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KS: Yeah. Birthday – December 18, 1967.
DA: Fifty-seven?
KS: Sixty.
KSI: 1967.
DA: Sixty-seven; okay, good. What languages do you speak?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Burmese and Karen.
KSI: Burmese and Karen.
DA: And Karen? Good. Tell me about your family?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Yeah. [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He has a total family of six people in the family: four childrens, and him and his wife.
DA: Um-hmm. Describe for me your religious community, your ethnic community; describe
for me what it is for you to be a Burmese Muslim?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Living here it’s the same, but the ethnic group and religious group is a little different.
DA: It’s a little different?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: In what way?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: How do we like practice the religion.
DA: Right, um-hmm. Is there a place where you can go to practice your religion?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Here they have it, but it’s a different language –
DA: Oh, right.
KSI: But in Salt Lake they do have it in the same language.
KS: Yeah.
DA: In Salt Lake?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Okay. Tell me about Burma? You were born in Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: What would you like to know about Burma?
DA: Is it hot? Is it beautiful?
KS: Ah, yeah.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[07:28]
KSI: There are three seasons –
DA: Um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, summer, rainy, and foggy.
DA: Summer, rain and foggy – that’s good. We haven’t heard that before. How long did you
live there?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Like 21 years.
DA: Uh-huh? Twenty-one years?
KS: Maybe 25 year.
DA: Maybe 25; yes? Why did you leave?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s hard to live because there are civil wars going around, and they are like ethnic groups
(like Karen group) that didn’t get along with –
DA: That didn’t get along with the government?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Or each other?
KSI: Yeah, with the government, with the soldiers, and with the Karen ethnic group.
DA: Okay, okay. So what was that experience like – leaving Burma? What was that like to
leave your country, leave your home?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He felt very bad, like because at first he had some educations in the city, and then he had
to move because in Burma there are all still civil war. He felt very bad.
DA: Yeah, I’m sure; I’m sure. Where did you relocate first?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: At first Burma to Thailand refugee camp.
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DA: Yeah. And then where?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He relocated first in the Thai city for about three years and it did not work out, so he had
to move to a refugee camp.
DA: Um-hmm, okay. What was your experience like in the refugee camp?
[11:07]
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are like –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: A lot of different peoples –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And different situation – like sometimes they are same level.
DA: Yeah. Describe to me what you ate (the food), what was the medical care like? If you got
sick, what would happen?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They gave free food from rice, oil, salt, and they don’t do meat or other stuff – because
he also want to eat those meat –
DA: Yeah. But there wasn’t any?
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find a way –
DA: To get food?
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KS: Yeah.
KSI: All the medical care out there are free.
DA: Was it easy to get to? Was it close?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that easy to go to the hospital because no transportation –
DA: Right.
KSI: I have to walk.
DA: And it was big – it was a ways away?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah.
KSI: Like 15 minutes.
DA: Yeah. Describe your work and school, there in the refugee camp, for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: For the school, there is no school for an adult (like him). And then a job – he had to go
outside of the camp and work for it.
DA: Um-hmm. Tell me what your life was day-to-day; so you would get up about what time?
You would eat breakfast, or – tell me what a typical day was like for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He would wake up like early in the morning (like four) –
DA: Um-hmm? And then that’s – what time would you go to bed at night?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like nine to ten.
DA: Yeah, yeah; okay. What did you do for work in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[15:15]
KSI: He help with the road –
DA: Okay?
KSI: Fix the road, and also the stables[?] –
DA: Okay. Do you still get up at four?
KS: Huh?
DA: Do you still get up so early?
DAI: Now?
DA: Yeah.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Sometimes; and sometimes earlier than that.
DA: Really?
DG: Wow.
DA: Tell me about the holidays (or the celebrations) that you celebrated in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah. He wants to talk about the Eid.
DA: Uh-huh, yes?
KSI: In the morning he will wake up and go to mosque and pray, and then he will find new
clothes for his children to wear.
DA: Um-hmm. Someone else had said you needed a new outfit for Eid, is that right?
KSI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: Yeah. Okay, what was the government like – how did the government behave with the
refugees? What was the climate there? Was it helpful? Was it combative? How helpful
was the government when you were in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: This would have been Thailand I guess, yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t know about the government because he don’t see it; but there is a
sharing[?] group that helped. And then sometimes they are good, sometimes they are very
bad peoples. If you want to go out and work, they close the gate – they never let him go
out. And then he would find a way to get out from the gate and then go find job. And then
once he came back the soldier will stop him and then take some money.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Why wouldn’t they want you to leave to go work?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They thought that they already gave free food to the refugees, and then they thought that
it’s enough for them.
DA: Rice, but no meat?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Was enough? Okay. Did you feel safe in the camp? Did you feel safe for you, and safe
for your family? Was there safety there?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[20:45]
KSI: It’s not safe because the refugee camp in Burma – it’s very close; sometimes the Burmese
government will come and shoot and burn their houses.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm; we’ve heard that story before, yeah.
KSI: They want control the camps –
DA: Yeah, and it was very dangerous.
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah. How did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: There are a group that would take care of the camp that would come and let them know –
like, “You can go register for the American, for Denmark, for Australia.” And then he –
yeah, from there he come here.
DA: Okay. Who helped you apply?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Thai also helped, he don’t know exactly –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: Yeah, Thai – that group also help – it’s called like OPE –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
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KSI: OPE.
DA: Tell me about coming to the U.S. – I’m sure that was a lot – very emotional – to leave;
I’m sure it was scary. Tell me about when you came to the U.S. – where did you come
first? What was that first day like?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[23:50]
KSI: It’s very emotional because totally like different people. In the camp, like people are not
like human [laughs].
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, because they are all dirty.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. Where did you first land? Where did you first come? Where was your
first stop here?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: First, Thai, Bangkok (bigger city) –
DA: Yeah.
KSI: And then to – where was it?
KS: Japan.
KSI: To Japan, and to New York, to California, and then to Salt Lake.
DA: Did you live in Salt Lake for awhile at first, or did you come right to Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He was in Salt Lake about one year –
DA: Um-hmm?
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KSI: And then he also work at DI. His wife work as a babysitter to other people houses.
DA: Um-hmm, good; good. So if you worked at the DI, did you get help from any churches or
any other organizations in the U.S.? And what about – what was helpful, what wasn’t
helpful about your assistance?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: The church helped – did the most.
DA: How could that be improved?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: What improvements could we make?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: DI help a lot with teaching English. He can only work for a year, and for the
improvement – it’s not – he don’t need that much improvement because he think that it’s
kind of enough.
DA: It was enough? Okay; that’s good to know. How long have you lived here, in Logan?
[27:44]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: About six years.
DA: Yeah?
KS: Yeah.
DA: What do you do here?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: He work at Miller.
DA: At Miller? Um-hmm.
KS: Yeah.
DA: What is it like for you and your family to live here, in Logan? Is it a good place, you
know, do you feel accepted by the community? Do you feel the schools are good and
helpful?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Compared to the camp it’s a very good place here; the community is also good – he can
make friends easily.
DA: Um-hmm. Do you like working at Miller’s?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: Is that a good thing?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He can’t say, because he don’t know if he like or not because he have to work.
DA: Yeah, you have to work – it doesn’t matter if he likes it or not –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yeah, that makes sense. What would make you feel more at home here, in Logan, for
your family and for you?
DAI: What was that question again?
DA: What would make him feel more at home here, in Logan?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Now he don’t feel like this is his home because he is just – only him working, and then he
have a lot of children.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. So he does feel like this is his home, or he doesn’t?
KSI: He doesn’t.
DA: He doesn’t? Why? What could we do – what would need to change for him to feel at
home? Or where would he feel at home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Government help him, but he know that he have to work for himself. And also, in the
future, his son and wife maybe if they could help him work, so that way he could buy a
house –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Is there anything specific – like would it be helpful if there were
more cultural events? Does he feel like he has a community here that assists him and
helps him, you know, if he has to go to the grocery store or get gas, or whatever – you
know, is there anything that we can do to help him feel more at home? Or is it just a
language barrier, you know? I mean, what sorts of things would help him feel more at
home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[32:26]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he feel like – yeah, if they would help he would feel like he is part of the
community.
DA: Okay, okay; great. Tell me what is the difference between your home here, and your
home in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s a big difference as like brown and the sky.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Do you have a good experience with your landlord?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he has a good experience. If he need help he can call them –
DA: And they’re very helpful?
KSI: Yeah, they are.
DA: That’s good; that’s good to know. What would you like the people of Logan to know
about you? And then what would you like them to know about your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like to let everyone know he don’t have much time –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And then for his kids – like their friends, they could tell by themselves.
DA: If you had more time, what would you want to do?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[35:48]
KSI: Once he was younger, he always interested in English, he always want to like, know. And
now if he have time, he would like to take classes.
DA: Learn English?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: If they came to Miller’s at lunch hour a couple of days a week and taught English, would
you be able to go to those English classes?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: At Miller, there is no time because he only get 30 minutes of lunch time –
DA: Oh.
KSI: And then after that he have to go to use the restroom.
DA: Yeah, yeah – just take care of yourself.
KS: Yeah.
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Um-hmm. That makes sense. Would you like to go back to Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he would like to go back because he has parents – his father (who is unhealthy), but
he cannot go back now: his childrens are still young, and money problems.
DA: Um-hmm. Can you communicate with your father?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he can communicate; and he also send like $100-200 a year.
DA: Um-hmm, to them; does it help?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: It helps them? Do you send pictures to each other? You know, does your father know
what your family looks like in pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was a friend who went back to Burma, and then he send one picture, and now he
don’t know how to send it.
DA: Um-hmm; because he’s not there anymore?
KSI: Yeah.
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DA: What are you most proud of?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[39:35]
KSI: He is very proud of his childrens that come here and live their life; he can’t imagine like,
seeing his childrens, like in the camp working in the jungle.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. What are your dreams for your future, and the future of your family?
What are your dreams and what’s the dreams for your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He don’t have his own dreams for himself, but he do have a dreams for his childrens to
like grow up and get better jobs (not like him). He would like to buy a house here for his
family.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. That’s good. Is there anything that I haven’t asked, that you would like
me to know? Are there any other questions; is there anything you want me to know that I
haven’t asked?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: If you like, he can talk about his experience more.
DA: Yeah, yeah; I would like to hear more about your experiences.
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DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[43:27]
KSI: In Burma, in the city, he lived with his family there (five people in the family) –
[Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He is the middle one. When he was younger he don’t have to do any work, and then when
he get older he had to work. And then his older brother, like somehow with the soldier,
got to refugee camp.
DA: So where is his brother now?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Still in Thailand.
DA: Still in Thailand?
KSI: Oh no, Burma.
DA: In Burma? So not in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DA: No? Okay. That’s all of my questions. David or Cami, do you have any questions?
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DG: Yes, I did. Let me see. So you said that when you first left Burma you tried to move to a
city in Thailand? Can you tell us a little more about that, and what that was like trying to
live in a city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not in the big city; it’s just like in the kind of city in the jungle, so like a lot of
creatures.
DG: Okay. So why did you leave the city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was only three months of work in a year, so it’s not enough. And then he cannot go
back to Burma, so he had to leave.
DA: Go back.
DG: Okay.
DA: Do you talk about this much with your kids – about your experiences in Burma? Do they
know?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He did not talk about it because he don’t want his childrens feel like sorry or feel bad,
and then feel fear.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: Now just one more question (for me): you mentioned that you were having a hard time
sending pictures to your family? Do you need help figuring out how to do that, or is there
some kind of problem just getting it to your family?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[47:30]
KSI: Yeah, he would need help with it.
DA: Okay. Does your father have a computer?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DG: Okay, yeah; I know how to like send pictures through email, but if he doesn’t have a
computer, that’s going to be difficult.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah.
DGI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DG: If you like, I can show you how to do that when we’re finished today.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughs]
KSI: Well they don’t even have computers, so –
DA: He doesn’t have a computer, so it wouldn’t help?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: Well I do know that if you can send him a letter, I know you can take your photos to like,
I think Wal-Mart with print them out for you, so you can you know, just put them in a
letter and mail them. I haven’t had to do that in a long time, but I think Wal-Mart would
be able to help.
CD: I think it’s more of a problem of a physical address getting it –
DG: Ah.
CD: To him.
DA: Yeah.
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DG: Okay, I missed that detail.
DGI: Yeah. [Laughs]
[Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Cami, did you have any questions?
CD: Yes, I’m going to move a little bit closer to the microphone.
We’ve interviewed some other people that were also in the refugee camp, and they
mentioned (like you did) the need to obtain new clothing for Eid. I’m wondering where
you would get the new clothing from?
CDI: In the camp?
CD: Yeah, to celebrate. Yes, in the camp.
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find money earlier, yeah, and then he would buy it for them.
CD: And would the clothing be purchased outside of the camp, or inside the camp?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Inside of the camp. Inside of the camp.
CD: I wasn’t sure, maybe you picked up on this – are both of your parents alive, and they are
still in the camp, or just your father?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are both alive, but not in the camp – in Burma.
DA: In Burma; and it’s hard to get the things to Burma.
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CD: So you have family members still in Burma – are they more safe or less safe than if they
were in the refugee camp?
[50:53]
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They don’t have to worry about their lives; because they are old, when the civil war is
coming the soldier won’t take them because they cannot work anymore.
DA: So they’re older –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: And so they’re safer?
KSI: Um-hmm, they’re safer.
DG: That’s a terrible way to be safe.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: I have just one more question. When you left your home in Burma, and then when you
left the camps, did you have any of your children with you at that time?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: When he come to Thailand, he had to walk like three days and three night. He is not
married yet; he got married in Thai camp.
DA: In Thai camp.
KSI: Um-hmm. So once he leave Thailand with his children.
DG: What was that like, having to move to a new place with little kids?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that hard, he just want like all together safe, and get whatever he want to do.
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DG: Okay. Those are all the questions I have.
DA: Do your children participate at school in other things? You know, do you go to the school
to the things that they’re active in?
DAI: Here?
DA: Yeah, here in Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t participate, but when his children still go to school he force them to go to
school. And then only his wife participate in like parent-teacher conferences –
DA: Conferences; yeah, that makes sense. Do you like American food?
[54:29]
KS: Hmm?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughing]
KSI: He like hamburger –
DA: A hamburger?
KSI: But it’s kind of expensive for him.
DA: It is expensive; it is expensive, yeah.
KS: The pizza a lot.
KSI: Pizza –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He says there it’s less expensive: he can buy a box and they’re whole family can eat.
DA: Yeah, pizza – everybody loves pizza!
[Laughter]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: If he only have to eat American food, it will be more expensive –
DA: Yeah, yeah. Do you grocery shop in Salt Lake, like most of your community does? Do
you have to go to Salt Lake to get your groceries?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like two months.
DA: Yeah, yeah; where is that grocery store?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He bought rice here, and in Salt Lake – I don’t even know the address –
DA: Yeah?
KSI: Like Redwood Road.
DA: What’s the name of the store?
KSI: There are like Cambodian store –
DA: Cambodian store?
KS: Chinese.
KSI: Pakistan and Chinese, I think.
DA: Yeah. I’m sorry you have to go so far.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he had to go buy like half of the food over there, and then half of the food here.
DA: Here? Where do you like to shop here?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like Smith’s.
DA: Smith’s – that’s where we all go, yeah.
[Laughter]
Good; good. I don’t know that I have any more questions. You have been very delightful.
Your family is beautiful.
DG: Thank you.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: Thanks.
DA: So we just have some forms to sign. Oh –
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: This just says we can use the interview for the presentation.
DAI: Oh, this is already signed.
DA: Oh yeah, yeah; sorry. Yeah, I can’t give you that one [laughs].
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah; this just says that we can use the recording: it will be stored at Utah State
University. And then do you mind if we take pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[57:58]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, you can take pictures.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: And we do need you to fill out all the blanks, and we need to talk about that last one a
little bit – so when you’re done with the rest, we’ll talk about it.
[Background discussion between the folks present; both in English and Burmese.]
Okay, do we want to end the tape?
DA: So we’re just making sure we have consent to use the audio tape and the pictures in the
Special Collections, and he understands.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yep.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Oh, we don’t need that one.
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: Is it in English?
[More discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: I can’t read Burmese [laughs].
DG: Oh, you can’t?
KSI: I can’t.
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DA: It’s beautiful; I mean, look how pretty it is. Do your children – do you read Burmese? Do
you speak much Burmese?
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese as they fill out the information and
release forms.]
CD: I’m just going to take a few photos to make sure that the light is okay, if that’s alright?
DG: And email, if you have one.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No, he doesn’t have email, so –
KS: Is that finished?
DG: That last one is – I would love if you could translate for me – that last blank is
restrictions: just if there is something you don’t want us to do, you can write it there.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: So if you don’t want us to share your name, or share your photo, or something like that.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Okay, this is the celebration – I know it’s in English, but maybe your kids could translate
that for you. This is what – thank you – this is where we will be showing the photos and
the presentation that we put together for the community.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
[End part 1 of 2 – 60:02]
[Part 2 of 2 – 00:01]
KS: If he is, he will come.
DA: Okay, good. Thank you.
[More background discussion with the folks present.]
Cache
Valley
Refugee
Oral
History
Project:
Ka
Sin
Page
32
[Speaking to Ka Sin’s child] So will you be a senior next year, or a junior? A senior? And
how do you like Harry Potter?
ZN: It’s a great story.
DA: It’s a great story; yeah, it’s my favorite [laughs].
CD: You don’t mind if I take some photos?
DG: Oh, the recording is still going.
DA: The recording needs to – yeah, we’re done with the recording. Thank you.
DG: Alright, we are done with the interview.
[End Part 2 of 2 – 00:50]
Source
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 61
Date
2015-05-17
Rights
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Relation
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67611
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Language
Type
Identifier
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/105
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