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Kaung Lay interview transcript, May 16, 2015
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Title
Kaung Lay interview transcript, May 16, 2015
Description
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Kaw Lay
Present: David Giles, Cami Dilg, Deanna Allred, Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, Khin Mar
Cho (Kaw Lay’s wife)
Place of Interview: Kaw Lay’s home, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 16, 2015
Language(s): Burmese
Translation:
Interviewer: David Giles
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: Deanna Allred
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 25, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Mr. Kaw Lay discusses being born in Burma, and then the
conditions during the war. He talks about his wife and children escaping to a refugee camp in
Thailand, with him following later (after having earned more money to support the trip). He talks
about the journey to the United States, and what it took to adjust and get settled in Logan, Utah.
He and his wife talk about the struggles they’ve had, as well as daily life for their family in the
United States.
Reference: DG = David Giles
DGI = David Giles’ words interpreted by translator
KL = Kaw Lay
KLI = Kaw Lay’s words interpreted by translator
DA = Deanna Allred
DAI = Deanna Allred’s words interpreted by translator
CD = Cami Dilg
CDI = Cami Dilg’s words interpreted by translator
KC = Khin Mar Cho
KC = Khin Mar Cho’s words interpreted by translator
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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
[00:01]
DG: Okay. This is David Giles; we are recording an interview for the “Voices: Refugees in
Cache Valley” project. Also with me we have Cami Dilg and Deanna Allred (I
completely spaced). Today is the 16th of May, and it is about one o’clock in the
afternoon. We also have Har Be Bar, who is the interpreter today, and Kaw Lay, who we
will be interviewing. Is there anything else we need to put on the tag, or is that it? Okay.
Sorry?
CD: Go ahead and ask who else is in the room –
DG: Okay.
CD: And have them be identified.
DG: Okay. Could you do me a favor and just tell us your names?
??: My name is [??]
DG: Okay. Sean[??], would you mind?
KC: My name is Khin Mar Cho, his wife.
DG: Okay.
[Inaudible discussion with folks in the room.]
DG: [??] okay.
DA: How do you spell that?
??: T-H-U-V[??]
DG: Oh, I think you were here yesterday.
??: Yeah.
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DG: Okay; alright.
DA: How do you spell your name?
KC: Khin Mar Cho: K-H-I-N space M-A-R space C-H-O.
DA: C-H--?
KC: C-H-O.
DA: C-H-O? Thank you.
DG: Okay. Now, before we start Kaw Lay, just to make sure on Har Be Bar, it’s easiest if we
just speak one or two sentences at a time, give her time to translate.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: If you would like to speak in English, that’s fine; if you feel more comfortable speaking
in Burmese – that’s fine as well; just whichever you prefer.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He will speak in English – oh, Burmese.
DG: Okay.
KLI: Yeah.
DG: Alright. So my first question: can you tell us your first name and your birth year? And
what languages do you speak?
DGI: [Repeating the questions in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: First name is Kaw and the last name is Lay; he speak Burmese. His birthday is –
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s 1963.
DG: 1963, okay. Now let me see, tell us a little bit about your family – you know, how many
children do you have? And how long have you been married? That kind of thing.
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He don’t remember exactly how long he been married. And then he has five children.
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.] Two girls and three boys.
DG: Okay, thank you. Let me see – can you please describe the ethnic or religious community
that you belong to? So you know, tell us about being a Burmese Muslim.
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[04:33]
KLI: I’m kind of Muslim ethnic group.
DG: Okay, thank you. Now let me see – can you tell us a little bit more about Burma? You
know, how long you lived there, why you left?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He was born in Burma, and then there was civil war going around, so they had to move
around in Burma. So he had to leave Burma because of the war to Thailand camp.
DG: So you went to Thailand first?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
Yeah, Thailand first.
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DG: Okay, so what was that like – having to move around, having to move to Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese between several people.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Well everything was destroyed, so we have to move around. Well he have to, so it’s kind
of not good.
DG: Um-hmm.
KLI: Yeah, that’s what he try to say.
DG: Okay. Let me see – okay. So about how old were you when you had to leave to Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Forty-four[??]
DG: Okay. And do you remember how many kids you had at that time?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[08:23]
KLI: At that time he only have four childrens, and then in the camp she was born.
DG: Wow, okay. What was that like having little kids with you when you needed to leave?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KLI: Yeah, it was the worst time ever, because the whole family cannot go together. At first
his wife and two childrens went there first; and then he followed them.
DG: Wow that sounds scary.
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Did you have to go separately because if immigration restrictions, because of laws?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: First because their family over there in the camp – they went first – and then they support
them to get there. Yeah, he stay in Burma, work for a little bit and then get money, and
then go.
DG: I understand; okay, thank you. What was it like living in a refugee camp? What were
your experiences there?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He don’t have much experience – he get free food, he live with the food because he don’t
work (in the camp there are no jobs).
DG: Um-hmm. So what kind of food did you get?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Rice, beans, salt, oil, chilies.
DG: Wow, so not very much?
KLI: Not very much.
DG: Not very much. Let me see – now what kind of medical care was there in the camp?
What would you do if you got into an accident, or you got sick?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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[13:07]
KLI: In the camp there are clinic, and then if he get sick he will go there. If the health is getting
worse, and like dying, the clinic will support him to go to a Mae Sot hospital (he will get
take care of him); he don’t have to pay for it.
DG: Okay, thank you. What kind of hospital was it?
KLI: It’s a clinic – in the camp? The clinic.
DG: Oh, well you said if they got worse then they’d go to a hospital?
KLI: Uh-huh, like in Mae Sot – in the big city.
DG: Oh, okay; alright. Let me see – now you said there wasn’t any work that you could do in
the camp, no jobs?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: No.
DG: Okay, wow; wow. Okay, now when you were in the camp did you celebrate in holy days
or any holidays?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: There are a lot of people (like Muslim people); so that way he could celebrate the Eid
(they call the Eid). First he went to the mosque and then pray, and then come back and
have fun with families.
DG: Cool. Was there a mosque in the camp?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, they were.
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DG: Okay, wow. What was the mosque like – like what was it made out of? What did it look
like?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s made of wood and bamboo tree.
DG: Okay. Was it specially decorated, or was it just you know, just a house?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[16:12]
KLI: It’s kind of like a house, but it’s a lot bigger because a lot of people go there and kind of
decorated.
DG: Okay, thank you.
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Let me see – now what was it like politically? Like what was your relation – when you
were refugees, what was your relationship with Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: You don’t have a lot of like relationship with Thailand – just live in the camp, and then
their like government help.
DG: Okay, thank you. Did you feel safe in the camps?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s not safe over there; the Burmese people will come and burn them, but he was afraid.
DG: That does sound scary. Thank you. Let me see – so how did you first hear about the
United States’ refugee program, and how did you apply for it?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[19:19]
KLI: There is a group that called –
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: UNHI –
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s called UI – he don’t really know. And then he had to register for to come here (like a
lot of people were).
DG: Okay, thank you. Did you get any help applying?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, the UI group helped with everything, because they don’t know anything. So they
helped.
DG: Okay, thank you. I have a question about the paperwork – was it all in English, or did you
have to fill it out in Burmese?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, it’s in English, but there are translator that helped them.
DG: Wow that sounds like a nightmare.
KLI: [Laughs] Yeah.
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DG: Let me see – so what was it like coming to the U.S.? What was your experience with the
move?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: From the camp he had to go to the city, in Thailand city – he had to like stay there three
days in the church, and then he had to take the airplane (like three to four airplanes); and
he went to New York, and from New York to here.
DG: Wow.
KLI: Yeah.
DG: Wow.
KLI: It’s a long way.
DG: Um-hmm. Kaw Lay’s wife has just sat down with us. Let me see – now you said when
you went to the camp you had to go – it was your wife and a couple of children, and then
you came afterwards? Did you all go at the same time to the United States, or did you
have to go twice like that?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[22:54]
KLI: All together.
DG: All together?
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. Let me see – so when you first got to the United States, what was it like for those
first couple months? Did anyone help you out, or were you just on your own?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He get a little bit help with the renting and stuff, but there is a problem with his son
broken leg; yeah.
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DG: Um-hmm. So who helped you with the rent?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese among several folks present.]
KLI: There is a group (IRC) help pay the rent for six months.
DG: Oh, wow. That might have been the – Cache Valley group? We’ll look it up –
[Discussion in Burmese.]
You mentioned there was a problem when your son broke his leg – what happened then?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese among several folks present.]
KCI: They get separated – he is in the hotel, and then she is in the hospital with the broken leg
child; and then there is no phone, no number that to call. And then they don’t know how
to contact each other.
DG: Wow. And you’re saying this is Kaw Lay and his wife (for the recording)?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay, wow; sounds very scary. Let me see – now did the hospital charge you for that?
How did you get help paying for that (the broken leg)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The IRC helped them to pay for it.
DG: Okay; alright, thank you. Let me see, next question – so how long have you guys been
living here, in Logan?
[27:44]
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: Like five to six year.
DG: Okay, let me see – what is life like here? What do you do (what kind of work do you do)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: He work in Miller, and then he is saying that he don’t get food stamps now – so with his
money he buy food and stuff, and live like that.
DG: What specifically do you do at Miller (like what’s your job)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He had to do the inside of the cow’s stomach –
DG: Oh, goodness.
KLI: [Laughs] Yeah.
DG: Khin Mar Cho (is that how you?) –
KC: Khin Mar Cho.
DG: Khin Mar Cho – what do you do for work here, or do you work?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She sew, she cook – she sew for other people like – she sew for my clothes too, and then
I pay for it.
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DG: Oh cool; awesome, thank you. Let me see – do you feel included in the Logan
community? Do you feel a part of the group here?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, he feel like it.
DG: Good, good. Let me see – now tell us a little bit about your home here: like how is it like
the house you had back in Burma, and how is it different?
[31:13]
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: Thailand – the camp houses are like sometime missing a wall –
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: Made with the bamboo trees.
DG: Um-hmm?
KL: And then here it’s like completely a lot better; yeah.
DG: Um-hmm; okay, thank you. Let me see – oh, have you had any problems with your
landlord, or have they been nice and helpful?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: The best landlord ever, he said, because whenever he need something he call it, and then
that person come.
DG: Okay, so the landlord is helpful then?
KLI: Yeah, it’s very helpful.
DG: Okay. Good, good; we’ve heard some stories where that wasn’t the case.
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KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: If you could translate that.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: The others are not that helpful. Yeah.
DG: Okay; wow, it sounds like you got lucky [laughs].
DGI: Um-hmm. [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.] Very, very.
DG: Um-hmm. Now let me see – so what would you like people in Logan to know about you
and your family?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[34:44]
KLI: If they’re interested in them, they can come and ask about it; yeah [laughs].
DG: Okay. Alright, let me see – now if you could, would you like to go back to Burma?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He would like to go back because he have like a lot of friends. And then if he goes
somewhere else (like in the jungle) he is happy to live in there, because he feel like it’s
his place – and here he don’t feel like it’s own place. And then his child would not go
back because they live here, they feel like it’s their place. So yeah, he would like to go
back.
DG: Okay. I’m sorry – what was your name again?
KC: Khin Mar Cho.
DG: Khin Mar Cho – would you like to go back?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She doesn’t like to go back because there are still problems and then she doesn’t want to
like get problem anymore – she just want to get free.
DG: Um-hmm.
KCI: Yeah.
DG: Okay. Now let me see – I’d like to go back and ask about the move to the United States.
Is there anything that you think that people could do to make that move easier, to make
that transition?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[38:25]
KLI: He want to get like easiest way that he could, if he can – but he had to go around because
– [speaking in Burmese to interviewee]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s the traveling stuff, so –
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, he cannot just go straight –
DG: Are you talking about he would have liked to have flown into Salt Lake –
KLI: Uh-huh.
DG: Instead of going to New York and back?
KLI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay. Okay now let me see – now just a couple more questions. So what are you most
proud of?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He is very proud that he could come here, and then like his childrens can go to school
free. Yeah.
DG: Good. Now Khin Mar Cho – what are you most proud of?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Laughter]
KCI: She said nothing because she can’t speak English until now.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she wants to like speak English and then get better health.
DG: Get better health?
KCI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. Are you having medical problems right now?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese – crying.]
KCI: Yeah, she is having with medical; she want to have medical care.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, they don’t help.
DG: They don’t help?
KCI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. I’m not sure –
DA: Where does she go to get medical help?
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KCI: She just go to the hospital, but she has insurance in the JBS, but the JBS didn’t help them
much; so, yeah.
[41:27]
DA: For her specific problem?
KCI: Um-hmm.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The thing is that they could pay, but they did not pay. And then there is like a lot of
paperworks come, and then she don’t know how to read and stuff.
DG: Would you like us to see if we can help with that?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she would like you to.
DG: Okay, alright. I don’t know how much we can do, but I’ll ask and see if there is someone
who can help.
DA: It sounds like there’s just a translation problem. Is it more than just a translation problem?
DG: Yeah, it sounds like a problem with the insurance.
KCI: Yeah, with the insurance – and then she don’t get the medical care from the government.
DA: Okay.
DG: If you could tell her we will try and help, but –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KCI: There is still a problem with his son leg, and that he had to go every year and then he
cannot go because of the medical problem that nobody problem.
DG: Okay. Can you tell her we’ll talk to some people and see if there is something we can do
– if there is some way we can help.
DGI: [Repeating the question.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She doesn’t want any food stamps or stuff, she just want the medical care.
DA: She doesn’t the what?
KCI: The food stamps.
DA: Yes, um-hmm.
DG: Yeah, we’ll try to help. I don’t know much about –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DG: Okay, we’ll see what we can do.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: Now just a couple more questions. What are your dreams for yourself and for your
children? We’ve already talked about medical care –
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She wants her youngest daughter to be a doctor – she really wants –
DG: Um-hmm.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Laughter]
DA: Is that you?
??: Yeah.
DG: Yeah, that would be very good.
DA: That would be wonderful.
DG: Now Kaw Lay, what are your dreams – for yourself and for your children?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[45:44]
KLI: He don’t have a dream for himself, but for his daughter and son – he don’t to be like him
(like working hard), he just want like their lives to get better and better. That’s his dream.
DG: Okay. Now let me see – is there anything else (this question is for both of you) – is there
anything else you’d like to talk about that we haven’t asked?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Nothing.
DG: Okay. Now those are all the questions that I have, but do either of you have questions?
DA: I have some questions. If there were English classes available, do you have transportation
to get there? Do you know if there are English classes?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: There is people that come her house and like teach her English, but she don’t get it
because of problem with the brain, I don’t know.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she don’t learn anything.
DG: I’m sorry –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: When they teach she get at first, and then later she forgot all.
DG: That’s kind of how it is for us too, actually [laughs]. Like in the classes that we’re taking
for school, we need to learn things over and over. So, yeah.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
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DG: Okay, any other questions.
DA: I do have a question: when you were in the hospital with your son right after you got
here, and you were at home – how did you find each other? How did you get back
together your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: They take a weeks, then the IRC come and then they find a way –
DA: To get them all back together?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: They were separated for weeks?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: Because they couldn’t get back together?
KCI: Um-hmm. That’s crazy [laughs].
DA: That is crazy.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, the IRC take –
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The IRC took them to the hospital.
DA: Okay.
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, from hotel they rent and then once he got the home, and then they took him to the
hospital.
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DA: Um-hmm; okay.
[49:47]
DG: Okay, wow.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: They can only drink water because they couldn’t eat the American food.
DA: I’m sure; I’m sure it was very different – yeah.
DG: And hospital food isn’t good anyways.
DA: Yeah [laughs].
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Is there any American food you like now?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Like pizza.
[Laughter]
DA: Yeah, pizza [laughing].
DG: Okay. Now Cami, do you have a question?
CD: Were you finished?
DA: I’m done, thank you.
CD: Um-hmm. I guess to follow up with the food question, where do you purchase your food?
Do you do that here in the valley, or do you travel somewhere to get the food that you do
eat?
CDI: Now?
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CD: Um-hmm.
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, from Salt Lake – they get from Salt Lake.
DG: Wow.
CD: How often do you make the trip down there?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Once a month.
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: There is not a lot of Asians food in here, so they have to go to Salt Lake and once a
month buy a lot of food.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: Um-hmm.
[52:05]
CD: How do you get down there? Do you go with a family? Do you drive? Do you take public
transportation?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: They go as a family because he don’t know how to drive, so he had to take his older son.
DG: Is his son [??]
KLI: Yeah [??]
DA: [??]
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KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay.
CD: What is the traditional role of male or female, or father – or say husband and wife – in
your culture?
CDI: What is the traditional –
CD: The traditional role – does the wife play certain roles, the husband play certain roles?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: There is no traditional role, specifically, that they do; they just go to work, she just stay
home; that’s it every day.
DG: Okay.
CD: I’ve got one or two more questions.
DG: Okay, sorry [laughs].
CD: If someone wanted to learn more about your community (so someone from Logan), are
there events or, you know, gatherings that they could attend to learn more about your
community or to meet people from Burma?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[54:41]
KLI: Yeah, they could come like when the Eid (the holiday) come – we cook, and then
everyone like around the community come and eat.
DG: Okay. When is Eid?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Next month is the Ramadan –
DA: Uh-huh.
KLI: That we have to fast; and then after Ramadan is the Eid.
DA: After Ramadan?
KLI: Yeah.
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s April 6th – [speaking in Burmese], like the 18th.
DG: Okay, thank you.
KLI: No, it’s June –
DG: [Laughs]
KLI: Sorry [laughs].
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, June 20th or the 18th.
DG: Okay.
CD: And then last question – on the reverse side (or the flip side), are there certain events that
take place in the community (American events, I guess) that you participate in – or
maybe just in general – are there things that you do outside of the home? I know you’re
busy with work and taking care of the family – what are some things that you like to do
outside?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Laughs] [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
[Doorbell rings]
[57:48]
KLI: Like they would like to go other people houses and visit – that’s what they like to do.
DG: Okay; so they like to go to other people’s homes, and they like to visit?
KLI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: They also like to go to Americans [??] houses, but they don’t know how to speak so –
yeah, if they invite, they would like to go.
DG: Okay.
DA: Oh, well we can do that.
CD: That can be arranged.
[Laughter]
DA: She can come visit us.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, they usually stay home because of like problems speaking English; and they don’t
even go to the parent-teacher conferences.
CD: Would they attend school events, or something like that (parent-teacher conference) if
they had someone to translate?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah.
DG: Okay; alright, any other questions? Okay – if you could translate this for me –
DGI: Um-hmm.
DG: We are done with the interview now. We are going to transcribe this interview (we’re
going to write it down), and we can also burn you a CD of what we talked about today.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: This interview that we’ve had today – the recording and the text – will be stored in the
Utah State University Library.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: And we’ll also use this information to put together an exhibit about Burmese Muslims
here, in Logan – and that will be coming up soon –
DA: At the end of the month.
DG: Do we have invitations?
DA: Yes, I do.
CD: We do, and we’d like you to attend – your family and your friends – if you would; we’ll
give you the information.
CDI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: And thank you again very much for allowing us to come and interview you.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It doesn’t cost anything?
DA: No.
DG: No. Can you do the release forms?
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
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DA: May I take some pictures?
DAI: Yeah.
DA: So can I take pictures of you two?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: Thank you.
DG: Now we do have two forms: one form we’d like each of you to sign. This is just a form
giving us permission to use this interview and to, you know, store it like we’ve talked
about.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
DA: Okay, I only have –
[Background discussion between the interviewers.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
[End recording – 62:06]
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Kaw Lay
Present: David Giles, Cami Dilg, Deanna Allred, Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, Khin Mar
Cho (Kaw Lay’s wife)
Place of Interview: Kaw Lay’s home, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 16, 2015
Language(s): Burmese
Translation:
Interviewer: David Giles
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: Deanna Allred
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 25, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Mr. Kaw Lay discusses being born in Burma, and then the
conditions during the war. He talks about his wife and children escaping to a refugee camp in
Thailand, with him following later (after having earned more money to support the trip). He talks
about the journey to the United States, and what it took to adjust and get settled in Logan, Utah.
He and his wife talk about the struggles they’ve had, as well as daily life for their family in the
United States.
Reference: DG = David Giles
DGI = David Giles’ words interpreted by translator
KL = Kaw Lay
KLI = Kaw Lay’s words interpreted by translator
DA = Deanna Allred
DAI = Deanna Allred’s words interpreted by translator
CD = Cami Dilg
CDI = Cami Dilg’s words interpreted by translator
KC = Khin Mar Cho
KC = Khin Mar Cho’s words interpreted by translator
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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
[00:01]
DG: Okay. This is David Giles; we are recording an interview for the “Voices: Refugees in
Cache Valley” project. Also with me we have Cami Dilg and Deanna Allred (I
completely spaced). Today is the 16th of May, and it is about one o’clock in the
afternoon. We also have Har Be Bar, who is the interpreter today, and Kaw Lay, who we
will be interviewing. Is there anything else we need to put on the tag, or is that it? Okay.
Sorry?
CD: Go ahead and ask who else is in the room –
DG: Okay.
CD: And have them be identified.
DG: Okay. Could you do me a favor and just tell us your names?
??: My name is [??]
DG: Okay. Sean[??], would you mind?
KC: My name is Khin Mar Cho, his wife.
DG: Okay.
[Inaudible discussion with folks in the room.]
DG: [??] okay.
DA: How do you spell that?
??: T-H-U-V[??]
DG: Oh, I think you were here yesterday.
??: Yeah.
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DG: Okay; alright.
DA: How do you spell your name?
KC: Khin Mar Cho: K-H-I-N space M-A-R space C-H-O.
DA: C-H--?
KC: C-H-O.
DA: C-H-O? Thank you.
DG: Okay. Now, before we start Kaw Lay, just to make sure on Har Be Bar, it’s easiest if we
just speak one or two sentences at a time, give her time to translate.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: If you would like to speak in English, that’s fine; if you feel more comfortable speaking
in Burmese – that’s fine as well; just whichever you prefer.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He will speak in English – oh, Burmese.
DG: Okay.
KLI: Yeah.
DG: Alright. So my first question: can you tell us your first name and your birth year? And
what languages do you speak?
DGI: [Repeating the questions in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: First name is Kaw and the last name is Lay; he speak Burmese. His birthday is –
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s 1963.
DG: 1963, okay. Now let me see, tell us a little bit about your family – you know, how many
children do you have? And how long have you been married? That kind of thing.
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He don’t remember exactly how long he been married. And then he has five children.
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.] Two girls and three boys.
DG: Okay, thank you. Let me see – can you please describe the ethnic or religious community
that you belong to? So you know, tell us about being a Burmese Muslim.
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[04:33]
KLI: I’m kind of Muslim ethnic group.
DG: Okay, thank you. Now let me see – can you tell us a little bit more about Burma? You
know, how long you lived there, why you left?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He was born in Burma, and then there was civil war going around, so they had to move
around in Burma. So he had to leave Burma because of the war to Thailand camp.
DG: So you went to Thailand first?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
Yeah, Thailand first.
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DG: Okay, so what was that like – having to move around, having to move to Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese between several people.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Well everything was destroyed, so we have to move around. Well he have to, so it’s kind
of not good.
DG: Um-hmm.
KLI: Yeah, that’s what he try to say.
DG: Okay. Let me see – okay. So about how old were you when you had to leave to Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Forty-four[??]
DG: Okay. And do you remember how many kids you had at that time?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[08:23]
KLI: At that time he only have four childrens, and then in the camp she was born.
DG: Wow, okay. What was that like having little kids with you when you needed to leave?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KLI: Yeah, it was the worst time ever, because the whole family cannot go together. At first
his wife and two childrens went there first; and then he followed them.
DG: Wow that sounds scary.
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Did you have to go separately because if immigration restrictions, because of laws?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: First because their family over there in the camp – they went first – and then they support
them to get there. Yeah, he stay in Burma, work for a little bit and then get money, and
then go.
DG: I understand; okay, thank you. What was it like living in a refugee camp? What were
your experiences there?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He don’t have much experience – he get free food, he live with the food because he don’t
work (in the camp there are no jobs).
DG: Um-hmm. So what kind of food did you get?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Rice, beans, salt, oil, chilies.
DG: Wow, so not very much?
KLI: Not very much.
DG: Not very much. Let me see – now what kind of medical care was there in the camp?
What would you do if you got into an accident, or you got sick?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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[13:07]
KLI: In the camp there are clinic, and then if he get sick he will go there. If the health is getting
worse, and like dying, the clinic will support him to go to a Mae Sot hospital (he will get
take care of him); he don’t have to pay for it.
DG: Okay, thank you. What kind of hospital was it?
KLI: It’s a clinic – in the camp? The clinic.
DG: Oh, well you said if they got worse then they’d go to a hospital?
KLI: Uh-huh, like in Mae Sot – in the big city.
DG: Oh, okay; alright. Let me see – now you said there wasn’t any work that you could do in
the camp, no jobs?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: No.
DG: Okay, wow; wow. Okay, now when you were in the camp did you celebrate in holy days
or any holidays?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: There are a lot of people (like Muslim people); so that way he could celebrate the Eid
(they call the Eid). First he went to the mosque and then pray, and then come back and
have fun with families.
DG: Cool. Was there a mosque in the camp?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, they were.
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DG: Okay, wow. What was the mosque like – like what was it made out of? What did it look
like?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s made of wood and bamboo tree.
DG: Okay. Was it specially decorated, or was it just you know, just a house?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[16:12]
KLI: It’s kind of like a house, but it’s a lot bigger because a lot of people go there and kind of
decorated.
DG: Okay, thank you.
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Let me see – now what was it like politically? Like what was your relation – when you
were refugees, what was your relationship with Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: You don’t have a lot of like relationship with Thailand – just live in the camp, and then
their like government help.
DG: Okay, thank you. Did you feel safe in the camps?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s not safe over there; the Burmese people will come and burn them, but he was afraid.
DG: That does sound scary. Thank you. Let me see – so how did you first hear about the
United States’ refugee program, and how did you apply for it?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[19:19]
KLI: There is a group that called –
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: UNHI –
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s called UI – he don’t really know. And then he had to register for to come here (like a
lot of people were).
DG: Okay, thank you. Did you get any help applying?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, the UI group helped with everything, because they don’t know anything. So they
helped.
DG: Okay, thank you. I have a question about the paperwork – was it all in English, or did you
have to fill it out in Burmese?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, it’s in English, but there are translator that helped them.
DG: Wow that sounds like a nightmare.
KLI: [Laughs] Yeah.
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DG: Let me see – so what was it like coming to the U.S.? What was your experience with the
move?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: From the camp he had to go to the city, in Thailand city – he had to like stay there three
days in the church, and then he had to take the airplane (like three to four airplanes); and
he went to New York, and from New York to here.
DG: Wow.
KLI: Yeah.
DG: Wow.
KLI: It’s a long way.
DG: Um-hmm. Kaw Lay’s wife has just sat down with us. Let me see – now you said when
you went to the camp you had to go – it was your wife and a couple of children, and then
you came afterwards? Did you all go at the same time to the United States, or did you
have to go twice like that?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[22:54]
KLI: All together.
DG: All together?
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. Let me see – so when you first got to the United States, what was it like for those
first couple months? Did anyone help you out, or were you just on your own?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He get a little bit help with the renting and stuff, but there is a problem with his son
broken leg; yeah.
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DG: Um-hmm. So who helped you with the rent?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese among several folks present.]
KLI: There is a group (IRC) help pay the rent for six months.
DG: Oh, wow. That might have been the – Cache Valley group? We’ll look it up –
[Discussion in Burmese.]
You mentioned there was a problem when your son broke his leg – what happened then?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese among several folks present.]
KCI: They get separated – he is in the hotel, and then she is in the hospital with the broken leg
child; and then there is no phone, no number that to call. And then they don’t know how
to contact each other.
DG: Wow. And you’re saying this is Kaw Lay and his wife (for the recording)?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay, wow; sounds very scary. Let me see – now did the hospital charge you for that?
How did you get help paying for that (the broken leg)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The IRC helped them to pay for it.
DG: Okay; alright, thank you. Let me see, next question – so how long have you guys been
living here, in Logan?
[27:44]
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: Like five to six year.
DG: Okay, let me see – what is life like here? What do you do (what kind of work do you do)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: He work in Miller, and then he is saying that he don’t get food stamps now – so with his
money he buy food and stuff, and live like that.
DG: What specifically do you do at Miller (like what’s your job)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He had to do the inside of the cow’s stomach –
DG: Oh, goodness.
KLI: [Laughs] Yeah.
DG: Khin Mar Cho (is that how you?) –
KC: Khin Mar Cho.
DG: Khin Mar Cho – what do you do for work here, or do you work?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She sew, she cook – she sew for other people like – she sew for my clothes too, and then
I pay for it.
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DG: Oh cool; awesome, thank you. Let me see – do you feel included in the Logan
community? Do you feel a part of the group here?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, he feel like it.
DG: Good, good. Let me see – now tell us a little bit about your home here: like how is it like
the house you had back in Burma, and how is it different?
[31:13]
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: Thailand – the camp houses are like sometime missing a wall –
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: Made with the bamboo trees.
DG: Um-hmm?
KL: And then here it’s like completely a lot better; yeah.
DG: Um-hmm; okay, thank you. Let me see – oh, have you had any problems with your
landlord, or have they been nice and helpful?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: The best landlord ever, he said, because whenever he need something he call it, and then
that person come.
DG: Okay, so the landlord is helpful then?
KLI: Yeah, it’s very helpful.
DG: Okay. Good, good; we’ve heard some stories where that wasn’t the case.
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KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: If you could translate that.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: The others are not that helpful. Yeah.
DG: Okay; wow, it sounds like you got lucky [laughs].
DGI: Um-hmm. [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.] Very, very.
DG: Um-hmm. Now let me see – so what would you like people in Logan to know about you
and your family?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[34:44]
KLI: If they’re interested in them, they can come and ask about it; yeah [laughs].
DG: Okay. Alright, let me see – now if you could, would you like to go back to Burma?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He would like to go back because he have like a lot of friends. And then if he goes
somewhere else (like in the jungle) he is happy to live in there, because he feel like it’s
his place – and here he don’t feel like it’s own place. And then his child would not go
back because they live here, they feel like it’s their place. So yeah, he would like to go
back.
DG: Okay. I’m sorry – what was your name again?
KC: Khin Mar Cho.
DG: Khin Mar Cho – would you like to go back?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She doesn’t like to go back because there are still problems and then she doesn’t want to
like get problem anymore – she just want to get free.
DG: Um-hmm.
KCI: Yeah.
DG: Okay. Now let me see – I’d like to go back and ask about the move to the United States.
Is there anything that you think that people could do to make that move easier, to make
that transition?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[38:25]
KLI: He want to get like easiest way that he could, if he can – but he had to go around because
– [speaking in Burmese to interviewee]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s the traveling stuff, so –
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, he cannot just go straight –
DG: Are you talking about he would have liked to have flown into Salt Lake –
KLI: Uh-huh.
DG: Instead of going to New York and back?
KLI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay. Okay now let me see – now just a couple more questions. So what are you most
proud of?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He is very proud that he could come here, and then like his childrens can go to school
free. Yeah.
DG: Good. Now Khin Mar Cho – what are you most proud of?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Laughter]
KCI: She said nothing because she can’t speak English until now.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she wants to like speak English and then get better health.
DG: Get better health?
KCI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. Are you having medical problems right now?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese – crying.]
KCI: Yeah, she is having with medical; she want to have medical care.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, they don’t help.
DG: They don’t help?
KCI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. I’m not sure –
DA: Where does she go to get medical help?
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KCI: She just go to the hospital, but she has insurance in the JBS, but the JBS didn’t help them
much; so, yeah.
[41:27]
DA: For her specific problem?
KCI: Um-hmm.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The thing is that they could pay, but they did not pay. And then there is like a lot of
paperworks come, and then she don’t know how to read and stuff.
DG: Would you like us to see if we can help with that?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she would like you to.
DG: Okay, alright. I don’t know how much we can do, but I’ll ask and see if there is someone
who can help.
DA: It sounds like there’s just a translation problem. Is it more than just a translation problem?
DG: Yeah, it sounds like a problem with the insurance.
KCI: Yeah, with the insurance – and then she don’t get the medical care from the government.
DA: Okay.
DG: If you could tell her we will try and help, but –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KCI: There is still a problem with his son leg, and that he had to go every year and then he
cannot go because of the medical problem that nobody problem.
DG: Okay. Can you tell her we’ll talk to some people and see if there is something we can do
– if there is some way we can help.
DGI: [Repeating the question.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She doesn’t want any food stamps or stuff, she just want the medical care.
DA: She doesn’t the what?
KCI: The food stamps.
DA: Yes, um-hmm.
DG: Yeah, we’ll try to help. I don’t know much about –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DG: Okay, we’ll see what we can do.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: Now just a couple more questions. What are your dreams for yourself and for your
children? We’ve already talked about medical care –
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She wants her youngest daughter to be a doctor – she really wants –
DG: Um-hmm.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Laughter]
DA: Is that you?
??: Yeah.
DG: Yeah, that would be very good.
DA: That would be wonderful.
DG: Now Kaw Lay, what are your dreams – for yourself and for your children?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[45:44]
KLI: He don’t have a dream for himself, but for his daughter and son – he don’t to be like him
(like working hard), he just want like their lives to get better and better. That’s his dream.
DG: Okay. Now let me see – is there anything else (this question is for both of you) – is there
anything else you’d like to talk about that we haven’t asked?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Nothing.
DG: Okay. Now those are all the questions that I have, but do either of you have questions?
DA: I have some questions. If there were English classes available, do you have transportation
to get there? Do you know if there are English classes?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: There is people that come her house and like teach her English, but she don’t get it
because of problem with the brain, I don’t know.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she don’t learn anything.
DG: I’m sorry –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: When they teach she get at first, and then later she forgot all.
DG: That’s kind of how it is for us too, actually [laughs]. Like in the classes that we’re taking
for school, we need to learn things over and over. So, yeah.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
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DG: Okay, any other questions.
DA: I do have a question: when you were in the hospital with your son right after you got
here, and you were at home – how did you find each other? How did you get back
together your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: They take a weeks, then the IRC come and then they find a way –
DA: To get them all back together?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: They were separated for weeks?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: Because they couldn’t get back together?
KCI: Um-hmm. That’s crazy [laughs].
DA: That is crazy.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, the IRC take –
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The IRC took them to the hospital.
DA: Okay.
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, from hotel they rent and then once he got the home, and then they took him to the
hospital.
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DA: Um-hmm; okay.
[49:47]
DG: Okay, wow.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: They can only drink water because they couldn’t eat the American food.
DA: I’m sure; I’m sure it was very different – yeah.
DG: And hospital food isn’t good anyways.
DA: Yeah [laughs].
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Is there any American food you like now?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Like pizza.
[Laughter]
DA: Yeah, pizza [laughing].
DG: Okay. Now Cami, do you have a question?
CD: Were you finished?
DA: I’m done, thank you.
CD: Um-hmm. I guess to follow up with the food question, where do you purchase your food?
Do you do that here in the valley, or do you travel somewhere to get the food that you do
eat?
CDI: Now?
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CD: Um-hmm.
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, from Salt Lake – they get from Salt Lake.
DG: Wow.
CD: How often do you make the trip down there?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Once a month.
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: There is not a lot of Asians food in here, so they have to go to Salt Lake and once a
month buy a lot of food.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: Um-hmm.
[52:05]
CD: How do you get down there? Do you go with a family? Do you drive? Do you take public
transportation?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: They go as a family because he don’t know how to drive, so he had to take his older son.
DG: Is his son [??]
KLI: Yeah [??]
DA: [??]
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KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay.
CD: What is the traditional role of male or female, or father – or say husband and wife – in
your culture?
CDI: What is the traditional –
CD: The traditional role – does the wife play certain roles, the husband play certain roles?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: There is no traditional role, specifically, that they do; they just go to work, she just stay
home; that’s it every day.
DG: Okay.
CD: I’ve got one or two more questions.
DG: Okay, sorry [laughs].
CD: If someone wanted to learn more about your community (so someone from Logan), are
there events or, you know, gatherings that they could attend to learn more about your
community or to meet people from Burma?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[54:41]
KLI: Yeah, they could come like when the Eid (the holiday) come – we cook, and then
everyone like around the community come and eat.
DG: Okay. When is Eid?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Next month is the Ramadan –
DA: Uh-huh.
KLI: That we have to fast; and then after Ramadan is the Eid.
DA: After Ramadan?
KLI: Yeah.
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s April 6th – [speaking in Burmese], like the 18th.
DG: Okay, thank you.
KLI: No, it’s June –
DG: [Laughs]
KLI: Sorry [laughs].
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, June 20th or the 18th.
DG: Okay.
CD: And then last question – on the reverse side (or the flip side), are there certain events that
take place in the community (American events, I guess) that you participate in – or
maybe just in general – are there things that you do outside of the home? I know you’re
busy with work and taking care of the family – what are some things that you like to do
outside?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Laughs] [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
[Doorbell rings]
[57:48]
KLI: Like they would like to go other people houses and visit – that’s what they like to do.
DG: Okay; so they like to go to other people’s homes, and they like to visit?
KLI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: They also like to go to Americans [??] houses, but they don’t know how to speak so –
yeah, if they invite, they would like to go.
DG: Okay.
DA: Oh, well we can do that.
CD: That can be arranged.
[Laughter]
DA: She can come visit us.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, they usually stay home because of like problems speaking English; and they don’t
even go to the parent-teacher conferences.
CD: Would they attend school events, or something like that (parent-teacher conference) if
they had someone to translate?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah.
DG: Okay; alright, any other questions? Okay – if you could translate this for me –
DGI: Um-hmm.
DG: We are done with the interview now. We are going to transcribe this interview (we’re
going to write it down), and we can also burn you a CD of what we talked about today.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: This interview that we’ve had today – the recording and the text – will be stored in the
Utah State University Library.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: And we’ll also use this information to put together an exhibit about Burmese Muslims
here, in Logan – and that will be coming up soon –
DA: At the end of the month.
DG: Do we have invitations?
DA: Yes, I do.
CD: We do, and we’d like you to attend – your family and your friends – if you would; we’ll
give you the information.
CDI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: And thank you again very much for allowing us to come and interview you.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It doesn’t cost anything?
DA: No.
DG: No. Can you do the release forms?
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
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DA: May I take some pictures?
DAI: Yeah.
DA: So can I take pictures of you two?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: Thank you.
DG: Now we do have two forms: one form we’d like each of you to sign. This is just a form
giving us permission to use this interview and to, you know, store it like we’ve talked
about.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
DA: Okay, I only have –
[Background discussion between the interviewers.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
[End recording – 62:06]
Source
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 64
Date
2015-05-16
Contributor
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/xv67614
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Type
Identifier
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/109
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