Karen State, Burma, Refugee camp, Immigration, Family, Languages, School]]> Kyaw Eh]]> Van de Water, 1988]]> N/A]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Gross, Susan]]> oral histories (document genre);]]> audio/mp3]]> 44620060 Bytes]]> eng]]> Sound;]]> Karen, Burma, Thailand]]> Karen State, Burma, Refugee camp, Immigration, Family, Languages, School]]> Valley
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Kyaw Eh
Present: Meagan Gill, Wes Van de Water, Bethany Hanks, Kyaw Eh
Place of Interview: Kyaw Eh’s home, Hyrum, Utah
Date of Interview: May 16, 2015
Language(s): English
Translation:
Interviewer: Meagan Gill
Interpreter: None
Recordist: Bethany Hanks
Photographer: Wes Van de Water
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. Kyaw Eh describes his home village and family in Burma,
and what his childhood was like growing up and working on a rice paddy farm. He talks about
the civil war in Burma, and the inequalities and suffering the Karen people were put through by
the Burmese military. He discusses life in the United States, and his religious (Buddhist) views
on life, as well as his dreams of being able to help orphaned Burmese children attain health care
and education one day in the future.
Reference: MG = Meagan Gill
KE = Kyaw Eh
BH = Bethany Hanks
WV = Wes Van de Water
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.
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TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
[00:01]
MG: Today is May 16th, 2015. This is Meagan Gill, I am with Wes Van de Water and Bethany
Hanks; we’re students at Utah State University, and we are working on a project called
“Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” I am interviewing Kyaw Eh?
KE: Yes.
MG: At his home in Hyrum, Utah. Thanks for letting us interview you. My first question is can
you state your full name and your birth year for me?
KE: My name is Kyaw; my birthday is August 15th, 1979.
MG: Thanks. And what languages do you speak.
KE: My home language is Karen (K-A-R-E-N) – Karen; but I can speak four languages.
MG: What other languages?
KE: Burmese, Thai and English (not really well).
MG: Tell me about your family.
KE: My family: I have two sister, and one brother – including me we have four in my – I have
my mom and she live in [??], but my dad (since 1995) because he disappear (because we
have our Karen Revolution to fight the Burmese government). They’re fighting since that
year – he die or – we don’t anything about it; so he lost. There are a lot of people (Karen
soldier) die in the war – we have a civil war. My dad – he die, or we don’t know
anything; we don’t have any information – nobody can tell us if he is still alive or no. But
we don’t know [??].
MG: There is no program or way to find out if someone has died or not?
KE: No, no, no because it is really difficult because in the Karen state we live in the jungle in
a mountain; we don’t have any electricity, we don’t have any internet, we don’t have any
phone to contact each other. It’s really hard to find each other if somebody go away (for
example). We have no way to meet each other again, I think.
MG: Can you describe the ethnic or religious community you belong to (if any)?
KE: I was born in Karen state in Burma – I am Karen ethnic group. My religion is Buddhist,
Buddha, Buddhism.
[03:41]
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MG: Tell me about the place where you were born.
KE: I was born – about what? The place, what – describe?
MG: Yeah.
KE: The place where I was born is a – how is it called – it’s regional, like kind of the
countryside (it’s not in a city). We had like a paddy farm: we grow the paddy: rice (paddy
farm). We had a farm and we had animal like a cow, buffalo (something like that). We
live just natural in the jungle or something like that; it’s not in a city. We don’t have any
electric in our village.
MG: How long did you live there?
KE: Since I was born until – I grew up there, but I think because I moved to the refugee camp
I lived there eight year. I moved from my place to the refugee camp since 1999 (around
that), since I was born.
MG: Okay. And why did you leave?
KE: Because there are a lot of problem: we had a problem with Burmese soldier troop – when
they come to our village they just give us whatever they want: torture us, and they just
give us the (how’s it called?) – the bullet, the big – like they fire the gun. We have to
carry, we have to follow them in the jungle wherever they go. We have to carry the heavy
thing, the heavy bullets (something like that). For example, if we cannot carry it, they do
whatever they want: even they can kill us, something like that. That’s why – especially
for the men and the boy, for the men and the boy; but the woman is better than the man to
live there. Mostly they just capture the men or the boy – have to follow them.
MG: What all did they make the boys and men do?
[06:23]
KE: Excuse me?
MG: What kinds of things did they make the boys and men do?
KE: That’s what I told you – we have to carry the bullet or the gun with them, their food –
because over there we don’t have any (how does it call it), the road, the car or the
motorcycles go the road – we don’t have of the car road. We have to walk by our foot,
our feet. We have to walk and go to the jungle because the Burmese troop – they go fight
the ethnic group; they go to fight the ethnic group, that’s why they call us go with them.
If they die, we die there; kind of like they are scary enemy – they just keep us the cover
for them. That’s why we are scary or afraid to save our life – to save my life, that’s why I
escape from my village and come to the refugee camp: to save.
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MG: Okay. Where did you relocate to first?
KE: Pardon me?
MG: Where did you go – where was the first camp that you went to?
KE: Oh, yes – Mae La camp is where I live. Mae La camp we called – Mae La camp is on the
Thai/Burma border. That’s went into in Thailand – is the border we have the refugee
camps there. It is like the United Nation – they have the food, they give the clothes for
the education, for the house; everything they provide the refugees there. There I study the
camp a year – I go to school there.
MG: What was it like there, from day to day? What kinds of things did you do?
KE: We just go to school when I live there; we don’t have nothing to do because we cannot go
outside the camp.
MG: Um-hmm?
KE: The Thai military – they control – the Thai authority, they don’t want the refugees go
outside, spread anywhere (something like that). We have to stay at only in the camp:
morning, go to school; after school, go home. We play: we have the playgrounds and play
soccer, visit each other in the camps – just like kind of in a jail. I can say in a jail, like in
a jail: we cannot go anywhere; just I would visit a friend in the camp.
[09:20]
MG: Can you tell me more about the food and any medical care you received in the camp?
KE: The medical care?
MG: Um-hmm.
KE: I would say really good; pretty good. We have like a hospital: a medical care center; we
have everything like that – it’s like other countries, and better than in Burma (a lot better
than in Burma), but we don’t have to pay nothing. We go whenever we sick we go to the
hospital, we have medicine or something, they check everything – it’s for free. We don’t
have to pay nothing.
MG: Did you celebrate any holy days or holidays in camp?
KE: Oh, yes. Our Karen holidays, kind of like our Karen New Year, and then our Karen [??]
Thai ceremony (we call it) we celebrate like a traditional celebrate every year in August.
MG: Okay. Did you get any special materials to use for the holidays?
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KE: Oh no, we don’t have – no, we don’t have any specials give to [??]; no, nothing.
MG: Were you able to make any like special food?
KE: In celebrate?
MG: For celebration?
KE: For celebration?
MG: Um-hmm.
KE: We used to have like our Karen food and Karen New Year; yeah, we have just – we call
(how do we call it) – it’s almost the same Thanksgiving in America (but we don’t have
any turkey over there) [laughs] – it’s not turkey, but other food we ate.
MG: Okay. What was it like working a paddy farm?
KE: Paddy farm?
MG: Um-hmm.
KE: You have not seen – never seen paddy farm? No?
MG: A few pictures, that’s it.
KE: [Laughs] Alright, so how do you want to know the paddy farm?
MG: Just day to day activities?
KE: Oh, because you’ve seen the rainy season we grow the paddy since the seed, the rice (the
paddy) seed we grow, and (how is it called) – we put the nursery (nursery, right?). We
put the nursery and they grow for about one (how is it called?) – feet?
MG: Um-hmm?
KE: One feet, two feet, right?
MG: Yeah.
KE: Oh yeah, for about one and a half feet we have to take it off and transplant to the ground,
to the paddy ground. We have to plow – you know the plows?
MG: Um-hmm.
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KE: With a cow – but right now they did lots with a machine. We plow the field – before,
when I was young, we don’t have any machine: we have the cow or buffalo with a (how
is it called – I don’t know how it’s called it) – we plowed the field to make the ground
soft, we can plant the paddy plants in the field. And then for about two or three months (I
think) it’s going to make a kind of flower and for about five months we can harvest. And
then we can carry in our house or in paddy place.
[13:38]
MG: What was the political climate towards refugees in the camp?
KE: Political climate?
MG: Um-hmm.
KE: I’m not sure regarding the political – I don’t have any idea of things regarding the
political climate; I don’t know anything about it.
MG: Did you feel safe in the camp?
KE: It is more safer than in Burma.
MG: Um-hmm.
KE: It’s not like America; America more safer, better than the camp; a lot better than in the
camp. But in the camps, better than in Burma (in Karen state) – it’s really bad, and the
camps a little better. In America is a lot better.
MG: How did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
KE: When I live in the camp, because we have (how does it call?) – we have a Karen leader
(refugees leader) over there: they told us in 2006 or [200]7, around that. They have a ten
country who were receive the refugee [??] to their country: kind of like Norway,
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Poland, something like that, and the U.S. They have ten
country – you can choose which country you want to go. Some of my friend (when I live
there, we go to school the same: the same school, the same class) I have a lot of friend
there – right now we are spread around the world. Some friend are interest in Norway,
some other friend they go to Australia; but I choose the my choice: U.S. That’s why I
come to here; that’s why I came here.
MG: What made you choose the U.S.?
[16:01]
KE: I like because U.S. speak English. If I go to Norway, I have to learn another language
again, and English again – that’s why I have to learn many language; that’s what I
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thought. And if I come to U.S., I have to learn just only one language: English; and then
the U.S., that was my idea was better than the other country: the education, for
everything. But I never been the other country, but I just learn it in a newspaper or in a
magazine; I just read about it.
MG: Okay. How did you apply for the program?
KE: Because we have to go to – because they have a (how does it call it?) the place to enroll,
to enroll who want to go which country, you can come here or our refugee leader – they
open like the United Nation or the UNHCR – the leader, they go to the refugee camps,
they announce every refugee people who want to go to this country, this country. They
have a opportunity lie there, they have a chance lie there, they have a different, like (how
does it call it?) different chance, different opportunity, different rights. Each country is
not the same; they let us know about this.
And then I want to come to U.S., that’s why I enrolled – I put my name I will go to U.S.,
that’s why they take my names and my U.N. number or evidence. For about three or five
months they put on a boat – we have to go and check our name are there; if my name is
there I have to go, if I don’t have my name there, “What happened?” Or, “What have
problem? I didn’t see my name there?” You can go to the refugee camp leader office, you
can ask your name or what the problem – they reject, or what the reason they reject
(something like that)? You can ask.
MG: Who helped you apply?
[18:45]
KE: Because our leader over there – our leader in the camp, they help us.
MG: Okay. When did you and where did you first arrive when you came to the U.S.?
KE: Salt Lake City, Utah (2007), I think it was August 8th (around that). To this day I never
moved to other state; since I arrive here I just stay here.
MG: What were the first months like?
KE: It was really shock for me; it was different, very different from my country. But I’m
happy, the other ways I’m happy also because I have seen the different thing: different
culture, different food – everything is different from my country.
MG: What was the biggest shock?
KE: The biggest shock was when snow time – when the snow was coming [laughs]; it was
really, really shock for me.
MG: Um-hmm?
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KE: Because when I live there since whole my life over there, I never seen snow. I just see in
a video or movie like that, but I didn’t know how does it look like – that’s why it was
very shock for the snow.
MG: Have you tried skiing?
KE: No [laughs], never.
MG: Okay. Did you receive any help from U.S. or religious organizations?
KE: Here?
MG: Yes.
KE: Yes, what about can I say for the food stamp, Medicaid (something like that) from the
U.S. government; it was really good for me. Yes.
MG: Okay. Do you have any suggestions for improvements for those programs?
[21:09]
KE: Which program?
MG: The food stamp, or Medicaid – do you see anything that could be changed with that? Or
do you think it worked okay?
KE: It work okay; yeah, it’s okay for me but I’m not sure of other people. I think for me it is
okay.
MG: Let’s see – and how long have you lived here, in Cache Valley?
KE: Since 2008 until now.
MG: What do you do here?
KE: I just work at JBS Swift Company beef plant here.
MG: What’s it like for you and your family to live here, in Hyrum (or Cache Valley)?
KE: I like here because it is better than Salt Lake (for me), for my personality I think – it is
more safety here. And then there is no crowded car, there is not a lot of the car – it is
really easy to go to the downtown Logan, we can visit easily. I like – it is the same is
similar like my country here, like with a cow and a lot of horse and the buffalo (or
something like that) in the field – like my country with the paddy field. That’s why I like
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it, and the mountains and the stream with the lake; that’s what I’m growing in my
country, it’s similar here so I like it here.
MG: Okay. Do you feel included in the Logan community?
KE: Included?
MG: Um-hmm?
KE: I’m not clear how to say “included?”
MG: Do you feel like you’re a part of the community, or do you feel a little disconnected from
everyone else?
KE: Oh no, is yeah, included in that community, yeah; I feel it’s good, really good. It’s a
family with the people here in Cache County, many people. And a lot of people (when I
first arrived here) they help me a lot to go to store, to go to the shopping mall (something
like that). And from here they have a – at first when I met her, Katie (do you know
Katie?) – English language singer – they teach the English language for the refugees is
really good here. Yeah, they help me a lot.
[24:15]
MG: Do you think that there is anything else that the community can do to help refugees?
KE: Oh I think they still help the refugees until now, but do you know Nelda – I’m not sure
what’s the organization she had up there – but Nelda, she help refugees a lot to apply
food stamp, to apply to Medicaid, to read the letter from the school, read the letter from
the DWS for the refugees. Because most refugee, they don’t know how to read and write
in the letter, they have a problem: Nelda help them a lot. Yeah, it’s good.
MG: Tell me a little bit about how your home looked like in your home country, and the
difference with your home now.
KE: Oh yes, it’s a lot different because in my country – my house in my country, we just built
with the wood, the roof with the leaf (you know the leaf, the tree leaf, the big leaf) – we
just made the roof of our house. We don’t have any like the wall close every side like
this; we have to like – we can open the wind come through, come and go through our
house. And it was a lot of different because we live style different, completely different
from here because here is we have snow, we have to turn on the heat; in the summer time
we have to turn on the air condition – but over there no, we don’t have nothing: no
electricity, nothing, no internet, no phone, no TV.
MG: Did it get really hot there?
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KE: Because we used to grow up there, it’s not really hot for us – it’s not really hot for me
because we used to grow up there. If the people from the other country go there it is very,
very difficult, very hard for them I think to live there; everything is different.
MG: What would you like people in Logan to know about you and your family?
[27:21]
KE: I don’t know how to call it – to make the people in Logan to know my family?
MG: Yeah, is there anything you would like to let them know about your family and you, or
your ethnic group?
KE: [Laughs] I don’t know because I don’t know how to answer it.
MG: Would you like to go back to your country?
KE: Yes, maybe one day; I have my dream. I still waiting the politic to change over there, the
government change. If they change from communist to democracy, maybe one day I
would go back there.
MG: To live or just to visit?
KE: To live [laughs].
MG: What are you most proud of?
KE: Here or there?
MG: Here, or there – yeah?
KE: Proud of – I don’t know what I’m proud? I’m proud that I am Karen ethnic group (Karen
people), that I came here, I have learned English and the other language (even I can speak
some Spanish right now because in our company they speak only Spanish); that is why I
am very happy I learn their other language and I can speak four language right now –
that’s why I’m proud of myself.
MG: Okay. What are your dreams for the future – for yourself or your children?
KE: Okay, so in the future my dreams are maybe one day (that I told you) I would like to go
back to my country (if the country change everything). I would like to help the people
who need help (like orphan children) – do you know what I am saying “orphan” – that is
the people they don’t have parents.
MG: Right.
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KE: I would like to help them if I have money, if I have my business or my own jobs; if I have
incomes, a lot of income, maybe one day I would go back and help them for the
education for the health to get the hospital or the clinic for them, or the school for them.
Because it is really hard – there are many people over there in our Karen state (our Karen
people) they don’t have receive any education, any health; it’s really hard over there.
Because in our place there are many malarias disease – do you know that malaria? Yeah.
There are many people die every years over there because we don’t have not enough the
medicine, we don’t have equipment to check the disease, to check up everything for the
health – that’s why they have to give their lives a lot every years over there.
[31:15]
MG: Would you like to own your own business some day?
KE: I think, yeah; I think so [laughs], yes.
MG: What kind of business.
KE: Just for my dream, yeah; because I don’t have any – I don’t have my graduate like a high
education – I cannot do the business, like the big business. I just that I can do just only
the agriculture and poultry – do you know poultry?
MG: Chickens.
KE: Chicken – oh, yeah poultry like the chicken, or what about the pig farm to grow the
chicken, pig, goat, cow or something like that, right? With the agriculture – plant the
food, the vegetable, the fruit in our place; that’s why I like to work with like that.
MG: Have you ever thought about going back to school?
KE: Yes, because I don’t have a opportunity, I don’t have a chance right now because I
borrow my house here, I have to go to work. If I go to school, who is going to pay for my
payments here, right? It’s really hard to live here. I would like to go to school to get a
degree or something like that, but it’s really hard for me here. It’s a balance make it
which way I can do, that’s why I choose the – I have to work to live here.
MG: Okay. You said you’re Buddhist – has your religious practices changed at all since you
came to the U.S.?
KE: Changed, like what?
MG: Is there any like changes you’ve had to make practice wise? Is it hard to be that here, in
Cache Valley?
KE: No, that’s not hard for me, but it depends on the people. Some of the people, if they like
religious, if they don’t have their temple or monastery (we call it monastery in the
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Buddhist), in the Christian they call it the church – it is really hard for them to live
because they love their religion, right? It is for me: I love my religion also, because it is
always in my mind. And Buddhists, they just teach the people if you are the human, you
are the human: if you do the good thing, you will get the good thing; if you do the bad
thing, you will get the bad thing. In America I like, I really like – that’s why I’m [??]: if
you broke the law, you have to go to jail, right? Your mother, your father, your brother
cannot help you; nobody can help you – even the God cannot help you. That’s why my
religion said if you do the bad thing, you will receive the bad; if you do the good thing,
you will receive the good. That’s why I live here, it is easy for me – it’s not really hard.
I can communicate with every people, every religion. That is why we are the human
being. We have to love each other. We need to help each other. If we see the people who
[??], we have to help that people: even the black, yellow, white, or whatever. We don’t
have any discrimination – it’s not good; we need to help each other. That’s why I’m here,
I like America.
[35:28]
MG: Is there a monastery here, in Cache Valley?
KE: No, in Salt Lake City: Thai monastery is over there.
MG: Do you get to go down there?
KE: I’ve never been there. I live here almost eight year, I never been there. Just only in my
mind – if I think the good thing, if I do the good thing, if I speak the good thing, I am the
good people. If I do the bad thing (like to do whatever the people don’t like) – even I go
to the monastery or the church, right – every week you go to the church, you go to the
monastery – if your mind is no good, you are not good people. You go to the church, you
pray, you go the other where you do the bad thing – that is not fair. I live in my house, I
just pray in my house for my family, for the people around all the world. That’s why I
believe. I never been to the monastery; never.
MG: Would you like to go there some time?
KE: Some time, yes – because we are different language; we don’t know how do they speak,
how do they pray, right? [Laughs] If they pray, we don’t want to stand like something is
not fair for me, it is not good for me. But for the religion, they pray every religion they
pray for the good people for around the world: they ask them to do the good thing, right?
But if I go to Thai monastery, the monks (the Thai monks) – they pray in a Thai
language; if I don’t understand, how can I feel the good thing, right? It’s really good here,
but that’s what I’m saying; I don’t understand they pray, because it in Thai language. I
know they are Buddhist, I am Buddhist – I respect them, I like them, but I never been
there. I don’t understand how they pray in their language; it’s different with my language.
Yeah, so something like that.
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MG: Okay. I think I’m done with my questions. Is it okay if they ask you questions if they
have any?
KE: Sure, sure.
MG: You look like you have a question.
[38:17]
WV: I’m just trying to think. I guess what I would ask is, you know, based on just your
experience and what you’ve been through (both in Burma and Thailand and here), is
there anything that you wish you could help other people outside of your community
understand? Does that make sense? Is there something that you would like if you could,
you know, tell other strangers like us (who maybe don’t know), is there anything that you
would like us to understand?
KE: To help the Karen people?
WV: Either way: here or over there?
KE: Oh okay, yes; I have a lot of things to let you know. I am very happy today to visit with
you, because you are from the university (US University), maybe you have a lot of
experience, you have a lot of education (high education) – I think you can help my people
a lot (more than me). Because maybe one day that I am talking about for awhile when I
go back there I would like to connect with you. And maybe one day if you go to
Thailand, go to visit or go do whatever, or go to work over there I just want to connect
with you and to help our people over there to build a school, to build a clinic: just only
two things that I’m really need.
And when I live here, in Cache County (Cache Valley), I just want to let you know
because our refugee from Burma (our Karen refugees here), we are almost 200 people
(before there were over 200, but right now they moved the other state some). And we
have a lot of children here that go to school; sometime they have a difficulty life here:
their mom and dad cannot speak any English because their mom or their dad go to work.
And that what I am saying sometime they have from the school, they have school
conference, parent conference (or whatever, something like that), or the other things is
really hard for them sometime.
That’s why from the university can help them some way (like to read the letter, if they
have time to apply for Medicaid, to apply for food stamp), because they have a better
chance. In U.S. I know we have equality rights – every people, we have equality right –
because our refugee don’t know anything (mostly) they don’t know anything about it,
how to apply that: where we have to go to apply for this; that’s why they need to know. I
say, “If you have some day you want to go to do this, you can go this building or that
department,” or if you can like a direction for them it will be better. For example, if you
print the paper like this – if you lose your social security card you can go apply this place;
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if you need driver license you can go apply this department, this place – something like
that. You can contact if you want to do whatever (how can I say?).
But we have a lot of opportunity here, for the people. If you want to go to school:
agriculture school or nursing school – mostly they don’t know anything about it, which
program better (which one is better). If you mostly here we have high school student,
they already graduate and they will continue their higher education (go to college) –
mostly they don’t how to apply for the scholarship, the grant or something to go for their
school. If you can have the children like that will be better for them.
[43:39]
BH: I have a question –
KE: Yes?
BH: So I know right now we’re downstairs, but upstairs I saw there’s a lot of stuff on a wall –
KE: Uh-huh?
BH: Of like a flag –
KE: Uh-huh?
BH: And I saw a picture that I think –
KE: Me.
BH: Is of you – is it of you in a uniform?
KE: The soldier uniform?
BH: The soldier?
KE: Oh no, that’s my uncle.
BH: That’s your uncle?
KE: Yes, that’s not me [laughs].
BH: So I guess I’m just curious about that photo?
KE: For what?
BH: Is your uncle here? Is he in –
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KE: No, he’s in Burma.
BH: In Burma?
KE: Yes. He is not here. I just respect him, because right now he is a soldier.
BH: Um-hmm?
KE: Karen soldier – fight for democracy, fight for our Karen to have a equality rights. He
fight for everybody to have equality chance, equality rights, to have like a democracy, to
get democracy in Burma. He doesn’t want to come here; he told me that he will die there
– he will fight for freedom, for the equality rights. That’s why I brang his picture here
and just put it and remember him. I miss him. He’s a really good because he suggests me
always whenever I call him, he suggests me, “When you go there you have to do the
good thing, you have to love your friend, you have to help your friend. If you have some
that are like education, or if you have experience better than your friend, you need to help
your friend who need help.” That’s about him.
BH: Thank you.
KE: You are welcome. Anything else?
[45:56]
MG: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us that we haven’t asked you.
KE: No, [laughs] I have no idea. If you have a question, I can answer you; if you have a
question.
MG: I think we’re good; thank you.
KE: You are welcome.
MG: For meeting with us.
KE: Yes.
WV: Thank you.
BH: Thank you.
KE: I’m also a pleasure, I’m very happy to be able to converse with you.
MG: Okay.
[End recording – 46:28]]]> Kyaw Eh]]> Van de Water, 1988]]> N/A]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Gross, Susan]]> transcripts;]]> application/pdf]]> 158736 Bytes]]> eng]]> Text;]]> Karen, Burma, Thailand]]> Karen State, Burma, Refugee camp, Immigration, Family, Languages, School, Citizenship test.]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Gill, Meagan]]> oral histories (document genre);]]> audio/mp3]]> 38288284 Bytes]]> eng; kar]]> Sound;]]> Karen, Burma, Thailand]]> Karen State, Burma, Refugee camp, Immigration, Family, Languages, School, Citizenship test.]]> Page
1
CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee: Aye Win
Present: Aye Win, Meagan Gill, Chit Moe, Wes Van de Water, Bethany
Hanks
Place of Interview: Aye Win’s home in Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 19, 2015
Language(s): Karen; English
Translation:
Interviewer: Meagan Gill
Interpreter: Chit Moe
Recordist: Bethany Hanks
Photographer: Wes Van de Water
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-
18RL broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic
microphone
Transcription Equipment:
Transcribed by: Meagan Gill, May 25, 2015
Transcript Proofed by: Meagan, May 26, 2015
Brief Description of Contents: Aye Win describes her life in a refugee camp and in
Burma before she came to the United States. She explains what brought her to the
Thailand refugee camp and the difference between her homeland and her home here in
the United States. Aye Win also talks about her family, English classes, holidays in the
camp and out of the camp, and keeping in contact with her friends from the refugee
camp.
Reference: MG = Meagan Gill
MGI = Meagan Gill interpreted by translator
AW = Aye Win
AWI = Aye Win interpreted by translator
WV = Wes Van de Water
WVI = Wes Van de Water interpreted by translator
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BH = Bethany Hanks
BHI = Bethany Hanks interpreted by translator
NOTE: Interjections during pauses or transitions in dialogue such as “uh” and false
starts and stops in conversations are not included in transcribed. All additions to
transcript are noted with brackets.
TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
[00:01]
MG: Today is May 19, 2015. Its 1:07. My name is Meagan I am here with Bethany
Hanks, doing uh…audio (laughing), and Wes Van de Water, he’s taking pictures
today. We are students from Utah State University working on an oral history
project, refugees for Cache Valley. And today I am interviewing Aye Win.
Thanks for letting us interview you today. Can I have you state your full name
and birth year for me please?
AW: My name is Aye Win. Uh, my birthday May 1, 1974.
MG: K. Thanks. And what languages do you speak?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: I speak Karen & Burmese.
MG: K. Tell me about your family?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Can you rephrase that. A she’s not getting that question.
MG: Um…Tell me about your parents & spouse & children & where they are at?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[laughing]
AWI: Okay. Well, she’s still not understanding your question I guess. Well, she told me
that um... our family, my family came here for education purposes.
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[laughing]
[2:30]
MG: Okay.
AWI So you might want to ask in a different way I guess.
MG: Okay, sure. Start with how many children do you have?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Four, four.
MG: Okay. And do you have any other family with you here?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: No
MG: Okay. Can you describe the ethnic or religious community that you belong to if
any?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: My religious is Buddhist and that’s it.
MG: Okay. Can you tell me about your birth country?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: From Burma. I was born in Burma.
MG: How long did you live there?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[3:44]
AWI: About fifteen years.
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MG: K. And why did you leave?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: When or why?
MG: Why?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[4:19]
AWI: Well, uh when I was little you know um, I just kinda follow my parents I guess.
And there were Burmese military everywhere you know. They come to our
village they were attacking us and me I just follow my parents. We had to sleep in
a forest for three or five days. And then when we come back I’m just going back
with them so that’s why I think I…that’s why I left Burma.
MG: Okay. And after the forest where did you go?
AWI: Going back home.
MG: Back home to?
AWI: To village. Okay.
MG: To village.
[4:55]
AWI: So the…the Burmese military come attack everybody in the village so to escape
that we went to the forest. We slept there for a few days then when…you know
things quiet down we come back to our village again.
MG: Okay. And what was your experience like in a refugee camp?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
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[5:49]
AWI: [clears throat] Well, my experience in refugees, um. Well, my experience in
refugee camp I got married and um...I had one children in refugee camp and back
then I wanted to go back home to visit Burma. But I was so scared that I’d…I’d
never get a chance to go back.
[laughing]
MG: Okay. Can you tell me about the food and medical care you received in the camp?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[7:03]
AWI: Um. Well, yes we…we do receive food and medical care in the refugee camp, but
for a pregnant women when I was pregnant back then. Um, we had like people
what organization who are called AMI, IRC, they like come every week and give
us…give the pregnant woman um…some like five eggs um…one bottle of oil and
then one bag of beans. So, you know just to keep the pregnant ladies healthy. So,
yeah if you…you were about to give birth and they’d take you to like…they’d
keep you at a hospital so like…they’d admit you to the hospital so that you can
stay and give birth. So, yeah.
[camera clicking]
MG: Did you work or go to school in the camp at all?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[8:17]
AWI: Yeah, well when I was small I did go to school uh…I went to school for four days
and that’s it. And after I got married I just never got a chance to go to school
again because I had to take care of my kids you know. And I ran eh uh…a little
shop in a refugee camp and I kinda sell stuff. Groceries.
MG: K. What were the day to day living conditions like in the camp like?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
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AWI: Well, um…for…for guys, you know [clear throat] uh…for day to day they’d go
outside of camp and go and uh…plant corn, pick chilies, but for a woman
they’d…they’d stay home and take care of kids. And if they’d have more time
they’d also go outside of the camp and do the same thing as the guys.
MG: Okay. And did you celebrate any holy days, holidays in the camp?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes. Like Karen New Year we have Karen New Year and Christmas day and
those kinds of holidays.
[10:09]
MG: Okay. Did you use any special like decorations or were you able to get any kind
of presents for the holidays?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes, for Christmas we…we do. I did receive gifts like from a friend and then I
kinda have to give it back. Like you know from friend to friend thing. So, yes.
MG: K. What was the political climate like in the camp?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[laughing]
AWI: Um I…I don’t know.
[laughing]
MG: K. Did you feel safe in the camp?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yeah, um I mean I do like living in a refugee camp, but it just uh…sometimes like
we you know just kinda have to live with fears I guess. Cuz you had to be afraid
of the Burmese soldiers. You know they’ll kind of…will come your burn…will
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come and burn the…the refugee camp cuz they do that all the time. Or sometimes
we had be afraid of Burmese military and the Karen military they were fighting
each other and we were…I was afraid I might get hit. So yeah.
[camera clicking]
MG: How did you learn about the U.S refugee program?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[13:26]
AWI: Okay, well so. Well, so…so you know I didn’t learn huh…well I so…the thing is
so…when I was let’s say teenagers age. Around teenagers age um…um…the
Burmese military were coming and forcing people to you know forcing people to
become a potter. And they were looking for especially like…like…eighteen to
seventeen years old man or woman. Both man and woman. So, you know I…me
and my friend we were just really scared. We were like uh…it’s not safe to live in
here anymore. Let’s just go to Thailand. Let’s just cross the border. So, yeah we
decided…we went to Thailand and we stay in a city. In the city uh…it’s more like
a town. It’s called The-wa-fa. We stay in that city. We stay there for a few months
picking corn, chilies.
[translator interrupts]
AWI: You guys want to write that [laughing]? T. h.e…the wa dablu o wa. How do you
spell? Wa. [laughing] Thaw.
AWI continued: Yeah, we stay there for a…just a few months doing daily things.
Picking chilies, planting corn. And it was nice. But then after…after um…I can’t
remember the date, but the Burmese military and the Karen military were in they
were in conflict…conflicts. And they were fighting each other and then that…that
war went straight for three days and three nights. So, me and my friend were
really scared you know because of what was going on around us. So…and a lot of
people died that…in those three days and so...and everybody was running you
know just running for their lives. So…so…what can I do I just kind of follow
everybody where they’re going and…and me I ended up in a refugee camp and
so…I guess that’s how I learned about refugee camp.
MG: Okay. And how did you apply and who helped you get to the U.S?
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MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[cut in audio]
[16:55]
AWI: Well, yeah there isn’t anybody to help, but it’s not hard. It’s not a difficult process
to…to come to the United States. You know, you just have to fill out an
application and they’ll call your names you know. Hey, so you’re um…set to go
to United States. That’s what they’ll tell you, but the thing is um…I…I did not
know that you know I have to pay rent, utility bills, insurance bills. Everything
you know. But in…in compared to refugees’ camp or Burma you don’t pay
anything. You have a house you stay, you do what you want. Nothing is…you
don’t have to pay anything basically, but here its different you know. In order you
know in order to let you…you had to pay rent and things and stuff. So, yeah.
MG: K. Tell me about coming to the United States? When did you first arrive here?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Um… I…I got here on June 9, 2008.
MG: And where did you first come…come to?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AW: Salt Lake City
AWI: In Salt Lake.
MG: Okay. What were the first months like?
[18:24]
AWI: Well, we didn’t like it you know. We don’t speak the language. We don’t know
what to do or where to go. Or we don’t like…like clueless. So, no we didn’t like
the first month.
MG: Okay. Did you receive any help from the U.S. or religious organizations when
you got here?
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MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[19:18]
AWI: Yes. Um…so when I first arrive in the United States I…I did went…went to…to
the church for a few months I guess. And like during Christmas they will come
buy my child like a shoes, like boots and stuff. So yes we…I did received help
from the religious church.
[19:34]
MG: Okay. Did you get help from any other organizations?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes. There is another organization called IRC and that’s where we came like, we
had to go through their office…not office, but we had to go through like,
applications and stuff. And they were the ones that bring us here you know. And
they had to take care of us for three months. There yeah, there was like their
promise or something. So we receive plates and blankets, and kind of a lot of stuff
from them. Yeah.
MG: Okay. [clear throat] How long have you lived in Cache Valley?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: About six and a half years.
MG: K. And what do you do here?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[20:54]
AWI: Um…[clear throat] Well, before um…I used to work at elementary school. I
kinda, but I already quit that job, but now because I have a little child to take care
of. I can just stay home. Yeah.
MG: Okay. What’s it like for you and your family here?
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MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: I guess we um…Well, we are surviving here day to day and that is good. We get
pay you know my dad. My husband. [laughing] He works at JBS and um…then
we get pay every two weeks. We use those money to pay rent to pay utility bills.
It’s all gone. We get it again. It just kinda go in circles. Yeah.
[22:02]
MG: Okay. Do you feel included in the Logan community?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[22:22]
AWI: Um…not really. Because you know I don’t speak English. So, yeah. [laughing]
MG: Alright. What would make you feel more included in the community?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: [laughing] Uh, I don’t know.
[22:51]
MG: Okay. Tell me about your home her. How’s it different from your home in your
birth country?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[23:32]
AWI: Um, so it’s really different. Um, here um…I mean back in Burma you know
where my birth country is. You kinda live. The only thing you…you have to fear
is that the Burmese military. Other than that you don’t actually have any worries.
You don’t have to worry about rent, bills, or food. You can kinda go out work.
You get pay. You can either by like I know small stuff…just kinda go day to day
without a lot of worries. But here you kinda have to kinda think of everything.
Think of: Oh, I need to have this much to pay for my rent. So…here you just kind
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of think…think of financial situation here you know. You can’t you…just have to
keep in mind that it’s different from your home here. So, I guess that’s the
difference.
[24:40]
MG: Okay. Can you tell me your experiences with your landlord?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[25:06]
AWI: Well, this well…the current manager well…call him manager because she’s the
manager of the land. She’s really nice you know. Let’s say something wrong with
our house we…I can…I can go there and be like: Hey something is wrong. But
although I don’t speak English she will come and look at it herself and that’s
really nice, but the previous manager kinda not that nice. So good experience.
MG: Okay. What would you like people in Logan to know about you, your family, or
your ethnic group:
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: [laughing] I don’t know. [laughing]
MG: Mmm…let’s see. Would you like to go back to your country?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes, um… my dad is…my dad is still in Burma. And I want to go back. I just
don’t have the money to go back yet. So, yeah. One day.
MG: Would you ever go back to live?
[26:52]
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
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AWI: Well, it’s something that I have thought of…going back and staying there
permanently. But I’m not sure yet because my children are still going to school
and you know I still have to be here and support them. So, but yeah. Not sure.
MG: What are you most proud of?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[27:57]
AWI: Well, uh my children they have a...you know better life here than I did back then.
So, I’m really happy for that and now Chit Moe, that’s me [laughing], uh…going
to college is really good thing I guess you know. I’m happy to see my child get to
go to college and that’s just had never happened in my family.
MG: Nice. What are your dreams for the future?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[28:57]
AWI: For my future dream I would say for every for my four childrens I really want
them to have education. I really want them to have knowledge you know. Even if
me and my husband die I’m sure they would still be able to live and support
themselves with what they learned you know. So, yeah. [laughing]
MG: Okay. Would you ever like to go to school again?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes. I am planning on taking English classes at ELC soon because I failed citizen
test two times already. So, I feel the need of taking it…taking the English class
again.
MG: Okay.
AWI: Okay.
[29:54]
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MG: Do you have any favorite activities to do here in Logan?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[30:44]
AWI: I’m not sure. [laughing] I don’t know. I guess, I mean there are a lot of things to
do in Logan, but...Yeah, so.
MG: Okay. Well, is there anything that I haven’t asked you that you’d like to tell us?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Well, no. Not really, but I’m just thankful for you guys being here and doing
interview. So. [laughing]
MG: That’s all of my questions. Do you mind if my colleagues…if they have any
questions they can ask you?
MGI: [repeating question in Karen]
[signaled in the positive]
BH: Um…I have some questions. So, I was wondering about these um…the lights up
here. Are they just decoration…you just like having them up?
BHI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yeah, just for decorations and we keep that for Christmas. [laughing]
BH: I bet they look nice. Um…
AWI: No go ahead.
BH: That actually reminds me of a question I had. So you…you mentioned that you’re
Buddhist and in the camps though, you celebrate Christmas. Is that a holiday that
um…Buddhist’s normally celebrate? I just wonder.
BHI: [repeating question in Karen]
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[32:54]
AWI: Yes, uh…like I say I was a Buddhist back in refugee camp, but I have friends who
are not Buddhist you know. They celebrate Christmas and I don’t want to be
stranger or anything. So, just kind of you know were friends. So, yeah Christmas.
So, that’s how that happened.
BH: Okay. And you still celebrate Christmas?
BHI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes, and it’s still for the same reasons. Have friends heres and sometimes they
come and celebrate. Um… likes with Karen um…I don’t know. Well, she hasn’t
talked this, but it’s from my…no…never mind…no.
[signaled to go ahead]
Um…so Karen I think every Christmas like, especially with their Christianity
they…they will go house to house and play music with their guitar. Like a group
of Karen…like big group and they will come to your door and sing. So, it’s just
kind of…does…did you guys do that? Or?
[MG, BH, and WV answer at once]
MG: Caroling.
MG, BH, and WV: Yeah.
BH: Christmas caroling.
WV: Caroling.
AWI: Oh really, okay. So that’s not strange yeah.
BH: Mmm…hmm. Usually, just without a guitar.
AWI: But it’s with a guitar. Yeah.
BHI: It’s with a guitar.
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AWI: Yeah.
BH: So, why a guitar?
AWI: Well, so you can sing better. You can follow the tone or something. [laughing] I
don’t know. I’ve just never been to one. Um, like back…back in refugee camp
you know we had uh…we had people like Christianity there they come to our
house they and help us. So, it’s only polite for me to you know help them back.
So, yup.
MG: K.
BH: Um…sorry I’m just really curious about this guitar. Um… do people have guitars
in the refugee camps?
AWI: I can answer that. Yes.
BH: Was there a lot of music there?
AWI: Yes.
BH: Like what kinds of music? Was it like um…popular songs? I don’t know like
maybe American songs? Or was it like its traditional?
AWI: It’s mostly either Burmese songs or Karen songs. Like the...you know, like the top
ten songs. [conversation in Karen] I’m doing it. Well, yeah they…we have lot of
songs and going back to the Christmas thing you like know, like in a refugee
camp when there’s like people going to house to house to sings there’s just gonna
be lots of people kinda follow up. You know kinda join the group to do the same
thing. So.
[laughing]
BH: It sounds like a good time.
AWI: Right.
[36:10]
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WV: Um…I’m just kind of curious who is the man in that photo up on the wall in that
chair?
AWI: On the left?
WV: Uh…uh, the bigger one. The guy in the…what looks like brown robes.
WVI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Its what his name is Thaminya. He is a…a… a highly…everybody knows person
in Buddhist religions.
WV: Okay.
AWI: And he’s… he’s the monk in Burma and he’s rally um…you know. But there’s
just I guess, so many things that happen to him that are miracle or something.
Like, I don’t know if this trues…truth or not it maybe a myth, but like when he
die. Well, he’s dead already and, but his…his fingernails are still growing. So, it’s
just weird. I guess you know he just kind of have supernatural power or
something and may people Buddhist…. Yeah. And it is true right. This particular
person you know he…he’s still in Burma although he died many, many years ago.
His corpse is still there and it’s not being… how do I say it?
BH: It’s not decomposed?
AWI: It’s not decomposing. Yeah. It’s not.
WV: Did they preserve it? Like, did they do anything to…?
AWI: Like they probably. Nobody knows whether they preserve it or not. It’s under
military control and nobody knows. Like government control. I think they
probably did. Come on. [laughing] K. Yeah.
[38:04]
BH: I have one more question. This is something I’ve been curious about cuz it sounds
like in the refugee camps um…you can meet with a lot of people. There are a lot
of people around. So, um…did you have a lot of friends in the refugee camp?
People that you would meet with a lot?
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BHI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes. I had lots of friends in refugee camp. Yeah.
BH: Are there any that came here to the United States as well?
BHI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes, but they’re not in Utah. They’re in different states within the Unites States.
So.
BH: Are you able to keep in contact with any of them?
BHI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes, um…we kinda...we kinda call each other you know. Friends to friends just
like everybody would do. But, mostly what we all concern about: How…how is
life doing over there? But, everybody wants to go back home. So, basically.
BH: Back home to Burma?
BHI: [repeating question in Karen]
AWI: Yes, to Burma. But, in Karen State particularly. To that state, yeah.
BH: Cool. Thank you.
AWI: Good?
MG: Thank you.
AW: Thank you.
[End recording-39:52]]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Gill, Meagan]]> transcripts;]]> application/pdf]]> 146517 Bytes]]> eng; kar]]> Text;]]> Karen, Burma, Thailand]]> Aye Win--Photographs, Chit Moe--Photographs, Hanks, Bethany--Photographs, Gill, Meagan--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1317855 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Thanaka--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1554623 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs, Chit Moe--Photographs, Hanks, Bethany--Photographs, Gill, Meagan--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1391933 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Thanaka--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1552866 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1091511 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1077008 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Hanks, Bethany--Photographs; Gill, Meagan--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1429678 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs, Chit Moe--Photographs, Hanks, Bethany--Photographs, Gill, Meagan--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1328355 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs, Chit Moe--Photographs, Hanks, Bethany--Photographs, Gill, Meagan--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1413464 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs, Chit Moe--Photographs, Hanks, Bethany--Photographs, Gill, Meagan--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1190979 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs; Chit Moe--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1177985 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs; Chit Moe--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1259000 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Aye Win--Photographs, Chit Moe--Photographs, Hanks, Bethany--Photographs, Gill, Meagan--Photographs]]> Aye Win]]> Van de Water, Wes; 1988-]]> Chit Moe]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1332538 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Kyaw Eh; Home Interior;]]> Kyawh Eh]]> Van de Water, Wes 1988-]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1427347 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Kyaw Eh; Home Interior;]]> Kyawh Eh]]> Van de Water, Wes 1988-]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1103375 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Kyaw Eh; Home Interior;]]> Kyawh Eh]]> Van de Water, Wes 1988-]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1185492 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Home Interior;]]> Kyawh Eh]]> Van de Water, Wes 1988-]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1254988 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Kyaw Eh;]]> Kyaw Eh]]> Van de Water, Wes 1988-]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 978660 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Kyaw Eh; Home Interior;]]> Kyawh Eh]]> Van de Water, Wes 1988-]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1282639 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Family;]]> Kyawh Eh]]> Van de Water, Wes 1988-]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Gill, Meagan]]> Photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> 2369827 Bytes]]> Image; Still Image;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]>