A ten part series of a book by Borany Kanal and Adrienne Jansen about a young woman growing up in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and her escape and resettlement in New Zealand.
Part 1: Borany recalls the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, who took over on 17 April 1975 and the subsequent evacuations. She gives an outline of her family, her own education and recalls the violence of the Khmer Rouge soldiers.
Part 2: Borany and her family stayed in their home in Phnom Penh before the Khmer Rouge took over the city and they were forced to leave. They stayed at an Aunt’s house, sharing with many other families later staying at a high school and travelling to Mekong river.
Part 3: The family lived by the river, building a house from flax. Borany describes the death of her younger brother after drinking medicine. Her father worked for the Khmer Rouge, carry rice, but the family moved after her grandmother insulted the Khmer Rouge.
Part 4: Leaving their possessions and their servant, the family travelled to Pursat province via boat, and moved around a lot. Borany’s father was accused of stealing pumpkins. They moved once again and had to be careful not to give away indications they were once wealthy and educated.
Part 5: The adults worked and food was scarce. Borany described the mysterious disappearance of a cousin, the death of her grandfather and her father from infection and other family members. Her grandmother looked after her but later died. She lived at children’s camp, run by a kind and educated leader. They hear rumours that Vietnamese troops have invaded Cambodia.
Part 6: In 1978 Vietnam seized control of Cambodia. Borany’s family were separated and she recalls the arrival of the Vietnamese. They kept travelling, fearing violence. They considered crossing the border to Thailand. They travelled to Battambang, a busy market city, moving into an empty house. After struggling to make a living under the Vietnamese, they decided to cross the border.
Part 7: They crossed the mined border barefoot, meeting other Cambodians in Thailand. Borany's family lived at a refugee camp where her mother worked in an orphanage. She described living in the camp, waiting to move to a new country. They wrote to a cousin in New Zealand, who helped them in being accepted to immigrate. Borany’s family, including her new baby brother, finally flew into Auckland.
Part 8: The family first lived in Mangare. Borany gives her first impressions of Auckland, and New Zealand life. She kept to herself and reveals her mixed feelings about being in New Zealand and adjusting to different food, understanding New Zealand life and her interactions with Māori and a marae.
Part 9: A sponsoring group supported the family when they moved to Porirua, helping them find a house. Borany recalls practicing English, her experiences at primary school and camping in the Marlborough sounds. She began attending Aotea College in 1981, noting differences in students’ behaviour and struggling with English.
Part 10: Barony reflects on her current life, stressing the importance of retaining one’s culture. She is determined to keep her Cambodian language and share Cambodian culture with others. She notes New Zealander’s impressions of refugees and talks about transitioning from a Buddhist to Christian faith and praises people who take an interest in her background.