Co-founder Phatry Derek Pan talks to The International Examiner in this latest article entitled, “Being Khmerican” by Ana Knauf. Check it out at http://khmr.cn/being-khmerican.

“I think one of the natural inspirations that drives me is my heritage. Having family both in Cambodia and the Pacific, I have always dreamed of giving back to such regions that currently face a number of social issues, such as poverty, environmental degradation, and low levels of education,” says Diana Pereda, who also describes herself as mixed race Cambodian and Chamorro.

Pereda’s diverse upbringing includes time in Texas, California, and even Kansas. Summer was when she would always reconnect with her Khmer relatives, times she enjoyed as opportunities to immerse herself and learn the benefits and the drawbacks of the communities in Long Beach and San Diego.

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A proud member of Cal State Fullerton’s Cambodian Student Association, David Chau is a graduating senior majoring in business marketing. He acknowledges involvement with his student organization as being the catalyst for his cultural immersion and appreciation.

Growing up, Chau felt like the only Cambodian person among his peers, although he did attend weekly Khmer lessons and the annual New Year celebration in Long Beach. “Other than my parents, I didn’t really have role models, but I know with the people I meet in college now, there are so many potential leaders that are going to advance our growing community,” says Chau.

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Khmerican has compiled a compilation of New Year events and activities in the US. To view our community calendar, please visit http://khmerican.com/events. 

** Submit your community event 

By Eric Chuk

The Cambodian Student Society (CSS) hosted a successful culture show on Sunday, March 25th at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. The show was notable for its overall bilingualism and refreshingly creative story line—a modern, Khmer-inflected reinterpretation of the Wizard of Oz, incorporating history, action (martial arts), humor, and romance.

The play format, unusual for CSS, followed five main characters who were mysteriously transported to the Cambodia of yore: Boran, an amiable young man whose as-if Hanuman heroics save a village (paralleling Dorothy’s arrival in Oz); his pet-like companion Ah Touch, often a source of comedic relief; Romdoul, a contemporary/classical dancer; Kunthea, a waifish girl (reminiscent of Oz’s cowardly lion) struggling to learn the Khmer language; and Samouth, a soulful singer mistaken for Sinn Sisamouth. Along the way, they meet other colorful characters: a cryptic old man who tells them to follow the “yellow k’tael road” through the jungle to get back home, cackling witches who the five friends must outmaneuver, and a flirtatious but helpful prince.

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