Kouay Phou's Story

The Worst Day of My Life

By Kouay Phou Saephan



My name is Kouay Phou Saephan. My Nationality is Mien. I speak Mien. I was born in Laos.I have one older brother, one older sister and two younger brothers. I was six years old when mymy mother died. My mother died because a mad dog bit her. When my mother died, my father tookcare of five children. My father smoked opium. He was a very poor man.He had no idea how to earn money to help his family. When I was a littleboy, I suffered very much. But it was not the worst time of my life. When I wastwelve years old, I worked on a farm by myself.

In 1967 I wanted to get married. My father was very poor he had no idea to help son find a wife. In Mien custom when we get married.we need money to pay for father, mother in-law. The person who hasno money have to go live with father, mother in-law six -twelve years. If you live 6 years you pay half cost if you live twelve years you do notpay anything.Like me I don't have money I went to live with my father in-law six years. I worked for them very hard. Before the Mien people lived in mountain. no weekend we worked everyday Every time no cars no streets walking only.In the morning no alarm clock. We listened to the rooster crow I woke up cooked dinner for the family. After they finished eating have to go to farm allday 6Am-7pm. When I came home I carried something Wood or banana tree for pig food. Whe the corn or rice wasripe I carried corn or rice for the pig, chicken and duck. Sometime the carried was heavy. This was not the worst day of my life.

In 1973 I had two sons and one daughter. In 1975 my first son died.I was very concerned and worried.In 1976 my second son died. I feel that when I was born it was spiritual. I was full of bad luck. In 1977 I escaped to Thailand. I lived there ten years. In 1988 I moved to a refugee camp. I livedthere for two years. This was not the worst day of my life.

In 1991 I moved to the USA. when I came to Visalia CA I was happy but I couldn't speak English.I am so worried about English. WhenI came to school first time the teacher told me to stand up tell my name, where I cam from what Language do I speak married or single.how many children do I have I don't know how to Tell everybody. I was very shy.and almost cry because my English not enough. It was the worst day ofmy life.

Right now My English better but I can't spell. I wish I had came to the USA when I was young.

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