Ka Sin, 1967-;]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> photographs]]> image/jpeg;]]> 807158 Bytes]]> Image;StillImage;]]> Burma; Thailand; Salt Lake City, Utah; Logan, Utah; Cache Valley, Utah]]> Ka Sin, 1967-;]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> photographs]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1948447 Bytes]]> Image;StillImage;]]> Burma; Thailand; Salt Lake City, Utah; Logan, Utah; Cache Valley, Utah]]> Ka Sin, 1967-;]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> photographs]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1060506 Bytes]]> Image;StillImage;]]> Burma; Thailand; Salt Lake City, Utah; Logan, Utah; Cache Valley, Utah]]> Ka Sin, 1967-;]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> photographs]]> image/jpeg;]]> 1186670 Bytes]]> Image;StillImage;]]> Burma; 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mya; eng;]]> Sound;]]> Burma; Thailand; Salt Lake City, Utah; Logan, Utah; Cache Valley, Utah]]> Burmese Muslim refugee; Family; Immigrant, Tradition, Cache Valley, Utah; Logan, Utah;]]> Valley
Refugee
Oral
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Sin
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Ka Sin
Present: Deanna Allred, David Giles, Cami Dilg, Ka Sin, Har Be Bar, Kem Pu[?]
(Ka Sin’s daughter), Zat No (Ka Sin’s son), Mo (Ka Sin’s son), Ser Geda
(Ka Sin’s wife), Myo (Ka Sin’s son)
Place of Interview: Ka Sin’s home, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 17, 2015
Language(s): Burmese
Translation:
Interviewer: Deanna Allred
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: David Giles
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 20, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Ka Sin talks about his journey from Burma, to a Thailand
refugee camp, to Japan, then New York, then California, and finally Utah. He talks about
working and learning English in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then later moving to Logan, Utah. He
talks about his life during the war in Burma and in the refugee camp in Thailand. He discusses
his life in America, and the way his children are growing up here, versus the life they may have
had in Burma.
Reference: DA = Deanna Allred
DAI = Deanna Allred’s words interpreted by translator
KS = Ka Sin
KSI = Ka Sin’s words interpreted by translator
DG = David Giles
DGI = David Giles’ words interpreted by translator
KP = Kem Pu
ZN = Zat No
M = Mo
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MY = Myo
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
[Part 1 of 2 – 00:01]
DA: Yeah, will you introduce who is here with us? I’d love them to stay.
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: His daughter and then his youngest son.
DA: Youngest son?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s daughter] And what is your name?
KP: Kem Pu[?]
DA: Kem Pu? How old are you?
KP: I am 16.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s son] And what is your name?
ZN: Zat No.
KS: Zat No.
DA: Zat No – can you spell that?
ZN: Z-A-T N-O.
DA: N-O.
DG: Okay; exactly like it sounds, actually.
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DA: And how old are you?
ZN: Ten.
DA: You’re ten.
DG: [Speaking to Kem Pu] Okay; are you getting your driver’s license by chance?
KP: Yeah.
DA: Yeah?
DG: Cool.
DA: [Speaking to Kem Pu] What school do you go to?
KP: Logan High.
DA: Logan High? Good. My daughter went there for a little while.
[Speaking to Zat No] And what school do you go to?
ZN: Wilson.
DA: Wilson? Yes.
DG: Okay.
DA: Okay, good.
DG: Would it be okay if we closed the window?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: It’s just the sound – for the sound.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: Okay.
DA: Sorry; will that make it uncomfortable?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Do you guys want him to open the fan?
DG: Let’s try it. Yeah, I don’t think it will be a problem, but let’s try it.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: Okay.
DG: Alright, so let’s begin the tag.
DA: Okay.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: I’m going to look at Cami’s notes about this. I liked what you did there.
[Soft talking in the background between field school students.]
DG: Okay, so I think –
DA: Okay.
DG: These are the questions that you want.
DA: I’ve got the questions here.
Alright, my name is Deanna Allred.
KS: Yes.
DA: We are here at the home of Ka Sin, a Burmese Muslim refugee that we’re doing
interview for the “Voices 2015: Refugees in Cache Valley” (here, in Logan). I’m also
here with Har Be Bar (who is our translator), and David Giles (who is our recordist), and
Cami Dilg (who will be taking pictures). We are also here with Ka Sin’s daughter and
son – are you another son?
??: I’m his son, yeah.
DA: And what’s your name?
M: Mo.
DA: Mo?
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DAI: Mo.
DA: Okay; how old are you, Mo?
M: Twenty.
DA: Twenty? Okay.
So, and I saw your wife here too? Yeah, your wife was here. And what’s her name?
KS: Ser Geda.
DA: Ser Geda?
KS: S-E-R –
KSI: S-E-R –
DA: S-E-R?
KS: G-E –
DA: G-E?
KS: D-A.
DA: D-A?
KS: Yeah.
DA: And this is your wife?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Thank you for letting us come.
I’m going to try to translate a little slower – as I’ve listened, some of it’s gone a little fast
and we’ve not gotten it all.
DAI: Um-hmm?
DA: So I’ll try to just translate slower – just a couple sentences at a time – and then I think
that will go a little better.
DAI: Okay.
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DA: So you can explain to him that we will probably be going a couple sentences at a time.
[03:36]
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: And it is Sunday, May 17th, 2015. We have another son?
KS: Yeah, Myo.
DA: What’s your name?
MY: Myo.
DA: Myo?
MY: Yeah.
DA: How do you spell that?
MY: M-Y-O.
DA: And how old are you?
MY: Fourteen.
DA: Fourteen? You have a great family.
KS: [Laughs]
DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah, this is great. Okay, did I get all the tag?
DG: I think so.
DA: Okay. So we are just going to start the interview.
What is your full name and birth year?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: K-A S-I-N.
DA: Um-hmm.
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KS: Yeah. Birthday – December 18, 1967.
DA: Fifty-seven?
KS: Sixty.
KSI: 1967.
DA: Sixty-seven; okay, good. What languages do you speak?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Burmese and Karen.
KSI: Burmese and Karen.
DA: And Karen? Good. Tell me about your family?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Yeah. [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He has a total family of six people in the family: four childrens, and him and his wife.
DA: Um-hmm. Describe for me your religious community, your ethnic community; describe
for me what it is for you to be a Burmese Muslim?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Living here it’s the same, but the ethnic group and religious group is a little different.
DA: It’s a little different?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: In what way?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: How do we like practice the religion.
DA: Right, um-hmm. Is there a place where you can go to practice your religion?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Here they have it, but it’s a different language –
DA: Oh, right.
KSI: But in Salt Lake they do have it in the same language.
KS: Yeah.
DA: In Salt Lake?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Okay. Tell me about Burma? You were born in Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: What would you like to know about Burma?
DA: Is it hot? Is it beautiful?
KS: Ah, yeah.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[07:28]
KSI: There are three seasons –
DA: Um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, summer, rainy, and foggy.
DA: Summer, rain and foggy – that’s good. We haven’t heard that before. How long did you
live there?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Like 21 years.
DA: Uh-huh? Twenty-one years?
KS: Maybe 25 year.
DA: Maybe 25; yes? Why did you leave?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s hard to live because there are civil wars going around, and they are like ethnic groups
(like Karen group) that didn’t get along with –
DA: That didn’t get along with the government?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Or each other?
KSI: Yeah, with the government, with the soldiers, and with the Karen ethnic group.
DA: Okay, okay. So what was that experience like – leaving Burma? What was that like to
leave your country, leave your home?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He felt very bad, like because at first he had some educations in the city, and then he had
to move because in Burma there are all still civil war. He felt very bad.
DA: Yeah, I’m sure; I’m sure. Where did you relocate first?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: At first Burma to Thailand refugee camp.
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DA: Yeah. And then where?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He relocated first in the Thai city for about three years and it did not work out, so he had
to move to a refugee camp.
DA: Um-hmm, okay. What was your experience like in the refugee camp?
[11:07]
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are like –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: A lot of different peoples –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And different situation – like sometimes they are same level.
DA: Yeah. Describe to me what you ate (the food), what was the medical care like? If you got
sick, what would happen?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They gave free food from rice, oil, salt, and they don’t do meat or other stuff – because
he also want to eat those meat –
DA: Yeah. But there wasn’t any?
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find a way –
DA: To get food?
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KS: Yeah.
KSI: All the medical care out there are free.
DA: Was it easy to get to? Was it close?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that easy to go to the hospital because no transportation –
DA: Right.
KSI: I have to walk.
DA: And it was big – it was a ways away?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah.
KSI: Like 15 minutes.
DA: Yeah. Describe your work and school, there in the refugee camp, for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: For the school, there is no school for an adult (like him). And then a job – he had to go
outside of the camp and work for it.
DA: Um-hmm. Tell me what your life was day-to-day; so you would get up about what time?
You would eat breakfast, or – tell me what a typical day was like for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He would wake up like early in the morning (like four) –
DA: Um-hmm? And then that’s – what time would you go to bed at night?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like nine to ten.
DA: Yeah, yeah; okay. What did you do for work in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[15:15]
KSI: He help with the road –
DA: Okay?
KSI: Fix the road, and also the stables[?] –
DA: Okay. Do you still get up at four?
KS: Huh?
DA: Do you still get up so early?
DAI: Now?
DA: Yeah.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Sometimes; and sometimes earlier than that.
DA: Really?
DG: Wow.
DA: Tell me about the holidays (or the celebrations) that you celebrated in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah. He wants to talk about the Eid.
DA: Uh-huh, yes?
KSI: In the morning he will wake up and go to mosque and pray, and then he will find new
clothes for his children to wear.
DA: Um-hmm. Someone else had said you needed a new outfit for Eid, is that right?
KSI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: Yeah. Okay, what was the government like – how did the government behave with the
refugees? What was the climate there? Was it helpful? Was it combative? How helpful
was the government when you were in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: This would have been Thailand I guess, yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t know about the government because he don’t see it; but there is a
sharing[?] group that helped. And then sometimes they are good, sometimes they are very
bad peoples. If you want to go out and work, they close the gate – they never let him go
out. And then he would find a way to get out from the gate and then go find job. And then
once he came back the soldier will stop him and then take some money.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Why wouldn’t they want you to leave to go work?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They thought that they already gave free food to the refugees, and then they thought that
it’s enough for them.
DA: Rice, but no meat?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Was enough? Okay. Did you feel safe in the camp? Did you feel safe for you, and safe
for your family? Was there safety there?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[20:45]
KSI: It’s not safe because the refugee camp in Burma – it’s very close; sometimes the Burmese
government will come and shoot and burn their houses.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm; we’ve heard that story before, yeah.
KSI: They want control the camps –
DA: Yeah, and it was very dangerous.
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah. How did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: There are a group that would take care of the camp that would come and let them know –
like, “You can go register for the American, for Denmark, for Australia.” And then he –
yeah, from there he come here.
DA: Okay. Who helped you apply?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Thai also helped, he don’t know exactly –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: Yeah, Thai – that group also help – it’s called like OPE –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
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KSI: OPE.
DA: Tell me about coming to the U.S. – I’m sure that was a lot – very emotional – to leave;
I’m sure it was scary. Tell me about when you came to the U.S. – where did you come
first? What was that first day like?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[23:50]
KSI: It’s very emotional because totally like different people. In the camp, like people are not
like human [laughs].
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, because they are all dirty.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. Where did you first land? Where did you first come? Where was your
first stop here?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: First, Thai, Bangkok (bigger city) –
DA: Yeah.
KSI: And then to – where was it?
KS: Japan.
KSI: To Japan, and to New York, to California, and then to Salt Lake.
DA: Did you live in Salt Lake for awhile at first, or did you come right to Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He was in Salt Lake about one year –
DA: Um-hmm?
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KSI: And then he also work at DI. His wife work as a babysitter to other people houses.
DA: Um-hmm, good; good. So if you worked at the DI, did you get help from any churches or
any other organizations in the U.S.? And what about – what was helpful, what wasn’t
helpful about your assistance?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: The church helped – did the most.
DA: How could that be improved?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: What improvements could we make?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: DI help a lot with teaching English. He can only work for a year, and for the
improvement – it’s not – he don’t need that much improvement because he think that it’s
kind of enough.
DA: It was enough? Okay; that’s good to know. How long have you lived here, in Logan?
[27:44]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: About six years.
DA: Yeah?
KS: Yeah.
DA: What do you do here?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: He work at Miller.
DA: At Miller? Um-hmm.
KS: Yeah.
DA: What is it like for you and your family to live here, in Logan? Is it a good place, you
know, do you feel accepted by the community? Do you feel the schools are good and
helpful?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Compared to the camp it’s a very good place here; the community is also good – he can
make friends easily.
DA: Um-hmm. Do you like working at Miller’s?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: Is that a good thing?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He can’t say, because he don’t know if he like or not because he have to work.
DA: Yeah, you have to work – it doesn’t matter if he likes it or not –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yeah, that makes sense. What would make you feel more at home here, in Logan, for
your family and for you?
DAI: What was that question again?
DA: What would make him feel more at home here, in Logan?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Now he don’t feel like this is his home because he is just – only him working, and then he
have a lot of children.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. So he does feel like this is his home, or he doesn’t?
KSI: He doesn’t.
DA: He doesn’t? Why? What could we do – what would need to change for him to feel at
home? Or where would he feel at home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Government help him, but he know that he have to work for himself. And also, in the
future, his son and wife maybe if they could help him work, so that way he could buy a
house –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Is there anything specific – like would it be helpful if there were
more cultural events? Does he feel like he has a community here that assists him and
helps him, you know, if he has to go to the grocery store or get gas, or whatever – you
know, is there anything that we can do to help him feel more at home? Or is it just a
language barrier, you know? I mean, what sorts of things would help him feel more at
home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[32:26]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he feel like – yeah, if they would help he would feel like he is part of the
community.
DA: Okay, okay; great. Tell me what is the difference between your home here, and your
home in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s a big difference as like brown and the sky.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Do you have a good experience with your landlord?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he has a good experience. If he need help he can call them –
DA: And they’re very helpful?
KSI: Yeah, they are.
DA: That’s good; that’s good to know. What would you like the people of Logan to know
about you? And then what would you like them to know about your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like to let everyone know he don’t have much time –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And then for his kids – like their friends, they could tell by themselves.
DA: If you had more time, what would you want to do?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[35:48]
KSI: Once he was younger, he always interested in English, he always want to like, know. And
now if he have time, he would like to take classes.
DA: Learn English?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: If they came to Miller’s at lunch hour a couple of days a week and taught English, would
you be able to go to those English classes?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: At Miller, there is no time because he only get 30 minutes of lunch time –
DA: Oh.
KSI: And then after that he have to go to use the restroom.
DA: Yeah, yeah – just take care of yourself.
KS: Yeah.
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Um-hmm. That makes sense. Would you like to go back to Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he would like to go back because he has parents – his father (who is unhealthy), but
he cannot go back now: his childrens are still young, and money problems.
DA: Um-hmm. Can you communicate with your father?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he can communicate; and he also send like $100-200 a year.
DA: Um-hmm, to them; does it help?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: It helps them? Do you send pictures to each other? You know, does your father know
what your family looks like in pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was a friend who went back to Burma, and then he send one picture, and now he
don’t know how to send it.
DA: Um-hmm; because he’s not there anymore?
KSI: Yeah.
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DA: What are you most proud of?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[39:35]
KSI: He is very proud of his childrens that come here and live their life; he can’t imagine like,
seeing his childrens, like in the camp working in the jungle.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. What are your dreams for your future, and the future of your family?
What are your dreams and what’s the dreams for your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He don’t have his own dreams for himself, but he do have a dreams for his childrens to
like grow up and get better jobs (not like him). He would like to buy a house here for his
family.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. That’s good. Is there anything that I haven’t asked, that you would like
me to know? Are there any other questions; is there anything you want me to know that I
haven’t asked?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: If you like, he can talk about his experience more.
DA: Yeah, yeah; I would like to hear more about your experiences.
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DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[43:27]
KSI: In Burma, in the city, he lived with his family there (five people in the family) –
[Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He is the middle one. When he was younger he don’t have to do any work, and then when
he get older he had to work. And then his older brother, like somehow with the soldier,
got to refugee camp.
DA: So where is his brother now?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Still in Thailand.
DA: Still in Thailand?
KSI: Oh no, Burma.
DA: In Burma? So not in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DA: No? Okay. That’s all of my questions. David or Cami, do you have any questions?
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DG: Yes, I did. Let me see. So you said that when you first left Burma you tried to move to a
city in Thailand? Can you tell us a little more about that, and what that was like trying to
live in a city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not in the big city; it’s just like in the kind of city in the jungle, so like a lot of
creatures.
DG: Okay. So why did you leave the city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was only three months of work in a year, so it’s not enough. And then he cannot go
back to Burma, so he had to leave.
DA: Go back.
DG: Okay.
DA: Do you talk about this much with your kids – about your experiences in Burma? Do they
know?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He did not talk about it because he don’t want his childrens feel like sorry or feel bad,
and then feel fear.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: Now just one more question (for me): you mentioned that you were having a hard time
sending pictures to your family? Do you need help figuring out how to do that, or is there
some kind of problem just getting it to your family?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[47:30]
KSI: Yeah, he would need help with it.
DA: Okay. Does your father have a computer?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DG: Okay, yeah; I know how to like send pictures through email, but if he doesn’t have a
computer, that’s going to be difficult.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah.
DGI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DG: If you like, I can show you how to do that when we’re finished today.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughs]
KSI: Well they don’t even have computers, so –
DA: He doesn’t have a computer, so it wouldn’t help?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: Well I do know that if you can send him a letter, I know you can take your photos to like,
I think Wal-Mart with print them out for you, so you can you know, just put them in a
letter and mail them. I haven’t had to do that in a long time, but I think Wal-Mart would
be able to help.
CD: I think it’s more of a problem of a physical address getting it –
DG: Ah.
CD: To him.
DA: Yeah.
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DG: Okay, I missed that detail.
DGI: Yeah. [Laughs]
[Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Cami, did you have any questions?
CD: Yes, I’m going to move a little bit closer to the microphone.
We’ve interviewed some other people that were also in the refugee camp, and they
mentioned (like you did) the need to obtain new clothing for Eid. I’m wondering where
you would get the new clothing from?
CDI: In the camp?
CD: Yeah, to celebrate. Yes, in the camp.
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find money earlier, yeah, and then he would buy it for them.
CD: And would the clothing be purchased outside of the camp, or inside the camp?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Inside of the camp. Inside of the camp.
CD: I wasn’t sure, maybe you picked up on this – are both of your parents alive, and they are
still in the camp, or just your father?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are both alive, but not in the camp – in Burma.
DA: In Burma; and it’s hard to get the things to Burma.
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CD: So you have family members still in Burma – are they more safe or less safe than if they
were in the refugee camp?
[50:53]
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They don’t have to worry about their lives; because they are old, when the civil war is
coming the soldier won’t take them because they cannot work anymore.
DA: So they’re older –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: And so they’re safer?
KSI: Um-hmm, they’re safer.
DG: That’s a terrible way to be safe.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: I have just one more question. When you left your home in Burma, and then when you
left the camps, did you have any of your children with you at that time?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: When he come to Thailand, he had to walk like three days and three night. He is not
married yet; he got married in Thai camp.
DA: In Thai camp.
KSI: Um-hmm. So once he leave Thailand with his children.
DG: What was that like, having to move to a new place with little kids?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that hard, he just want like all together safe, and get whatever he want to do.
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DG: Okay. Those are all the questions I have.
DA: Do your children participate at school in other things? You know, do you go to the school
to the things that they’re active in?
DAI: Here?
DA: Yeah, here in Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t participate, but when his children still go to school he force them to go to
school. And then only his wife participate in like parent-teacher conferences –
DA: Conferences; yeah, that makes sense. Do you like American food?
[54:29]
KS: Hmm?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughing]
KSI: He like hamburger –
DA: A hamburger?
KSI: But it’s kind of expensive for him.
DA: It is expensive; it is expensive, yeah.
KS: The pizza a lot.
KSI: Pizza –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He says there it’s less expensive: he can buy a box and they’re whole family can eat.
DA: Yeah, pizza – everybody loves pizza!
[Laughter]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: If he only have to eat American food, it will be more expensive –
DA: Yeah, yeah. Do you grocery shop in Salt Lake, like most of your community does? Do
you have to go to Salt Lake to get your groceries?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like two months.
DA: Yeah, yeah; where is that grocery store?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He bought rice here, and in Salt Lake – I don’t even know the address –
DA: Yeah?
KSI: Like Redwood Road.
DA: What’s the name of the store?
KSI: There are like Cambodian store –
DA: Cambodian store?
KS: Chinese.
KSI: Pakistan and Chinese, I think.
DA: Yeah. I’m sorry you have to go so far.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he had to go buy like half of the food over there, and then half of the food here.
DA: Here? Where do you like to shop here?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like Smith’s.
DA: Smith’s – that’s where we all go, yeah.
[Laughter]
Good; good. I don’t know that I have any more questions. You have been very delightful.
Your family is beautiful.
DG: Thank you.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: Thanks.
DA: So we just have some forms to sign. Oh –
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: This just says we can use the interview for the presentation.
DAI: Oh, this is already signed.
DA: Oh yeah, yeah; sorry. Yeah, I can’t give you that one [laughs].
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah; this just says that we can use the recording: it will be stored at Utah State
University. And then do you mind if we take pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[57:58]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, you can take pictures.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: And we do need you to fill out all the blanks, and we need to talk about that last one a
little bit – so when you’re done with the rest, we’ll talk about it.
[Background discussion between the folks present; both in English and Burmese.]
Okay, do we want to end the tape?
DA: So we’re just making sure we have consent to use the audio tape and the pictures in the
Special Collections, and he understands.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yep.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Oh, we don’t need that one.
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: Is it in English?
[More discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: I can’t read Burmese [laughs].
DG: Oh, you can’t?
KSI: I can’t.
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DA: It’s beautiful; I mean, look how pretty it is. Do your children – do you read Burmese? Do
you speak much Burmese?
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese as they fill out the information and
release forms.]
CD: I’m just going to take a few photos to make sure that the light is okay, if that’s alright?
DG: And email, if you have one.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No, he doesn’t have email, so –
KS: Is that finished?
DG: That last one is – I would love if you could translate for me – that last blank is
restrictions: just if there is something you don’t want us to do, you can write it there.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: So if you don’t want us to share your name, or share your photo, or something like that.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Okay, this is the celebration – I know it’s in English, but maybe your kids could translate
that for you. This is what – thank you – this is where we will be showing the photos and
the presentation that we put together for the community.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
[End part 1 of 2 – 60:02]
[Part 2 of 2 – 00:01]
KS: If he is, he will come.
DA: Okay, good. Thank you.
[More background discussion with the folks present.]
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[Speaking to Ka Sin’s child] So will you be a senior next year, or a junior? A senior? And
how do you like Harry Potter?
ZN: It’s a great story.
DA: It’s a great story; yeah, it’s my favorite [laughs].
CD: You don’t mind if I take some photos?
DG: Oh, the recording is still going.
DA: The recording needs to – yeah, we’re done with the recording. Thank you.
DG: Alright, we are done with the interview.
[End Part 2 of 2 – 00:50]]]> Ka Sin, 1967-;]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> Gross, Susan;]]> transcripts;]]> application/pdf;]]> 197263 Bytes]]> bur; kar; eng;]]> Text;]]> Burma; Thailand; Japan; California, Utah;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> oral histories (document genres);]]> audio/mp3;]]> 48847104 Bytes]]> Sound;]]> 2010-2019; 21st century;]]> Burmese Muslim refugee; Family; Immigrant, Tradition, Cache Valley, Utah; Logan, Utah;]]> Ka Sin, 1967-;]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Allred, Deanna, 1965-;]]> Gross, Susan;]]> oral histories (document genres);]]> audio/mp3;]]> 60429828 Bytes]]> bur; kar; eng;]]> Sound;]]> Burma; Thailand; Japan; California, Utah;]]> Ya He Ma, Ka Ma Din, Har Be Bar, Maung Maung, Fareda, family, refugee, Burmese Muslim, Burmese, Muslim, Burma, Myanmar, violence, Thai camp, Thai refugee camp, Mae Sot immigration, Cache Valley, JBS Miller, Logan, immigrant housing, home, apartment, Voices: Refugee Project, folklore, Library of Congress, sewing, translator, life in America, dream]]> Valley
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Ya He Ma
Present: Ya He Ma (43 years); Har Be Bar (Translator; Ya He Ma’s eldest
daughter, 20 years); Ka ma Din, (Ya He Ma’s husband, 42 years); Fareda
(Ya He Ma’s youngest daughter, 16 years); Maung Maung (Ya He Ma’s
son, 5 years); Deanna Allred (recordist), Cami Dilg (interviewer); David
Giles (photographer)
Place of Interview: Ya He Ma’s apartment: 274 Riverbend Road, Apartment 4, Logan, Utah,
84321
Date of Interview: 18 May 2015
Language(s): Burmese; English
Translation:
Interviewer: Cami Dilg
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: Deanna Allred
Photographer: David Giles
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-18RL
broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic microphone
Transcription Equipment: Express Scribe Transcription Software
Transcribed by: Cami Dilg, 23 May 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Ya He Ma, a Burmese Muslim refugee from the Mae Sot
Thailand refugee camp talks about living and working in Mae Sot, violence in the camp,
applying for immigration to the United States, arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah, working with
caseworkers and aides from the Salt Lake City mosque, working at JBS Miller (both she and her
husband Ka Ma Din are employed there), Har Be Bar’s role as translator in the family, and life in
America. Ya He Ma’s son Maung Maung and daughter Har Be Bar were in the front room during
the interview. Her husband Ka Ma Din joined part way through the interview. Her daughter
Fareda was in her bedroom until the interview concluded and we took pictures of the family.
Reference: CD = Cami Dilg (Interviewer)
HBB = Har Be Bar (Translator; Ya He Ma’s eldest daughter)
YHM = Ya He Ma (Interviewee)
KMD = Ka Ma Din (Interviewee’s husband)
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F = Fareda (Ya He Ma’s youngest daughter)
MM = Maung Maung (Ya He Ma’s son)
DA = Deanna Allred (Recordist)
DG = David Giles (Photographer)
NOTE: The interview was conducted with an in-person interpreter. 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
[01:30]
CD: Alright. Today is May 18th, 2015, and we are here in Ya He Ma’s home apartment. We
are with the USU Voices project, and I guess we’ll re-introduce us: I’m going to be
interviewing today; Deanna Allred is the recordist; and David Giles is the photographer,
and with me is Har Be Bar, and she’s going to be translating; and this is [referring to Har
Be Bar] Ya He Ma’s daughter, and Ya He Ma’s going to be the interviewee. Ok. We’ll
just be asking one question at a time, and Har Be Bar’s going to be translating for us, so
we want to get as much detail from you [Ya He Ma] as possible, so we will do it [the
interview] kind of slow.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Nods in response.]
CD: Ok. If you could tell me, what is your full name and birth year?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese]
HBB: Full name is Ya He Ma. Then Birth date is January 1st,
YHM: 1972.
HBB: 1972.
[Maung Maung is speaking in the background]
CD: And what languages do you speak?
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YHM: Burmese
HBB: Burmese
CD: So tell me a little bit about your family.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
HBB: She has six peoples in her family: And then her oldest daughters got married. She moved
out to Oregon; and then her, me, another daughter, is going to USU; and then her
youngest, younger daughter going to high school; and the little one will be in school next
year.
CD: K. And could you tell me, or describe the ethnic or religious community of which you are
apart?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.] Muslim [Responding in Burmese.]
HBB: Um just some kind of Muslim group. In a group.
CD: Ok. Tell me about your birth country—where were you born and . . . ?
KMD: [In the kitchen; begins participating in the conversation.] Burma [Responding in
Burmese.]
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
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YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um in Burma. She was born in Burma. And in Burma she had to work very hard to, like,
get food and stuff.
[05:05]
CD: What did you do for work in Burma?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: She just uh, like, shew? Like sewing? Sew? And then her father work, like go to, go out
and work. And didn’t get a lot of money. Yeah. She doesn’t, like, she was younger and
then there’s no other jobs, so she did not work.
CD: Hm. That makes sense.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: How many children were there in your family?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Six.
CD: Six. And where do you fall? Are you the youngest? The middle? The oldest?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: She’s the middle.
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CD: The middle.
YHM: Um hm.
CD: How long, how long did you live in Burma?
HBB: [Translating in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
HBB: Well she was born in 1972 and then 2000 . . . ?
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: 2000 she went to
YHM: [Speaks. I think she says: “Mayanmar. Mayanmar.”]
HBB: Refugee camp.
YHM: Refugee camp. Um hm.
HBB: So she don’t, she don’t know, like to guess how . . . ?
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Yeah. In 1972 to 2000.
CD: Why did you leave Burma?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
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HBB: She cannot live there anymore; there’s civil wars and the problems, so, so she have to
move.
CD: And what was your experience like leaving? Was it difficult
HBB: [Begins translating in Burmese.]
CD: or easy?
HBB: Sorry
[HBB and CD laugh because they started talking at the same time]
CD: Pardon me. Pardon me.
HBB: Ok.
CD: Go [ahead.] Was it difficult or easy? Can you describe what your departure was like?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: It’s very difficult.
CD: And why was it difficult?
HBB: Um hm.
CD: I’m sure there’s probably many ways that it was.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: It’s a difficult and then she had to go with across jungle. And then take a, like, in the city,
kind of, well she take a car to, to get a ride, get a ride. And walking, and get a ride too.
CD: Did you go with your whole family, or were you alone?
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: With the family.
CD: And where did you relocate to? Where did you move from Burma to?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Thai refugee camp.
CD: K. What was your experience like living in the refugee camp?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
[10:13]
HBB: Sometimes she just stay home, and then, there a group that give free foods. And then
when the time comes, like, the people in, like Mae Sot, in Thailand, they open a job for,
like, season. And then her husband and her go out work there, like, if they can. Um hm.
CD: For work did you, did you still sew? Or did you do something else in the camp?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: In the camp, there is no jobs, so just sew a little. Not much.
CD: How did you get the materials for you to sew?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
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YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. She bought it.
CD: She bought it.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: In the camp, or did you have to go outside the camp?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: Hm.
HBB: Yeah, inside the camp.
CD: Inside the camp. You said that sometimes you were given, the that the food that you got
was free. What, what did you eat? Was it enough?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: It’s not enough. They just give, like, rice and oil. And for the, like, fish and meat and
stuff she have to find a way to buy those things.
CD: And the meat
HBB: Um hm.
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CD: and the fish would be purchased,
HBB: Yeah
CD: again, outside of the
HBB: Um hm.
CD: camp?
CD: Ok. What about the medical care that you received in the camp? Tell me about that.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: There a hospital, and if you get sick you can go there
HBB: [asks Ya He Ma in Burmese to clarify her statement.]
YHM: Hm.
HBB: yeah [confirms] for free.
CD: And the hospital was
HBB: Um hm.
CD: in the camp?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Affirms.]
HBB: Yeah. In the camp.
CD: Did you have to go there often?
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: No she didn’t ‘cause, uh um, [illegible] she didn’t have to go.
CD: That’s good.
CD: Did any of your children have to go there?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: No.
CD: What about the school? I, I’m assuming you didn’t attend, but maybe you did, if not,
could you tell me about, did your children go to school? What was that like?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. Well she didn’t attend to school, but her childrens they don’t have to go to school.
It’s not like in here, if you want to you can go, and you don’t have to.
CD: So, your children did not go to school?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yes. They did.
CD: Ok, but it wasn’t required?
HBB: Yeah, it wasn’t required.
CD: And what were the, I’m going to follow that up with another question later, but [makes a
notation in notebook to ask a follow-up question prompted by the previous one she just
asked. Moving on down her list of questions:] what were the day-to-day living
conditions? What was it like spending a day in the camp?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
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YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
[15:02]
HBB: She had to worry about the food, ‘cause it’s not enough, and then she has no money, so
every day that she had to worry about money.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, because of the war, there is no work. And here, she can work, and then, if she
want, like, clothing, she can go buy. She can go buy . . . Yeah, she got money.
CD: Hm. That’s the difference.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: How many, because, you got married in the camp, um, how many children did you have
while you were still living there in the Thai camp?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. She, she got married in Burma, and then, her childrens are all born in Burma.
CD: Ohh. Ok.
KMD: [Speaking in Burmese in the background.]
CD: What about your religious holidays, or your worship, how could, how did that differ from
being in Burma, and then the camp?
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: There’s no difference, because with her people, her community, they did, like, the same
thing.
CD: Ok.
HBB: And here also. It’s the same. They celebrate, the, the the religious holidays.
CD: Um hm. What did your celebrations look like in the camp then?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in English and Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in English and Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. Yeah.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. Um, the religious month, she had to fast for a month, and then after that, she had to,
like, cook for it—the holiday. And, and then the end of the holiday, she would, she
would, like, kill a cow and then serve the meat.
CD: Um hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
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HBB: If, only if she had money to, to buy cow.
[Har Be Bar and Cami laugh]
CD: I was going to ask you, how difficult was it to get a cow? Did you sometimes have to go
without a cow?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Well,
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Well, there’s people that who can buy cow, they will, like, give people that who don’t
have, who can’t buy, so, they share meat.
YHM: Um hm.
CD: That’s very nice.
HBB: Um hm. Yeah.
CD: What was the political climate towards refugees, of the, yeah, towards refugees? Was it,
does that make sense [asking Har Be Bar]?
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HBB: Yeah.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: He’s [Ka Ma Din] helping [laughs].
CD: That’s, that’s fine.
[20:00]
DG: Is that your dad?
HBB: Yeah, that’s my dad.
DA: What’s his name?
HBB: Ka Ma Din.
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DA: Ka Ma Din?
HBB: Um hm. Hm.
CD: Nice to meet you?
HBB: K-a, M-a, D-i-n [spelling his name].
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.] But the government there, uh, didn’t help at all. They just, like,
looked down to, to them.
DA: Hm. Um hm.
HBB: Yeah, they didn’t help. At all. That’s what he’s trying to say.
CD: Ok. That makes sense. Describe to me your feelings about, about safety in the camp.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Sometimes she feel like she’s not safe because um people might come to the camp and
then burn the houses and then with the gun come, can come and shoot them.
CD: Did you ever have this happen to you or see this happen to someone else?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese. (Ka Ma Din has)]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
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HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. It didn’t happen to them but they have seen that happen to others.
DA: Hm.
HBB: Yeah, the, they will come and kill and, like, shoot them, and then burn their houses.
CD: How did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: U.I.
YHM: U.I.
YHM: U.I.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: There is a group called the U.I. help the, the refugee camp, and then they would they
announce them: “If, if you guys want to come to U.S. you have to register.” And then if
you don’t want to then you don’t have to. So, that’s how they learned it.
CD: Ok. How did you apply? Did you have any help?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: There was, there was a translator that helped them with how many families they have.
And then, yeah, basically how to register, like, with the translator.
CD: So what about your parents? Where, where did they live?
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Her mom already passed away; only her dad lived in then Burma.
CD: He’s in Burma still?
HBB: Yeah.
CD: And why is he still there?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. Well, he’s not in the camp. He just in Burma. And then he’s very old so he cannot
come to U.S.
CD: Maybe going back to this question about getting help to apply for the refugee camp. You
said you had a translator. Describe for me the process? Was it difficult or easy? And how
long did it take for the application to go through?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
[25:11]
HBB: It took, it took like, three months, because there are a lot of people. And then they have to
do the training to, like, how to get, when you get in the plane, what do you have to do,
like, they give, like, training for everything; also use, using the bathroom too. Like, sort
of that stuff.
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CD: So, preparing them culturally
HBB: Yeah. Um hm.
CD: for going to wherever they were going to.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: And where did those trainings take place?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, at the camp.
CD: At the camp. Did the, who did, who conducted the training?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: There are people from the U.S., and, like Americans and Thai people too.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. In one training there are two people, like, one American and the one the who can
speak English. Like the translator.
CD: And if this is too personal [laughs], but you said that you had to be trained, like, things
like, how
HBB: Um Hm.
CD: to use the bathrooms?
HBB: Um Hm.
CD: What is the, what’s the difference?
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HBB: Um, I know it so . . . [Har Be Bar does not need to ask her mother because she knows the
answer to my question.
CD: Ok. You go ahead.
HBB: Um hm. Yeah, for that, in the camp we just only use the water.
CD: Um Hm.
HBB: And then here they use toilet paper.
CD: Um Hm.
HBB: So yeah,
CD: Um Hm.
HBB: we don’t, you guys don’t use water, so we trained like that.
CD: Yeah, that’s true. Interesting.
HBB: Um hm. Yeah.
[all laugh]
CD: I personally think it’s better to use water
[all laugh]
YHM: [speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [speaks in Burmese.] Yeah.
CD: Alright. What other things, that you just didn’t know about before, or you know, for the
training, can you think of any?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, basically the training is for the plane. Like, inside of the plane you have to wear
seatbelt. And then you cannot just walk around. You have to stay in the seat, and then if
you need, like, help, and then you want to throw up, like, what do you need to do.
CD: So, pretty standard though, I guess [laughs],
HBB: [laughs]
CD: for anybody who is a first-time flyer.
HBB: Yeah [laughs].
[Cami and Har Be Bar laugh]
CD: Alright. And how long were you in the Thai camp?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese]
HBB: Seven years
CD: Seven years. Wow.
CD: Where did you first arrive in the U.S.?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Uh hm. Salt Lake City.
CD: Salt Lake City?
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah then case, caseworker um, like, send them here [I am assuming she means Cache
Valley], because they have job here for them.
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CD: How long were you in Salt Lake before you moved to Logan?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Six months.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese
CD: Six months. What was, what was that first day, like in, in the United States, or that first
um, first week, or the seven months? Could you tell me a bit about that?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese; laughs]
[30:01]
HBB: Well, um, like, the first week they slept day, and then, like, nighttime they will wake up
and then cook and eat,
[Har Be Bar, Ya He Ma, and Cami laugh]
HBB: which is funny.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, because now it’s different time.
CD: Um hm.
HBB: It would be day here and then night over . . .
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CD: Um hm. Um hm. Anything else you’d like to share [I meant anything else to add to my
question I just posed, but Ya He Ma misunderstood me to mean that I was asking her if
she wanted to keep interviewing]?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm hm. Would, what else do you have more questions?
CD: What do I mean?
HBB: Um hm. No.
CD: Oh!
HBB: What do you have, like,
CD: Oh! For questions?
HBB: left?
CD: Um, we have a few more.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: Are you alright if we, if we ask some more or are you tired?
[Cami laughs]
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah.
CD: Ok. Um. You worked, you have a caseworker here, when you first arrived. Was he or she
helpful?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, he’s helpful.
CD: Hm. Did you get, did you receive aid from any, anyone else? A religious organization or
a government organization?
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HBB: Um, like help from . . . ?
CD: Help or aid. Yeah.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: Help.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, there was a religious group that came, and then give cloth and food. Then they also
give their number. Like, if we need, we need help they can call.
CD: Do you remember the religious group?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, he remember. It’s in still in Salt Lake. And then it’s at the Mosque called [illegible,
she may be saying Khadeeja.]
CD: Ok. Through the Mosque?
HBB: Um hm.
CD: Do you ever go back there to Salt Lake to visit that mosque?
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah he did, like, once a year when the Eid comes.
CD: Still do you?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: yes still.
CD: Do you have friends that, or acquaintances there that you meet when you go back?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yes.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
CD: Was there anything that could have been improved? For those people that helped you, do
you wish they would have done something else, or something more?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese].
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Well, um, they don’t have to, like, improve, like, improve themselves. Um it’s enough
from them. Like, they give free food and clothes. The shirts. Stuff.
CD: So it felt like
HBB: Yeah.
CD: it it was enough?
HBB: Um hm. Yeah, it was enough. And then they also, like, um, talk to them, like, don’t feel
bad in this country, its, like, a good country. Then they, the people are in here, like, very
nice. Like culturally. Yeah.
CD: How long have you lived in Cache Valley, or Logan?
YHM: [Responds in Burmese].
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese].
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
[35:02]
HBB: Seven years.
CD: Seven years [laughs]?! So the same amount of time that you spent, that you spent in the
camp.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah. Um hm.
CD: Wow.
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CD: What, what do you do here in, in Logan? What, what is it like for your family?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese].
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese].
HBB: Um she’s working at Miller [known as the E. A. Miller Plant, or the JBS Plant. I’m not
sure what the official name is; my research gave several names.]. And then also her
husband work. Yeah, at the beginning only her husband work, and then now she work,
just only, like, [Begins speaking in Burmese to her mother.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Like, yeah, almost a month. Like, nine, nine months.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Oh, not a month! A year! Yeah.
CD: So just started?
HBB: Yeah just . . .
CD: This is your first year here? Working there?
HBB: Um hm.
HBB: No, like, no. [Begins speaking in Burmese to her mother.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: She work there like one, one year before. Yeah.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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HBB: And then she got pregnant, so she quit. And then now she started again.
CD: Ohhh. Wow.
CD: So what do you do at Miller?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese]
HBB: Um, when they already take out the skin. And then she would, like, clean the body of the
cow.
David: Eew.
DA: Um hm.
CD: Wow. Hard work?
YHM: Yeah. Hard.
CD: Wow. How many uh . . .
YHM: Hour?
CD: Yeah. How many hours and how many cows do you do? Every hour?
YHM: Today, [Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: Hm.
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: Hm.
HBB: 1800 cows per day. And then
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: seven and a half hours.
CD: Hmm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: That’s a lot of cows
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Like, over a thousand cows.
CD: Hm.
DG: Wow.
CD: Are you, do you work by yourself? Do you work with other women? Other men?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Um hm.
HBB: Oh with mens and womens around her.
CD: Um hm. Is the job that you do typically done by women or men?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, that work it’s not that hard, so it’s for women.
CD: Um hm. Are there many women that work at Miller? I guess compared to how many men
are there?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah there a lot of womens, but mens are, like, more mens.
DA: Um hm. Um hm.
CD: Do you, do you ever, Oh sorry go ahead [I interrupted Har Be Bar here, but she
acknowledged she had nothing more to say]!
HBB: Um hm.
CD: Do you ever see your husband at work?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: No.
CD: No. You don’t . . . ?
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KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: It’s different times.
CD: Ohh. So what . . . ?
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: He works more hour.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Like, nine hours a day. And then, yeah. And the lunch time is different.
CD: Um hm.
HBB: So they never see each other.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
[40:01]
HBB: in the same.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: She work in hot department and then he work in cold department.
CD: And what do you do there [asking Ka Ma Din]?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: He take out the, like, something from the skin. Not skin, but from the meat.
CD: Um hm.
DA: Um hm.
HBB: Yeah.
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KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um, like, three, like whole meat, in the minute.
CD: Oh. Three, three from the knife?
HBB: Yeah. Um hm.
DA: Wow.
CD: Three cuttings?
HB: Yeah, three cuttings.
CD: And because you work at, you’re working different shifts, do you, do you travel there
together in the morning, or do, how do you get to work?
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah it’s different. Um, they go, like. They didn’t go together. He go with his car and
then she go with other, like, coworker’s car.
CD: And are, are they friends from, um, this housing area here that you go? Or does
somebody pick you up from somewhere else?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, from, uh well, she live, like, very, pretty close from here.
CD: Um hm. K.
CD: Is this someone you met at work? Or knew before?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Mmm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
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HBB: Yeah. She, she met her before she worked there.
CD: Do you feel like, do you feel included in the Logan community? Do you feel like your
family is accepted?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
[Maung Maung is talking in the background, as well as Ka Ma Din]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, they feel like part of the community.
CD: Is there anything that the, the, that you wish the community would do to make you feel
more welcome? Or things that you wish you could, or your family could, participate in
that would, would, would help you feel more welcome?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
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YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: Hm.
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um, well, she’s living here, it’s um, they feel like part of the community, and then they
don’t have to like, they don’t have to improve.
CD: Ok.
HBB: Everything’s fine.
CD: How, how is your home here different than the one in the Thai camp? Or in Burma?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: It’s different, like, way different.
CD: Can you explain?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Well there . . .
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Um, well, it’s, the house is made of um bamboo tree. And they don’t have couch
and beds. And they only have to sleep on the floor with pillow. And with the, uh they
make canopy too, because there are, like, bugs still. Yeah.
[45:16]
DA: That was my question about bugs.
[Cami laughs]
[The Muslim Call to prayer sounded from the computer in the room.]
CD: Is it . . . ?
David: Is it the call to prayer?
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Yes.
CD: Should we . . . ?
DA: Do you need us to go?
HBB: Well, it’s ok. Well this time it’s fine.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Well, we are supposed to be, like, praying but
DG: We, we can step outside if you need to, if you need us to.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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HBB: Well, when that come, we have to listen,
DA: Ok.
HBB: so you can stay here.
CD: We will, we will stay if that’s alright.
HBB: Um hm. [Speaks in Burmese.]
[Maung Maung is speaking in the background while the call to prayer is taking place.]
HBB: Ok it’s done now.
CD: Thanks.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: Could you tell me about your experiences with your landlord?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Um hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um, well, she don’t have much experience with him because she lived in another
apartment for six years, so. Just only, about . . .
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: a year in here.
DG: Ok.
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CD: How, how was the landlord in the other place you were living for six years?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: She’s a
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, she’s good. Yeah, she’s helpful.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
[50:01]
HBB: Um, it’s not landlord. Like a manager.
CD: Manager.
HBB: Yeah.
CD: Mm hm.
HBB: We never see landlord, landlord
CD: Ok.
HBB: in that apartment.
CD: K. Ummm, what would you like the people of Logan to know about you and your
family? Your ethnic group?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: Hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Well, before they do, but now they don’t because, um well, they can handle, like, their
situation them, themselves, because now, like, I can help them with the letters that come. Yeah.
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CD: Oh the, the letters in the mail?
HBB: Yeah. Mm hm.
CD: Oh. Like the bills and
HBB: Yeah. Bills and stuff.
CD: everything like that? So, you don’t need, they don’t need any help?
HBB: No. No Help.
CD: Ok. Would you, would you like to go back to Burma?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: She would just like to visit. She don’t like to go live there, because, well, she has a father,
so she would like to go visit.
CD: I see. Do you ever get to talk to him or contact him? Your father?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, she called and . . .
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: And she sometimes send money to him.
CD: What are you most proud of?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm. Um, they’re very happy that they could come here. And then people are here,
like, very fair, fairly. And then the policy, yeah the policy, they like the policy here.
Yeah, because people are here don’t look down to them. Then, yeah, from camp or
Burma, well the people, like, looked down. They don’t have money or anything. It’s way
different.
CD: What are your dreams for your future?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Her dream is to buy a house. And then his dream is, like, to raise his, his childrens. Like,
finish college. Yeah, that’s pretty much it.
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CD: K. Those are, I’m done with my questions. Is there anything else you’d like to share with
us? That I haven’t asked you about?
[55:06]
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. Hm. [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: She don’t have anything to say, but, for him, he’s happy that you guys came and asked
these questions. He’s very proud of them.
CD: We’re very grateful that you gave, that you let us.
DA: Thank you.
CD: Do any of you, I’m going to ask my colleagues if they have any follow-up questions from
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
CD: from the . . .
DA: I do. Do have questions?
DG: Ah yes, I do.
DA: Want to go first?
DG: Ok.
CD: So, go ahead, David.
DG: So, first, we spoke to Har Be Bar this morning [during Har Be Bar’s interview], and she
said that you, you organized the dishes [in the kitchen; the dishes are arranged in a
pattern for beauty; see photos.]? We, we it looked, it looked very, like
DA: It was beautiful.
DG: Yeah.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
DG: Now um, let me see. My next question is, I noticed you have Arabic posters on the walls.
Can you read Arabic? Or is it just for decoration?
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Well, yeah they know how to read.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Um hm.
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
DG: Is he, is he reading the text?
HBB: Hm?
DG: Is, is he reading the text or . . . ?
WBB: Well, that text is, it says, “Allah.” It’s, like, our god.
DA: Um hm. Um hm.
DG: I see.
HBB: Um hm. That one is Mecca. It’s in Saudi Arabia.
DA: Right.
DG: Um hm.
CD: Yeah.
DG: K. Awesome. Um, let me see. You said now that, you said now that you’re in this
apartment you have a couch and a bed. Um, do you prefer sitting on the couch, sleeping
on the bed? Or do you prefer what you had in Burma?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Uh, yeah, she prefer a couch and beds.
DG: Ok. Ok now, uh, my last question: You said when you came here you got to a, you were
given a number to call if you ever needed help with something? And, I’m just curious,
did you ever call that number? And if so, what happened?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: No. He never called.
DG: Ok. Those are my questions.
DA: Ok. Where in Oregon does your other daughter live?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: Portland.
HBB: Portland.
YHM: Portland. Portland.
KMD: Portland. Portland.
HBB: Portland.
DA: Portland!
HBB: Portland.
DA: Yeah. Oh yay!
CD: I have family there.
[all laugh]
DA: I love Portland.
CD: My dad is from Oregon.
DA: Yeah. Is she happy there?
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YHM: Yeah.
DA: Yes. She’s likes it there. Ok. Who has bigger bugs? Burma or America?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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HBB: There’s a jungle, so it’s bigger over there. Here, like, they never see the big [illegible
(bird?)].
DA: How big is the biggest bug?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm. [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Hm.
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
[1:00:10]
HBB: Bird
[Laughs]
DA: Yeah
HBB: [laughs] Not bird. Not bird.
[Har Be Bar and Deanna laugh.]
YHM: [Speaks in Burmese.]
HBB: Like you mean, like what kind of, like,
DA: Yeah. Like,
HBB: bugs
DA: yeah. So the jungle I would think
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HBB: Um hm.
DA: has different, different animals and different
HBB: Um hm.
DA: insects. You know? What were they like? They, I mean, ‘cause you say like you had to
have a, a bug shield or something?
HBB: Um hm.
DA: So from what? Like what? Little ones? Big ones?
HBB: Yeah! Um we, we had the bug, like, the canopy?
DA: Yeah! Canopy!
HBB: Yeah. Um it’s for the little bugs.
DA: The little, like, mosquitos and ?
HBB: Yeah the mosquito.
DA: Yeah.
HBB: Yeah.
DA: Ok. Um. Ok. This is, it’s ok if this is a question that we don’t want to talk about, but, in
America women usually live longer than men. But I hear a lot of you say, “My mother
has passed away.” Is there a reason for that? A reason why? It’s just different.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: [Speaks in Burmese.]
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
[1:02:06.4] First file ends
[00:01] Second file begins:
KMD: [Speaks in Burmese.]
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HBB: Because there are, like, no good hospitals
DA: No hospitals
HBB: and then by giving birth
DA: Um hm.
HBB: they pass away mostly.
DA: Um hm. That’s what I wondered. Ok. I think that’s all of my questions.
CD: I guess I had one more [laughs].
[Har Be Bar laughs]
CD: Because we talked about [laughs] furnishings in the home,
HBB: Um hm.
CD: I know you all have mats like this.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: Do you get them from the Asian market? Or where, where do you get these mats from?
DA: They’re beautiful.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah, from
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Asian Store.
CD: Um hm. ‘Cause I’ve seen them down there [West Valley area in a Polynesian store],
HBB: Um hm.
CD but I didn’t know [laughs]
HBB: Yeah, we all have it.
DA: Yeah.
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HBB: Each of our [selves? Illegible].
DA: Yeah. It’s very beautiful.
HBB: Um hm.
CD: Do you have mats like, like this in Burma? Or the Thai camp? Or did you just start
getting them . . . ?
DA: ‘Cause you came here?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Yeah. We do have in Burma. And in the camp.
DA: Um hm. So this is traditional?
HBB: Yeah. Yeah, traditional.
CD: Beautiful. Alright. Ok, well that, that concludes our interview. Thank you
DA: Yeah,
CD: very much.
DA: Thank you very much.
CD: We have forms.
DA: Yeah.
CD: Yeah a couple forms
DA: Um hm.
CD: to sign. Release forms. We’re hoping that you’ll, we can use this information. We’ll put it
in the Utah State library—in the archives. And we are also going to create an exhibit about your
community.
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
CD: And we hope that you can attend the event? This is the invitation. Um, I’ll put my phone
number on the back if you need any help getting there—if you need a ride there. We’d like you
to bring your family and your friends if you . . .
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HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
DG: Now uh, as you guys are filling out the forms and stuff, would it be ok if I took a few
pictures?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
KMD: [Responds in Burmese.]
DG: Ok.
[All laugh. Ya He Ma seems a little nervous—Worried about how she looks.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
CD: That’s alright.
DA: You look beautiful.
[Cami laughs]
DA: You look beautiful. So shall I, can I stop the recording? Are we done?
CD: Oh, I guess I did have, I have one more question,
DA: Ok good.
CD: I do
DA: Um hm.
CD: Do you, do you still sew at all for, for your family, or do you sew, sew, um, for yourself
[I interrupt Har Be Bar’s translation]?
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
CD: Sorry
HBB: [Translates in Burmese.]
YHM: [Responds in Burmese.]
HBB: Well now she start working so she didn’t sew that much.
DA: Um hm.
CD: Alright, now I’m done.
DA: Ok. We will stop the recording now.
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[03:14]]]> Ya He Ma, 1972-;]]> Giles, David, 1986-;]]> Har Be Bar, 1995-;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> Dilg, Cami, 1986-;]]> transcripts;]]> application/pdf;]]> 234621 Bytes]]> bur; mya; eng;]]> Text;]]> Burma; Thailand; Salt Lake City, Utah; Logan, Utah; Cache Valley, Utah]]>