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TRANSLATOR SPOTLIGHT
April 2015

GHIA: 
Success in the Aftermath of War

Many 8-year old kids play war games.  They imagine being chased by enemies.  They imagine fear and danger.  And in the end, they imagine escaping, overcoming danger and surviving. 

For most kids, this is the stuff of imagination.  For Ghia in the 70s, escaping, overcoming danger, and learning how to survive in the aftermath of a ruthless war was a day-to-day reality.  

In 1979, while many kids his age were playing, 8-year old Ghia was running for his life from the war-torn village of Luangprabang, Laos.  His village was under siege by the Communist Party, which came to power in Laos when the Vietnam War ended just 4 years earlier.  The ensuing decades saw a bloody Communist rule in the country and in the neighboring Indochina* countries of Vietnam and Cambodia.  There were reports of atrocious human rights violations, rape, ethnic cleansing and genocide that annihilated entire villages.  Hundreds of thousands of lives were lost.

Ghia recalls those dark moments of being hunted down by the Communists:

"Shortly after the war ended, many of the Hmong that helped the Americans were slowly being hunted down by the Communist regime.  Villages, one by one, were stormed by Communist soldiers, and so my family escaped into the jungle and just never returned to our village,"  he says.  "We kept on going -- our goal was to cross the Mekong River* into Thailand."
____________________________________________________________
"Villages, one by one, were stormed by Communist soldiers, and so my family escaped into the jungle and just never returned to our village.  We kept on going -- our goal was to cross the Mekong River into Thailand."
_____________________________________________________________

The Hmong fled the country in droves and undertook the perilous journey through the deep jungles of Southeast Asia to seek asylum in the neighboring country of Thailand. Many never made it.  Countless died in the attempt.

Ghia and his parents were one of the lucky ones who survived the journey. Though he was too young to remember the details, his vague recollection is poignant:

"I don't know how long the journey took," Ghia recounts, "but I guess it must have taken weeks of walking before we eventually reached the river.  Then, we crossed the river by making bamboo rafts early in the morning to avoid being seen."


 

8-year old Ghia upon arrival at the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in Thailand.  The numbers represent the ID number assigned to each refugee in the camp.

 

"It (Ban Vinai) was one of the many refugee camps in Thailand where refugees flooded into after the Vietnam War.  We stayed there from the end of 1979 to middle of 1981 and then we came to USA.  The refugee camp was officially closed in 1996."


 

The province of Luangprabang where Ghia was born is located in north central Laos.  It was the former royal capital and seat of government prior to the Fall of Saigon* in 1975.  Up until he was 8 years old, he lived in Luangprabang as part of the Laotian Hmong community.  The Hmong, an ethnic group who lived in various regions of China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, were particularly vulnerable to Communist retaliatory attacks because they allied with the United States and fought against the Communists in the Vietnam War.  Reports estimate 100,000 out of 400,000 Hmong population were annihilated in the genocide.  Tens of thousands of Hmong fled from Laos and resettled in various refugee camps in Thailand and later, in the U.S.  Over 42,000 Hmong refugees were granted U.S. asylum between 1976 and 1981 and the wave of refugees continued in the ensuing decades.  By 1990, an estimated 90,000 Hmong refugees had moved to the U.S.*

It was against this backdrop of bloodshed, oppression, war, destruction and fear that Ghia's early drive to succeed took root.  

"Growing up, I was motivated to do well and took control of the many opportunities that were ahead of me,"  he says.  "I'm glad to have the opportunity to come to America."

While the experience seemed of another lifetime, Ghia devoted a career to memorialize the Hmong experience in the aftermath of war.  In 1996, he co-authored a book about the experiences of the Hmong people entitled, I Begin My Life All Over.  It was published in 1998 while he was still a student.  


Ghia's project:  I Begin My Life All Over:  The Hmong and the American Immigration Experience, a joint collaboration with author, Lillian Faderman, was published by Beacon Press in 1998.

"The book is about the life experiences of Hmong refugees here in America through the voices of many refugees.  

I was just one of those many voices. Also, the older generation Hmong shared of their life and struggles during the Vietnam War.  I interviewed and translated all of their interviews - over 35 interviews."




Currently, Ghia teaches a certificate program on Hmong healthcare interpreting at Reedly Community College in Northern California.  He is also Reliable Translations' top Hmong interpreter and translator and a valuable resource for issues on Hmong language and culture.  Larry Marshall at Reliable Translations' interpreting department describes Ghia as an expert who is sought-after by clients.

Through his work, Ghia has given voice to the Hmong, whose stories are a testament to the innate strength of the human spirit to endure, overcome and survive.  He has come a long way from the rubbles of war in Southeast Asia to the halls of the academe in America.  

This month, Reliable Translations' pick for Translator of the Month for April 2015 is Ghia -- Hmong interpreter, translator, author and professor.


When did you come to the United States?

I was born in the province of Luangprabang, Laos and came to the United States as a refugee when I was 10 years old.  I arrived in the U.S. in August 1981 from the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand, where our family stayed for over a year (after leaving Laos).  I came here not knowing a word of English.  (From Thailand) we were re-settled at the time in the largest Hmong community in the country located here in Fresno, CA.  


 

What was your impression of the refugee camp?


At 10 years old, the camp was like a big play ground for me.  I really enjoyed it and had many friends.  Coming here at the age of 10, it was easier for me to re-adjust.  Also, because we came to the largest Hmong community in the country, I did not lose my Hmong like many of my peers.  I was so much a part of the culture and its richness that I've served as an expert on Hmong culture on a number of court trials.

What was it like coming to a foreign country as a refugee and start a new life?

Growing up I was motivated to do well and took control of the many opportunities that were ahead of me.  I'm glad to have the opportunity to come to America.  Otherwise, if I were still back home in Laos, I would just be a farmer.  

 

What was life like in Laos?


 

I do not remember much about Laos other than helping my parents farmed.  Then the War started and we escaped through jungles, and eventually ended up in the refugee camps.  Finally, here in the U.S.


 

My family were from the province of Luagprabang, Laos.  Shortly after the War ended, many of the Hmong that helped the Americans were slowly being hunted down by the communist regime.  Villages, one by one, were stormed by communist soldiers, and so my family escaped into the jungle and just never returned to our village.  We kept on going knowing our goal was to cross the Mekong River into Thailand. 


I don't know how long the journey took, but I guess it must have taken weeks of walking before we eventually reached the river.  Then we crossed the river by making bambo rafts early in the morning to avoid being seen.


Having gone through that experience, what are your thoughts on the 

Vietnam war?


For me, war in general is always bad because so many people's lives are lost.  But I must say if it were not for the Vietnam War, I may have not been here with this kind of opportunity. So, I am thankful for those that sacrificed their lives for this opportunity.


How long have you been translating?


I have been translating ever since I was in college as a student.  


What motivated you to become a professional interpreter? 


 

The need for Hmong interpreters to become professional in their work.  I've seen so many unprofessional Hmong interpreters and would like to improve the skills in doing Hmong interpreting.  Also, it is important for me to maintain the Hmong language. 


What is your favorite subject or field to translate?


 

Legal and medical.


What do you like most about what you do as a translator?


The chance to meet others in the same line of work, as well as the chance to meet the employers.


What activities do you enjoy the most? 


I enjoy learning about other people and their culture and spending time with my family.


Can you share with us any noteworthy moments or milestones in your career and life in general?


I received the Graduated Dean's Medalist from CSU Fresno as one of the Top Graduate Students in 2002.  I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biology-Physiology and a Master's degree in Counseling.  I co-authored a book on the experiences of the Hmong people entitled, "I Begin My Life All Over."  The book is about the life experiences of Hmong refugees here in America from the various generations of Hmong.


 



Ghia graduated with honors from 
California State University in Fresno, CA - pictured here with his children aged 9 and 4 at the time.



"Growing up I was motivated to do well and took control of the many opportunities that were ahead of me.  I'm glad to have the opportunity to come to America. "


 

Congratulations on your accomplishments!  Can you tell us a little more about the book?   


The book is about the Hmong refugees here in America through the voices of many refugees. I was just one of those many voices. Also, the older generation Hmong shared of their life and struggles during the Vietnam War.  I interviewed and translated all of their interviews - over 35 interviews.  


How did the book come project come about?


I wanted to share so much about the Hmong people and their journey to America, and the best way to do it was by talking to them and finding a publisher who was willing to help publish the stories.  I worked with my English professor, Dr. Lillian Faderman on the book.  It was published by Beacon Press in 1998 when I was still a student.


What would be your top three suggestions for other interpreters and translators so that they too make a lasting impression on clients and therefore get more work?


 Be confident.  Be on time.  Be professional.


__________________

Terms with asterisk*

Laos - noun/: a republic in Southeast Asia; first united as the kingdom of Lan Xang ("million elephants") in 1353, after being a province of the Khmer Empire for about four centuries; made part of French Indochina in 1893 and gained independence in 1949; became a republic in 1975. It is generally forested and mountainous, with the Mekong River running almost the whole length of the W border. Official language: Laotian. Religion: Buddhist majority, tribal religions. Currency: kip. Capital: Vientiane. Pop: 6 695 166 (2013 est). Area: 236 800 sq km (91 429 sq miles) Official name: People's Democratic Republic of Laos.  (source:  Collins English Dictionary,

http://www.collinsdictionary.com).


Vietnam War - a protracted military conflict (1954-1975) between South Vietnam, supported by United States forces, and Communist North Vietnam. The war resulted in a North Vietnamese victory and unification of Vietnam under Communist rule.  (source:  The Free Dictionary, http://www.thefreedictionary.com)


 Indochina - noun/ a peninsula in Southeast Asia, between the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea, comprising Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, W Malaysia, and Burma (Myanmar). (source:  Dictionary.com, http://dictionary.reference.com)


Hmong (hm�NG) - def. definition of HMONG:  noun/ 1:  a member of a mountain-dwelling people inhabiting southeastern China and the northern parts of Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.  2: the language of the Hmong people.  Plural: Hmong (Source:  Merriam-Webster Dictionary, www.merriam-webster.com)


Mekong River - the longest river in Southeast Asia, the 7th longest in Asia, and the 12th longest in the world. It has a length of about 2,700 miles (4,350 km). Rising in southeastern Qinghai province, China, it flows through the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan province, after which it forms part of the international border between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, as well as between Laos and Thailand. The river then flows through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam before draining into the South China Sea south of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Vientiane (Viangchan), the capital of Laos, and Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, both stand on its banks. About three-fourths of the drainage area of the Mekong lies within the four countries the river traverses on its lower course-Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. (source:  Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com).


 The Fall of Saigon - on April 30, 1975, the Vietnam War ended as North Vietnamese troops captured the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon. All Americans remaining in the city were evacuated. Saigon was immediately renamed Ho Chi Minh City, after the late revolutionary leader of Vietnam. (source:  National Geographic, section on Education:  1975 Fall of Saigon - This Day in Geographic History, http://education.nationalgeographic.com)


Hmong Refugees - several hundred thousand Hmong people took the treacherous voyage on foot through the Laotian countryside and across the Mekong River into Thailand in the two decades following the communist occupation in Laos in 1975. Awaiting them on the other side of the Mekong were rudimentary refugee camps: Nong Khai, Ban Vinai, Chiang Kham, and Ban Nam Yao.  Ban Vinai and Chiang Kham camp consisted of mostly Hmong refugees.  The first group of an estimated 25,000 Hmong refugees reached Thailand in May of 1975.  The first wave of refugees can be categorized as entering camps from 1975 to 1977.  This group consisted mostly of soldiers and their families that fought against the communist during the war. The second wave last from 1978 to 1982.  In the year 1979, there was an estimated 60,000 refugees residing in camps in Thailand with close to 3,000 Hmong crossing the Mekong monthly to find refuge in Thailand. During the third wave, from 1982 to 1986, the amount of Hmong refugees increased still.... In 1990, an estimated 90,000 Hmong refugees had moved the United States to restart their lives.  Some also went to France, Canada, Australia, Argentine and French Guyana.  Since then, and another estimated 60,000 have moved to these countries with a majority residing in the United States. (source:  Hmong Culture, http://www.hmongculture.net/hmong-people/hmong-refugees)


I Begin My Life All Over: The Hmong and the American Immigrant Experience -  described in Google Books as "the story of thirty-six Hmong immigrants to California, tracing their journey from the subsistence farms of Laos, through their harrowing escape into the camps of Thailand, and to relocation to a new continent, and to a new century. Interspersed throughout these first-person narratives, Lillian Faderman provides historical and cultural context, and draws rich comparisons between the experience of the Hmong in the 1990s and her mother's immigration from Eastern European shtetls in the 1930s." By Lillian Faderman with Ghia Xiong, published by Beacon Press.  Available on Amazon.


 

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