my mom took me to cambodia town in lowell to show me around and get some fish for grandpa. because cambodia is such a small country with a relatively low population, it’s wild when i see cambodians by the dozens. it trips me out that there is a cambodia town with people who speak khmer and eat prahok lol. i’ve only been to 2 other cambodia towns, which at this point, there has to be none left for me to visit. the first one was in long beach, and the second one was in philadelphia. when my cousin took me to eat at cambodia town in long beach in 2010, i remember the lady taking my order speaking to me in khmer. it felt different, bizarre actually because i had never heard anybody speak khmer in public that wasn’t related to me. it felt good, it felt like family. that’s similar to the experience i had today at one of the supermarkets. mom was talking to the workers in our language, and it felt like everybody in there was extended family, like cousins of some sort. don’t get me wrong, i love america, but it’s good to be reminded of our roots and how we came to be. although i haven’t quite cashed in on my potential yet, just seeing cambodians live the american dream is beautiful.
who would’ve thought?
-ratha, 4:11pm, 1.31.21