From Refugee to Teacher: A Middle School Story

Sophal Ear, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

U.S. Naval Postgraduate School 27 September 2012

The views expressed do not reflect the views of the Department of Navy or the Department of Defense.

But I could never have imagined this back in 1987…

I was just like you, a middle school student (then called junior high),

dreaming of high school.

Rewind to two weeks ago

I wrote a random e-mail to the general inbox of the Carmel Authors

& Ideas Festival.

The Founder, Jim McGillen answered.

Needless to say, good things happen when you know Cynthia and Jim McGillen Lesson #1: Get to know Cynthia and Jim

So how did I get to where I am?

From Refugee to Teacher in Five Acts

1. Cambodia 2. Vietnam 3. France 4. America 5. Returning to

Cambodia

I had six minutes to tell my story.

Today, I have nine more minutes to reflect on my family’s and my own

journey, with you.

MY WIFE, 8 MONTHS PREGNANT

MOM

BILL GATES

Act 1: Cambodia

There are no American combat troops in Cambodia. There are no American combat advisers in Cambodia. There will be no American combat troops or advisers in Cambodia. We will aid Cambodia. Cambodia is the Nixon doctrine in its purest form. —President Richard Nixon, November 1971

April 17th, 1975

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Evacuation of 2 million people from Phnom Penh in three days

47

Once upon a time ... there was a regime so evil that it created an antisociety where torture was currency and music, books, and love were abolished. This regime ruled for four years and murdered nearly 2 million of its citizens, a quarter of the population.

CAMBODIA

Michael Paterniti (2009)

Up to 16,000

50

54

55

One day in late-1975, close to sunset

On the third day of our journey towards Vietnam…

1935-1975

Act 2: Vietnam

A VIETNAMESE CITIZEN, A GOOD SAMARITAN

MOM

ME MY UNCLE AND AUNT

Act 3: France

A FRENCH CITIZEN, A GOOD SAMARITAN

Act 4: America

A TUTOR AND GOOD SAMARITAN

A GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR AND GOOD SAMARITAN

Good Samaritans* have appeared throughout my life.

*A person who gives help or sympathy to someone in distress.

This room is full of good Samaritans, behind me, in fact, are all the people

on whose shoulders I stand.

Lesson #2: We can all be good Samaritans to others.

To those whom much is given, much is expected.

—John F. Kennedy

Act 5: Returning to Cambodia

and the Khmer Rouge Tribunal now taking place there…

TUOL SLENG’S DIRECTOR, “DUCH”, CONFESSED AT KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL IN CAMBODIA, 2009.

VERDICT: GUILTY DEATHS: 12,273+ SENTENCE: 35 YEARS (REDUCED TO 19 FOR TIME ALREADY SERVED)

APPEALED. LOST.

RELEASED DUE TO ALZHEIMER’S.

My mom, Cam Youk Lim

June 1936-October 2009

A photomosaic of my mother, who had seven years of formal schooling, spoke five languages, and saved lives.

20 Lives Saved

Steven Sophal Ear, born March 2009

Steven at two years, seven months

Caitlyn Lim Ear, born March 2011

My third child, expected April 2013

Thank you