One teen, two cultures

By Jasmine Williams [DeKalb School of the Arts]

You can take the girl out the country, but you can’t take the country out the girl.

For Cambodian-American Kay Khan, 18, this is true. Khan, who is one of six children, had the advantage of being born in America, where her parents were refugees of a war stricken Cambodia. Khan’s parents arrived by plane from Cambodia in 1979.

"My family and I signed for a green card because of the war in Cambodia. My mother moved to America first, and five years later my husband’s family and I arrived,” said Khan’s mother, Saveth, a Bayou La Batre crabber.

After moving to America, it was not only smiling faces and friendly strangers that greeted the Khan family but questions, as well. They began to wonder how adjusting to a new environment would affect their past traditions.

“Adjustments were fine, better than Cambodia,” Saveth Khan said. “But it became very hard, because in Cambodia a man’s work can support an entire family, but in America it takes two people to make enough money for rent. And as far as our traditions, I believe they are important to preserve, because they have been in the family for years.”

Kay Khan, who is a native of the South, has never truly steered away from her heritage. It was the hardships that she faced growing up that conflicted her with her parent’s past traditions and newly introduced traditions from America.

“Even though I am more American and my parents are traditional Cambodians, I am still involved in my culture,” Kay explained.

Yet, the culture that makes Kay laugh with pride has not always been easy. It was topics such as dating that cultivated some frustration.

“My parents always told me you could not date guys, because you’re too young and in Cambodian traditions girls aren’t allowed to date, only marry,” Kay Khan said. “So it was hard for me, especially seeing other girls and the privileges they had. Also, my mother was afraid that when I did meet someone I would become distant.”

Regardless of the troubles that have been overbearing at times, Khan and her family have made the most of their second home by participating in elections and all the opportunities America has to offer.

“We like the overall view of America,” Saveth said.

“Yeah, America’s great!” Kay exclaimed. “I don’t think there’s any place better."

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