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Friday, February 11, 2011

Laura Mam & Her All-Female Band, “The Like Me’s”

I was so delighted to discovered that this article I wrote got the most twitter hits on CAA’s website! It was published on February 9th, 2011.


Similar to Sex and the City, the Like Me’s consists of four females, half of which are Cambodian and the other half Filipina. With different talents and varied ages, they complement one another to form a unique sound. The R&B/Alternative/& Pop Southeast Asian American band is much like the Cambodian Alliance for the Arts since they target both a global and domestic audience to accomplish their mission; to empower and to heal. Just like any crew or organization, the band was established through common experiences and interests. It was due to painful, personal breaks-ups that the ladies formed a common bond and decided to empower and unite themselves as the Like Me’s. It often takes an accident of fate to bring people together, but from this chance occurrence, new beginnings arise…

The all female band focuses on performing songs that bring back Cambodian classics (Sva Rom Monkiss) from before the Khmer Rouge era. They sing songs in Khmer, English and French. As a Southeast Asian all female band, they hope to inspire the younger generation both in Southeast Asia and in the western world. By providing an outlet for the Southeast Asian community, the Like Me’s are making history, one country at a time…now they are on their way to Cambodia!

With constant laughter and happiness the divas joined me for a Skype interview. The band members; Helena Hong, Loren Alonzo, Laura Mam and Monique Coquilla (from left to right in above picture), seemed to be both nervous and excited. I spoke with them about how they got started, how they are as a band, and how they feel about their upcoming tour in Cambodia on February 13th. Lead singer and guitarist Laura Mam explains how the Like Me’s got started. She hopes that fans can similarly find empowerment and healing by turning to art:

The Like Me’s got together through heartbreak. I mean all of us by different people. But thanks to those people, we got together. We made music together. Then we found our healing process in each other. We found ourselves through music. It was incredible because we spent time expressing ourselves. Being honest with our music and sharing it. In the end, we created a lifetime friendship due to the broken hearts. So really our message is about empowerment and healing. In other words, finding yourself by digging deep, finding who you are, and actually having the courage to express it in whatever form that isn’t violence or drugs. You can actually take that energy and put it into something you actually love in many art forms.



Who is in the band (Name, instrument play, nationality & age)?
Like Me’s: Laura Mam- Guitar & Vocals (Cambodian, 24), Monique Coquilla- Drums (Filipino, 25), Loren Alonzo- Keyboard (Filipino, 24), Helena Hong- Bass (Cambodian, 31).

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Groupon Has Changed Our Lives!


When my husband and I were living in Santa Barbara attending graduate school, we did not have the luxury to eat out, not much but at all! Being a graduate student had a lot to do with this especially not having the money to eat out or the time to socialize. Every time our friends and relatives came to visit, they always asked, “So where is the best place you recommend to eat?” Most of the times, we tell them the truth and other times we recommended the only place that we go to for breakfast on every other Sunday, the Farmer Boy. Besides their delicious breakfast, which Farmer Boys delivery well, they also offer two for one coupon deal. This is not only one time but also a lot of time. We became regular customers yet still use the coupon deal. No matter how embarrassed or shad ball we may seemed, they still treated us with great service and friendly atmosphere just like any other customer who pay full price. In short, we ended up telling our friends and family to go to this place and we would actually take them with us sometimes. For example the day after our wedding, we had our guest eat there for breakfast. I guess that is our way of showing our appreciation for their great service and deal.


We love Farmer Boys so much that we never thought we would be able to find another great breakfast place especially now that we moved to San Diego. Then came along this great deal call Groupon. Basically Groupon service the same purpose as the two for one deal that we used at Farmer Boys except not just only one place but also hundreds and even more discounts!


My husband and I get the rush every morning just checking our email on the Groupon deal of the day. If we see a great deal, we check the location and yelp review. Depend on the result; we end up buying between 5 to 8 Groupons per month! These are deals anything from food at a restaurant to yoga unlimited month or a day event in San Diego area.

How would I describe Groupon? Groupon to me is a great service for both clients and local business owners. It is a two-way street. It allows customer to try out business from service to their products. It provides an opportunity for local business to shine and recruit more customers. I think Groupon also form partnership with local business owners. Through this agreement, local business offers somewhere 50% to 70% off on their product, food and etc.


So far we have mostly good experiences than the bad one with Groupon deals. Our most complaint for the bad experience is that restaurants, which are expensive or elegant like, tend to have horrible service. We have not figure out why yet we assume it could be that we use Groupon. Since we do not pay for the full price, it seems ok for the waiter/waitress to treat us with horrible service. Otherwise, Groupon has changed our lives!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Le Thi Dien Thuy -author of “The Gangster We Are All Looking For.”

This article was taken place on Tuesday night, February 2, 2011


The last few months I have been spending most of my time at the San Diego Library. I was very excited when I discovered that the public libraries are incredibly resourceful and have endless free books and movies! Besides writing my MA Thesis, I find myself renting movies and books. Although most of the movies are old “like so last year” or even take you way back to 60 years ago, I found myself truly appreciate them! Most importantly, I don’t even have to pay a dime!

About two month ago, I saw a book with many copies in front of the library door entry and all over the check out counter space. The book has a cover of a woman that has similar features to me with a strange title, “The Gangster We Are All Looking For.” Not only her feature screamed “READ ME” because it could be about a Cambodian story. In some part of her name is like my middle name! Could this be a coincidence that this book has my name all over it? Of course being the curious I am, I read the back of the book and ended up checking it out!

This evening, with one chapter left to go in the book, I attended the One Book, One San Diego Author Talk with Le Thi Dien Thuy. I had the great fortune to be in the same present and received autograph by the author of “The Gangster We Are All Looking For.” I also had the opportunity to pump up my energy level through watching the break-dancer performed. Most important, I truly felt a sense of a community and support from the San Diegan as they sat here with me this evening listening to Thuy’s story and presentation.

Thuy’s presentation was a phenomenon. My whole body was filled with chills and emotions that at any moment tears would be running down my cheeks because I felt I related to her story. When Thuy was sharing her experience as a young child, she had to translate for her father, I felt as if it was my story she was talking about! Or the time she shared how grateful she is for the teachers who provided her with the right direction and supports. Oh wait, how about when she mentioned that she was a child refugee from Vietnam? Now we are talking. Suddenly, my body just gave up and tears fell on my golden tan cheeks. I had flash back of teachers, mentors and coaches who made a difference in my life. I also… owned many debts to them…

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

May- Lee Chai- Author of "Dragon Chica"

My first gig as a journalist has been published at Cambodian Alliance for the Arts(CAA). Below I interview the award-winning author and educator May-lee Chai about her relationship with the Cambodian community and what led her to write her latest book, “Dragon Chica.” When I asked her what her message for the Cambodian community was, Chai said,It doesn’t have to be defined by the Khmer Rouge anymore. This is a new beginning. I hope a lot more books come from Cambodian Americans.”



Wearing my shape-up shoes and my red-hot business coat, I walked more than two miles up the steep hills of San Francisco for the opportunity to get up close and personal with the award-winning author and educator May-lee Chai

Before I tell you about what it was like to meet up with this award-winning author and educator, let me share with you a little bit about my background and how much this interview meant to me.

As a Cambodian immigrant, I was looking forward to meeting Chai to discuss her recently released book, “Dragon Chica,” a novel about a Cambodian Chinese family who immigrated to the US in the 1980's. Much, like the main character in Chai's newly released novel, “Dragon Chica,” my family and I had to find ways to survive in America. I was born in a Thai refugee camp and came to the United States when I was eight years old. Along with the language and culture barriers I faced in the US, I was forced to grow up faster than most kids my age. I had the responsibility of helping my parents to access health care and looking after my younger siblings and making sure they were doing well in school. At times, living in our new country, we faced painful and hate-filled experiences, yet at other times we faced moments filled with laughter and happiness. It is due to my personal experience, that it was a great honor to meet with Chai who wrote this powerful novel that not only addresses the Cambodian immigrant experience, but also highlights the overarching xenophobia that some immigrants face in America.

While not being Cambodian herself, Chai has been involved with the Cambodian community since she was 15. Once she entered college, Chai states:

“I started a mentor group for the Cambodian immigrant community in Grinnell, Iowa. Then, as an Associated Press reporter, I made sure to include the Cambodian community in my articles. My first short story about Cambodians in America was published in Seventeen in 1994. I continued to reach out to the Cambodian community. I try to do what I can and that is to write and tell their stories, their struggles, and their dreams. Since they too are a part of the community. I wanted to emphasize America’s great diversity and show how Cambodians, too, are part of the fabric of America.”

Her latest book, “Dragon Chica,” was inspired by a promise she made to a Cambodian woman back when she was a teenager in South Dakota. The book, which was released last October, it is a coming-of-age novel, featuring an eleven-year-old girl named Nea. Along with her mother, three sisters and little brother she emigrated to Texas following the Khmer Rouge regime. After discovering the exciting news that a rich family member lived in Nebraska, the hopeful widowed mother and her children moved to what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Once in Nebraska the family opened the first Chinese restaurant in their new town. However, what Nea and her family did not expect was that escaping from the Khmer Rouge would not be their last negative experience. Their bad luck continued to haunt them, but this time in Nebraska they faced different struggles. Especially Nea, who was caught between two worlds: the one her family left behind in Cambodia and the new society in America. Nea experienced racism in school and she was put in Spanish ESL with Latin American students. These experiences ended up making Nea a stronger person and a fighter.

During our conversation, Chai and I shared our mutual experiences as advocates and writers and our joy in simply giving back to the community. Three hours later, Chai had marked a special place in my heart. She was friendly, open-minded, and caring, which allowed me to immediately feel comfortable and open up to her. Below I interviewed her about her background and what led her to write her latest book, “Dragon Chica.”


Yenly Thach: Where are you based?

May-Lee Chai: I’m based in San Francisco.

Thach: What is your Nationality?

Chai: I am mixed race. My mother strongly identified as Irish American through her maternal line, but there is also a German, English, French and Welsh person in my family tree and my father is Chinese. I think of myself as Asian American because I feel that’s a very broad category that can encompass many mixes and besides most people perceive me as Asian.

Thach: What made you want to become a writer?

Chai: In 1992 I encountered a cancer scare. I realized I didn’t want to die without writing. From that moment on, I made the decision about writing and made the time for it.

Thach: What inspired you to write “Dragon Chica?” Was this a story that you felt needed to be told?

Chai: I made a promise to a Cambodian woman who was very kind to me when I was 15 years old that I would tell the story that she told me of how her children died. They died as she tried to escape the Khmer Rouge by walking through a minefield. As a 15-year-old, I couldn’t tell that story yet. I didn’t have a way. However, that story does make it into this novel, so I feel I’ve finally fulfilled the promise.

Thach: What are the topics that you explore in this book?

Chai: I wanted to explore, among other things, the idea of America. Who is American? Who gets to decide what American culture is? As Nea struggles to fit in, she finds that every time the family moves to a new city or state, the culture is somewhat different—from the language to the food to even the ethnicity of the people in each part of the country.

Thach: Who is your favorite character in this book and why?

Chai: I love all the characters, even the ones who at first may seem really nasty in the book. I had to spend so much time writing about them and seeing the world from their point of view that I ended up empathizing with everyone.

Thach: What is the significance of the book's title?

Chai: The word Chica shows the issues with immigration in America. Dragon is seen by the society as a negative image for Asian women. I try to make it positive for the new generation. Besides, I thought the title, Dragon Chica sounds cool and back in your face in today’s society.

Thach: Explain Nea’s role as an outsider and her struggle for acceptance both as a Cambodian Chinese and American in Texas and Nebraska.

Chai: Nea is my fighter, all right. I started writing this novel at a time when the political rhetoric was very xenophobic in America, very anti-immigrant. Nea is a strong narrator so she became my way of fighting against the forces who would say people like her and her family (and frankly, most of us!) don’t belong.

Thach: How does Nea’s role change in her adulthood?

Chai: When she is young, Nea has to spend so much time trying to understand what is “American” and “American culture,” why people don’t want to accept her, why people are threatened by her family as well as why the adults in her family don’t understand her either. As she grows older, she comes to understand better the forces around her and within her family. With knowledge she gains power. Power over herself and her own emotions, and she can better navigate in the world. I’m sorry if I’m being too vague! I don’t want to give it away.

Thach: What is your connection with the characters?

Chai: The characters are fiction. They embody experiences from many Cambodian immigrants I have encountered through work and study. I decided to write Dragon Chica to bear witness to the struggles of the first generation of Cambodian refugees in America, whom I met when I was a teenager growing up in the Midwest. I saw that many people treated Cambodians and other refugees in the 1980s very badly, and as a young person, that upset me terribly, because Cambodians had been very kind to me!

Thach: Explain the development of the “Dragon Chica.”

Chai: It was a very long process. I start writing short stories about Cambodian Americans to try to remedy the situation. One of these short stories became required reading in schools across America after it was published in a number of anthologies. Students and teachers really liked the characters in the story and wrote me many emails about the characters. That inspired me to write a whole novel about the family that I had created in my short story... and that became my novel Dragon Chica.

Thach: You have written over five published book, what is different about this one?

Chai: Besides that it is fiction; the difference about this book is that it was not painful to write about like my other books from personal experience. I felt free to write about something else. Writing from Nea’s point of view.

Thach: Who are your influences as a writer?

Chai: I get influences from every writer. I love to read and try to read from the world.

Thach: If you weren’t writing, what would you want to be doing for a living? What are some of your other passions in life?

Chai: I couldn’t imagine living without writing. But in terms of other passions, I believe in working to promote education, multicultural understanding, and history. I am also completely addicted to movies!

To learn more about May Lee Chai, please visit her Official site at:
http://www.booksbychai.com/
Blog:http://mayleechai.wordpress.com/
Like May Lee Chai on ://www.facebook.com/pages/May-lee-Chai/108225445200
Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mayleechai
Purchase "Dragon Chica" Book on HERE
Follow Dragon Chica on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Dragon_Chica