



My mother, Saowakon, was born December 10, 1955 in Bangkok, Thailand. She was raised in a warm, valuable family, who taught her to be respectful, kind, and well mannered. They were a Buddhist family, which believed that you must do well and be a good person because your sins will never be erased. They believed that if you did something wrong, you would be punished sooner or later, and they also believed in reincarnation. My mom attended a Buddhist school during her elementary years, and later attended a Catholic school for middle school (fifth to tenth grade).
After graduating her younger sister Luan (A-E-Luan), wanted to come to the states. Their older brother Sam had already been living in the U.S. My mom refused. She didn’t want to go because she loved where she lived, and she was very attached to Ama. But, my Akon said that A-E-Luan couldn’t go without my mom. So my mom was technically forced to move out. So, at 16 years old, my mom moved across the world to the United States of America. The song "Do you know where you're going to" by Diana Ross, is the one she associates to this period in her life. The first line of the song says, "Do you know where you're going to?". My mom really had no idea where she was headed and how much her life would change. They lived with Uncle Sam in Los Angeles, California, and helped him raise his children. A-E-Luan went to school in the morning, and my mom went to L.A. High School in the evening. Everything was new to them. My mom had to learn English and the new culture here in America.
Throughout the six months they were living with their brother, A-E-Luan was being mentally abused by Uncle Sam’s wife. When my mom found out about this abuse, she and her sister in law got into a huge argument. Her sister in law told her that if she didn’t like the way she was treating her sister, then they can both move out. So that same night, my mom, A-E-Luan, and Uncle Sam went to my uncle’s friend’s house. Uncle Sam called Akon so he can buy three plane tickets back to Thailand. But my mom, which at first refused to come to the states, now refused to return to Thailand. She was too embarrassed and had too much pride to let people think that she couldn’t live on her own. So my mom and her sister ended up staying at the friend’s house for three or four more months.
Throughout this time, my mom met a wonderful man, Cesar, who is my father. He helped her get a job at Loemans, a clothing store. She only made about $35 a week, but saved enough so her and her sister can rent out an apartment. They found an apartment for $95 a month. My mom was the only one working so they were on a very tight budget. Their weekly food expense was five dollars. My mom would buy a whole chicken and cook it; and it would last for a week. Throughout their high school years, my mom took care of her little sister and played a mother role to her.
My grandparents came to the U.S. for their graduation. They pleaded for my mom and my aunt to return to Thailand because they had gotten so skinny from not eating enough. But they already had a new life here in the States. So, they stayed here and continued on with their lives. My mom attended Sawyer College for Business, and A-E-Luan went to Cal State to be a teacher. My mom’s income wasn’t enough for the both of them to live off of and go to school. So, my aunt got a job as a waitress in Denny’s. She would work the midnight shift to go to school in the morning. When my mom got her diploma after a year, she decided to quite school and work more hours to support her and her younger sister.
Since my mom stopped going to college, her student vise expired. The immigration sent her notices that she had to leave from the U.S., but she stayed and was now illegal. Because she was here illegally, it became much harder for her to find a better paying job, and to survive. But, she some how managed to do it.
Although my mom didn't want to move out, she enjoyed what her life came to be. Diana Ross sings, "Do you get what you're hoping for....Do you like the things that life is showing you...." My mom didn't hope to move out. As a child she thought she would always stay in Thailand, but she didn't. Her experience showed her things that she probably would have never known if she stayed in her country. Another part of the song says, "We let so many dreams just slip through our hands. Why must we wait so long..." My mom had to sacrifice certain things, but she never gave up on dreaming. Many people wait for things to just come to them, but my mom knew that if she didn't go out and work hard, then she wouldn't have anything.
This has been the initiation that made my mom to be a mature and responsible adult. Even though it wasn’t of her choice to move out, she did, and dealt with it. She took the responsibility of taking care of her sister. She sacrificed her education to work so her sister could have a better education and pursue a good career. My mom believes that family comes before anyone and anything because through her experience, she knows that they are the only ones that will be there for you when you need them. Although my mom doesn’t have the best job, she is very intelligent and has succeeded in her life with other things. She has wonderful morals and values; and now cherishes and enjoys life more.
Do You Know Where You're Going To:
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know...?
Do you get
What you're hoping for
When you look behind you
There's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know...?
Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies
That filled our minds
You knew how I loved you
But my spirit was free
Laughin' at the questions
That you once asked of me
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to
Do you know...?
Now looking back at all we've planned
We let so many dreams
Just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long
Before we'll see
How sad the answers
To those questions can be
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know...?
Do you get
What you're hoping for
When you look behind you
There's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know...?
Introduction
My Grandparents
My Mom
Me