ABOUT THE BOOK
THE HOUSE WE LEFT BEHIND
It is April 17th, 1975. Cambodian New Year. The Khmer Rouge has marched into Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh, and ordered millions to evacuate. Soeung and Sakhan hastily gather their five children and a few belongings, uncertain of the road ahead and when—or if—they will return to their beloved home.
Through four brutal years of Khmer Rouge rule, the family lives in constant fear of starvation or execution, which ultimately kill two million Cambodians. After the Vietnamese invasion, Sakhan is determined to leave Cambodia and convinces Soeung to trek through dangerous jungles strewn with landmines, bandits, and the Khmer Rouge to the safe refugee camps.
Born in an internment camp before her family’s escape, Mitty grows up in Virginia unaware of the depths of her family’s harrowing past and struggling to understand her parents. Only after her father’s death does Mitty begin to regret shunning her Cambodian identity, something Soeung was so proud of. Mitty and Sakhan return to their homeland together, where Mitty connects with her father by rediscovering her roots while Sakhan faces the ghosts of her past. During this transformative journey, they find comfort and healing in each other.
The House We Left Behind is a universal story of love, survival, and sacrifice. It is a story about the immigrant experience: the struggle to adapt in a foreign land, to raise children with different values, the ache to return home. Ultimately, it is a story about the resilience of the human spirit.
BOOK EXCERPT
“I brought you here, now you must find your way,” a faint voice whispered. The person who had started this journey was gone, but the fragments of his life were still calling out to her, seeking for her to discover it.”
“Sakhan took a deep breath and tore the photographs into pieces, thrusting them towards the river. Soeung vigorously tore up his diplomas, his most prized possessions, and threw them into the river. All those years of hard work were gone. Now they owned nothing. They said goodbye to their house and all the memories they had made there. They had to forget their past and live like they had never existed before this moment. ”
“Oh! Phonom Penh” by Cheam Chansovannary from the Award Winning Documentary ‘Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten Cambodia’s Lost Rock N’ Roll.
This is one of my favorite songs. The singer’s beautiful voice coupled with the haunting lyrics captures the essence of the tremendous sense of loss, suffering and resilience of the survivors. It also captures the ache and longing to return to a city, a home that was once abandonded.
CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN
Oh! Phnom Penh, during the three years we were apart, I missed you and my heart suffered each and every day, because the enemy cut off the affection between you and me.
When I was forced to leave you, anger burnt in my heart and compelled me to avenge [the sufferings you bore] to show my faithfulness to you.
Phnom Penh, our beloved city, in spite of the three years of hardship, you managed to preserve our [nation]'s bright history of courage and represent the soul of Kampuchea, which was once one of the world's glorious empire.
You prevented the disappearance of Cambodia, the descendant of the majestic Angkor empire.
Oh, the soul of the Khmer nation lives on and, oh, is inspired by the majestic Angkor empire.
Oh, Phnom Penh, now we are reunited and you are relieved from bereavement.
Oh, Phnom Penh, our nation's heart and soul.
(Music)
(Repeat R)