On April 2019, the amazing and talented Kalyanee Mam visited
our school and changed my perspective on what home means!
Mam is an award-winning filmmaker, whose family came to
America from Kromm Battambang, Cambodia, during the Cambodian
genocide in the 1970's. Mam's move between countries was not just
merely a change in location for her, but a whole new world and culture
that she and her family had to adapt to. She had to speak a new language,
eat new food, and be with people other than her own, all after escaping
something as traumatic as a genocide. The Cambodian Genocide occurred
from 1975 to 1979, and resulted in the deaths of 21 to 24% of the entire
Cambodian population.
Mam began her presentation by
asking us the question, "What does home mean to you?" When I first
heard the word home, I immediately started thinking of physical locations that
our school and changed my perspective on what home means!
Mam is an award-winning filmmaker, whose family came to
America from Kromm Battambang, Cambodia, during the Cambodian
genocide in the 1970's. Mam's move between countries was not just
merely a change in location for her, but a whole new world and culture
that she and her family had to adapt to. She had to speak a new language,
eat new food, and be with people other than her own, all after escaping
something as traumatic as a genocide. The Cambodian Genocide occurred
from 1975 to 1979, and resulted in the deaths of 21 to 24% of the entire
Cambodian population.
Mam began her presentation by
asking us the question, "What does home mean to you?" When I first
heard the word home, I immediately started thinking of physical locations that
are home to me. But as my peers answered this question from their
perspective, I began to think deeper on how home can even be the people
you love and make you feel comfortable. This thought expanded as Mam
continued her presentation and showed us her spectacular film!
As someone who is interested in filmmaking and global issues, Kalyanee
Mam's presentation was especially interesting for me and I absolutely loved
learning about these global conflicts, specifically to Cambodia, through film,
a medium of art and communication I personally love. I also found it especially
inspiring because Mam is so accomplished, despite all the obstacles she has overcome,
such as fleeing the horrific genocide in her country. I really admire Kalyanee Mam
and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to hear her speak and see her work,
all thanks to the GIP program!
perspective, I began to think deeper on how home can even be the people
you love and make you feel comfortable. This thought expanded as Mam
continued her presentation and showed us her spectacular film!
As someone who is interested in filmmaking and global issues, Kalyanee
Mam's presentation was especially interesting for me and I absolutely loved
learning about these global conflicts, specifically to Cambodia, through film,
a medium of art and communication I personally love. I also found it especially
inspiring because Mam is so accomplished, despite all the obstacles she has overcome,
such as fleeing the horrific genocide in her country. I really admire Kalyanee Mam
and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to hear her speak and see her work,
all thanks to the GIP program!
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