First, they Killed My Father

First, they killed my Father.

I was walking through a Canadian museum where haunting black and white photographs filled every wall.

The photos were of people...

…lines and lines and lines of people.

The faces were staring down at me with hauntingly beautiful eyes. Some of the eyes held sorrow, others worry. But each of those faces told the brutal story of Cambodia’s history – Pol Pot’s savage killing of the nation’s people.

“First They Killed My Father” is Loung Ung’s story.

She was one of seven children, living happily in Phnom Penh. Her father was a high-ranking government official.

Life was a wonderful adventure –

until the alarms started...

until the trucks started rolling in...

until Pol Pot’s Khmer Army stormed the city

and forced everyone out.

It was 1975. She was five.

Suddenly, Loung Ung’s life of privilege was her biggest threat. She was taught to lie. She rubbed charcoal into her face, to cover her pale skin.

She learned that neighbours couldn’t be trusted...

That everyone was a possible spy.

She learned that people could be taken away – suddenly and without warning.

She learned that, sometimes... these people didn’t come back.

Slowly, day by day, food became scarce and hunger set in.

Slowly, one by one, members of her family were killed.

Eventually, the only way to survive was for the children to separate.

Loung Ung’s siblings were sent to labour camps. She was sent to train to be a child soldier.

Finally, Pol Pot was defeated.

Finally, the country was able to step towards the future.

Finally, Loung Ung was heading towards her family reunion.

Now, Loung Ung is living in America. Loung Ung’s sister, Chou still lives in Cambodia.

Leaving for America was Loung Ung’s happiest and most awful day. She was chosen to leave Cambodia - instead of her sister. She lived with guilt for years. The sound of a balloon popping or a car backfiring was enough to send the memories of bullets flying into her thoughts.

By writing “First They Killed My Father”, she relived all of the memories, helping herself to move forward. By writing this book, she has explained a tragic history in simple terms, filled with sorrow and fear.

The book is beautiful - in all of its brutality.

After a life of war, living a life of fear and sorrow is like giving in to the soldiers.

Loung Ung refuses to give in.

Her favourite quote is one of Albert Einstein’s – “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Everything is a miracle.

What a wonderful way to approach life.

http://www.harpercollins.com.au/author/authorExtra.aspx?isbn13=9780732265915&displayType=readingGuide

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4373.First_They_Killed_My_Father

http://www.harpercollins.com.au/author/authorExtra.aspx?authorID=50016322&displayType=interview

Spotting a Polar Bear

Stepping out of the train at nine o’clock in the morning, it was three degrees and a gentle snow was falling around me.

Hauling up my backpack, I stepped down the deserted snowy street, heading to the bed and breakfast.

Churchill.

Not many people live in this Canadian town.

But... when the polar bears come to town...

the tourists arrive, too.

The polar bears return to Churchill every autumn.

They wait in the area until the Hudson Bay

freezes over and they can move on.

In town, the locals keep their beautiful husky dogs in large cages. The high fences keep the polar bears away. Should a bear wander into town, the barking dogs quickly alert the locals.

Churchill has a story about a cafe burning down. One man thought he’d take advantage of this and filled his pockets with meat from the cafe’s freezer. You can imagine what happened... it was polar bear season. Walking home with the meat in his pocket, a bear smelled the meat and him... and killed him.

Polar bear attacks are rare.

Ordinarily, if a bear enters the town, it will be tagged and tranquilised. The sleeping bear will be moved away from the town. If it returns, it will be tagged and moved again. Should the bear return a third time, it will be killed. The bear has shown that it has lost the fear of people and is becoming a danger to everyone in the area.

Signs around the town warn people to stay out of polar bear areas. These huge animals could be hiding behind the rocks at Hudson Bay’s edges. Walking past a dozing bear will startle it... and most likely... end in your own death.

Ok... the bears.

That’s why I had travelled to Churchill.

Boarding a tundra buggy, I could feel everyone’s excitement. We were setting off to find a bear!

The tundra buggy was a bus, sitting on huge tractor tyres. The tyres allowed us to drive through the snow and sludge, across cracking ice and over rocks. The huge tyres also put us up high off the ground. We had to be up high... Polar bears sometimes stand up and look into the buggies. It would not be very nice having a 30 centimetre long paw reaching out and smacking your face. No, huge tractor tyres are a good idea!

Crossing the tundra was beautiful.

Being autumn, the tiny plants were turning red, yellow and orange. There were very few trees and the one that grew were very short. Without a lot of sunlight, they struggle to grow. The harsh winds blowing off the Hudson force the trees to grow at a lean. Locals can always find their way, using the trees as a compass.

And then... the word; “There!”

At first, all I could see was a few rocks and more tundra.

Excitement broke out on our buggy as we all spotted the bear.

Driving closer, we could see the bear lazing among the rocks. A huge paw reached out in a lazy stretch. I could see the hair covering its black feet. A head rolled back in a gentle massage and the bear closed its eyes.

This bear was a male and was alone.

Our buggy driver shared his knowledge of the bears, sharing his wonder and love of the animal with us. I remember so much of what he said. I’ve been fascinated by polar bears ever since.

Watching our bear stand up and walk towards us was incredible. He was huge.

Soon, the bear turned and walked behind a small bush. This huge animal lay down, curled up and disappeared from view. I was stunned that it could hide so well. There was no way I would be walking among the rocks at the edge of Hudson Bay now... not knowing how easily a bear could be hiding!

While the trek to Churchill was long and there was very little else to do ... being in Churchill was wonderful. The polar bears were worth it.

View from Above

For a glorious month I lived in Banff,

a town snuggled against the side of the Rockies.

I worked as a waitress, rebuilding my cash supplies

before I headed off to other places unknown.

The huge castle-looking building in the bottom of the picture is the Banff Springs Hotel. I didn't stay there.

Instead, I spent most of the month living in a tent

in somene's backyard. My life in Banff was simple...

I headed off to work the morning shift in one of the cafes.

My afternoons were spent hiking and

exploring the beautiful area.

I hiked along the river, watching the elk graze amonst the golfballs. I sat on the edge of the falls, listening to the deafening roar of the water against the rocks. I hiked the mountains, gasping for breath and gazing in wonder at the natural beauty of the area. I rode on the back of a motorbike, following the bending roads which wrapped around the Rockies. My feet moved to the highest possible position on the bike as I watched bears grazing metres from the motorbike. I ate late lunches at the edge of the lake.

I ate dinners under the midnight sunsets.

Life in Banff was easy, but as the first fakes of snow landed

on the mountains, I knew it was time to move on.