Maine Women Magazine: Re-Arranged Marriage

Chanbopha Himm was born in November 1980 at the Khao I Dang Refugee Camp in Thailand, to a Cambodian-born mother, Yorn Un, and a Chinese father, Song Kry, who had spent much of his life in Cambodia. Her parents had already survived the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror, her father by pretending not to be educated, and by saving morsels of food for his family while cooking for the regime. After three years in the camp in Thailand, her older half-brother, Kimly, sponsored the family to come to America. They arrived in Attleboro, Massachusetts via the Philippines, with 50 cents to their name. Chanbopha means Moon Flower, but going to American schools, the little girl in the new country went by Chan to make things simpler while her younger siblings were given American names: David, Jennifer and Michael. She also has three older half-siblings, Kimly, Sophan, Heng.

This is her story of adaptation, arranged marriage and becoming an advocate for herself, for her career and for her Cambodian community in Maine, as told to Maine Women Magazine. It begins with her as a 7-year-old in Attleboro, serving as chief translator for her family and the community. The transcript has been condensed and lightly edited.

Source: Maine Women Magazine. Photos by Heidi Kirn.