DrDavidLeyAMA

I spent all 3 years 8 months and 20 days during the entire darkness regime of killing it's own citizens. I escaped Cambodia in March 1987 by boat to Thailand through the smugglers. It took me a few days on a small boat from Kompongsom to Phanat Nikhom refugee camp in Thailand. It was a long and horrific ordeal to get in and out of the camp. Luckily, I was able to leave for Phillipines in six months. And I arrived in California in mid Dec. 1987 with limited English skills. I guess the toughest adjustments for me, first and formost, is weather. The plane brought me all the way to Chicago O'Hare airport with snow storm. I felt like in one of those Hollywood movies. Until that day, I had never come to contact with snow in my life! Next, definitely the culture, such as food, the ways of life in general. I forced myself to learn to eat hamburger and fries while working part time at Jack in the Box, a fast food restaurant in the Bay Area. I remember crying almost every night with homesick. I also had nightmares so frequently that I had to wake up in the middle of the night. I keep an eye and ear on current events in Cambodia. At this time, I have no comments. I want to wait and see what are the next steps for both main political parties.

Glad to hear that you will be visiting my homeland. Don't forget to check out S21, the museum of killings in Phnom Penh and of course, every traveler must visit Angkor Wat in Siemreap. There are many exciting places to see, but these are just a few. Ask the local tour guides for more info. Good luck.

Being chase by the Thai patrol ship. I thought we all were going to d ie, but the soldiers brought 11 of us to the refugee camp after being captured on the boat.

I witnessed the execution of three men and a woman.

My PhD is in Education and the pay scale in college for part timer is way less than what I make right now in high school with full benefits for family and I don't have to write or publish any articles or research.