When Broken Glass Floats

In July 1980 Athy and her family arrive in Sakeo II, which is a bit nicer than Khao I Dang, though they still do not have enough food for all of them. They also suffer cruelty from the Thai soldiers, who often assault the refugees for minor infractions. When Than gets into an argument with Vantha, Vantha has the soldiers beat Than. Afterward, Athy, Than, Map, and Ry move in with their aunt and her family, leaving Ra with Vantha and Savorng. Ra refuses to discuss what happened, and Athy wonders if Vantha “has again succeeded in convincing her that the fight wasn’t his fault,” or if she is “too devoted to him, or has succumbed to her role as the submissive wife” (297). Ultimately, it divides the family.

Athy, Than, and Ry enroll in the public school provided for the refugees. Athy hears from her grandfather and her aunts, who have all made it to Khao I Dang. She also hears that after the Khmer Rouge fled, the surviving families of those who were executed, like her father, returned to Year Piar and slaughtered the remaining Khmer Rouge. Athy does not take any pleasure in this revenge and is glad no one from her family was involved.

Athy and Ry enroll in a training program for physical education teachers; Athy lies about her age to enroll. During their training, a Thai soldier takes an interest in Athy and begins following her. Athy is terrified and writes to her Uncle Seng in America, begging him to speed up the process.

Athy and her family are then sent to another camp, Mairut, as part of the emigration process. Although Athy and the others are uncomfortable because they are once again living with Vantha, Athy loves the camp’s location. It is near the ocean, which Athy has never seen before.

After two months, Athy and her siblings arrive at yet another camp, Pananikom Holding Center, in May 1981. Two weeks later they are moved to yet another camp, Lompini. Athy fears the Thai soldiers and spends much of her time in the quad, studying English and listening to Cambodian music. In June they go to yet another camp, where they spend a week before being moved to a refugee processing center in the Philippines.

Athy and her family arrive at the refugee processing center in June 1981. Athy quickly finds her place, studying English and working as a medical interpreter. Athy feels safe at the processing center and is struck by the kindness the Filipino workers show her and the other Cambodian refugees.

Athy struggles with the many cultural changes she is forced to undergo. For example, in her English lessons, the teacher tries to teach them how to shake hands, as is traditional in America. In Cambodia, however, the “way of greeting people is to press the palms of [the] hands together, then raise them to [the] chin” (312). Moreover, it is considered taboo for women to touch men. Despite Athy’s reluctance, she is soon able to shake hands with men and women.

Athy’s quick understanding of changing cultural traditions extends to her family life. For example, when her brother Than decides to teach their youngest brother Map how to speak Cambodian, Athy intervenes when Than becomes impatient and strikes Map for getting something wrong. Traditionally, younger sisters would never contradict their older brothers, but Athy no longer abides by many of these rules; her experiences with violence and injustice under the Khmer Rouge have changed her.

When Athy and her family prepare to leave the processing center and go to the United States, they are sad to leave the friends they have made. Athy is particularly sad about leaving one of the doctors she has been working with, Dr. Tanedo. Athy has a crush on him, and he even rides the bus with her as long as he can before saying goodbye. Once she is on the plane, however, Athy is excited and optimistic about what awaits her in the United States. She thinks of all the people she has lost, but she knows that she carries their love for her and her love for them with her into this exciting future.