March 2016

At the Oregon School for the Deaf, I discovered the one place where my usual request for a microphone was met with a gentle reminder - it wasn't necessary. As I spoke through a sign interpreter, Lindsay signed back with a hint of amusement, "She doesn’t need a microphone because they can’t hear her." It was a moment of light-hearted revelation, reminding me that sometimes, our stories transcend sound. Why didn't I think of that? And, of course, why did the interpreter need to sign it? :-)

March 2016

At the Oregon School for the Deaf, the students were very engaging by asking me a lot of questions. Two sign interpreters were there to help convey my talk and messages. Thanks to those two ladies! Afterward, I was raving to family and friends about a student named Lupita who gracefully performed the poem ("Please Give Us Voice") from my memoir. It was like a beautiful and haunting dance. I wished they videotaped her performance. Bravo!

March 2016

Speaking at the Oregon School for the Deaf was one of my most memorable visits across America and overseas. Thanks to teachers Lindsay and Robert.

September 28, 2016. Portland, Oregon

I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Healthy Women, Healthy World's fundraising event, taken place at the prestigious Multnomah Athletic Club where they raised over $100,000 for the organization's causes. To my left is Martha Holley Newsome, President & CEO of Medical Teams International and to my right (in red) is Dr. Phyllis Cravens, the Humanitarian Woman of the Year. Annie Kubiak, Chair of Healthy Women, Healthy World & Debra Hirsh, Director of Corporate Philanthropy.

March 2013

This was my second visit to Washington State University. Here I spoke to Professor Raymond C. Sun's graduate and undergraduate students, who have used "When Broken Glass Floats" for their Comparative Genocides classes. I also spoke and performed "The Blessing Dance” for the general public.

December 2005: Honolulu

At the East-West Center, it was an honor to be the keynote presenter and to speak about "When Broken Glass Floats" as well as to perform the Cambodian "Blessing Dance". This photo was taken with Mr. Houghton Freeman and Mrs. Doreen Freeman, Owner of AIG and Board members of the Freeman Foundation, at the Symposium on Asia in the Curriculum. The AsiaPacificEd Program hosted this event.

October 20, 2000

Nardin Academy High School was one of the most memorable schools that I visited. The students paid reverent attention as I told them about "When Broken Glass Floats". When it was time for Q & A, one of them bravely asked me how I adjusted to my life in America as a teenager. My answer, "I was frightened to see American kids kissing near my locker," caused laughter to erupt in the hall like thunder claps in a calm sky. :-)

October 20, 2000

Dr. Mark A. Ashwill was instrumental in organizing my two-day visit to the University at Buffalo. I spoke about "When Broken Glass Floats" to Prof. John Larkin's "American Imperialism in Asia" class (HIS 401- Honors) and to the general public. I also performed the Cambodian classical dance called the "Blessing Dance" and provided a discussion session led by Prof. Maria Horne, Department of Theater and Dance. After my visit to UB, I spoke at Nardin Academy high school.

April 2003

This photo was taken in front of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute during the international conference entitled “Transformative Justice”. It was here where Kim Phuc, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and I shared a panel with other panelists.

April 2003

This was my first visit to Ohio University. Armed with a good sense of humor and lots of spunk, I would often pepper my lectures with fun comments or tease my audience with funny answers during Q & A. This photo captured one of those moments. In 2007 and 2011 I was honored to return as a guest speaker again.

May 21, 2007

This was my third visit to Scarsdale high school during which seniors were preparing for their visit to Cambodia with their teachers. They used "When Broken Glass Floats" for their classes.

May 20, 2007

A 24-Hour Human Rights Film Marathon at the Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY, co-sponsored by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center and the Jacob Burns Film Center. "The Killing Fields" was shown to students from several different high schools, including Scarsdale High. After the screening I was asked to relate my story from "When Broken Glass Floats" to the movie and the Cambodian Genocide. It was an honored to be invited to speak to this community for the third time.

October 2, 2011

The Kids of Cambodia Gala Event. Fundraiser in Melbourne, Australia to benefit The Children's Sanctuary in Cambodia. www.thechildrenssanctuary.com.

October 2, 2011: Australia

October 2, 2011: Australia

October 2, 2011: Australia

October 2, 2011: Australia

October 2, 2011: Australia

October 2, 2011: Australia

April 17, 2007

I spoke about "When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge" and related it to the Cambodian Genocide. This appearance was part of the Portland for the Genocide Awareness Coalition’s event at Portland State University.

March 8, 2008: Int'l Women's Day

On this day, people around the world celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria , International Women's Day is a national holiday.

March 8, 2008: Int'l Women's Day

I was honored to speak at Portland Community College, Rock Creek about "When Broken Glass Floats" as well as to perform "The Blessing Dance."

April 13, 2008: Hobart College

A member of the audience asked me: "As an international speaker, what do you like about your travels?" My answer was: "Dinner time, where there are cheese cakes." Just like the one in this photo. :-)

April 13, 2008: Hobart College

I never quite knew how my lectures affected my audiences, especially the younger members. In 2008 I got one answer, eight years after I spoke at the University of Buffalo, when Adam Croglia, who had attended that lecture as a boy, hosted me as a Keynote Presenter for the Lecture Series: "Peace Fest", at his university, Hobart College in Geneva, New York.

October 2003: Toronto Int'l Airport

It was “Mission Accomplished” after I visited a number of high schools and the Rotary Club in Cobourg, Canada. Time to come home.

October 2003: Visit to Canada

I was so pleased to learn that a cooking class at St. Mary's Secondary School was preparing lunch for my visit there. There were candlelight and chopsticks set on the tables. I couldn't stop grinning. How cute! I was even more thrilled to hear that they were going to cook frog legs for me. Unfortunately, they changed their minds. I would have loved that! :-)

October 2003: Visit to Canada

Teachers, students and I excitedly waited to get the lunch that had been prepared for us by a cooking class at St. Mary's Secondary School. I could hardly hold my horses! :-)

October 2003: Visit to Canada

It was fun to have this Kodak moment after my talks about "When Broken Glass Floats" at St. Mary's Secondary School. I enjoyed meeting the students very much.

October 2003: Visit to Canada

Mr. Gary O’Dwyer kindly coordinated this visit to the Rotary Club in Cobourg. From Left to Right: Mr. Harry Cortesis, President of the Rotary Club; myself; and Ms. Jennifer Thompson, President of the Rotary Club.

October 2003: Visit to Canada

This visit to Canada was one of the most memorable visits of all my overseas lecture trips. Thank you Mr. Gary O'Dwyer, teachers and students from many different high schools, and the Cobourg Rotary Club, for your sincere love and interest in my work as an author and international speaker.

October 2003: Visit to Canada

When I was ushered into this gym at St. Mary's Secondary school, I was particularly excited to see my audience. I had never spoken to high school students in this kind of setting before. As soon as I got up behind the podium on the stage, I pulled out my camera and began to take pictures.

October 2003: Visit to Canada

It was a pleasure to have Dr. Mark A. Ashwill join us from Buffalo, New York while I spoke to students from St. Mary's Secondary School and other public schools, as well as to the Rotary Clubs in Cobourg, Canada.

March 8, 2002

This is the reception that followed the filming of my visit to the Asian Society by the Danish documentary film crew. It was here that I met my literary agent, Meredith Bernstein, in person for the first time in New York City.

May 2007 at Scarsdale High

The 24-Hour Human Rights Film Marathon in Scarsdale, New York was unprecedented. A number of local high schools joined together to attempt to raise $1,000,000 for Darfur. The goal set for each student was to raise $500. This visit was one of my toughest visits to any school. I was asked to speak nine times in four days about "When Broken Glass Floats". Five hours in one day. That was nearly humanly impossible. I paid for this visit dearly.

Distinguished Author Series at NAFSA

May 2004 - Mr. Tommy Lord at T.W. Lord & Associates kindly invited me to speak at the 56th Annual Conference of NAFSA: Association of International Educators in Baltimore, MD. To my left was my brother Phalkunarith, who was able to attend my lecture and book signing. NAFSA is the largest conference of its kind in the world, with attendees from many countries.

Brigham Young University

January 2002 - My young brother Phalkunarith Him, a student at BYU, was asked by the English Department to introduce me before my lecture.

Brigham Young University

January 2002 - Karen at the English Department kindly organized my visit to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I was grateful to meet students and faculty members as well as to hear their positive reactions to my memoir.

March 2002: Asia Society

It was a pleasure to meet Reasey Poch from Voice of America Khmer Radio and Allen C. Thayer, Program Assistant for Southeast Asia at the Asia Society in New York City.

April 2007: Second Visit to Ohio U.

It was a pleasure and an honor to return to Ohio University to speak about "When Broken Glass Floats" and to perform "The Blessing Dance." This year Ohio University welcomed a number of Cambodian graduate students from Cambodia, several of whom joined forces to perform the lively Khmer Chi Yum.

March 2005: Georgetown University

Nick & I, after I spoke at a Georgetown lecture hall.

March 2005: Georgetown University

To my left is Georgetown student Nick Phoutrides. He had purchased a pirated copy of "When Broken Glass Floats" in Cambodia. When he returned to the U.S., he invited me to speak at his school, so I gave him a pass for not buying an authentic copy of my memoir. It was a pleasure to meet Nick and my audiences at Georgetown.

March 2002

During my lecture tour, first to St. Bonaventure University, next to the College of Staten Island, and finally to the Asia Society, a Danish film crew documented my trip for their movie "The Will to Live". The film also featured Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Dr. Juan Almendares of Honduras. In this photo, cameraman Erik Molberg Hansen captured the moment when I met my eight-month old audience member. Her mother had brought her and her two-year-old sister to see me perform "The Blessing Dance.

Mississippi State University

April 16, 2001: As the audience assembled around the stage, a distinguished gentleman rushed in to join them. When I later asked Dr. Stephen Cottrell, the organizer of my visit to MSU, who that gentleman was, he answered, "He's number 3 from God.” I later discovered that the gentleman was the Vice President of Mississippi State University. I was always honored to see distinguished faculty members attend my lectures and dance performances.