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Music has always been a part of Cambodia. The life styles were limited, among these musicians, there were the Khmer rouge, full time labor workers, and politicians. A large percentage of Cambodians were forced into poverty and underpaid jobs. Their lives were constantly troubled by daily escapes from robbers, guerrillas, and powerful armies that disagrees with the laws of the country. The Khmer rouge, former guerrillas and the most powerful army that had ever opposed the government had taken more lives than natural deaths over a decade. During times of hardships and warfare, the only escape from reality was music.
He, , Samphoun Em, was only fifteen years of age when he first picked up a guitar. Knowing he had to be able to make a constant payment to afford and keep his only source of entertainment, for there are no personal rights involving one's property. After three years of full time labor, he was then able to claim and bring home his most prized possession. Keeping good care of the picks and strings he had access to, for if he had lost or broken any of the two, it would " ve meant more months of hard labor. Every so often after work, he would spend at least two hours to catch up on lessons and surpass his latest talent. He was persistent and frequently disappointed with his slow learning process, with a confidence that he would one day master the art of playing the guitar.
The confidence that shone in his eyes came from the gratitude's and awes from his brothers and sisters. Watching their faces light up as he would show off his new talent, fretting at his parents whom tried to disallow his learning. They were worried he was capable of showing off his great gift and distract laborers from their work, this meant being punished by a severe beating or even sentenced to death. Voices rose as he went into his second hour of daily practice, "You kids stop that fuss and return to your studies. " No one would move on the first notice, then a shout came the second time, " You kids listen to me now!" By then, his brothers had already started their school work, knowing that they would be punished if disobedience was shown.
His sisters, they'd run outside and pretend to tend to the plants, thinking it would calm down the heated parents. Three times every year, his family, cultural in every way, would show up to Angkor Wat. This is the holy ground in which worshippers of Buddha meet to pray and show appreciation on the chance to life and happiness. He was always the last of his brothers and sisters to get up and out of their wooden-like shed they called 'home'. None of them wanted to go, for they aren't heavy believers, they'd find every reason to be held back. "I have to finish my school work", says one brother. "But I would like to clean up around the house for the blessings of grandma", says another brother. "I need to plant my basil and tend to my sugar cane plants", says the smartest of the children, the eldest sister.
After three excuses, he didn't have time to fit his reason to stay home. The respond was clear and answered all reasoning, "get up, get out! Now!" All the siblings ended up attending every Angkor Wat visit, except the eldest sister, who was rarely forced to join. After years of experience, a lot of disappointed times, hard work and persistence, he was ready to show his talent to his fellow Cambodians. Gathering around a circle after school sessions, his classmates would show their talents and receive applause from talent-less students who envied.
It was always the same students who needed something to prove and wanted to show off. Skipping all the other students and not expecting anyone else to have any musical talents what so ever, the usual musicians would start their song, the same one song played over and over. Although everyone had smiles on their faces with pleasure during the song that they had been relatively obscured to throughout it's length. He then raced back home to bring his guitar, with visions of their envy.
He raced back to the crowd that had gathered, pulled out his instrument that had been so rare in his neighborhood, and played his first chord outside the comfort of his home. Seeing the glows in the eyes of his fellow students and classmates, he showed off his skill and talent that had already surpassed the other musicians. To his parents dismay, on August 22 nd 1974, exactly one week after his eighteenth birthday, he gathered his fellow musicians and formed the first band in their neighborhood. Each week, songs were practiced and gigs were planned. After months of showcasing their well-known talent throughout the region, he received calls for weddings, birthdays, and celebrations on the new year.
During this time of rejoice and music, the Khmer rouge did not approve of gatherings. They would not stop these gatherings until happiness was shown throughout the faces of each laborer during work. The Khmer rouge had never appreciated activities that didn't involve them in any way. A couple months after the first gathering, the Khmer rouge had disallowed it in the future, showing the punishment by executing a fellow worker who was behind on his job. Yet, each musician still gathered to show off and escape from reality, knowing that if they were caught they'd receive a severe punishment, a punishment that was irrelevantly taken into consideration. He had been the leader and heart of the neighborhood, both in music and spirit.
For if they were to get caught, he would be punished to the harshest degree. Three years out of school, he then decided to take up writing. He was twenty-two when he received a job as a writer, spending nights on the typewriter learning how to write songs and lyrics. The wage was minimum, not expecting anymore than that, he worked with his father for the same company. They spent time discussing money, and music during breaks. Sometimes they would share knowledge of politics with each other, with a punishment for being overheard, they whispered.
Although they controlled more than 75 % of the country, the Khmer rouge never seemed to be able to overthrow the government and take control of the country. In the year 1980, the Khmer rouge tried their first genocide attempt. It was the first attempt since the defeat of Cambodia's nearby ally, Vietnam. Pol Pot was the leader of the Khmer rouge and by the year 1984, they had killed off approximately one million Cambodians. August 8 th, 1983, the day his eldest son was born, his wife had retrieved to a nearby hospital that was protected by the government.
This is where his eldest son lived his first two days, after being cared for and relieved of health conditions. He left for the border, his wife left o for the border of Cambodia and Thailand three days later... By this time, he had been headed across border already. Three days early and suffering from asthma, he reached Thailand at the same time his eldest son and wife did. As they crossed the border together, surviving another charge of the Khmer rouge, he realized his family had to start a new life without the equipment and tools they had before. Finding jobs in Thailand and adjusting to a change of government and lifestyle, he made use of his time and gathered together a new band and renewed his instruments.
On December 1 st, 1984, in a Thai hospital, where his sister worked, his second eldest was born. He took time off of work and stayed home to care them. While they slept, he would study his musical skills and expand his talents. By 1985, after his second eldest turned one year old, he received a sponsorship that would help the migration to America. A sponsorship meant a chance to achieve his dreams but also this meant he had to leave his family. The family which gave him the will and power to continue in music, which is his life.
The family that was the first to touch his second born. If leaving meant good bye, he wasn't up to it, if leaving meant aid to his family, then it was time for him to depart. 1986, a year of grief and departure, he gathered his wife and sons and made his way to a new world. A new music experience and a new way of life, looking at the photographs of past remnants, reminiscing of the 'music in different worlds'. A past that was never reborn or relived and hopes it remains unforgiven and stays stored away in his music, for which his music still remains. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Escape From Reality Brothers And Sisters
