Born in China, Made in America In the late 1970’s, Soy Tir and his family followed thousands fleeing to Thailand as they escaped the terror of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime. The treacherous journey to Thailand led to deportation from that country and a traumatic return to Cambodia before they found freedom in the United States. Soy’s quest brought bitterness, hunger, anxiety, questioning and a life-altering injury. What set ten-year-old Soy apart from the other youngsters on a similar journey were his innate intelligence and resourcefulness, and, more importantly, the sense of family, purpose and faith. He learned that life holds something good for those who work for it. In Born in China, Made in America, Soy shares a story of discouragement and joy, of perseverance and despair. Additionally, he answers questions about why people choose to immigrate; why hunger, cruelty and diminished dignity override the quest for a better life. Through his story, readers learn about hope and the human desire to live which provides fuel to overcome great adversities. His life’s story is also an insight into how cruel and dark the human race can be while demonstrating that those with aspiration to be successful can achieve a sense of peace by holding tight to their roots and personal relationships. Soy’s memoir details the journey to freedom, the hardships of life with no home and no idea what the next day would bring. The reader learns about his family, the death of his grandmother and how a young boy processes the confusion, fear, and the uncertainty of a literal journey to freedom. Stops along the way, such as his time in a makeshift camp or abandoned city, relate how his and other families learned to improvise for food, shelter and communication. A highlight of the book includes his memory of a severe injury, his long recovery and his mother’s care during that period. When the family finally receives a sponsorship to the United States, Soy learns that freedom is a blessing, but it does not immediately relieve hardship. As the family struggles, encountering a fire just as things were beginning to look promising, Soy grows physically and mentally stronger. He learns English by reading comic books and finds ways to earn money, demonstrating as an adolescent that he has engineering talent. By the time he is ready for college, Soy and his family are settling into their lives in the United States, with success and recognition that the family unit is the most important asset. In addition to the family’s road to freedom, Born in China, Made in America relates the story of Soy’s meeting his wife and the start of his own family. Today, as a successful engineer in the petrochemical industry, he is acclimated into a democratic society – but his insights and thoughts on the strength of the family continue to mature and develop.
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