» Read the Thai version of this story

Author: Pamilla Thiansawang
Storyteller: Somjit Phrombun
Community Language School: Buddharangsee Thai School
Main School: Bellevue Hill PS

Moving to Australia came about through the need to care for my grand daughter. I love my New Land.

Three Generations in the New Land: An Interview with my Grandmother
by Pamilla Thiansawang

Pamilla attends Bellevue Hill Public School and learns Thai at Buddharangsee Thai Community Language School in Stanmore.

My grandmother comes from Thailand. Her name is Somjit Phrombun. The first person I knew when I was born besides my mother was my grandmother whom I call
Khun Yai, which means “grandmother” in Thai. My parents separated before I was born, and so my grandmother had to come from Thailand to care for me. My mother had to go to work to support us.

I am now 9 years old. As I grew up, I learned many things from Khun Yai – speaking and writing Thai and especially Thai dancing. My grandmother told me about her experience of previous years in Thailand and of when she arrived in Australia that
I’d like to share with you. Here is my interview with my grandmother.

How was your life in Thailand?

…. I lived in a small town called Samut Sakhon near the mouth of the Thachin River
on the Gulf of Thailand. My parents had two daughters and I was the older one.
They grew rice and raised pigs and chickens to support their family. I married your grandfather at the age of 18 and he was 19. We set up our own household and both worked for wages. After the first year of our marriage your grandfather, who was fond of singing and folk dancing, decided to give up farming and took me to join the well-known folk drama group called “Homhuan”. The Thai word for folk drama is Li-Ke.

We lived and moved with the group like a circus, to be trained in folk drama
performing until we were skilful enough to be paid wages. For eight years your grandfather and I spent our gypsy life travelling with several popular folk drama groups through many towns, mainly in the South of Thailand. During those years we had three children together, but only your mother survived.

Finally we came to settle in a suburb of Bangkok and actively carried on our career as Li-Ke performer until I was in my late 40′s. After that we worked mainly performing the ceremony preparing men who wish to be ordained to enter the Buddhist monkhood (called Tam Khwan Nak in Thai).

Why did you leave Thailand?

….Your mother got married and moved with her husband, your father, to live in Sydney, Australia. They did not get along and finally he left her while she was pregnant. Your mother asked your grandfather and me to come to be with her. So we did, travelling for the first time on a plane to a foreign country not knowing a word of English. Luckily, we flew Thai International and were taken care of by the hostesses. Your mother came to meet us at the airport.

What was your arrival in Australia like?

….You can imagine how a grandmother of 59 years old would feel in a strange land. It was cold and lonely. I did not know my way around and worst of all I could not speak the language and did not understand anyone. Your grandfather could not stay here. He had to return to Thailand and lived for another three years there, then passed away. I decided to stay on to take care of you while your mother had to go to work. I wanted to help your mother, my only child, and to see you, my only granddaughter, growing up here.

What is it like here and now?

I have been here 10 years and have been back to visit Thailand three times. Bangkok has changed a great deal for me. If I were to go back and live there I would feel the same as when I first arrived here, not knowing directions how to get to places. The difference is only that I can speak the language fluently.

I am thankful to be living in Australia with my daughter and granddaughter. I have many friends here. Our Thai community is expanding. We have our Thai school for children to learn Thai language and traditional dancing and music. Sometimes I help teach children to dance as I did for my daughter and granddaughter. I can go to the Thai temple here and make merit the same as I used to do back home. Other ethnic communities learn to appreciate our Thai culture and festivals, besides enjoying our Thai cuisine.

I am proud to see my granddaughter whom I started to teach dancing when she was only three years old dance for her school at Thai celebrations and festivals. My English is still limited but I am glad my granddaughter can help me when I am stuck. I am happy to be in this New Land!