Lao Voices

When I think of New Zealand, I usually think of Lord of the Rings.  And of course the endless beauty of the natural landscape and kind people.  But I was surprised to learn that there are some Lao refugees that got resettled there in the ’80s.  Despite the beauty of the land, the Lao refugees had to deal with many of the problems other Lao face in other countries as well.

Here is a great excerpt from the TE ARA, the encyclopedia of New Zealand:  “The Laotian population has integrated well, while still retaining their cultural identity. But the resettlement process was difficult. Dealing with the loss of family members and adapting to a new lifestyle was compounded by insufficient English skills. As a result, many had to take unsatisfactory employment, and suffered feelings of isolation and distress. Most were employed in manual or processing jobs, found with the help of relatives, friends and sponsors. Of those who had obtained professional qualifications in their home country, few were able to find employment equal to their expertise.”

A New Zealand author published this book in 1995, Remains of a Family that tells of a fictional Laotian family’s escape to Thailand and their subsequent arrival in New Zealand as refugees.  I think this would be a good read.  Consider asking your local library to carry the book.