He Was A Mirror Of Me: Trauma, Memories, and Family Myths Changing Lives
About this episode
Ka Vang reflects on her family's history and the myths surrounding her father's story of escape from a labor camp in Laos.
Our lives are shaped by our families. Not just our habits, family recipes, and noses – our stories, too. You probably know stories about your great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, or, if you’re really into Ancestry.com, as far back as five hundred years ago. You might know the names, professions, quirks, and life stories of people who could have literally never imagined your existence, and you carry those things with you. For some people, these family legends are a point of pride. It was for Ka Vang, too. She held tight to the heroic story of her father, Ying Vang, slipping away from the communist labor camp where he had been placed after being kidnapped in Laos, accompanied by an Australian pilot. But the real story? It doesn’t quite live up to the myth Ka knows. And now, as she’s preparing to pass on her family’s history to her children, she reflects on her own. If you have thoughts, feelings, or something to share, you can reach us at: ☎️ 612-568-4441 Watch us on YouTube here! Get this episode ad-free here! Listen to Geoffrey’s album on Spotify and Apple! You can buy Nora’s books on Bookshop or Amazon, or wherever you buy books. Nora is on IG, TikTok, Facebook and…
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