United Khmer Students 22nd Annual Culture Night by United Khmer Students at UCLA

SATURDAY, APRIL 06, 2019 UCLA NORTHWEST AUDITORIUM SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019 ERNEST BORGNINE THEATER

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TABLE OF CONTENTS TONIGHT'S PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSISTANT DIRECTORS' MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LETTER OF SUPPORT - KAREN UMEMOTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LETTER OF SUPPORT - JANICE HAHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DEPORTATION INFOGRAPHIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DEPORTATION "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ABOUT THE STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ALL CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRAPHIC NOVEL ART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KHMER-ENGLISH TRANSLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DRAMA CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FINANCE COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SCRIPT COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ACOUSTIC & MUSIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COSTUMES & MAKE-UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PROPS & BACKSTAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRAPHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRIBAL-“ROBAM KHMER LEU” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CAMBODIAN MARTIAL ARTS “BOKATOR” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLASSICAL - “ROBAM TVAY POR” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRADITIONAL - “ROBAM KOUS TRALOAK” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRADITIONAL - “ROBAM NESAT” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UKS MODERN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UKS STAFF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KHMER OUTREACH, RETENTION, AND EDUCATION (KORE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRADUATING SENIORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTISTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPONSORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLATINUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SILVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BRONZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DONORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPECIAL THANKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FUNDING SOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 37 38 39 40 40 41 42

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TONIGHT’S PROGRAM

Khmer National Anthem Welcoming Remarks Staff Video

ACT I Dinner for One Scene 1: The Legacy We Carry On Scene 2: Mending Timeless Wounds Robam Tvay Por Scene 3: New Year, Same Traditions Robam Kous Traloak Bokator Scene 4: The Cards I was Dealt Scene 5: Product of a System Acoustic

គោរពទង់ជាតិ នគររាជ

ស្វាគមន៍មកកាន់កម្មវិធី សម្តែងសិល្បៈ

Staff Video ឆាកទី ១

អាហារពេលល្ងាចជាមួយគ្នា

កេរដំណែលដែលពួកយេីងប្រកាន់ខ្ជាប់ ព្យាបាលស្នាមរបួសចាស់ របាំ ថ្វាយពរ

ឆ្នាំថ្មី, ប្រពៃណីតែមួយ របាំ គោះត្រលោក ល្បុក្កតោ

កម្មអើយកម្ម

វាសនាចារទុក តន្រ្តីសូរស័ព្ទ

INTERMISSION Intermission Video

ACT II The Letters I Write and Never Wrote Scene 1: Rebirth Scene 2: Memories on Repeat Robam Nesat Scene 3: Supermarket Love Affair Scene 4: Unexpected Visitors UKS Modern Scene 5: Living in Between Scene 6: Ten Seconds Robam Khmer Leu Scene 7: Predetermined Life-Sentences

ឆាកទី ២

Curtain Call Closing Remarks PAGE | 3

សំបុត្រដែលខ្ញុំបានសរសេរ និង មិនបានសរសេរ កំណេីតជាថ្មី

អនុស្សាវរីយ៍តាមរំលង របាំ នេសាទ

សេ្នហាលួចលាក់

ភ្ញៀវដែលមិនបានរំពឹងទុក

UKS របាំ សម័យទំនេីប

ការរស់នៅ ពីមួយថ្ងៃទៅមួយថ្ងៃ

វិនាទី

របាំ ខ្មែរលេី

ទោសមួយជីវិត ជួបជាមួយនិស្សិត និង អ្នកទាំងអស់ដែលចូលរួមក្នុងការស ម្តែង និង ផលិតកម្មវិធីយប់នេះ សេចក្តីថ្លែងអំណរគុណ ចុងបញ្ចប់នៃកម្មវីធី

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE To Our Dearest Family and Friends,

Good evening to you all and welcome to the United Khmer Students’ 22nd Annual Culture Night, អនិច:្ចា Limbo. It is a blessing for me to represent this year’s cultural production as UKS CN Director. As a scholar, student-leader, and community activist, I would like to first recognize that I am not of Khmer descent; however, this does not deter the deep passion and respect I have built within the Khmer community at and outside of UCLA. This passion I developed with the Khmer community has led me on my own journey to self-heal internally and become a better leader who can one day advocate for the broader Southeast Asian diaspora. Therefore, I ask for prior forgiveness for any mistakes and/or misrepresentations this production may showcase. However, I want us to not completely discount the endless hours we as students of color committed in perfecting this production and making it as authentic as possible to properly represent the Khmer community we all cherish. With that said, we hope to continue carrying on UKS CN’s legacy the past twenty-two years of using our cultural productions as a platform to share Khmer traditions that we as a community still work endlessly to preserve and revive while also voicing the stories of Cambodians who are silenced and ignored. These are the timeless values our annual cultural production were founded on to give the proper representation of both Cambodian and Cambodian American communities in modern-day society. Carrying on that legacy of storytelling highlights the beauty, resiliency, and strength our community is rooted in during times of both celebration and struggles. Through our year-long journey as a cast, I can testify that this has been more about the progression leading up to the final production of our theatrical show. This cultural production has been a journey that we as student leaders embarked on together to explore our own identities through the power of Khmer arts including music, dances, and play. This experience and opportunity has helped us reconnect to our individual identities as well as rebuild the pieces of Khmer culture we still hang on to in America even when it felt like the Khmer Rouge and our forced migration may have erased everything. Moreover, I would like to give thanks to my cast, predecessors, and community for the continuous guidance you have all provided from laying the foundation to overnight collective planning/practicing. Your work is immeasurable, invaluable, and unpayable, making me forever in debt to those who I now call my family. Having built this close-knit relationship, we as a cast can all say we are tremendously grateful to our audience for the love, affection and support to bring this production to life, which truly highlights the communal effort in celebrating, preserving, and advocating for Khmer culture, traditions, and identity. As we step foot on stage, we hope to make you all proud of the traditional art we have produced with genuine love, passion, and hard work.

Daniel Luu

Daniel Luu UKS Culture Night Director 2018-2019

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PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE To Our Wonderful Family, Friends, and Community, Welcome to the 22nd Annual United Khmer Students’ Culture Night (UKS CN) អនិច:្ចា Limbo. It is our utmost honor and privilege to have this opportunity to present to you our show this year. When we joined UKS CN as first years, we immediately felt like we were members of this tight-knit family. Culture night granted us the opportunity to learn more about our Cambodian culture and allowed us to connect our personal experiences to our Khmer identity. For the both of us, it was always difficult to differentiate between our Cambodian and Teochew culture and traditions. We were never able to truly understand what it meant to be Cambodian. However, partaking in every culture night for the past four years has awarded us the privilege to recognize how deeply rooted we as individuals are in the Khmer-American experience. For us, culture night is much more than a night to showcase our culture. UKS CN gives us the opportunity to take ownership of our individual experiences and connections to our culture to better understand the intricacies of our lives that have shaped our Cambodian identity. Thus, each year we strive to show empowering, meaningful narratives that illustrate our appreciation of the Cambodian community’s resilience and vitality. In this year alone, we are in shock of how much our production has grown and broken down barriers. As a small organization of less than 50 people, we never would have imagined putting on a production of this magnitude. Each and every person in our cast and crew has been heavily involved in the process of bringing this show to life, whether it is coordinating a dance, making props, acting, or singing. It is with every student’s aspiration and passion that our production has exponentially grown. What began as a vision transformed into an elaborate narrative with each individual’s artistry and input interwoven into tonight’s showcase. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is our ability to stay united as one big family. As we move onto the next chapter of our lives, we will eternally be grateful for the experiences we have had and the people we have met. The memories we have made together will never be forgotten and we will always cherish the relationships we’ve built. To Daniel, we wholeheartedly thank you for the thousands of hours you have poured into making this show possible. Though you may not be of Cambodian descent, we have never once not trusted your ability to curate a show that was representative of our community’s experiences. To our tremendous staff and cast, all of you are such talented and resilient human-beings. We are so grateful and proud to have been able to get to know you all during our last year at UCLA. To all of you in the audience tonight, thank you for devoting your time tonight to us and we appreciate your continuous support. Enjoy the show!

Sharlene Lim & Lilian Tang PAGE | 5

Sharlene Lim & Lilian Tang UKS Co-Presidents 2018-2019

ASSISTANT DIRECTORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MESSAGE To Our Beloved Family, Friends, and Honored Guests, We are so pleased to welcome you to our 22nd annual Culture Night! It is an absolute honor to be able to showcase this production and be representatives as the assistant directors this year. As freshmen, it was during our first year of being part of UKS CN that we experienced how impactful it was to immerse ourselves in a production dedicated to the colorful aspects of our culture. It was this experience that instilled in us a desire to have a more constructed role in bringing this type of production to life. Although we had no understanding of what that would comprise of, we were certainly willing to put everything we had into it. Months upon months of preparation up until the show meant long nights of practices or hours spent fine-tuning, but these months also held many precious, unforgettable moments that helped fuel our persistence and willingness to pour our hearts and souls into this production. It is through UKS CN that we grew from timid freshmen with a shy curiosity towards our background and the history of our parents, to bold ambassadors of Khmer cultural arts and advocates of the broader Southeast Asian community. As we have grown and developed through celebration of our Khmer culture, pieces of ourselves and the rest of the cast have been irrevocably woven into this production. This show is more than an exhibition of tradition and art; it is the patchwork of each of our individual stories, stitched together to embody the larger Khmer American experience. In this production, we expose the most vulnerable parts of ourselves, in the hopes that we as a community are able to draw strength from our mutual struggles and unite for a better future. We realize that this narrative would not be complete without honoring the countless people who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into bringing this production to life. Thank you to our director, Daniel Luu, for always working diligently in creating accurate portrayals of the everyday realities of the Khmer community and its contemporary issues. Furthermore, we would like to thank our wonderful, hardworking cast and crew. From the many sleepless nights, to the hours upon hours of practice, your unwavering dedication towards the show and our community never ceases to amaze us. We are so privileged and proud to have served as your assistant directors this past year. We would also like to extend our utmost gratitude to our generous sponsors, who without their funding and support, this show would have been impossible to bring to life. And to all of you, our lovely audience, we cannot express how much your continued support means to us. Tonight, we come together as a community; one family. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all for being a part of our story.

Madelyn San & Michelle Thach

Madelyn San & Michelle Thach UKS Culture Night Assistant Directors 2018-2019

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3230 CAMPBELL HALL, BOX 951546, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1546 TELEPHONE: (310) 825-2974 | FAX: (310) 206-9844 | WEB: www.aasc.ucla.edu

Dear United Khmer Students at UCLA, Congratulations on this special evening as you celebrate Khmer history, culture and identity at your 22nd Annual Culture Night. Your dedication to continuing this strong tradition is commendable as is the impressive work you do in supporting your fellow students and those in the community. It has always been the lively spirit and heartfelt passion of students that brings to light a group’s aspirations as well as challenges through creative expression. The United Khmer Students at UCLA has been educating the campus as well as the greater public about Khmer history and the experiences of Khmer people in the US. We are facing difficult times as the specter of deportation looms for many families who have made America their home, including those born on this soil. Tonight’s program is an important part of bringing silenced realities to the public conscience so that we may act with greater compassion and stand up for refugee families. We at the Asian American Studies Center at UCLA join with many other Bruins as we work together to bring more awareness to these important issues that represent our democratic values for fairness and justice. Thank you for your tireless efforts and we look forward to continuing our support into the future. Best regards,

Karen Umemoto, Ph.D. Helen and Morgan Chu Endowed Director’s Chair Director, Asian American Studies Center Professor, Departments of Urban Planning and Asian American Studies

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BO ARD O F SUP ERVISO R S COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 822 KENNETH HAHN HALL OF ADMINISTRATION/ LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012 Telephone (213) 974-4444 / FAX (213) 229-3676

JANICE HAHN Chair

April 28, 2019 Dear Friends, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 22nd Annual Culture Night, hosted by United Khmer Students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For over two decades United Khmer Students at UCLA have continued to promote cultural traditions and educational consciousness. These scholars have empowered Khmer students to civic engagement by providing leadership opportunities for community involvement. I congratulate United Khmer Students at UCLA for their outstanding work on this celebration and for their efforts in the community. Thank you for continuing to increase awareness and adding to our Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse culture.

Sincerely,

JANICE HAHN Chair of the Board of Supervisors Supervisor, Fourth District County of Los Angeles

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DEPORTATION INFOGRAPHIC

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DEPORTATION “KNOW YOUR RIGHTS” What should I do during my check-ins with ICE? • If you have a final removal order, consult with an attorney BEFORE any ICE check-ins or court dates. • Create a family emergency plan. • Go to your check-in with community members and your family. - Bring your “order of supervision” if ever detained. - You must inform ICE if you move or change jobs. - Show up on time or reschedule if needed. What should I do if detained? • You have the right to a phone call. • You have the right to remain silent at any point of time. • You have the right to speak to an attorney/accredited representative. • You have the right to refuse to sign anything before speaking with your attorney. - DO NOT discuss your immigration information with anyone other than your attorney. - Request a copy of all documents for your case, including your Notice to Appear. What to do when ICE approach you in public? • Before you say your name or anything else, ask, “AM I FREE TO GO?” - If they say YES: Say, “I don’t want to answer your questions” and walk away. - If they say NO: Say, “I want to use my right to remain silent and do not to answer questions” and then say, “I want to speak to a lawyer.” - If ICE starts to search inside your pockets or belongings, say, “I do not consent to a search.” - DO NOT lie or show false documents. - DO NOT flee or resist arrest. - Don’t answer questions about your immigration status or where you were born. They will use any information you provide against you. Do not hand over any foreign documents such as a passport, consular IDs, or expired visas. What to do when ICE is knocking on your door? • DO NOT open your door. - Speak with them through the door and say: “I don’t want to talk to you right now.” • Always ask for their identification. • Ask to see their search warrant by slipping it under the door. - Check if their search warrant is signed by a legal judge and the name of the person to be arrested. - If they are looking for someone else, ask them to leave their contact information. - Lastly, you have the right to remain silent at any point of time. What to do when ICE is inside your home? • Inform them immediately that there are children, elderly, or sick people in the house. • Pay attention to the officer’s search. Write down what specifically happened as soon as they leave. • DO NOT sign anything, tell them you want to speak to an attorney first. - If they came in without permission or warrant, tell them: - “I do not consent to you being in my home. Please leave.” - “I do not consent to your search.” What to do when ICE pulls you over when you’re in your car? • You must provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance. • DO NOT lie or provide false documents. - If the officer searches your car, say “I do not consent to your search.” - Lastly, you have the right to remain silent at any point of time. Contact: United Cambodian Community - 562.433.2490 Khmer Girls in Action - 562.986.9415 Asian American Advancing Justice Law Caucus - 888.349.9695

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ABOUT THE STORY Inspiration behind the story? This story has sprouted from the amount of chaos we witnessed within our Khmer community, which prompted us to take action through our culture night. This cultural production is our platform to express the stance we take against the deportation and detentions of Cambodians and other Southeast Asians. This political statement is our call to voice the voiceless and make the public announcement of us as student leaders standing in solidarity with those fighting every single day to protect our refugee and immigrant communities from being detained and deported. Therefore, this story has been created through a compilation of the varying stories we have academically researched and personally encountered in our communities and families. What is this story about? This year’s UKS CN story plot revolves around the topic of Cambodian deportation. It focuses on Ponleak Sok’s life from the beginning of his family’s escaping of the Khmer Rouge, the Communist Party of Kampuchea, and Cambodian Genocide to his life assimilating into American society. Through all the twisting and turning along his journey to understand his identity as a Khmer teenager being raised by a single mother, he paves his own path in life without the role models he always wanted. Having paved his own path, Ponleak runs into trouble on the streets not from the support he attains from his brothers in the hood, but the system that criminalizes all gangsters. As a result, Ponleak becomes a product of the system that swallows him into the vicious cycle of poverty as well as the school-to-prisonto-deportation pipeline. As he reflects upon his life, he realizes the injustices he was dealt upon leading him to question his self-worth and the problems society has. These problems continue to manifest Ponleak’s life as he faces the pressures of deportation after being released from prison. Through this generational timeline, Ponleak changes in multiple ways visible to his friends, family, and loved ones. However, life takes different trajectories based on the life we are presituated in. Why is this story relevant? This single narrative we cover is only one story that discusses the overview of deportation within the Cambodian community, but this issue is far more complex when the steps are taken to look deeper into the policies, social processes, and family dynamic. Although this story represents the Cambodian community, the broader Southeast Asian community continues to face tremendous pressures from the Trump administration as more and more Southeast Asian refugees face deportation threats. Therefore, the relevancy of this story exceeds beyond surface level reflection because it discusses about the family dynamics we may or may not relate to. Depending on the level of relevancy, we can reflect on both similarities and differences to understand the privileges that separates our lives from Ponleak, which ultimately reveals the contrasting worlds we live. Although we live different worlds, our lives connect on various multitudes, prompting us to take action because we cannot always wait to take a stance until we are personally affected. We cannot wait to solve this problem once our best friend, family member or close acquaintances become victims of detention and/or deportation.

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ALL CAST

UNITED KHMER STUDENTS 22ND ANNUAL CULTURE NIGHT Alex Tan Andrew Tum Ashley Ngor Audrey Chan Braden Lem Brandon Soun Britney Pheng Brittany Ea Buna Poeng Christine Doan Crystal Tang Daniel Luu Grace Yang

Hope Pham Jason Chhay Jeffrey Rirao Jekin Tilva Jennifer Tang Johnson Thai Judy Chhoeung Kaia Ky Karen Choup Karena Kaing Kevin Neung Khayman McDaniels Kyle Nou Nguyen

Lilian Tang Madelene Hem Madelyn San Megan Phan Mey Sok Michelle Thach Molika Soben Pwintphyu Nandar Ryan Tran Sharlene Lim Sydney Siphavong Tracy Nguyen Willy Teav PAGE | 12

GRAPHIC NOVEL ART

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GRAPHIC NOVEL ART

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KHMER-ENGLISH TRANSLATION KHMER

PRONUNCIATION

ENGLISH

Ponleak Sok

Strength; Peaceful.

Rith

Strength and Courage.

Soriya

Sun.

Neary

Gentle.

Channary

Full Moon.

Mom.

Dad.

Uncle.

Prahok

A pungent fermented fish paste used in many dishes.

Num banh chok

A fish based rice noodle dish.

Tho laeng j’mouy bong tov

Go and play with your brother!

អាម៉ុកត្រី

Amok

កុំប៉ះខ្ញុំ!

Komh pas nyom

The national dish of Cambodia composed of fish flavored with curry and steamed in banana leaves. Don’t touch me!

Chop pliem

Stop!

Kkom yom na

Please, don’t cry.

Jum riap sua taeng-ah knea

Hello to everyone.

កម្ពុជា

Kampuchea

ស្រុកខ្មែរ

Sros Khmer

The name of Cambodia in the Khmer language; derived from Sanskrit. Cambodia.

ពនលក្ខណ៍ សុខ រិទ្ធ សូរិយ៉ា នារី ចន្ទ័ណារី ម៉ាក់ ប៉ា ពូ ប្រហុក នំបញ្ចុក ទៅលេងជាមួយបងទៅ

ឈប់ភ្លាម! កុំយំណា៎? ជំរាបសួរទាំងអស់គ្នា

Sa-toog sa-toog, som preas puth Sa thuk sa thuk! Dear Buddha, Highest God, Ancestors,

សាធុ សាធុ, សូម ព្រះពុទ្ធ preas ong lok ta tam thai-raek-sa please take care of us. ព្រះអង្គ kon jauv លោកតាតាមថែរក្សា កូនចៅ ឡប់ នារីឆ្លាត មីមួយនេះ យ៉ាប់មែនទែន! អៃ យ៉ា! មកហូបបាយ

កូន ចេកចៀន

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Lohp

Stupid, crazy.

Neary Chlaht

Smart girl; a popular Cambodian detective TV series.

Mi mouy nis

This girl!

Yap menten

So difficult!

Aiya

Ai~yah!

Mow houp baiy

Come and eat.

Gon

Child. Affectionate term for one’s kid.

Chaek chien

Fried banana.

បង

Bong

អូន

Oun

ជុំ

Joum

Someone who is older; also how younger siblings address their older siblings. Someone who is younger; also how older siblings address their younger siblings. Shoot!

Yee, gon akeng

Yee, American child!

Mien songsa

To have a girlfriend/ boyfriend/ significant other.

Robam kuos tralaok

A traditional dance incorporating coconut shells.

Tlong nas

Too noisy!

Ma chong nyam ey

Mom, what would you like to eat?

Bon Tia Gon

Balut egg.

Tuk mpw pow

Sugar cane juice.

យុី, កូនអាគាំង មានសង្សារ របាំគោះត្រលោក ថ្លង់ណាស់ ម៉ា~ ចង់ញាំអុី? ពងទាកូន ទឹកអំពៅ

នំអន្សម, នំចេក, បុកល្ហុង, Nom som, nom chiek, bok la hong, sach ko ang, prahut សាច់គោអាំង ប្រហិត ប្រាំមួយដុល្លារ . Pram mouy do la. Ma chan mien bey krop. Chong ban មួយចានមានបីគ្រាប់. ចង់បានប៉ន ុ ន ្មា ?បេទ ី ញ ិ ពីរចាន manh? Bau thinh pi chan, dop do la. ដប់ដុល្លារ សុំទោស អ៊ូ! ចង់ទិញ បី? ចុះថ្លៃអោយ, ពីរចានដប់ដុល្លារ ម៉ាក់ ស្រឡាញ់កូនណាស់ ឈ្លេីយអេីយ ឈ្លេីយម៉េស កុំយំណា៎? កូនអត់ធ្វេីអីខុសទេ

Banana sticky rice, papaya salad, beef skewer stick, fried meatball. Total is $6. One bowl has 3 eggs. How many do you want? If you buy 2 bowls, then it’s just $10.

Soum tos

Sorry; formal apology.

Oh chong thinh bey?

Oh, you want to buy 3 of them?

Chos tlai aoy, pi chan dop Let me give you a discount, two bowls for $10! do la Ma srolanh gon nas

Mom really loves you.

Chleuy ey chleuy mes

So rude.

Kom yom na? Gon ort tveu Please don’t cry. You didn’t do anything wrong. ey kos te Salaw machu

Sour soup.

អង្គាសីល

Angkea sel

ធ្វេីស្អី? មិនចេះខ្មាស់គេ

Teu s’ey? M’jes kmah kae?

Yellow fortune flowers; a common sight during New Years. What are you doing? Aren’t you embarrassed?

Gemriepsou ming

Hello auntie.

Ahnis!

This one!

Sok sabai

I’m doing good; a common greeting.

Arkun chraun ming

Thank you very much Auntie.

Neak lous en suran

Insurance salesman.

សម្លរម្ជូរ

ជំរាបសួរ មីង អា៎នេះ សុខសប្បាយ អរគុណច្រេីន មីង អ្នកលក់ធានារ៉ាប់រ៉ង

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DRAMA CAST

Buna Poeng - Ponleak Sok

Brandon Soun - Rith

Karen Choup - Ma (Neary)

Michelle Thach - Soriya

Madelyn San - Channary

Kevin Neung - Pa (Ponleak)

Andrew Tum - Police Officer 1; Radio Announcer

Jason Chhay - Vendor 1

Jennifer Tang - Vendor 2

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DRAMA CAST

Jekin Tilva - Gang Member 1; Extra

Jeff Rirao - Gang Member 2; Jeff

Karena Kaing - Police Officer 2

Johnson Thai - Mr. Meng

Khayman McDaniels - ICE Officer

Britney Pheng - Officer Seng

Lilian Tang - Officer Richards

Braden Lem - Employee

Willy Teav - TV Announcer

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FINANCE COMMITTEE

Committee (Left to Right): Jason Chhay, Madelyn San, Sharlene Lim, Daniel Luu, Michelle Thach, and Andrew Tum The Finance Committee is responsible for acquiring funding for this Culture Night production; renting out two venue spaces, acquiring grants from organizations such as USAC and CAC, and devising fundraiser ideas like selling fried bananas to students at UCLA. These are some of the tasks we have done in order to provide adequate funding to make this production a success. The money raised is so important to Culture Night; without it, the show might not have been the same as the one being seen tonight. From the costumes to the venue, these are the products of having adequate funding and resources. The work done by this group serves both the club and the committee well: understanding of the budgeting and fundraising process that will be useful for future productions, and learning budgeting skills found in aspects of life such as work, planning for future expenses, etc. We hope that you enjoy the show!

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SCRIPT COMMITTEE

Main Writer: Daniel Luu

Committee (Left to Right and Back to Front): Johnson Thai, Daniel Luu, Michelle Thach, Madelyn San, and Kaia Sherry

The script committee is responsible for creating a narrative that educates the audience on this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme: Cambodian deportation. Through decisions on plot, character development, and word choice, we hope to have created a script that immerses the audience into a realistic story as the scenes unfold. The interactive script this year will further accomplish this goal, as the audience has some reign over the outcome of the story. We hope that as you laugh, cry, and reflect with the characters, you will come to understand the seriousness of this issue and the effects it has already inflicted onto our community. Special Thanks Melanie Taing for providing feedback on our script when it was in the works!

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ACOUSTIC & MUSIC

Coordinators: Kyle Nou Nguyen and Madelyn San Committee (Left to Right and Back to Front): Johnson Thai, Buna Poeng, Andrew Tum, Braden Lem, Lilian Tang, Sharlene Lim, Michelle Thach, Jason Chhay, Madelyn San, and Kyle Nou Nguyen Not in Picture: Mey Sok and Keomakara Tan Music is a universally powerful component of any production and helps to strengthen the impact of the various different emotions portrayed throughout the story. As a committee, we are dedicated to interweave the production with music that correlates with the many different aspects of the script. This committee takes on the responsibility of making a number of acoustic choices to accentuate the experience of the show including sound effects as well as the various selection of songs played throughout the production. We are also dedicated to put on an acoustic performance, arranged so that we could best match the theme of the show. Our committee has a goal to provide a specific ambience for audience members to be able to deeply immerse themselves in this productionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story. It is the collective effort of acoustic committee with the rest of the committees that we are able to properly portray the depth of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s script as well as the artistic elements of Khmer culture. This will be the second year that UKS Acoustic has made an appearance in the production and we hope to continue to honor its legacy!

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COSTUMES & MAKE-UP

Coordinators: Alex Tan and Judy Chhoeung Committee (Left to Right): Daniel Luu, Alex Tan, Molika Soben, and Judy Chhoeung Not in Picture: Mey Sok To bring the directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision to life, there needs to be visual elements that tells the story that the actorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attempt to convey. The Costumes & Makeup team was responsible for researching the trends of the culture and era to appropriately paint a picture that would reflect the time period and personality of the characters and each dances. We coordinated the outfits worn by the actors, actresses and dancers from everyday looks to extravagant ones. Our component handpicked, handcrafted, and weaved beautiful garments and accessories to truly bring the audience into a new world. Thus we were responsible for assisting in the transformation of the cast from head to toe. Our role in this production was not only to put together the clothes and makeup, but also to accurately portray the Cambodian culture by making the proper costumes that each dance, which essentially highlights the significance, history, and beauty of each dance.

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PROPS & BACKSTAGE

Coordinators: Lilian Tang and Michelle Thach Committee (Left to Right and Back to Front): Jekin Tilva, Kyle Nou Nguyen, Willy Teav, Britney Pheng, Audrey Chan, Braden Lem, Michelle Thach, Molika Soben, and Lilian Tang Not in Picture: Madelene Hem The Props & Backstage committee is responsible for designing and creating the stage in order to bring the settings and scenery of our show to life. For the past two quarters, our team has worked countless hours in constructing and curating all the settings seen on stage. This includes building props and backdrops, gathering lighting and sound effects, and quickly moving props/backdrops on and off the stage like the swift ninjas we are. Our team is committed to bringing the directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision to life as best we can through careful planning, construction, and hard work. It is in this manner that we can accurately portray our community and provide an elaborate setting reflective of real life through which we can tell the ongoing narrative of Cambodian Americans. We hope that our hard work and effort is reflected in tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production! Special Thanks Thank you to our sub-committee heads Jekin Tilva, Audrey Chan, Kyle Nguyen, Braden Lem, and Willy Teav for helping spearhead the various components within the Props and Backstage committee.

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GRAPHICS

Coordinators: Brandon Soun Committee (Left to Right and Back to Front): Brandon Soun, Daniel Luu, Madelyn San, Karen Choup, and Judy Chhoeung With a dedicated graphics team for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s United Khmer Students Culture Night, we are able to hype up our production even more than ever. Through introducing new components such as a comic storyboard and short promo films, not only is our community able to gain more insight on our story, but also see behind-the-scenes of what it takes to put on this production. Our team showcases the more artistic side of culture night, in which artwork and other media portray our message through the use of visuals rather than words. Special Thanks Madelene Hem for translating English-Khmer!

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TRIBAL-“ROBAM KHMER LEU” (របាំ ខ្មែរលេី)

Coordinator: Crystal Tang Dancers (Left to Right and Back to Front): Audrey Chan, Karena Kaing, Madelyn San, Jason Chhay, Karen Choup, Crystal Tang, Michelle Thach, Lilian Tang, and Sharlene Lim Not in Picture: Pwintphyu Nandar and Mey Sok There are many indigenous tribes located in mountainous areas within Cambodia. This is the first culture night where Khmer Robam Leu (Upland Khmer dance) will make its debut. This particular dance piece is inspired by the Ratanakiri tribe, which is located in northeast Cambodia. The dances usually tell stories about farming, hunting (fishing), and gathering which are the most popular ways villagers make a living. In exhibiting Khmer culture, it is often the case that tribal dances are not performed as frequently as other traditional dances. It is with observation in mind that it was made vital to include Robam Khmer Leu in this year’s production. In coming together to appreciate our roots, it is important to also keep in mind the indigenous aspects of Khmer culture that comprised the foundation of what our culture is today. Hopefully this dance piece will enrich your appreciation for Cambodia’s beautiful culture by giving you a quick glimpse of the Ratanakiri tribe and the art that they create. Special Thanks Dany Lim for sewing our costumes! Kongkear Sross

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CAMBODIAN MARTIAL ARTS “BOKATOR” (សិល្បៈក្បាច់គុន ល្បុក្កតោ)

Coordinator: Khayman McDaniels Dancers (Left to Right and Back to Front): Michelle Thach, Pwintphyu Nandar, Andrew Tum, Brandon Soun, Khayman McDaniels, Johnson Thai, and Ryan Tran Not in Picture: Jeffrey Rirao and Daniel Luu Bokator, the deadly Khmer martial art, is known as one of the oldest existing fighting systems in Cambodia. This close quarter combat system was used by the armies before Angkor 1,700 years ago. The art contains 341 sets and are based on various animal styles such as horse, bird, naga, eagle, and crane styles. During the Pol Pot regime, those who practiced traditional arts were either executed by the Khmer Rouge, fled as refugees or stopped teaching and hid. After the Khmer Rouge regime, the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia began and native martial arts were completely outlawed. The art of Bokator was on the edge of extinction, but due to people like Master San Kim San, the art has continued in the face of adversity. This art truly represents the ongoing fighting spirit of Cambodia and the ability to persevere during difficult times. Special Thanks Vicente Capistrano for crafting the daggers!

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CLASSICAL - “ROBAM TVAY POR” (របាំបុរាណ - របាំថ ្វាយពរ)

Coordinators: Ashley Ngor and Andrew Tum Dancers (Left to Right and Back to Front): Britney Pheng, Megan Fawn, Karen Choup, Willy Teav, PwintPhyu Nandar, Christine Doan, Madelyn San, Sharlene Lim, Judy Chhoeung, Sydney Siphavong, Tracy Nguyen, Andrew Tum, Ashley Ngor, and Lilian Tang Not in Picture: Crystal Tang Khmer Classical Dance, also known as the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, is the more dominant genre of dance in Cambodia, which traced as far back as the 7th century Angkor period. Previously known as “Robam Preah Reach Trop” (របាំព្រះរាជទ្រព្យ - dances of royal wealth), it reflects the elite status of Khmer arts as the dance is traditionally performed only in the royal courts. Dancers are often referred to as apsara, messengers of the gods and divinities. During the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s, the art was almost lost. However, having the ability to practice this art today represents the resilience of previous Khmer dancers and the sacrifices behind the revival. “Robam Tvay Por” (Blessing Dance) is usually performed at ceremonies to bless and welcome the audience. Adorned with golden goblets containing flower blossoms, the dancers will toss flower blossoms towards the audience, symbolizing the blessing of the Gods. Special Thanks Bong Cathleen Kim Melanie Taing

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TRADITIONAL - “ROBAM KOUS TRALOAK” (របាំប្រពៃណី - របាំគោះត្រលោក)

Coordinators: Karena Kaing and Sharlene Lim Dancers (Left to Right and Back to Front): Molika Soben, Karena Kaing, Sharlene Lim, Sydney Siphavong, Audrey Chan, Pwintphyu Nandar, Grace Yang, Lilian Tang, Madelyn San, Britney Pheng, Jekin Tilva, Johnson Thai, Andrew Tum, and Jason Chhay Not in Picture: Brittany Ea and Crystal Tang Robam Kous Traloak originated from Romeas Heak district in Svay Rieng Province around 1960. The coconuts not only symbolize water and soil, which is important for agriculture, but also the bond between adults, which is important in rural life. These coconuts are a staple in Cambodian agriculture as they have multiple uses, such as eating them to using them to make household items like combs and bowls. Originally, this dance would be performed after Cambodian people worked in the fields to encourage them to relax and have fun after a long day of work. Now it is performed at weddings and festivals to uplift the atmosphere with its upbeat music. We hope that you enjoy our performance as we all enjoyed practicing and performing it for you! As we ‘clack’ away, we hope that we were able to elevate the atmosphere and encourage you to relax at the end of a long day! Special Thanks Tony Lai from KhmerTV for letting us borrow some coconuts! Rithy Hanh for providing the audio!

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TRADITIONAL - “ROBAM NESAT” (របាំប្រពៃណី - របាំនេសាទ)

Coordinators: Audrey Chan and Kaia Sherry Dancers (Left to Right and Back to Front): Karena Kaing, Madelyn San, Sharlene Lim, Pwintphyu Nandar, Grace Yang, Andrew Tum, Brandon Soun, Johnson Thai, Audrey Chan, and Kaia Sherry “Wherever there is water, there is fish.” Cambodian dance, in particular traditional dance, draws heavily from the country’s abundance of rivers and aquatic wildlife. “Robam Nesat” emulates the daily life of Cambodian villagers by incorporating traditional fishing gear, like the angrut (a braided bell-like bamboo trap), into the motions of the dance. Because fishing quarters often served as impromptu meeting places for young couples, the dance typically features courting scenes culminating in stolen baskets and playful teasing. The fishing dance was also one method of appeasing spirits, reflecting Cambodia’s history of animism and supernatural beliefs. The fishing dance ultimately serves to draw members of the Cambodian community together through shared traditions.

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UKS MODERN ( របាំសម័យ)

Coordinators: Braden Lem, Brittany Ea, Ryan Tran, and Daniel Luu Dancers (Left to Right and Back to Front): Karena Kaing, Jason Chhay, Audrey Chan, Johnson Thai, Khayman McDaniels, Madelyn San, Andrew Tum, Buna Poeng, Christine Doan, Michelle Thach, Hope Pham, Karen Choup, Daniel Luu, Braden Lem, and Ryan Tran Not in Picture: Brittany Ea and Crystal Tang Contrary to popular belief, Hip Hop dance and Urban/Modern dance are not the same thing! Although Urban dance may have originated from Hip Hop, within the last 2 decades, it has evolved on its very own path, incorporating styles of various kinds. Performances are often times choreographed by a dancer based on their interpretation of the song. The way one represents a song through dance, often termed musicality, is a crucial aspect of the Modern dance scene. Through their performances, choreographers attempt to relay their feelings, emotions, and perception of the song at hand through coordinated movements of the body. With this in mind, our coordinators choreographed pieces from an array of genres, all with the same goal in mind—to express oneself through the art of dance. Special Thanks Genesis Garing & Kevin Bangi for teaching us a training piece!

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UKS STAFF

United Khmer Students (UKS) is a student-run organization dedicated to facilitating cultural enrichment of Khmer culture at UCLA. The club serves to represent and be an active voice for the greater Cambodian community and to advocate for its relevant issues. UKS not only provides a social environment for Khmer and non-Khmer students alike but works towards creating a politically and culturally active space. The club implements events to help students understand past and present Cambodian experience and perception, provide positive and safe spaces for members to discuss Khmer-related topics, and foster a supportive environment. The club is consistent with cultivating cultural education and traditions for its general membership as well as providing leadership opportunities for members to be involved within their communities. UKS is a resource for networking not only within the alumni and the UCLA community but also within the intercollegiate realm of Khmer student organizations. UKS is an active component to the efforts of the Khmer Student Coalition (KSC), a collective organization composed of various Cambodian organizations within the California universities system. UKS strives to provide a positive college experience for students through social, cultural, and political activities as well as being an advocate for Khmer community, culture and education.

CO-PRESIDENTS Lilian Tang & Sharlene Lim

INTERNS Jennifer Tang & Buna Poeng

EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT Karen Choup

KORE DIRECTOR Britney Pheng

INTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT Johnson Thai

KORE COORDINATORS Molika Soben, Andrew Tum, & Willy Teav

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER Brandon Soun

CULTURE NIGHT DIRECTOR Daniel Luu

FISCAL COORDINATOR Jason Chhay

CULTURE NIGHT ASSISTANT DIRECTORS Madelyn San & Michelle Thach

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KHMER OUTREACH, RETENTION, AND EDUCATION (KORE)

Khmer Outreach, Retention, & Education (KORE) was started by the United Khmer Students of UCLA in 2003 to address the low rates of Khmer youth graduating from high school and Khmer people pursuing higher education. KOREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mentorship Program promotes the importance of higher education and assists Long Beach youth in developing skills that enable them to achieve their full potential. During this yearlong program, UKS volunteers are able to work with Long Beach high school students from Poly, Wilson, Millikan, Cabrillo, Jordan, and Lakewood to achieve their academic and personal goals. KORE provides tutoring sessions and workshops at the local Long Beach Mark Twain Library as well as field trips that give students the opportunity to explore various fields of study and career paths. College Insight Day and College Tour are annual events in which high school students are bused over to the UCLA campus to participate in campus tours, student panels, seminars with guest speakers, and college preparation workshops led by UKS.

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GRADUATING SENIORS Congratulations to the graduating class of 2019! The impact of your class on each and every one of us is immeasurable, and we are so proud to send off your class into the world. We wish you the best in all of your future endeavors, and look forward to hearing of your impending success. Please come visit us in the future, and take care.

Not Pictured: Charles Kelley, Keomakara Tan, and Melissa Tao

All Our Love, United Khmer Students

Yihouy (June) Bo

Karena Kaing

Lilian Tang

I wanted a B.A. to afford more kuyteav, but now I have a fancy paper and -200 bowls of kuyteav in my bank.

I can’t fully celebrate yet because I still have 4 more years of school left. P.S. Let me look at your eyeballs when I become Dr. Kaing!

If you’re not calling me Lilian, you’re probably calling me Sharlene...or dumb

PwintPhyu Nandar

Jeffrey Rirao

Alexander Vong

I’m so happy to be graduating from UCLA with 2 brain cells left!

Am I Cambodian or Filipino, you decide.

Woohoo!

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Kagnary Heng You don’t want to look back and know you could have done better.

Sharlene Lim A good GPA is temporary but a good night's sleep is irreplaceable.

Crystal Tang You can snap this, but don’t send this to TMZ!

Daniel Luu “I don’t think Wumbo is a real word, but you know, I wumbo, you wumbo, he/she/me wumbo.”

Jekin Tilva

David Yi

I gave 4 years of my life to get a B.S. degree, but instead I ended up with a Bachelor of Stupidity.

I’m half Korean and half Viet, but I always find myself running on Filipino time.”

Alex Tan

Kevin Neung

Richie Hong

Let's goo!

When life has no direction, any direction is the right one.

Boom boom boom, let me hear you say wayo!

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ARTISTS Natalie Bui - Illustration Artist Natalie Bui is an illustrator based in Los Angeles. She illustrates to create more tools that capture Asian American experiences, communities, narratives, and politics. www.nataliebui.com Instagram: @nataliepbui

Chris Ouk - Cover Art Artist Los Angeles based artist Chris Ouk was born in Cambodia. Chris has a natural talent and began drawing and sketching as soon as he arrived in Long Beach, California. He was 7-years old when for the first time in his life, a pencil and a piece of paper was handed to him on the first day of school. Chris has continued ever since and has been painting using a wide variety of mediums such as acrylic, watercolor, ink and spray paint . Chris has created a unique style by incorporating fine lines with multiple layers and using vibrant colors to beautifully paint landscapes and portraits. Chris has been commissioned to do many private projects. Many of his paintings are displayed all over the world by people who bought his work. He likes to paint near his home along the world famous Venice Beach Boardwalk in Venice, California during his spare time. www.wikidcanvas.com Facebook: wikidcanvas Instagram: @wikidcanvas

Andrew Nguyen - UKS Staff Photoshoot Photographer My name is Andrew and I’m a third year biology major and digital humanities minor at University of California, Los Angeles. I’m interested in cancer cytogenetics, physical trauma, and dance. After I graduate, I will pursue medical school. In my spare time, I like photography (obviously), travelling, dancing, and trying out new food with friends. For the 20182019 academic year, I am serving as the Leadership Photographer for Foundations Choreography, as well as Publicity Coordinator of VSU’s High School Conference, Vietnamese Culture Night, and Southeast Asian Admit Weekend. www.nguyentography.com

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ARTISTS Gabriel Toscano - Cast Shirt Designer I really respect the message that the UKS is trying to put forward with the showing of this play. I wanted to help bring a design to fruition that would help promote their culture night and embody the messages their play encapsulates. Especially in these times, the world should know that families all over are threatened with having their relatives taken away. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not okay and hopefully events like this can unite different groups of cultures together to put a stop to fragmenting families all over the U.S. Instagram: @gabetherielist

Kevin Tran - Graphic Designer Kevin is a recent college graduate with a bachelor of arts in business economics and a minor in entrepreneurship at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is currently working at the Refinery Creative as an account cooridnator for the Netflix account. His specialties include graphic designing, branding, web designing, social media, project management, and event planning. www.kevinnvtrann.com

Kwang-Pyeo David Yi - UKS CN Photographer I am currently a 4th year Psychology major with a minor in Global Health. As a board member of Boundless Hope, I plan on developing my photography skills through humanitarian work and advocacy. I have big dreams because in reality, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always sleeping. www.korviet.us

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