Cambodian American Essays -- Immigration, Southeast Asia

Introduction- Beauty and Darkness Cambodian is one of the newest influxes of immigrants from Southeast Asia. The beauty and the darkness of Cambodia imprinted in history. Cambodia, a country of fertile land and dotted rice fields, of famous and breath taking monuments and ancient temples, of arts and crafts, cultural attractions, and most definitely a history like no other. This is the country that exhibits one of the seven wonders of the world- that is the famous Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument that had ever built, significantly in Cambodia. This ancient ruin attracts millions of tourist from all over the world. Unfortunately, set aside all of those captured beauty that Cambodia has, at one point in time in its history; darkness devoured this fragile nation and turned it upside down. This peaceful nation was once ruled by the French as part of French Indochina. With the struggled that Cambodian government undertaken to restore balanced and granting their nation’s independence back from the European colonization, they paid a price. The years of sad and worn out history of this nation’s corrupt government, turmoil, and followed by years of civil war thus making them in a state of dire emergence. Furthermore, with their bordering neighbor’s war, Vietnam, with the United States, Cambodia was slowly dragged into the state of darkness during the Nixon Administration. The Nixon administration conducted secret bombings in Cambodia in the early 1970’s because Vietnam forces had their bases camped in the Cambodian province. As a result of this misleading casualty, it led t o the rise of the Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. His influence gained many fellow native supports in Cambodia. Pol Pot and his entourage brought ... ... occupations are at 17.8%. Sales and office occupations are at 23.5%. Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations are at 0.5%. Construction, extraction, and maintenance occupations are at 5.5%. Lastly, production, transportation, and material moving occupations are at 36.8% (Cambodian America Census, 2000). The educational level consists in the 2000 census report for Cambodian Americans. About 37.3% are attending grade school and to the 9th grade level. The next level is high school with a diploma or none is about 16.1%. On the other end, about 46.8% are of high school graduates. Moreover, about only 13.4% are in college or are attending universities. Degrees obtained are the Associate degrees are at 5.2%, bachelor’s degrees are at 6.9%, and last but not least of the Graduate or professional degrees are about 2.3% (Cambodian America Census, 2000).