We Are Here Page 22
To my uncle, Hng Khanh, who disappeared somewhere in Cambodia—may your spirit rest in peace as you watch over us. To all the unnamed people who helped us leave Vietnam, especially the French-speaking Cambodian man whose sarong I hold as I write this, you delivered my mother to safety. Without your compassion, I would not be. Wherever you are, thank you. Finally, we are grateful to the numerous others who assisted us to settle in Australia and gave us hope—whether a smile, a black- and-white television or a phone to call home, we cannot forget the kindness of strangers. May we hold onto a sense of humanity and remember the power of a simple gesture of kindness.