Archives West Finding Aid

This oral history interview with Naw Bi Tha Aye La was conducted by Sankar Raman on May 13, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Naw Bi Tha Aye La discusses her family background and the circumstances in Myanmar (also known as Burma) that led to her family to seek refuge in the Mae Ra Moe refugee camp on the Thai-Myanmar border. She describes living conditions in the refugee camp, including the polluted water they used, raising their own food, and her education. She also talks about her Karen ethnic identity. She talks about the process of resettling in the United States, including her last day in the camp and settling in Portland, Oregon. She discusses her education in Portland, including learning English as a second language. She talks about her interest in theater, her grades, and her friends. She also talks further about her cultural and ethnic identity. She closes the interview by discussing her plans for the future.