From Refugee to Teacher:

A Middle School Story

Sophal Ear, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
27 September 2012
The views expressed do not reflect the views of the Department of Navy or the Department of Defense.
But I could never have imagined this
back in 1987
I was just like you, a middle school
student (then called junior high),
dreaming of high school.
Rewind to two weeks ago
I wrote a random e-mail to the
general inbox of the Carmel Authors
& Ideas Festival.
The Founder,
Jim McGillen
answered.
Needless to say, good
things happen when
you know Cynthia and
Jim McGillen
Lesson #1: Get to
know Cynthia and Jim
So how did I get to where I am?
From Refugee to Teacher in Five Acts
1. Cambodia
2. Vietnam
3. France
4. America
5. Returning to
Cambodia
I had six minutes to tell my story.
Today, I have nine more minutes to
reflect on my familys and my own
journey, with you.
MY WIFE, 8 MONTHS PREGNANT
MOM
BILL
GATES
Act 1: Cambodia
There are no American combat
troops in Cambodia. There are no
American combat advisers in
Cambodia. There will be no
American combat troops or
advisers in Cambodia. We will aid
Cambodia. Cambodia is the Nixon
doctrine in its purest form.

President Richard Nixon,
November 1971
April 17
th
, 1975
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Evacuation of 2 million people from
Phnom Penh in three days
47
Once upon a time ... there was a regime so evil that it created an
antisociety where torture was currency and music, books, and love
were abolished. This regime ruled for four years and murdered
nearly 2 million of its citizens, a quarter of the population.
CAMBODIA
Michael Paterniti (2009)
Up to 16,000
50
54
55
One day in late-1975, close to sunset
On the third day of our journey
towards Vietnam
1935-1975
Act 2: Vietnam
A VIETNAMESE CITIZEN,
A GOOD SAMARITAN
MOM
ME MY UNCLE AND AUNT
Act 3: France
A FRENCH CITIZEN,
A GOOD SAMARITAN
Act 4: America
A TUTOR AND
GOOD SAMARITAN
A GRADUATE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATOR
AND GOOD SAMARITAN
Good Samaritans* have appeared
throughout my life.
*A person who gives help or
sympathy to someone in distress.
This room is full of good Samaritans,
behind me, in fact, are all the people
on whose shoulders I stand.
Lesson #2: We can all be good
Samaritans to others.
To those whom
much is given,
much is
expected.
John F. Kennedy
Act 5: Returning to Cambodia
and the Khmer Rouge Tribunal now
taking place there
TUOL SLENGS DIRECTOR, DUCH, CONFESSED
AT KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL IN CAMBODIA, 2009.

VERDICT: GUILTY

DEATHS: 12,273+

SENTENCE: 35 YEARS
(REDUCED TO 19 FOR
TIME ALREADY SERVED)
APPEALED. LOST.
RELEASED DUE TO ALZHEIMERS.
My mom, Cam Youk Lim
June 1936-October 2009
A photomosaic of
my mother, who had
seven years of
formal schooling,
spoke five
languages, and
saved lives.
20 Lives Saved
Steven Sophal Ear, born March 2009
Steven at two years, seven months
Caitlyn Lim Ear, born March 2011
My third child, expected April 2013
Thank you