cambodian enclaves in the u.s.

[kasia]

i'm trying to learn more about cambodian enclaves and how they function as a community. i have several clients now who are cambodian. they're considered southeast asian, but it's a huge misconception that most of them understand vietnamese. sometimes courts will try to appoint vietnamese interpreters to cambodian clients (no joke - remember chol soo lee?). many own donut shops - that's actually a fact, not just a stereotype. i have no clue why this is. are they close with their extended families? what are some core values? religion? feeling towards the government/law enforcement/judicial system? how close-knit are they as a community?

[raacluse]

I don't know how to answer all your questions, but I recently saw the band, Dengue Fever, when they toured in these parts.

I'm sure that wherever they play, they draw out Cambodians living in the area.

But your questions remind me of a field trip to the Cambodian community in Lowell, Mass. I was with a group of folks, mostly from SoCal.

Although one woman was an Indian American from the Midwest, and she noticed that some film flyers on the walls of a Cambodian video store had pictures of Hindu gods or goddesses.

In an eatery, some of us had a chance meeting with a guy who had moved there from SoCal. (Not sure of his age, late 20s+?) He said his parents had brought him to Lowell, 'cause he'd spent too much time hanging out at Huntington Beach. (probably was getting into some sort of trouble, he didn't say).

Our last stop was a temple set up in a house.

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Actually, the person that might be able to answer a lotta your questions is Leakhena Nou at LB st.

[tommyhtown]

I have a few Cambodian friends. Most are Buddhists and most own a donut shop. :) I know a family that owns a bunch catch-and-fry restaurant, but I don't know if that's a norm. The family structure is similar to Thai and I think Thai's family structure is close to Chinese. I think the Cambodian folks in Houston are pretty close-knitted. Everyone knows each other. Perhaps the younger gen not so much in that aspect.

[ism]

From what I've seen with my current girlfriend, who is Cambodian, her extended family is as good as her nuclear/conjugal family; she considers her cousins practically her sisters. Everyone gets together on the weekend for food and gambling games. The younger generation doesn't seem as committed. She is not religious but her family is Buddhist and this is a major connection to other Cambodians. When her grandmother died, many Cambodians visited her parents' house where some form of services were held by monks.

No one in her extended family owns a donut shop. In the immediate area here, it is mostly Filipinos. I believe the donut shop commonality could be linked and backtraced to a single person/family.

I'll get back to you on the law enforcement/judicial system question.

[Paradox]

I don't know how to answer all your questions, but I recently saw the band, Dengue Fever, when they toured in these parts.

I'm sure that wherever they play, they draw out Cambodians living in the area.

But your questions remind me of a field trip to the Cambodian community in Lowell, Mass. I was with a group of folks, mostly from SoCal.

Although one woman was an Indian American from the Midwest, and she noticed that some film flyers on the walls of a Cambodian video store had pictures of Hindu gods or goddesses. .
SE Asian religion has some indian influence. This came across with Buddhism and became a combination of animism, buddhism, and some hindu influence. In many places throughout SE Asia you'll see Ganesh being represented as well as some Hindu spiritual influences on old murals. It's very interesting stuff.