TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — At first glance, Phan Si Leng (潘喜玲), a Cambodian who moved to Taiwan more than a decade ago, appears to be a typical “new immigrant” (新住民) but behind her warm smile is a daring woman serving as a link between her motherland and her adopted country.
Phan recently shared her experience adjusting to Taiwanese life and promoting Cambodian culture with Taiwan News.
Hailing from Kandal Province, Phan met her Taiwanese husband at the factory where she worked. The two married in 2012 and moved to Taiwan once their first child was around 2 years old.
Phan recalled that Taiwan seemed to be “all ocean” from her view on the airplane during her first visit.
The mother of three only had more time to herself once her children were older and in school. That was when she enrolled in classes such as interpreter training, Mandarin classes, cooking courses, and cultural studies. “I wanted to be immersed in Taiwanese culture,” she said.
Over time she made many friends and whenever they needed a Cambodian representative for cultural events, she would volunteer. When she had her third child, Phan began setting up booths more frequently and would hold online auctions selling Cambodian arts and crafts.
Humble beginnings
However, Phan realized that there was a vast difference in cultures between Taiwan and Cambodia and there were also very few Cambodians in Taiwan. Cambodian expats are spread out throughout the county but will gather for major festivals such as Khmer New Year, she said.
When asked to describe her fellow nationals, she said they are “kind-hearted, honest, and proud.” There are 536 Cambodians in Taiwan as of March 2024, according to the National Immigration Agency.
Phan established a group for Cambodian expats in Taiwan and also created a Facebook fan page under the pun-laden name “柬到寶三寶媽,” a reference to her three children, to spread awareness of the work she was doing.
“It was extremely difficult in the beginning,” Phan said. “I would dress in traditional attire, the booth would have a huge ‘Cambodia’ sign, and there would be a Cambodian national flag hung up behind me but Taiwanese would still have no clue which country it was.”
It wasn’t until the past few years, with all the news reports about telecom scam networks and human trafficking, that Taiwanese started hearing more about Cambodia, Phan said. “I felt it was a pity that Taiwanese were introduced to Cambodia this way. This motivated me to work harder to promote my country’s culture,” she said.
Cultural promotion
Despite her unwavering dedication, she faced setbacks caused by the negative news reports.
“Taiwanese would sometimes mention these scams to me and say, ‘Cambodia is such a scary place,’” Phan said. Her husband even suggested she take a break but she refused.
Many aspects of Cambodian culture make it special, such as its dances, Khmer language, and diverse cuisine, but there isn’t anyone else in Taiwan promoting it, Phan lamented, “Cambodians in Taiwan aren’t vocal enough to promote it. It’s not possible to do so by myself.
Things are better now, Phan said. She often gives lectures at schools and government agencies to provide a better understanding of her homeland.
She was also a co-author of the book “Radiant New Women Power,” sponsored by the New Taipei City government, documenting the life stories of 13 new immigrants.
Phan now works as a courtroom translator in the Taiwan High Court, Intellectual Property Court, and Taipei High Administrative Court. She also teaches Khmer at elementary schools, middle schools, and some universities in New Taipei and Taipei City.
Additionally, Phan received training from New Taipei City’s Social Welfare Department and assists new immigrants at the city’s New Immigrant Family and Women Service Center in Sanchong District.
New outlook on life
In spite of all the difficulties, Phan said she was ultimately appreciative of all the things she accomplished in Taiwan.
“Moving to Taiwan led me to carve out a different life path. I feel proud to share the culture of my motherland to foreigners. To be recognized for my work, I’m happy and touched,” she said.
Phan also expressed gratitude for the benefits stemming from Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy. “I’m thankful for the importance the Taiwan government places on new immigrants,” she said, adding, “This policy not only benefits first-generation immigrants but following ones as well.”
With regard to her children’s identity, Phan said she constantly reminds them that they are half Taiwanese, half Cambodian. She has also discussed with her husband whether to send them to Cambodia for a period of time when they are older.
“They can visit as an exchange student or do community service there to get a better understanding of their mother’s home country,” she said. If one of them decides to permanently move there, Phan said she would encourage it.
Future plans
Phan said she planned to continue promoting her country’s culture in Taiwan to become a bridge between the two countries. She also mentioned expanding her translation services to medical or business environments.
Perhaps more importantly, Phan said she was committed to making assimilation into Taiwanese society easier for new immigrants.
When asked if she had any message for Taiwanese, she said: “Some Taiwanese only hear the news about the crimes that occur in Cambodia and assume that’s the only thing happening, but they should think for themselves and consider what is beyond the veil of media reports.”
