From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey
From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey by Pascal Khoo Thwe
The author was born and raised Kayan Padaung in the remote hills of Burma/Myanmar (famous for the tradition of "giraffe-necked" women - the many gold rings creating the illusion of extending their necks). He writes vividly of the traditions and realities of that life.
He entered seminary at a young age (the village had been Catholicized a couple generations ago), then moved into university with a particular interest in English literature. His descriptions of learning at the Mandalay university are intriguing - students are to never disagree with teachers (having an original opinion can lead to severe consequences - such as the student who asked a question and was imprisoned and tortured to insanity), exams are repeating dictated essays that have been memorized, and the literature for an entire year consisted of perhaps 15 poems, one play, and one novel. During this time he worked at a restaurant, where he met a Cambridge professor.
Burma has had a military dictatorship for years (Aung San Suu Kyi is a remarkable dissident), and the author's education was seriously disrupted. During riots protesting the political state, he became a student activist. When the rebellion was crushed, he fled into the jungles and eventually into Thailand, where the Cambridge professor "rescued" him. The author then entered Cambridge - the first Padaung to receive a western education (few have any education), where he graduated and wrote this book.
It's a fascinating book - especially for the insights into Padaung and Burmese culture. If you can't place Myanmar/Burma on the map and are unaware of the Karenni rebels, I highly recommend it.
The author was born and raised Kayan Padaung in the remote hills of Burma/Myanmar (famous for the tradition of "giraffe-necked" women - the many gold rings creating the illusion of extending their necks). He writes vividly of the traditions and realities of that life.
He entered seminary at a young age (the village had been Catholicized a couple generations ago), then moved into university with a particular interest in English literature. His descriptions of learning at the Mandalay university are intriguing - students are to never disagree with teachers (having an original opinion can lead to severe consequences - such as the student who asked a question and was imprisoned and tortured to insanity), exams are repeating dictated essays that have been memorized, and the literature for an entire year consisted of perhaps 15 poems, one play, and one novel. During this time he worked at a restaurant, where he met a Cambridge professor.
Burma has had a military dictatorship for years (Aung San Suu Kyi is a remarkable dissident), and the author's education was seriously disrupted. During riots protesting the political state, he became a student activist. When the rebellion was crushed, he fled into the jungles and eventually into Thailand, where the Cambridge professor "rescued" him. The author then entered Cambridge - the first Padaung to receive a western education (few have any education), where he graduated and wrote this book.
It's a fascinating book - especially for the insights into Padaung and Burmese culture. If you can't place Myanmar/Burma on the map and are unaware of the Karenni rebels, I highly recommend it.
posted by NOLA at 11:09 AM
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