Voices of the Past, Voice of the Future is project created by Christopher Silavong. This is a personal story where I delve into my parents' past and a country of which I knew nothing.

As a child, I never learned about my parents' country, nor did I ask about their childhood and what Laos was like. I'm sure they spoke about their past in passing, but I didn't pay attention or asked further questions. I was young and time seemed forever.

And then in 2012, the realization that one day they'll die became real. My father suffered a stroke nine days before my birthday. Leading up to the dreadful day that forever changed my family's life, my parents, brother and I worked for the same employer.

We were all unemployed at one point because of the 2008 financial crisis. Life seemed hopeless, and we feared going homeless if we missed a mortgage payment. I don't know why but working together in the same place, after that rough period, felt special. It brought us closer.

So, I began this project. I wanted to know who my parents were and what brought them to America. My parents' stories will be incomplete. They've lived in America much longer than they'd lived in Laos, and it's difficult for them to remember what happened to them at 10 years old, especially for my father. It also doesn't help that I don't know how to speak Lao.

This is a working project, and I'll continue asking them about their lives until I no longer can. But for now, here's what I've pieced together.