I was about seven years old when I was first sexually abused by our neighbour’s son. I was totally shocked and terrified by what he did. My innocence was stolen and fear entered my heart. He told me that I couldn’t tell my parents and because I was afraid of him, I didn’t. When I was 10, a young couple stayed in our home because they had nowhere else to live at the ti....
I can’t ever remember a time when church wasn’t a part of my life. My grandparents are Christians and as long as I can remember our family of five joined them every Sunday at our local church. But when I was 14 church life changed for all of us. Not because of some obvious spectacular event but simply because my mum, a devoted, faithful, amazing woman had an encounter with ....
I remember when my parents told us they would no longer be married. I can’t remember their words, the time or the place – but I do remember feeling lost. It was as though the tiny sliver of happiness I once had, was forever gone. Let’s be real divorce is a bitch. (I honestly couldn’t think of a better-suited word. Trust me, I tried.) It ruins t....
I was born in Surabaya, one of the largest cities in Indonesia. Our family are Chinese and, like most in our community, the vast majority of my family practiced Confucianism. This is a belief system that impacts every area of daily life with a strong focus on ancestor reverence. The one member of our family who had broken away from Confucianism was my paternal grandmother. She ....
I was born in Phnom Penh, the largest city in Cambodia, and am the youngest of five children. During the time of Pol Pot my father was sent to work at a labour camp. To try and assure his survival he began work very early and finished every task that was set for him. He did not want to be accused of being a ‘soft intellectual’ but to prove that he was a strong, hard &hellip....
