There are many differences between the two countries, but the big ones for me have been the food – I love pizza – freedom of speech and religion and the excellent opportunities for education.
My words on freedom would be: Don’t take it for granted, and be thankful for it everyday. Because I appreciate my new freedom so much and want to ensure it for my family, friends, the community and future generations, I recently joined the Indiana Army National Guard.
I help out my parents, Kaung Sein and Ester Par Lian, by teaching them some basic English during dinner time and on weekends. I also act as an interpreter for all of their appointments. I am their only son, and I have two younger sisters who go to Southport Elementary. We attend Falam Baptist Church of Indiana.
After graduating from Southport I plan on pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing at Indiana University Bloomington. My favorite subjects are English and business.
My vision is to help Chins and Americans get together more frequently for an engaging, patriotic and helpful community. I am grateful for all the assistance that I have received from everyone in helping me adapt to my new home. Because of the kindness shown my way, I volunteer whenever possible to make the Southside a better place for everyone to live; I urge my fellow Chins to follow suit. This is also our community; we can all become a part of it if we make the effort.
I served as an interpreter for Southport Mayor Jesse Testruth last summer and am a certified Community Emergency Response Team member. I volunteer at Southport Library and am president of the Southport Key Club. In my role with the Guardians of Indiana Leadership Academy, I am urging my fellow teens from Burma to show their patriotic pride in America while becoming leaders when it comes to volunteering.
Those wanting to become volunteers can call me at 833-7330 or email peterlianvanna@gmail.com.
Below, the article is translated into Chin for Burmese who don’t read English very well.
US le Kawl Ram hi dangawknak tampi an nei, asinan ka hrangih a danglam bik micu rawl hi a si. Pizza ka duh zet. Kan duhmi sim theinak kan nei, biaknak zalennak le fimthiamnak lamzin ttha an tamzet. Freedom timi hi a menmen in lak lo in nitin ten lungawi sawn ding a si. Ziangahtile tu freedom ka ngah mi hi ka lungawi tuk. Ka sungkua, rualpi, community le hmailam fa nau pawl hrangah kimseh ti’n tla ka duh. Indiana Army National Guard ah ka lut. Cumi lawng siloin ka nu le ka pa, Kaung Sein le Esther Par, tla an ttul mi tinkimah ka bawm. Ka bom mi pawl cu zanriah ei caanah le niruk le nipi ah mirang ttong mal te te ka zirh. An appointment pawlah ttong lettu ka ttuan. Naunu hi pahnih, Southport Elemantary ih kai, ka nei ih kei hi ka nu le pa ih fapa neihsun ka si. Kan khawmnak cu Falam Baptist Church of Indiana ah asi. Southport High School in ka ttheh ihsin finance lam in bachelor’s degree ngah ka tum. Cumi ttheh in Indiana University Bloomington ihsin marketing lam zir ka tum bet. Ka ca duh bikmi pawl cu English le business an si. Ka sunmang pawl cu kanmah laimi pawl le American pawl kan karlak ih duhdawtnak le theihthiamawknak a tum sinsin ding in bomduhnak, ram duhdawtnak, le community ih pumpekawknak pawl an si. Ram tharih nitin ka nunnak ih in bawmtu pawl parah tla tampi lungawinak ka nei. Southside hi umnak hmun ttha sinsin si ding in ka remcaan tinten pumpe in hna ka ttuan ttheu. Laimi ka rualpi pawl in zuam sinsin le tthangsonak lam kan pan ding ka duhsak hai a si. Himi hi kan community a si ve; kan zaten kan tel thei mi a si kan thazang zaten kan pek len. Kan dung tthal laiah Southport Mayor Jesse Testruth ah ttonglet ka ttuan ih tu hi Community Emergency Response Team ah member ka si. Southport Library ah tla pumpe in hnattuan ka bawm ih Southport Key Club ah tla president ka si. Guardians of Indiana Leadership Academy ih a telmi pakhat sinak in, pumpek nakah Burma ihsin a ra mi ka rualpi pawl ram duhnak thinlung an neih mi an langter ding ka dil duh. Zokhal pumpek ih hnattuan a duh tu cun 833-7330 ah in call thei lole peterlianvanna@gmail.com ah ca in kuat thei a si. Ka lungawi.