Thailand 2006
As her mother packed her bags, Niramol reassured her, "Ma, we would live comfortably when I returned." She couldn't face them unless she would cry too. She must do this since her employer promised in his contract that she would visit her parents and siblings during any Thai holiday. She turned to her father and held his hands. "I will make sure you live comfortably, pa. Once I get to the States I would send you money everytime I promise " she said hugging the old man tightly. Although he was not that old, his stroke had accelerated his aging process. She squats to kiss her twin siblings. This is her best opportunity to provide the highest quality of life for her family, so she must leave. She had heard wonderful things about the United States, and she is going there to make life easier for her parents. As she stepped out onto the street, she looked back at their house, which, like the rest of the houses in the village, was made of wood. However, it had been her home for the past 23 years. Things had not been going well for her family, with her father suffering from a stroke and her mother farming to make ends meet, so she could not simply stay. Her friend Jutharath has introduced her to a woman who has promised to sponsor them abroad, but when they arrive, she will have to pay back.Since she would be working as a waitress in one of the largest hotels in the United States and would be able to visit her parents during Thai holidays, she accepted the offer. She felt uneasy as she stepped out of the village on their local tricycle, known as the "tuk-tuk" to the bus stop, but she had made up her mind to go; after all, she was not going alone; Jutharath was coming with other girls in the village.
Even as she walked towards her doom, she was certain that she would keep her promise to her parents no matter what.