June 2023 · Taylor Jeon
It was June of 2023, the first time I visited the refugee community where my mother had been volunteering is something I will never forget. I had been told that their living conditions would be very different, but no explanation could fully prepare me for what I would see. The families I met were Rohingya genocide survivors—people who had fled violence and persecution in Myanmar, leaving behind everything they once knew. What I witnessed was not simply poverty, but the result of deep suffering, resilience, and survival. I visited a family who had arrived in the United States just two weeks ago.
As I stepped into their home, I noticed an unfamiliar smell. Small insects moved around, and despite the 90-degree heat outside, there was no air conditioning inside. The space felt heavy and uncomfortable by my standards. But what stayed with me was not the environment—it was the people. They welcomed me with warmth and quiet curiosity, greeting me like family even though I was a stranger. Although we did not share a common language, we communicated through smiles and gestures, forming a simple but meaningful connection.
I sat on the floor and played with the children. Their initial shyness quickly turned into laughter. Nearby, my mother and the refugee mother embraced—and began to cry. It was more than sadness. It was empathy, connection, and shared humanity. In that moment, no words were needed. That was the beginning of In the Beginning.