Stepped Out of the Womb

A memoir of a journey to the land where the sun falls

Description of the book:

This book is Thavisouk Phrasavath’s memoir of his series of recollections of his childhood experience as one of the children of the war torn country of Laos, his escape from communism and his journey to America at the end of the Vietnam War era.

Through the collective memories of his actual experiences we were able to submerge into the mind’s eye of an innocent child and see the brutality, atrocity and tragic horror of war. Through the strength of his will to share his memories we were inspired to dig deep within ourselves and find the remedy to heal our personal pain. Through his yearning to be free we find ourselves becoming a forgiver, as well as being liberated from some of our own oppression and misery.

Preview of the book:

“….As I was laying in my bed quietly try to compose my gust and strength,
I was anxiously frustrated over the elongation of the abnormally seem slow
ticking away clock’s needle. It felt like I was staring straight at the frozen time.

It was April 14, 1977.
As the minute’s needle of the clock was 15 minutes away before it approaching the 12 midnight. I knew my time is about to arrive. I was well prepared this time because I knew if I fail to make it this time than there will be no other time; except the option of possible imprisonment or punishment for the sin that I never commit.

Finally the moment has arrived. Before I left, I ran to mother’s room and I said to her, mom I have to go, I have to go now.
She reaches out to grab my wrist and pulling me close to her chest and held me tightly not to let go. She was breaking down with the river of tear she told me:

“Be safe my son, you must remember your mother, your father, your grandmother and grand father.”

As my anxiousness took over, I broke free from her arm of love and comfort. So I took off.

The night was so dark and mysterious,
the echo of calling crickets slit through the deep night gave me chill deep into my flesh. It was almost unbearable feeling of loneliness, I felt like my mind was struggling through magnetic storm, the more I push my self forward the more I feel the resistance strength that pulling me back with the same magnitude. My heart began trembles. My soul feel like as it was burning with fire from hell bursting out with uncontrollable blaze of flame.
But I keep holding my pride with my stubbornness attitude. I just keep walking forward. I have no intension of going back this time. One and the only one goal in mind were to make it to Thailand. Everything else after that, there was not necessary to think about at that very moment.

Through thick wood I crawl and run. Through thick wood I run and crawl.
Step after step my bare foot slit through the wet dew and sharp saw weed.
Bit by bit I slit through the shadow of darkness, now I am a lost child with a heavy heart, took off with a hundreds trouble, stumble through thousand fears. Here I go! Crawling through sharp reeds following the sound of river. Over the sudden I felt the welcoming of the longing death, its calm my nerve and comforting my flesh. The death, the longing death were so close and near. I could felt its present. So, I went through the moment of transcendent and I was totally dazed over it. When I got down to the edge of Mekong it seemed getting even darker, I could clearly hear the voice of the Pathet Lao soldier were drinking, chatting and singing in few hundred feet near by.

I crawl through the mud and reed down to the water. As I took a moment to carefully rest and hided under puddle of mud I grab the handful of it and put it in my head and pray to Mae Toranee the Godmother of the earth to
protect me on my journey. I close my eyes and held my
breath and talking to her as she was there accompanying
me. I slowly step into the water. Than I said:

This could be my last minute, or this could be my continue.
If I am going to die this second, I am still going to die any way.
So I took off my cloth and blew up the plastic bag to float me across the river.
I said: Let’s leave up to the nature of the world.
Now I am going no matter what.
I will be gladly to die in this water, be food for the fishes.
It will cool more peaceful.
So I am drifting down along the current of the Mekong River,
slowly by slowly I was gone and gone-farther away from home and step out of womb where it bear my birth, buried my umbilical cord, comforting me love, and gave me identity. Slowly by slowly I drifted away to the darkness than nothing else.”

Advanced Praise:

 
“I have to tell you that it was fascinating to read and it truly touched my heart. I am five years older than you, so to read your story living in Laos as a young boy when I was growing up in New Jersey at the same time is just such a contrast. I saw what was going on in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia on tv, but it was only on TV to me. It was so far away. And yet you lived with the bombs being dropped near your home. The courage it took for you to leave your family as a young boy is just mind-boggling to me. And as a parent, it must have been heart-breaking for your mother to let you go.

I think your story is just amazing, Thavi. You have truly lived a remarkable life, overcame more than most who were born in this country could possibly imagine. And it is wonderful that you are following your heart and doing what you have a passion for. My son is a musician through and through. It is who he is! We encourage him to follow his dream of music and, after reading your book, I will encourage him even more so. “

L. S
New York, New York.  USA.

“As a fan of your movie I think the book really compliments the movie….yes the book is way better then the movie and I was happy that I could hear more your story….so I am pretty sure that you will be able to satisfy all your fans with this book….and what’s nice after satisfying them with your story….you start by planting a humanitarian seed in the end….like the blue pill in matrix…or was it the red one? I forgot…but yeah that’s a clever move and I am happy you did that the ending is pretty nice having met you in person I kind of saw it coming ..all this “fellow your dreams ” talk…you did it beautifully…it felt as if you were there talking to me….I hope it can move people as you moved me.

So yeah..I loved the story telling…it was a nice ride….hope you can have it made in French too…I think some of my French Canadian-Laotian friend would love it.”

Tay. Sengdara
Montréal, Canada

“When I started reading I couldn’t put the book down and I couldn’t wait to see what was next, it is so important for any book to catch the reader attention immediately and your book did that.  I read it in two days with kids distraction.  I like how you did a straight talk to the Lao people and the Laotian-American.  Over all your book is very well written.

Tiffany K.  
Boca Raton, Florida  USA

Wow…I just finished your book..
“Stepped Out of The Womb”… a lesson in history, humanity at its best and worst, spirit and hope. This story exposes and acknowledges the devastating elements the author has experienced and witnesses in his life, yet it is the current of his understanding and forgiveness that flows as he shares the tales of cruelty and betrayal that is most remarkable.  An exceptional read!!”

Suzi Conklin Nance
Newport RI. USA