Tibet Oral History Project: Interview with Tenzin Wangmo on 5/20/2012

The interpreter's English translation provided during this interview is potentially incomplete and/or inaccurate. If you are not fluent in Tibetan, please refer to the interview transcript for the complete and correct English translation. Read the interview transcript in English at http://tibetoralhistory.org/Interview... ** This interview about life in Tibet was conducted by the Tibet Oral History Project. This non-profit organization aims to preserve the history and culture of the Tibetan people by interviewing elderly Tibetan refugees about life in Tibet before and after the Chinese invasion. Learn more at http://www.TibetOralHistory.org. ** Interview Summary: Tenzin Wangmo was born in Khangzikha village in Kham which consisted of 35 families. Her family was poor so even from young age she had to work in the fields and look after the animals. She remembers searching for mushrooms in the mountains. She didn't spend any time playing with other children, but does recall having picnics with other girls during festival times. Tenzin Wangmo narrates her feeling about the Chinese when they first arrived in her village driving yaks and mules. She recalls the Chinese deceived them by helping with fieldwork and behaving in a friendly manner. At age 21 Tenzin Wangmo and a few friends ran away from their village to Lhasa out of curiosity. In Lhasa she found employment first with a Tibetan family and then later mixing coal with soil for the Chinese because they paid well. At that time she stayed with her brother, a monk living in Drepung Monastery. Tenzin Wangmo describes how suddenly the Chinese attacked Lhasa and how she fled with some of the monks of Drepung Monastery. The escape was a difficult journey and many were killed by the Chinese along the way. When they reached Mon Tawang in India they had to beg for food. Tenzin Wangmo feels blessed to be able to often see His Holiness the Dalai Lama since she now resides in Dharamsala.