“Hero” For a Day
Surveying the scene of Union Square, a picture of pleasant leisure is revealed; amongst this picture, a relatively untidy individual sits patiently in front of a chessboard. With a wrinkly smile, he motioned for me to come over. His worn out clothes were giving off a sense of financial struggle, but underneath sits a skillful and intelligent man. Refusing to be interviewed or photographed, he just repeats one sentence, “Google Saravuth”.
Upon first sight of Saravuth, I noticed the unkempt appearance of his black threadbare shirt, time seemingly having imparted the effects of all-to-real tribulations. His outfit was replete with dilapidated denim jeans and worn out, black Chuck Taylors. Upon further research, I learn the story of his strenuous past; born in Cambodia, he became an orphan at only thirteen years old, experiencing the traumatic event of his parents murder caused by the Khmer Rouge during the Cambodian Genocide.
While living his life as a traveling shoe shiner around his home country, spending nights in the unnerving jungles, he was found by American troops and brought to the United States. He was adopted by a family in New Jersey, along with ten kids, though he does not remember much except being abused and having the state involved. Today, caused by the effect of the financial collapse of 2008 and failure to be hired due to documentation problems, he finds himself back in the fight for survival. He maintains a “job” that entails battling strangers at the game of chess. Unable to support himself or his three kids,who live with their mother, he is left in extreme melancholy. In the video, “Street Stories: Saravuth Inn”, Saravuth begins to read a touching letter sent from his daughter Rosie, pleading for three hundred dollars for new winter clothes and the ability to purchase gifts for her siblings and Mother. You see despair in those rugged brown eyes, leading to a sigh letting out “I’m beyond sad.”
Viewing Saravuth from a far, you may come about the bias that people in his circumstances have little to no education, especially higher education. Underneath his tireless working facade, there is not only a college graduate but a virtuoso. Upon playing a game of chess with him in Union Square, the rules stand where if he is victorious, you give a small donation, but if you defeat him, you are awarded with a special prize, his music. He identifies himself as a singer and classical guitar player; listening to his music, you get vibes of famous musicians such as Bob Dylan, but it is spiced up with a little of Saravuth’s own original twist at classic guitar. Being born into quite a wealthy family, he fell in love with learning through his relationship with his father, recalling the many teachings he gave him ,such as his times tables and reading. Growing up in New Jersey, he was the top of his high school classes, specializing in: Chess Club, Band, Football, and Dancing. Upon graduating, he is awarded a full scholarship to Rutgers University, which he graduated from with a degree in Classics.
Saravuth has changed my perspective on not only the chess players whom I pass everyday on my way home, but on how we interpret people off of just their appearance. If I had chosen to just view him as his black tattered shirt and discolored denim jeans, I would have stuck with popular assumptions, “poor and uneducated”. Having Researched and spoken to him, you understand the cliché term, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. In spite of all the suffering Saravuth has gone through, you still see hope in his warm eyes and gentle smile. Giving up does not seem like an option he is willing to take, which is what makes him my hero.
Works Cited
A Chess Man in Union Square, Saravuth Inn, Could Use Your Five Minutes. • R/nyc. Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/xkd10/a_chess_man_in_union_square_saravuth_inn_could/. Accessed June 04, 2018.
“Street Stories: Saravuth Inn – Chess.” Vimeo, Saintwoods Productions, 4 June 2012, vimeo.com/32881823. Accessed 1 June 2018.
Saravuth Inn, as he contemplates his next move. Taken by Chris Weller.
Reflection:
What did you learn by completing this assignment?
What I learned through this assignment is don’t judge people by appearance and that everyone has a story, either good or bad. I also was taught several things through researching Saravuth himself, like about the Cambodian Genocide and the business tactic behind being a chess player in Union Square. Overall it really changed my views on life itself, I’m always so anxious about little things but forget that I need to be thankful for what I have as there are people struggling a great deal to survive, especially in this city. It makes me want to have more conversations with strangers and see my thought process behind identifying or assuming someones identity.
What did you accomplish particularly well?
I think I structured my essay well, I took a lot of time trying my best to produce a good essay since I was very interested in the assignment. I was strong with describing his appearance to show that even though I mention he was wearing tattered clothes I continue to explain in later paragraphs about the important parts that might define who he is as a person (his past and interests).
What could you have done better, and how might you apply this to future writing assignments?
What I could have done better is making sure my essay was correctly in Chicago citation, it’s been more than a year since I have written an essay and thought I would remember how to cite correctly but I should have double checked the Resources and Tools in canvas. I would have also tried to use better sensory description instead of just how he looked.
How might your thinking in Seminar have influenced your Studio look?
My thinking in Seminar influenced my idea behind my Studio garment with how I want it to express my identity but not an identity I show in my everyday life an identity I hide from my peers but makes up a big deal of who I am. The readings and class discussions have allowed me to think that clothes have a big influence on what people think about who you are, but I feel like society has a big impact on how you express yourself through garments. Since most people, including myself, have a fear of judgement. So, for my Studio look I’m going to ignore judgements and show my true self.
