My name is Tom Tor, originally from Cambodia. Recently moved back from Tokyo after living there for about 10 years or so. I am now living in Southern California. My origin story, title, Life is Salty. As you can see in front of the box, it's a picture of me, who was the only picture taken when I was young in the refugee camp in Thailand. The things around the box and the salt in the mill is an abstract form that best represent a moment of time in my life. I have lived about 14 refugee camps before entering the United States. My story does not begin there. It began further back when I was living in Cambodia.

One day I was walking back from a labor camp. Suddenly in the middle of the road, I see the wind shift. Clouds have moved in and the sky suddenly becomes darker. I feel panic and scared. I look for a place for shelter, quick my eyesight tend to shut down due to lack of low intensity light what that mean i'm completely blind there i find shelter underneath the house waiting for the rain to pass while i was waiting i put my hand on the ground just to feel some texture maybe i was looking for something maybe just to feel comfort at that moment suddenly i stomp on a piece of texture it feels like a rock so i pick it up and put it in my pocket, not knowing what it is. A few days later, I totally forget all about it, doing noontime. As usual, we all wait in line, I finally step up in front of the line, the old lady looked at me and grabbed the bowl off my hand and scooped the rice porch and handed it to me. I looked down, all I could see a pure liquid and a few grain of rice.

This is one of the reasons why my eyesight was not in a good condition, lack of nutrition. But I'm not complaining. I'm just happy to receive it. As usual, I sit in the same place. But suddenly, same thing happened before. Sky suddenly become darker. I can hear the voice of an old lady behind me. Sun is raining soon.

Please find some shelter. I didn't care what happened. I couldn't see anything. All I wanted to do to sit enjoying my food. Nothing is going to ruin this day. As the rain comes down slowly, I drink my soup in the middle of the rain. I realized I had a piece of rock that I picked up a few days ago. I didn't know what it is. I pulled it out and feel the texture. Couldn't see what it is anyway. So I bite it down and try to taste it. Some magical happening. My mouth becomes more richer. The food is more flavorful and I feel stronger, hopeful. I continue licking the rock and sipping the soup at the same time. I didn't want it to be over. If I have to describe something like this now, it would be just like eating a big old steak. The rain continued to come down but I didn't really care. It is the best meal I ever had as far as I can remember.

A few days later, I ran into an old lady, which I called her auntie. I asked her, "Do you know what this rock called?" She looked at it. She said, "That's salt, son." "Salt?" I said to her as I walked away from the lady. I keep thinking the word salt. Suddenly, I remember what my grandmother told me before we got separated.

She said, "Son, remember this. Life is salty. If you ever find yourself trapped in a corner, dark, hopeless, can't find your way out. Look for the salt and try to taste the salty life. And hold on. There's hope and dream and beauty on the other side.