Tibetan refugee sells wares, shares experiences during annual trip to set up shop in Hillsdale
Chase Purdy
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: News
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Her husband and two daughters took asylum in Canada one year ago, but she stayed in Nepal to care for her 80-year-old father. Once a year she makes a month-long visit to Hillsdale, in hopes of selling enough Tibetan goods to support her family for the next year.
Choe, 44, wrapped herself in a bright green shawl and glanced out the window. A man and a woman walked by her Howell Street shop. Two more passed before a woman entered the store. A little bell rang when the door slammed shut.
"Hello, how are you today?" Choe said, bowing just slightly.
"Oh just fine," the woman said. "I didn't see you down here a couple of days ago."
"No, no, I only come in December!"
The woman looked around the store. She looked at the dozens of brightly colored pashminas, handmade bags, sweaters and winter hats. When she saw the jewelry, one eyebrow rose just a little.
This year marks Choe's tenth visit to Hillsdale. It's like her second home, she said. When she comes she stays with Theatre Department Chairman George Angell. She met Angell when he took a tour of Nepal in the 1980s.
Her month in the United States stands in stark contrast to her life in her home country, she said.
"The political situation in Nepal is not good. Besides work, the bomb blasts are in so many places, I don't think life is very safe. It's not uncommon for the government to just shut down all the roads and businesses too."
When in Nepal, she stays with her father. If asked to describe her father, Choe hides pride behind her quiet smile. For years he carried a hundred pounds of salt up a Himalayan mountain to exchange for wool. Today he dresses in thin clothes and a six-inch beard.
"I think it's the children's duty to take care of their parent," she said. "I showed my children the way, now they have to live their life."
Life changed for people in Nepal when the Chinese government took control of the region in 1959, Choe said. The conflict ripped her family apart, and even to this day she has no contact with the portion of her family living in Tibet.
So when she visits the United States, Choe sells as many handmade Tibetan goods as she can. She and her neighbors created most of the items up for sale, and most of them are affordable, she said.
"And some of these are multi-purposed," Choe said as she picked up a pashmina.
"See this can be a scarf, a table-runner, a shawl, even a dress."
When she leaves the country, she packs her goods into boxes and stores many of them in Angell's Hillsdale Street home.
Since meeting her, Angell has met most of Choe's family, except for her father. He's fascinated by her story, and said he enjoys helping her when she visits the country.
"She has been in the immigration lottery for forever," Angell said. "Which is sad because she does everything the legal way. I even file her income taxes for her."
Angell said he estimated Choe's average December earnings at about $20,000 to $25,000. Jewelry rings in as her highest-selling good.
One decade ago she stepped off her plane and onto U.S. soil for the first time. She said she came alone, and didn't know what to expect. She blushed a little when she thought of her first elevator experience.
"I'd only seen them in the movies," she said.
Since then she's made a name for herself, especially in Hillsdale. Students like Brandon Irish '08 are regular visitors to her shop. Choe said Irish bought almost all of his Christmas gifts from her this year. When people buy from her, she tries to collect their addresses.
It isn't uncommon to receive a handmade Christmas card later in the year if she does get an address.
She said she likes Hillsdale because the people are friendly and honest, something she admires about the personality of the people in her own country. She's always looking to meet someone new and listen to their story. If people listen, they'll catch part of hers.
"I'm always focusing," she said.
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