Moritz Henning:You were born and grew up in Cambodia, and studied architecture in the United States, instead of France as many others did. What was behind this decision?
Mam Sophana: I was around 20 years old when I finished secondary school in the early 1950s, when Cambodia was still a French colony. Almost all of my friends went to France to study, but I wanted to go to the USA. Once I was in the American Library, flipping through the pages of some magazines, and I saw photographs of beautiful mountains, water, and clean places. This attracted me. I liked America. It was not only the architecture but also American society; the way it fosters independence. They offer jobs. While I was there, I had many jobs to finance my studies: I washed dishes, was a babysitter, and I cut the neighbors’ lawns. That made me feel independent.
…
