Only around 11 years old then, he knew little about what they were fleeing — China’s decades-long colonization of his homeland — and why. He also didn’t realize that he would never again see his homeland, his mother or his six siblings. Without offering much explanation, the father then returned to Tibet, leaving Sonam under the care of a family friend. During the short call, she promised, “We will meet one more time.” But by then, Sonam knew that the political situation in Tibet made that nearly impossible. “It’s a process of negotiating this really harsh and endless barrage of obstacles and challenges that exile throws at you.”

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Persons: Bhuchung Sonam, —, Sonam, Dalai Lama, “, ” Locations: Central Tibet, Nepali, Nepal, India, Tibet