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The Price of Happiness [stills]

Buntha opens a curtain to let some light into the room in the morning when she's feeding the baby, June 2015.
Buntha opens a curtain to let some light into the room in the morning when she's feeding the baby, June 2015.

When Buntha decided to leave her home in rural Cambodia for China, she thought she could make some money to support her family by marrying a Chinese man. Together with her sister, she arrived in a village called Huanggang in south China, where the preference for sons has dramatically skewed sex ratio, creating a shortage of women. Cambodian women like the Chreng sisters are thus seen as ideal brides for single Chinese men longing to have a family.

In the past three years, more than 2,000 Chinese men married Cambodian women in the province where Huanggang Village is located. The marriages, usually with a price tag of about 80,000 Chinese Yuan (equivalent of roughly $13,000), are fixed by brokers who bring Cambodian women to China and introduce them to single Chinese men. Some women saw the marriage as a way to live a better life in China; Some were cheated and trafficked by the brokers, finding themselves forced to marry Chinese men.

For a year, I followed Buntha (she’s called Bai by her Chinese family), and documented her life in China. Now she is the wife of Zou, a 52-year-old Chinese man, and the mother of a one-year-old son, Zhongwai (which means "Chinese and foreign"). Although she said her husband was nice to her, being so far away from Cambodia has left her constantly homesick and lonely. She wants to stay in China to bring up her son, yet, she cannot help but regret the decision of coming to China in the first place.

Zou arrives home after his workday on their scooter bike while Buntha feeds the baby, March 2015. At the time, Zou works as a scooter driver earning roughly 500 USD a month.
Zou arrives home after his workday on their scooter bike while Buntha feeds the baby, March 2015. At the time, Zou works as a scooter driver earning roughly 500 USD a month.
Zou helps Buntha with laundry, June 2015. In some rural parts of China, most people still wash clothes by hand.
Zou helps Buntha with laundry, June 2015. In some rural parts of China, most people still wash clothes by hand.
Zou holds the baby at home, October 2014.
Zou holds the baby at home, October 2014.
Buntha and her husband sit in their bed having dinner at home. Zou finishes his food, and teases Buntha by trying to steal some food from her bowl, January 2016.
Buntha and her husband sit in their bed having dinner at home. Zou finishes his food, and teases Buntha by trying to steal some food from her bowl, January 2016.
Buntha walks with the baby in her arms, October 2014.
Buntha walks with the baby in her arms, October 2014.
Buntha sits in bed next to the sleeping baby in the early morning, June 2015. She has to take care of the baby and housework mostly on her own because her husband works long hours.
Buntha sits in bed next to the sleeping baby in the early morning, June 2015. She has to take care of the baby and housework mostly on her own because her husband works long hours.
An old photo of Buntha and her sister in Cambodia.
An old photo of Buntha and her sister in Cambodia.
Buntha, in tears, sits with Zou in bed in the evening. She always cries when she‘s homesick. Zou says he hasn’t saved enough money to send Buntha back to Cambodia to visit her family, October 2014.
Buntha, in tears, sits with Zou in bed in the evening. She always cries when she‘s homesick. Zou says he hasn’t saved enough money to send Buntha back to Cambodia to visit her family, October 2014.
Buntha walks downstairs in a clinic after she and Zou took the baby for his monthly doctor visit and vaccination, March 2015.
Buntha walks downstairs in a clinic after she and Zou took the baby for his monthly doctor visit and vaccination, March 2015.
Buntha feeds her son at home, January 2016.
Buntha feeds her son at home, January 2016.
Buntha lies in bed after lunch to have a short break. Having to take care of the baby late at night, she’s sleep-deprived, October 2014.
Buntha lies in bed after lunch to have a short break. Having to take care of the baby late at night, she’s sleep-deprived, October 2014.
Buntha covers her face with hands when yawning, March 2015.
Buntha covers her face with hands when yawning, March 2015.
Buntha video-chats with her sister Srey Leap, who’s in Cambodia through a smartphone app. She wrote down her sister’s caller ID on her hand, February 2015. International phone calls are expensive in China, but the internet connection is good enough for audio or video-chatting.
Buntha video-chats with her sister Srey Leap, who’s in Cambodia through a smartphone app. She wrote down her sister’s caller ID on her hand, February 2015. International phone calls are expensive in China, but the internet connection is good enough for audio or video-chatting.
Buntha’s husband Zou plays with the baby in the empty space in front of their room while Buntha is having lunch, March 2015.
Buntha’s husband Zou plays with the baby in the empty space in front of their room while Buntha is having lunch, March 2015.
Zou smokes in the empty space in front of their home, January 2016.
Zou smokes in the empty space in front of their home, January 2016.
Buntha has dinner alone sitting in front of her sister-in-law’s home, June 2015. Her son is taken care of by some family members after they finish their dinner, so Buntha finally has some free time to eat.
Buntha has dinner alone sitting in front of her sister-in-law’s home, June 2015. Her son is taken care of by some family members after they finish their dinner, so Buntha finally has some free time to eat.
Buntha and Zou take their son to visit Zou’s family by bus before the Chinese New Year, January 2016.
Buntha and Zou take their son to visit Zou’s family by bus before the Chinese New Year, January 2016.
Buntha holds her baby standing in the empty space in front of her home, March 2015.
Buntha holds her baby standing in the empty space in front of her home, March 2015.

When Buntha decided to leave her home in rural Cambodia for China, she thought she could make some money to support her family by marrying a Chinese man. Together with her sister, she arrived in a village called Huanggang in south China, where the preference for sons has dramatically skewed sex ratio, creating a shortage of women. Cambodian women like the Chreng sisters are thus seen as ideal brides for single Chinese men longing to have a family.

In the past three years, more than 2,000 Chinese men married Cambodian women in the province where Huanggang Village is located. The marriages, usually with a price tag of about 80,000 Chinese Yuan (equivalent of roughly $13,000), are fixed by brokers who bring Cambodian women to China and introduce them to single Chinese men. Some women saw the marriage as a way to live a better life in China; Some were cheated and trafficked by the brokers, finding themselves forced to marry Chinese men.

For a year, I followed Buntha (she’s called Bai by her Chinese family), and documented her life in China. Now she is the wife of Zou, a 52-year-old Chinese man, and the mother of a one-year-old son, Zhongwai (which means "Chinese and foreign"). Although she said her husband was nice to her, being so far away from Cambodia has left her constantly homesick and lonely. She wants to stay in China to bring up her son, yet, she cannot help but regret the decision of coming to China in the first place.

When Buntha decided to leave her home in rural Cambodia for China, she thought she could make some money to support her family by marrying a Chinese man. Together with her sister, she arrived in a village called Huanggang in south China, where the preference for sons has dramatically skewed sex ...
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