My American Dream

Her story begins in the tiny village of DonMuang, in one of the fifty districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is 1955, Benchavan a twelve-year-old girl from a poor family, sets out dressed like a boy, on an important and potentially dangerous journey to help her family. Returning safe and victorious, she realizes that she can accomplish anything. Tiny yet full of energy, and unlike many girls her age, not caring about convention, Benchavan goes on to become educated and starts an exciting career as a flight attendant for Thai Airlines. While helping to support her family, she travels around the world and meets all kinds of people. But one thing remains certain: her dream to live and work in America. With hard work and faith in God, she eventually achieves her dream, landing a job in a big corporation in Los Angeles, where she meets movie stars and finds love. Married to a handsome American man in the travel business, she starts her own jewelry importing business and become a great success. But her life is not all rosy. She meets the challenges of betrayal by her family and the breakup of her marriage with courage and grit, determined to live her American Dream. Eventually, she finds new love with her second husband, Lee Shale and they build a thriving jewelry business together. She is blessed with two lovely and talented daughters and her life seems set. But she has an even bigger dream: to spread love and peace to millions by appearing on 'America's Got Talent.' After several years and auditions, she finally makes an appearance as 'Big Benji' and becomes an instant celebrity with nearly 40 million views on YouTube and other sites. This memoir is a final fulfillment of her even bigger American dream: to share her story of courage and faith with everyone, particularly young immigrant women. In the words of her beloved Thai teacher, Mrs. Variya, she reminds us to 'Dream big, because the one who has no dream will not achieve anything in life.'