We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cece Buonya. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cece below.

Cece, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope my legacy will be that I was a loving mother, dedicated to passionately helping and uplifting others, an inspiring creative, and a culture carrier, especially for the Montagnard community.

Through my service as a realtor, business consultant and entrepreneur, I hope others remember the way I treated them, how I made them feel, and how I may have been able to positively contribute to their lives in an impactful way.

As an author, I hope to make my son and parents proud, contribute to saving the Rhade and Jarai languages (Montagnard tribal dialects) and instill strength and perseverance in the hearts and minds of all who read each work.

Cece, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Ceicile “Cece” Buonya and I am a Montagnard mother and author. I am a Raleigh, NC native, born to immigrant Montagnard parents of the Rhade and Jarai tribe.

Growing up, I watched my parents work hard to give us a better life than the one they left in our homeland. Their hard work and perseverance was an inspiration for me to also be diligent in leaving behind a legacy and making a positive impact on the world.

Motivated by the stories of my parents, the experience of other immigrants, and the desire to create a story that my son could connect with, I embarked on a self-publishing journey in partnership with my sister and co-author of our current book, Anna Ksor Buonya. We built a brand of ‘Exploring with Eman’ to help write stories reminiscent of the immigrant experience while also capturing and preserving pieces of the Montagnard culture and language.

Our current publication, “Crossing the Mekong River”, is a multilingual children’s book hoping to introduce readers of all ages, cultures and ethnicities to the Rhade and Jarai language. Within its pages you will find repetition to teach the concept of counting and numbers, native animals, and illustrations representative of Vietnam’s landscape. In a world where Montagnard customs and dialects are quickly fading, we hope that this book will add a spark in helping to save the Rhade and Jarai languages for generations to come.

As someone who has always had a passion for reading and writing, starting this self-publishing journey has brought both joy and purpose to my life. One of my favorite things about reading is seeing the words on the pages of the book come to life as a movie in my mind. I hope our work has the same impact to each reader as they continue to join us in the adventures of ‘Exploring with Eman’.

Outside of writing, I am also a realtor, business consultant and entrepreneur.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The goal and mission of my creative journey is to leave behind a legacy that my parents and son can be proud of, while also sparking inspiration in others.

I have always loved reading and writing and remember finding a passion for poetry in grade school. In 4th grade, I wrote a poem called “Save the Montagnard People”, feeling compelled, even then, to preserve the Montagnard culture. I continued to write as a form of self-expression into adulthood.

I never imagined something I wrote would ever be seen or heard, let alone have the ability to positively influence or impact other people. But through ‘Exploring with Eman’, we can do just that and so much more! In addition to creating a legacy and inspiring others, this brand aims to keep the Montagnard culture and language alive as well as connect to anyone who can align with being a culture carrier.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the process and the lessons that come along with bringing a new idea or concept to life. The way in which you bring a creative work to life is limitless, and it’s not often that you can explore a world without rules and boundaries. As I identify the approach I will take to start a creation journey, I get to stretch and exercise my imagination, challenge myself to surpass internal barriers, overcome self-doubt, and learn to both explore and listen to that internal voice within.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cbuonya.kw.com/
• Instagram: @cbuonya and @exploringwitheman
• Facebook: @cbuonya and @ExploringwithEman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceicile-buonya-294093173
• Other: https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/check-out-cece-buonyas-story/?fbclid=IwAR0pX5ta4nw-iMxAP29tNyw4u4F3-kV9_FR0YKJOUQxI8VDvmK0Dc5asr6g