Hello PLC Family! My name is Pornphun [Pronounced: Paun-pun] Slayden, AKA Paula. I am the Interim QI Clinical Supervisor at North Hills Clinic. I started with Penny Lane as an Outpatient Therapist in North Hills.
I identify as a 1.5 generation Thai American and a Buddhist. A 1.5 generation immigrant is not a widely used term, but it refers to first generation immigrants who immigrated to a new country before or during adolescent period. Thailand’s national religion is Buddhism, which is widely incorporated into daily life including school, daily routines, rites of passage at various stage of development, etc.
I was born in Bangkok, Thailand. I grew up in one of the many sprawling cities in Bangkok like the cities on the outskirts of Los Angeles. My parents worked in Bangkok, and I attended a prestigious public school near their work. I immigrated to the United States when I was 9 years old. Since moving to the States, I have lived mainly in the San Fernando Valley currently in North Hollywood near the Los Angeles Thai Temple.
I prefer the Thai cultural music that is used in traditional dances and plays. But I also love 80s and 90s pop Thai music and American Alternative Rock!
I am including a link to the Thai ballet, Royal Khon, for you to enjoy.
There are so many great Thai dishes, one of my favorites is the Khao Mun Gai and Gaeng Som. Khao Mun Gai is a simple dish that was inspired by the Hainanese Chicken and Rice dish from Southern China, made with poached chicken and rice cooked in chicken broth with ginger, fried garlic, and cilantro roots; served with very complex chili sauce. Gaeng Som is a soulful dish that my grandmother used to make very often when I visited her during my summer breaks in Thailand. It is one of the many traditional Southern Thai dishes that is savory, sour, salty, sweet, and VERY spicy!