tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66967677626646261592024-02-06T18:56:22.719-08:00MIIS students in CambodiaDuckiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965773699035406742noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-9919069672182439112009-07-06T16:34:00.000-07:002009-07-06T17:26:25.244-07:00We've been published!Please join us in celebrating the publication of our work! Eight of us who traveled to Thailand and Cambodia in January, including our professor Dr. Pushpa Iyer, have been accepted as contributors for the Women's International Perspective online journal.<br /><br />Dr. Iyer's article, entitled "Cambodia: Defining Peace in Order to Build Peace," is the WIP's featured article this month and may be found at: <a href="http://thewip.net/">http://thewip.net/</a><br /><br />The release of the seven students' work will continue over the coming month, with the first two articles available now for viewing at: <a href="http://thewip.net/talk/">http://thewip.net/talk/</a><br /><br />Please continue to follow our work throughout the month of July. Congratulations all!Melissa Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243250971427121203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-54362375941208464882009-02-19T09:27:00.001-08:002009-02-19T09:29:39.801-08:00Empathy and Peacehttp://thewip.net/contributors/2009/02/empathy_and_peacebuilding_less.htmlPushpa Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102459715016309665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-25217200166291220422009-02-19T09:23:00.000-08:002009-02-19T09:24:56.320-08:00Goodbye Cambodia, Hello Vietnam - By Faith SavoieAs the day came to an end the phrase, “the time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things…” kept coming to mind. This was our last night in Cambodia together and the time had come for us to have our last outing and dinner together, and then “talk of many things” in the morning before we went our separate ways.<br /> After meeting with the last NGOs of our trip, we made our way back to the hotel and had some time to get what we needed for the boat trip on the Mekong river and dinner. Ending the trip by taking a ferry to watch the sunset form the river was a wonderful idea and I really enjoyed that. All of us sat on the top deck of the boat and talked about what we were going to do after our debriefing tomorrow. Some of us were heading home, others were going back to Thailand, a few of us were going to go to Vietnam and others were staying in Cambodia until the 31st. Even as the sun went down, the air was still warm. The sun hit the growing skyline of Phnom Penh and reflected brightly off of the royal palace. Small fishing boats passed us and we exchanged waves and hellos. We passed a small village that looked like it was floating and we could see the kids running to the back of their houses to see ferry boats like ours pass by. After the sun set, we made our way back to the place where we had started from and made our way to the restaurant for dinner.<br /> Dinner was also outside and there was Khmer music playing. Many of us decided to go out on our last night and say our finale goodbyes to Phnom Penh, and the Heart of Darkness. I was more than satisfied with the end of the night because I was able to jam out to Britney Spears, it was nice.<br /> <br /> The next morning we all went across the street to the center for debriefing and finalize some details about weekend workshop we would have when we came back. Nam also came and talked with us and we were able to ask any lingering question that we may have had. The end of the debrief came quickly and everyone from the office came into the conference room so we could all say our goodbyes. We gave the center a gift for them to remember us visiting them and thanking them for working with Pushpa to make this trip possible. They presented us with Khmer scarfs to remember them by and next thing I knew, the trip was over.<br /> <br /> Ashley, Stephanie, Christine, Adam and I were catching a bus at 1 pm and were going to cross the Cambodia/Vietnam border and then go to Ho Chi Minh City. When I woke up, we were crossing into Vietnam. I have a tendency to pass out on long trips and luckily I missed the Khmer Karaoke. The plus side of traveling by bus is that neither of us had to pay a departure tax. If you come across the border by bus, you have to go to a large area inside where the bus driver gives your passport to the boarder authority. It took a really long time because there is only one person checking and calling out names. Stephanie was the first one to be called and then I was called. They have you take your bags and out them through a scanner, I think that was their customs process. Christine, Adam and Ashley come over shortly after Stephanie and I had finished and put their bags through. However, Ashley was told to take several bowls that she had purchased in Cambodia out so they could inspect them. They were really interested in the jade-color bowl and asked her where she got them from. She told them she got them in Cambodia and paid only a few dollars for them. After what seemed like a half an hour, they let her take the bowl and we were on our way. That was actually a really nerve racking time, I was glad that was over.<br /><br /> The next several days were spent in Ho Chi Minh City and we all did similar or different things. I was really glad that Rachel had told me about the traffic situation in Cambodia. There were motor-bikes everywhere! There were cross-walks but no one stopped for them so you had to walk into the middle of the road and wait until there was a break in the traffic and then run to the other side. That was fun and usually kept me on my toes. The day before I left, Ashley and I were sitting outside a small restaurant having lunch. All of a sudden I see something fall from the trees onto Ashley but she made nothing of it. A few seconds later she is talking to me and her face went white. She goes to swipe something off of her back and a huge cockroach flies off. She jumped right out of her seat and screamed and I couldn’t help but laugh. Since then, she feels like bugs are crawling on her back. Also, on our quest to find the botanical gardens, we wandered through the zoo. The condition of the zoo wasn’t as horrible as lonely planet cautioned, but there were some noticeable differences. The alligators are behind a chain-link fence and that is it. I watched some kids try to grab it or poke at it and couldn’t believe it. In the US, there would be a fence, another fence and then a guard rail. We were not able to find the gardens so on our way out, we passed some Rhinos. They were really cool and they came over to us. It was awesome to get that close to a Rhino because that would also never happen at a zoo in the US.<br /><br /> There were many noticeable differences between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. While I was there, I noticed that there is still a rift between Vietnamese and Americans left over from the Vietnam War. On the surface, Thailand and Vietnam appeared to have stronger infrastructure and were developing faster than Cambodia. For me, it looked as if the standard of living is higher in Vietnam and that there is a larger middle class than in Thailand or Cambodia. Also from my observations, It appeared to me that Vietnam had a stronger economy and government then Thailand and Cambodia. <br /><br /> I left early in the morning on the 30th and made my way to Beijing and then made my back to San Francisco. I remember stepping off the plane the other day and thinking how amazing the trip was. I never thought I would go to Asia and have it leave such a positive, lasting impression. I was only there for a limited time, and didn’t physically see most of the bad, but understand it exists there. I was amazed by the history of Cambodia and the beauty of Angkor Wat. I absolutely fell in love with the island, Rah Lei, that Stephanie, Ashley and I spent several days before meeting up with the group in Bangkok. The work in the field taught me that I still have so much to learn and understand about conflict resolution. However, the work in the field showed me things that I could never learn in a classroom. I can’t wait to do it for J-term again!Pushpa Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102459715016309665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-70743093751488086852009-02-19T09:20:00.000-08:002009-02-19T09:23:30.849-08:00Sympathizing With The Enemy - By Faith SavoieIt’s pitch black, but you can feel that your moving. Where are you? Are there other people in there with you? You try to remember what you were doing before and your head immediately fills with pain. When you put your hand to your forehead, you feel something wet, or slimy. You can’t tell what it is, but you can feel that it is all over you.<br />You remember that you were out looking for food. You hadn’t eaten in several days, but you knew that soldiers were looking for people trying to gather food. You went anyway and found food, but before you could eat you heard shouting, and by the time you turned around, you awoke in the darkness. The moving stops and the yelling begins. The door opens and the light is blinding, you can’t see. You realized that you don’t need to see to know where you are. You arrived at Tuol Sleng and you have heard enough stories to know your not going home ever again.<br /> The high school turned torture compound imprisoned thousands of Khmer during 1975 and 1979. All of the people that had been imprisoned at Tuol Sleng were interrogated. They were routinely beaten and tortured in various ways. Some were shocked several times a day, while others were chained to bed frames and seared with hot metal. Every detail about the person was recorded, photographed and the prisoner would have to sign at the end of the confession. After, the prisoners were taken to Choeung Ek, (Killing Fields) and were executed and thrown into other mass graves with hundreds of thousands of people.<br /> The chief of S-21 was Khang Khek lue, widely known as Comrade Dutch. Today we visited the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia where he and several other former Khmer Rouge leaders await trial. <br /> Knowing what he did, could you imagine ever feeling remorse for him? How do you mentally digest a thought like that? How do you justify his actions for torture and killing of innocent people? How would you talk to someone about this? These were many questions that I had to ask myself. Towards the end of our trip, after our visit to the ECCC, I felt sincere remorse for Duch and actually admitted it to our group during a routine meeting.<br /> Earlier in the trip we had learned about more about the leaders and what they did during the Khmer Rouge and what they did after it fell. It was interesting to learn that some leaders from the Khmer Rouge lived completely opposite lives after the Khmer Rouge fell in 1979. One leader in particular, Khang Khek lue caught my attention. He became a Director of Education and converted to Christianity. In 1996 he fled to Thailand with his family due to the fighting that broke out. In the refugee camp, Duch assumed the role as the Community Health Supervisor. Once the fighting stopped, he returned to Cambodia and worked closely with the international Christian relief and development organization, World Vision. He continued to promote human rights and assist in the development of rural Cambodia until he was tracked down in 1999. Soon after, he surrendered to the authorities and remains in prison.<br /> Duch was the first suspect indicted in the tribunal. Duch will be the first to be tried at the tribunal because he admitted full guilt for what he did during the late 1970s. Should this change anything? Does it change anything? He still assisted in the torture and killing of Khmer people by receiving and giving the orders to do so. Most people will say no. However, I personally feel that he should not be tried the same as the other leaders awaiting trial. Many people in our group commented and hit it home that justice is imperfect. I know this, I understand this but that doesn’t mean that I have to agree with it. I can understand people not fully understanding how I can feel remorse for someone like Duch. I am not Khmer and never experienced what millions of people went through. However, I am a human being and I believe that feeling remorse is natural and can be felt or anything or anyone.<br /> Ashley and I grappled with this thought for a long time. I remembering when we were getting ready for bed I looked at her and told that what I was about to say may sound crazy and I that make no sense, but I feel bad for Duch. I tried to read her face and was ready to respond and defend my statement. She looked at me and told me she felt the same way. We really couldn’t explain what we felt for him. What he did was wrong and anyone else who did/does that is/was wrong. We discussed that topic for a while and we both came to a similar conclusion. It’s human nature to feel remorse and anyone can feel remorse about anyone, or anything.<br /> I don’t believe or think what he did was right. I do not feel the same way about any of the other former leaders awaiting trial. I just know that feeling something this deep and believing in it is going with my gut feeling, and I can live with that.Pushpa Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102459715016309665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-82073048928753171122009-02-12T18:11:00.000-08:002009-02-12T18:13:55.759-08:00Final days in Phnom Penh - By Faith Savoie<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Cpiyer%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Cpiyer%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Cpiyer%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Our trip to Thailand and Cambodia was almost over just when I had finally adjusted to the time difference.<span style=""> </span>I woke up earlier then usual and used the extra time to reflect on what I had seen, witnessed and participated in over the past few weeks.<span style=""> </span>Yesterday had been difficult and emotionally draining.<span style=""> </span>The morning had started early for me, and came too soon for others.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>It was about 2:30am when I woke up and at first I thought it was time to get ready.<span style=""> </span>However, the sky was still dark and realized that I had woken up because of<span style=""> </span>the loud voice outside of our hotel.<span style=""> </span>I could hear muffled screams or yelling in the background, but the voice over the loud speaker was making it difficult to make out what the other voices were.<span style=""> </span>I turned around to see if Ashley had been awoken by the noise outside.<span style=""> </span>Ashley had tossed around earlier so I leaned over and woke her up.<span style=""> </span>“Yeah”, she said in a groggy voice and I asked her if she could hear the noise, which felt like it was right outside of our window.<span style=""> </span>She sat up, listened briefly, and said she could hear something but turned back into the sheets and fell back asleep.<span style=""> </span>By that time it was about 3:30 in the morning and I was jealous that Ashley could sleep through all of the noise outside.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>I looked out my window and tried my best to see if I could see anything in the dark.<span style=""> </span>It wasn’t very successful because I had taken out my contacts and I can’t see anything far away.<span style=""> </span>Yet, I did notice that there were no headlights on the street next to our hotel and I thought I could see people walking down the road.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t know what to make of it.<span style=""> </span>Were they celebrating the Chinese New Year?<span style=""> </span>Do Khmer people stay out late on the week days and not the weekend, I didn’t get it.<span style=""> </span>The voice was still speaking in Khmer over the loud speaker and I still couldn’t make out the muffled voices in the distance.<span style=""> </span>All of a sudden it seemed as if the voice was getting louder and the music came on and the voice stopped.<span style=""> </span>The Khmer music played over the loud speaker until the sun came up, and then it stopped.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>I wasn’t able to fall asleep so I just laid there waiting for the alarm to go off, the music and voice to stop and for Ashley to wake up so I could complain a little.<span style=""> </span>As soon as she woke up, I told her about what I had heard and had seen and was amazed that she had slept through all of that.<span style=""> </span>We made our way downstairs for breakfast and noticed that our hotel was busier then usual. In my mind I thought something was taking place for the Chinese New Year so I didn’t stop and take my time to look at the people who had wandered into our hotel.<span style=""> </span>Ashley and I walked outside to a rather chaotic scene.<span style=""> </span>One of the main roads had been barricaded and closed out to the public and only police and military personal were allowed to enter and leave.<span style=""> </span>What was all of this?<span style=""> </span>People had gathered up and down the streets and were pressing up against the barracade to try and get a closer look at what was happening down the road.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>In the crowd of people, I saw journalists, people wearing different color vests and each person wore a distinct look of disgust on their face.<span style=""> </span>I turned to Sarah and Brandon and asked if they knew what was going on and Sarah just looked at me and said, “It’s a humanitarian disaster”.<span style=""> </span>What did she mean by that?<span style=""> </span>I looked at Brandon and he said that they were evacuating the “slum” on this street and that was all that he knew.<span style=""> </span>I ran up stairs and grabbed the flip camera and made my way into the crowd with Ashley and started to talk to anyone and everyone we could to try and understand what was going on.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>From the short time that we had outside until we got on our bus and made our way to S 21 (the genocide museum) and then the killing fields, we had gathered several short interviews and a great deal of facts on the situation.<span style=""> </span>The situation had come to the end.<span style=""> </span>The people in that area had been negotiating and fighting with the government for rights to the land, compensation if they moved, and where they would be moved to.<span style=""> </span>Basically the government ordered the families there to pack up their belongings on a truck and then they would be taken to another area where they could rebuild their homes and such.<span style=""> </span>However, some of the human rights observers mentioned that the military and police had been using mild violence to move the families and that many families would not see any form of compensation.<span style=""> </span>I realize situations like this happen all over the world and that some of the biggest cities in the United States were built this way.<span style=""> </span>However, it’s always shocking to see something like what these people were going through.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>We gathered everyone in our group and got onto the bus to meet Emma at the genocide museum.<span style=""> </span>We took a detour since the road we had used yesterday was blocked off and made our way around the crooked streets and torn roads.<span style=""> </span>We arrived at S21 and immediately I felt a chill come over my body.<span style=""> </span>As we made our way into the museum, Emma described the history, set-up and purpose of the torture center.<span style=""> </span>Even though I was in front while Emma was speaking, I couldn’t pay attention to what she was saying.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t want to listen anymore about the torture and cruelty that took place here.<span style=""> </span>It had only been about 10 or 15 minutes and already I had a knot in my stomach and a strange feeling about the museum.<span style=""> </span>She lead us to an area where there were a dozen or so white stones and she told us that only 14 deaths occurred at Tuol Sleng.<span style=""> </span>When the Vietnamese army invaded Cambodia and pushed the Khmer Rouge further north in Cambodia, the cadre left the prisoners in the rooms.<span style=""> </span>By the time the Vietnamese army arrived, they 14 prisoners had been tortured so badly that they died before they could be liberated.<span style=""> </span>A photographer had been traveling with the Vietnamese army to record the first entry into Phnom Penh since the Khmer Rouge had evacuated everyone out.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>He took the photographs of the tortured prisoners and those photos are placed in each room displaying how the bodies were found.<span style=""> </span>Personally, I don’t have the stomach or the words to describe to you what those pictures looked liked.<span style=""> </span>I only saw a few before I was overcome with emotion and just needed to step outside for some air.<span style=""> </span>We continued to make our way around the museum, but had been delayed several times because of the French group that was in front of us.<span style=""> </span>Emma showed us the rooms with all of the pictures of the victims and the cadre and the youth soldiers.<span style=""> </span>She showed us the rooms where the prisoners were kept and what they had been strapped to the floor with.<span style=""> </span>One of the most disturbing things about that part of the museum is there is still blood on the floors and walls from the prisoners who were held there.<span style=""> </span>We took a quick look upstairs and looked out onto the grounds of the former high school through the holes in the barbwire fence.<span style=""> </span>We made our way downstairs, discussed briefly what we had seen or felt (briefly discussed because not many people in the group wanted to talk about what they had seen) and went across the street to a restaurant operated by street children.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style=""> </span>Lunch was a relief for me because it gave me an hour or so to put Tuol Sleng in the back of my mind and try to comprehend what I had just seen.<span style=""> </span>By the time I could even start processing what I had seen, it was time to go to the killing fields.<span style=""> </span>The drive to the killing fields was short and we were given time to walk around and reflect about the time we had spent at the museum.<span style=""> </span>As I made my way through the paths surrounding the holes were hundreds upon thousands of bodies had once be tossed away like trash, I noticed something coming out of the ground near a tree.<span style=""> </span>Was I really looking at human bones coming out of the ground?<span style=""> </span>I had not been prepared to see something like that while I was here.<span style=""> </span>I turned around and made my way back to the bus, trying to erase an image that would be burned into my memory for a very long time.</p> <p></p> Pushpa Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102459715016309665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-80893652609275923512009-02-03T14:17:00.000-08:002009-02-03T14:18:47.255-08:00A Moment in Time or Future Foothold? Time will Be The Greatest Determinant Of That Fork In The Road.**The following entry is solely founded on personal reflections, thoughts and insights. It is no way indicative or representative of the group as a whole, nor is it a means of explaining or defining the trip for any other person other than myself.***<br /><br /> It's rather difficult to assess what defines a particular trip or a particular moment in time. For some it's a compilation of all the stories heard, all the people interchanged and all the roads paved, within a particular time that begins to define the life spent in one particular locale. Yet for others, the definition lies within the symbolism they find in the nature of the land, the spirit of the people, the work, both unrealized and successful of board members and grassroots players alike, and the empathy within oneself, as they slowly find a way to dissect everything that a populous has lived through and all they are able to learn about themselves in that time. Even for others, it is not enough to journey to unfamiliar territory and attempt to embed oneself in the life and culture of the place around them, but more so, there must be a time to reflect, ponder and assess all the little things that slowly filtered into one another that laid a foundation for a truly defining excursion to land unfamiliar and a people foreign and new. However, whatever the journey means to one person most likely than not, like most things in this life, it simply does not mean the same to another.<br /><br /> Similar to most defining instances, although two people cannot truly occupy the same space, two people can experience the precise and exact same moment in time and the same second of action or inaction, yet come out the other end with two completely polar perspectives, reactions and definitions of truth, justice, reconciliation, and reality. Therein, we are left to dissect this journey to Thailand and Cambodia (even Vietnam & Korea) and find a way to define not only what it has meant to each of us individually, but also, what is has meant to us collectively. Even far greater, we are left to dissect what it has meant for us as both human beings occupying space in this world and what it will mean to us professionally in our quest to secure our foothold in this vortex we call life.<br /><br /> As I reflect on the journey and what I am able to take from the trip to the Southeast, I am still at a loss for what this will mean for my future: will it be a defining mark on my professional journey or simply a reflection on time spent in a Southeast Land during my academic career? One the hand, there is the very real possibility that this trip with all its’ frustration and education alike will simply be a small spec on my personal journey that will be a token of reflection in regards to a trip I took during my last few months of school. Yet, on the other, there is heartily the potential for this to be a stepping-stone of professional recognition and direction, in whatever capacity and avenue that may be, that I needed in order to channel my energy in the direction where I find myself to be the most useful. The hope, of course, is for the former to become realized.<br /><br /> In retrospect then, I have come to realize that this trip was much more than shopping, tuk-tuk’s, monks, palace, slum evacuations, tribunals, government officials and NGO meetings. It was more than a testament to personal will and preservation in calculating how long a person is able to go without screeching out in frustration over recycled clothes, tangled and oily hair, lack of personal space and sleep deprivation. If anything, and in the purest of terms, this trip was. Even in it’s simplest terms, it was under the veil of an educational case study designed to present us a coversheet perspective of both the successes and failures of peace-building from the bottom-up and vice-versa and the preserved and broken relationships embedded within that umbrella. It was a trip defined by the caveat of “let nothing surprise you, but hope that some things still shock you.” And ultimately, it was trip that will forever be left to us to constantly redefine and reassess.<br /><br /> As we all begin to reintegrate ourselves into a semester of reading assignments, presentations and midterms, we will come to a sense of perspective about what we choose to take from such an endeavor. Whether we see it as an educational experience for which it was intended, i.e. an opportunity to grasp the challenges of peace-building, or whether we see it as small foothold in the greater picture of what professional direction we choose to follow, inevitably it will mean something to us all. And, only we can answer those questions. As for me, I have yet to devise a game plan for what parts of the trip I will use and what simply are. In my mind, I must truly understand, comprehend and evaluate the trip as a whole in order to understand what role it will play in my broader scope of professional existence. But, as I reflect and attempt to assess and evaluate such a daunting ideological stance, I am simply left with the idea that perhaps neither today nor next year will I truly comprehend the place this trip has for me.<br /><br /> Ultimately, whether that message is vocalized or not, I have faith that in the most convenient of definitions and in the simplest and most influential manner possible, that the true vision I need and blueprint I hope to devise, will avail itself in either in collaboration or in competition with this trip. In the end, I hope to somehow and someway have a secure foothold, either with a pen or shovel in hand, or possibly alternating between the two, as a result of the days spent learning and listening to the voices and the echo’s of the Khmer people, evaluating and questioning those who choose to find a way to impact these lives, of walking away from the stale aroma of dried blood in S-21 and the killing fields, and for better or worse, day in and day out, of being reminded of how the other half of the world lives and in what capacity they are still able to find their smile and the personal fortitude to rebuild their lives.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-82183184146270288462009-02-02T20:29:00.000-08:002009-02-02T20:53:09.037-08:00Cambodia: A final reflectionI read some where that when you go to Phnom Penh you both learn to love and hate the city. To be perfectly honest, my feelings about this broken, yet hopeful, city reside some where in the middle. It holds an incredible amount of some of the most gruesome history belonging to the Khmer people and at the same time it represents how the city, much like the Khmer people, are trying to rebuild what was taken away so many years ago. The Killing Fields and S-21 constituted the backdrop to the several NGOs which are attempting to bring some sense of justice, reconciliation and even peace to a culture of silence that yearns to be broken. Our visit to the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies began with a much welcomed and in-depth historical background of the conflict and subsequently touched on a critical insight about the Khmer culture, namely the important role of symbolism. Once you can understand what symbolism means to the people you can understand that what from an objective point of view might look like a disconnect from history, is in actuality peacebuilding at the grassroots level - <em>a la Khmer</em>.<br /><br />Not realizing my own sense of ignorance, I walked in with my own notions of what peacebuilding <em>should</em> look like and was taken back once I heard Emma talk about how the Cambodians were slowly but surely finding creative methods to reconcile their past. I tried to take this perspective with me when we went to visit the tribunals. The tribunals as a concept, however, proved to be a point of contention, not only among the Khmer people, but among our group as well. The last question to the Court Officer (who was delivering the presentation about the tribunals) asked whether, in his personal opinion, the tribunal would bring justice? He replied by saying that the tribunals would bring <em>fair</em> justice, but not <em>perfect</em> justice.<br /><br />Statements like these, so simple yet powerful, remain etched in my memory promising to make a permanent home. They begin to define and break down what continues to be a largely complicated conflict into fragments - each with its own truth, justice and story to tell....Ranginehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12386246182667629704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-79825872218727774982009-02-01T21:17:00.000-08:002009-02-03T10:08:13.567-08:00The Role of the Government in Conflict Resolution?**This blog is my personal opinion based on my studies, readings, and experiences in Conflict Resolution. I have only studied this field for one semester. It is also based on conversations from outside students studying conflict resolution at different schools. **<br /><br />During my semester of Intro to Conflict Resolution and on the Cambodia trip, I have often wondered about how the government fits into this field. I wonder because as a conflict resolution student, I rarely hear about the government. I do not think this is because of lack of work in the field by governments around the world. The field likes to use terms like social reconciliation, for example the Cambodian government's partial funding of the Khmer Rouge trials or Australia's apology to the Aborigines people. Restorative Justice can be seen in judicial systems in South America that have incorporated indigenous practices into the legal system. This is similar to the United States justice system that uses community conferencing (similar to mediation) for juvenile cases, because it has proven to have more effective results in keeping youth out of the prison cycle. Perhaps this perspective is taught in more advanced conflict resolution classes and if so, I look forward to learning it.<br /><br />The perspective I have learned is mainly that of an NGO perspective. Much of the teachings during the course were illustrated through programs facilitated by NGOs and independent practitioners. I encountered this same aspect during our Cambodia trip. The majority of the organizations we visited were NGOs. Besides visiting the Khmer Rouge trial location, there was no other governmental visit.<br /><br />One of the best qualities of our class was it's careful analysis of conflicts, incorporating historical, social, and political factors. It is very good in understanding the many levels of a conflict. It is also very conceptual, with terms like social reconciliation, trauma, justice, truth, symbolism, memory. I found our Cambodia group was very good at asking the right questions to Khmer people about some of these topics. They are important in a a society attempting to recover from a genocide. However, there was no talk about what to do with that information. How does this play into policy? What exactly do these programs look like?Recognition of the importance of some of these topics is the first step. The next step is formulating that information into effective policy. <br /><br />Thank you for reading the thoughts of a student who believes wholeheartedly in the utility and necessity of conflict resolution. I will continue to push for a wider perspective and a government angle that can maximize the effectiveness of the teachings of this field.KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468064664578530747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-92153300451081098132009-01-31T09:28:00.000-08:002009-01-31T09:33:36.911-08:00Last evening in Phnom Penh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68jexLKIBIXLq3gYAwKiDYs9fQ-dAtqLotx6VXzWZQRekggMKFCfLMFmcYNFC4G1fgRSSOdulKtjWGiP-mH-sQnjiU5WG1Lw4dSzI4Tucs5ORe0febqcWEbZDtNMYwwJFFnG57u4OwQk/s1600-h/Cambodia3+199.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68jexLKIBIXLq3gYAwKiDYs9fQ-dAtqLotx6VXzWZQRekggMKFCfLMFmcYNFC4G1fgRSSOdulKtjWGiP-mH-sQnjiU5WG1Lw4dSzI4Tucs5ORe0febqcWEbZDtNMYwwJFFnG57u4OwQk/s400/Cambodia3+199.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297511997770788178" /></a>Pushpa Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102459715016309665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-75731923533536679882009-01-29T00:53:00.000-08:002009-01-29T01:12:35.186-08:00Looking backThis amazing trip has now come to a close and some of us will go back to the US immediately, while others stay behind to travel some more before we return to MIIS for a brand new semester. This, to me, is the hardest part of traveling- returning to your normal life...a life where you forget to look at the bigger picture, appreciate the small things, and live simply so that others may simply live. I am already forgetting small details or insights that I didn't have the chance to write down on the blog, but for the ones I do remember, I will document them now. <br /><br />One statement I found interesting was that apparently arranged marriages in the Khmer Rouge outlasted most of the other Cambodian marriages. These people were basically lined up and paired together to produce more Khmer Rouge children for the survival of the group, but I am told that because these couples endured a lot of hardship together that that is one of the main reasons they are still married.<br /><br />The driving is insane here- you are constantly dodging motos, swerving from hitting small children, dogs, or tuk-tuks, etc. Most of the time I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best, but apparently there is some sort of license plate hierarchy according to Sitha. She mentioned that bikes are the lowest on the totempole, followed by motos, then tuk-tuks, taxis, vans, buses, police, other government cars. Although this is not apparent to the foreign eye at first, I did begin to notice a vague sense of order amongst all the chaos and even discovered that some license plates are labled as an NGO or UN vehicle and they have priority over most but of course, the Cambodian gov plates get the right of way in the end.<br /><br />At S21 and the Killing Fields, there are still traces of the lives lost during this tragedy. Blood still stains some of the prison cells, along with a faint smell. The killing fields are still adorned with pieces of clothing, a few bones sticking out of the ground from those who have not been burried properly, and just knowing that the tree labled "the killing tree" is where babies were flung against and shot is enough to make you sick to your stomach. Most Cambodians believe in the spiritual realm, so there have at least been cleansings performed by the monks to get rid of the "restless ghosts" from the past.<br /><br />I plan to finish this a little later, but I'm still in Asia, so stay tuned.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01142385653923343969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-49330631902902634402009-01-28T03:20:00.000-08:002009-01-28T03:24:44.987-08:00Shared Responsibility in PeacebuildingThere are many areas in Khmer society that share the responsibility for peacebuilding to ensure a future stability within Cambodia. Non-governmental organizations, the national government, and independent institutions are all players in a multi-front movement towards peacebuilding for the Khmer society. They are inherently connected and without effort from one, the entire peacebuilding process is lacking. Peacebuilding is intrinsically connected to culture and history, making it a complex and long-term process. Highlighted below are examples of efforts from these three different sectors.<br /><br /><strong>Non-governmental Organizations</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Tean Thor</strong> is an educational and vocational school that also is a a refuge for AIDS patients. The organization addresses this taboo issue by educating young children about AIDS, how it is contracted,and how it is not contracted. They house, feed, provide medicine, and support AIDS victims. The children who have AIDS also take classes alongside children who are not infected. This NGO, like many, faces budgetary constraints and a lack of assistance from the government. It is also battling a social stigma and cultural resistance to addressing this issue. It has done an impressive job with the resources it has, from engaging the once distant monks to work with AIDS victims. The monks are an integral part of Khmer society and have a far reaching influence amongst the Khmer people.<br /><br /><strong>Independent Organizations</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The National Election Committee (NEC)</strong> has the responsibility of organizing and facilitating "free and fair" elections, held for the first time in 1993, with the support of the United Nations Transitional Authority for Cambodia (UNTAC) . As international organizations and NGOs have descended onto this country, there is huge international pressure upon this institution. I cannot comment on how free or fair the elections are, there have been numerous criticisms from the international community as the NEC has attempted to meet international standards. There is also skepticism and a lack of trust in institutions that are connected to the government among the Khmer people (the Cambodian government contributes funds to the NEC). As many institutions in this country, they seem to have done remarkably well against extreme odds, with much work still to be done.<br /><br /><strong>Government</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)</strong> will try five former members of the top commanders in the Khmer Rouge. There are several challenges that have beset the court thus far. Both high costs and the lagging trial schedule are sources of criticism from the international community. Currently, they are one year behind the original set date for the trial of Guek Eav Kaing, or Duch, the former head of the torture center, Toul Sleng or S21. Duch is the only one who has confessed; the pretrial is due to begin in February 2009, while another application for extension is due. The current projected cost for the court is approximately $90 million over three years. <br /><br /> Cambodians themselves have characterized their culture as one of impunity and silence. Symbolism is very important in the Khmer society, much more so than in western culture. This trial is important symbolically for the Khmer people. First, to address the genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge, whose leaders have lived under impunity for thirty years. Second, it is important in the personal healing process of Khmer because it provides a venue and a reason to talk about the atrocities committed against them. As one NGO employee stated, "the first challenge for addressing the genocide is getting people to open their mouths." Whether it justifies the amount of money the tribunal costs is another issue. Many Khmer feel that that money could be better invested in the health care system, the economy, or social programs. <br /><br />These are just three examples of institutions we visited during our time in Cambodia. For a more in depth look at the government perspective, or lack there of, in peacebuilding, look out for the next blog to come....KBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468064664578530747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-13384963908528634352009-01-27T11:36:00.000-08:002009-02-07T12:12:01.280-08:00Last Evening in Phnom Penh<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Cpiyer%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Cpiyer%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Cpiyer%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">I can't believe that our last evening in Phnom Penh is over...well, for me it has... there are a few others still dancing at the 'Heart of Darkness' - a popular bar/ disco in this city. Once we got through a Britney Spears song, Faith and I were ready to leave and so were Ashley and Rachel. It was great fun! It has been a very intense and fast paced trip.
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<br />We started bright and early this morning at 8.15. I told everyone we would meet at 8 even though I had planned with our local host, Sitha to meet at 8.15. I did it because every morning we are delayed by 10 minutes as there are always a few still sitting at the breakfast table. Today when I came down, everyone was ready and waiting for me. Brandon wants me to apologise to him for 'lying'...after steering a group of 13 for 10 days, I don't think I want to apologise :)
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<br />We had a full day today with meetings with two NGOs - World Vision (Human Traficking Project) and Youth for Peace (Project on Trauma Healing and Reconciliation). I leave it to the group to talk about their take away points from these two visits. We also visited the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an organisation that does excellent work in documenting the past and strategizing on including history and memory into the present. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We did all of this and lunch without a break and by 5.15, we were on a boat on the Mekong river, to enjoy sunset and to unwind.<span style=""> </span>We had a lot of fun on the boat – I am simply very happy with the positive spirit that existed all through in this group. After the boat ride, we went to dinner at a restaurant which is on the same river. <span style=""> </span>It was beautiful, food was wonderful and of course, great company. <span style=""> </span>We raised toast to our wonderful driver – Pagiren – who has been with us since Siem Reap, to our hosts – especially Sitha, Bopha, Emma, Ngarm - the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and to us, as a Team.<span style=""> </span>The group got me a chocolate ice-cream with candles and sang ‘she is a jolly good fellow…’ I was so touched. <span style=""> </span>It has been so much work getting this course set up but it has equally been a lot of fun. I did pick the students for this course, and I am really pleased with how well we have worked together and I think, we can see the beginning of some good friendships.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The students have put in a lot of work and for most part their interest and excitement in learning something new every day was obvious. We are a serious group and as is repeatedly told to us by people here, we come across as a group that is really eager to learn and is not one that is out there just to have fun in a foreign country. It is a great compliment, one that I am proud of…we have had a great time but we have also done so much work. We do have a lot to reflect on, in the coming weeks. We still have a three hour meeting tomorrow with members of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. <span style=""> </span>After that, we will all go our own way and get back to Monterey sometime before the end of the week. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>I’ll write more later – it’s once again a late night! </p> Pushpa Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102459715016309665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-50416775909133957882009-01-26T16:08:00.000-08:002009-01-26T16:31:36.934-08:00InspirationOur journey through Cambodia is coming to a close. As I reflect on the places we have been, the people we have met, and the stories we have heard, I find myself uterly overwhelmed by the problems that exist is this beautiful country and for a courageous people, but also incredibly inspired by the work that so many are doing with Cambodians for their future.<br /><br />Yesterday we went to an organization called Khmer Ahimsa, a peacebuilding organization focusing on the promotion of nonviolence. The organization is doing great work with communities. But I want to talk more about the director of the organization and some of my thoughts from her story. First, I must give you a little background. She survived bombing raids by the US, three years of "slavery" under the Khmer Rouge, and an abusive husband. As she told her story there are few things that really struck me and I would like to share those thoughts with you.<br /><br />1. "We (Cambodians) are not insects. We just want to have food to eat."<br />While every one of us here understands this, it is the message that is lost in war. Foreign governments and authoritarian regimes step on the people and treat them as if they are in fact insects not to be concerned with. Perhaps it is because I am American and in light of even recent history this statement is applicable today not just in Cambodia but all over the world. I believe that until we place human beings at the center of our policy focus, that states and regimes will continue to forget this ever-important message.<br /><br /> 2. "He (the boss) was powerful and I was powerless. I thought why does it have to be this way."<br />After going through so much war and conflict, that she was able to work for her power and to do what she dreamed. Not everyone would be able to continue to endure their situation, let alone change it as she did. I found this a profound statment in the midst of her story.<br /><br />It is because of these stories and expereiences that we are learning about the Khmer people and how they are working to overcome the conflicts in their lives and it is these people that are truely an inspiration.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436289152270924039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-65160034519214913082009-01-26T15:59:00.000-08:002009-01-26T10:42:22.433-08:00EmotionsI hope you are all enjoying following our blog. I think the course is progressing well - we are experiencing a lot every single day and have so much to tell. It is hard to find the time to sit down and write as we are gone from morning to evening - although, some in the group are really good in putting down their reflections and giving you updates on our research. We make time everyday to reflect together on our experiences which I think is very important both in terms sharing insights but also to channel our emotions positively. The past few days has certainly been emotional. We have heard stories from those who survived the Khmer Rouge period and visited the Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. Words cannot adequately describe the emotions that wash over you - sadness, horror, anger, repulsion.<br /><br />However, the one emotion that a few students made a reference to when referring to the experiences of the past few days, was frustration. And it became <span style="font-style: italic;">the</span> topic of conversation yesterday morning during our reflection session. Frustration about the difficulty of being able to explain to others the gravity and the horrors of Cambodia's past and the challenges in working on a 'peaceful' future for Cambodia. Frustration also about the inability to do something to change the situation as we see it today. Frustration about the mis-management of resources and frustration about reconciling the agendas of individual NGOs to the needs of the people.<br /><br />As I told the group, frustration is not a bad thing, it could actually be a positive emotion if channeled in the proper way. If there was no frustration and everyone was just content, then not much effort was going to be made to bring change. If frustration leads to depression (emotion) or inaction, then frustration does become a negative emotion and leads one to point fingers at what one considers is the source of that frustration. Frustration, if directed positively, could result in actions that makes for effective change in the situation.<br /><br />Besides, we have just scratched the surface of the conflict/s in Cambodia and the challenges that the society faces in building sustainable peace. We are not at the stage where we can be really frustrated, we just need to listen and take our questions and the issues that bother us the most to another level - more information gathering, more analysis and if possible, more involvement at the ground level.<br /><br />It was an interesting discussion and we have been having many such discussions. I thought I would share this one with you to give you a flavour of all the thought and reflection that the group puts in on this trip.<br /><br />It's close to 2 am but then that happens every night and we start early in the morning too - we have been working very hard but we have also been having a lot of fun. I am not excited about returning to Monterey and getting back into the routine and teaching in classroom! But, we will be back soon and maybe (hopefully) catch up on our sleep?Pushpa Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12102459715016309665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-69243606573051671702009-01-26T07:04:00.000-08:002009-01-26T08:09:40.602-08:00Where Angels Dare To TreadAs I first entered this world of unfulfilled closure that has been clouded with images of bombings, genocide, killing fields, child killers and neighboring country invasions, I sincerely had no idea what this place would hold for me. I was unsure as to whether I would be overwhelmed by the empathy I felt for the broken spirits of the people or whether the sullen and pure eyes of villagers, squatters and city dwellers alike would be enough to leave an impression of both humility and inspiration. I have waited long and hard throughout this journey to find the appropriate topic, but more so, the appropriate language for which I felt both confident and compelled enough to join this network of bloggers from our place in the SouthEast. Now, that is not to suggest that I have been void of topical issues or inspirational words that combined would constitute elaborate sentences, but I have yet to find the natural and organic language that would best represent the country we have chosen to research. By now, my colleagues have filled these pages with images of Battambang, Siem Reap and Phenom Phen; of Tuk-Tuk drivers and majestic sunsets; of markets and bargains; Pagoda's and Monks; and perhaps even, descriptions of pure smiles and honest eyes. Yet for me, in spite all of these images that have no doubt left their indent on my thoughts and perspective, what I have found to be one of the most compelling aspects of our journey has been the the constant discourse our group has had with one another and with Cambodian citizens alike in regard to the Khmer Rouge Tribunals that will begin in February.<br /><br />For some, these tribunals will be the culmination of years of frustration in which they were left with no one to hold accountable for the death, torture and slavery that they endured. Yet for others, these tribunals come years too late. For them, they are nothing more than an elaborate form of window dressing in which whatever "justice" decreed will be bittersweet for nothing could erase the images that haunt their dreams and saturate their daily existence. However, for others, the tribunals will be the ultimate form of symbolism and closure they crave that will finally empopwer them to forgive those who fronted a regime that destroyed the spirit of this country for 3 years, 8 months and 20 days. However, the twisted irony I have found has been the true disconnect of ideology the Cambodians possess in regards to the utility of these very Tribunals. For some, it is a fitting end to a dark imprint on this Country and culture's history. For others, it is nothing more than an elaborate and complex waste of resources that has left the rest of the Country wondering what will be left for them once this institutionalized form of justice plays out.<br /><br />I, for one, have no answers to any of those questions. On the one hand, if it is understood that that the legal system in any country is both broken and efficient, then how are these trials any different from any other trial in our world? Granted, 5 separate trials is a small piece of a very bloodied and dark moment in Cambodian history that does not even scratch the surface of "punishing" and holding accountable the responsible parties who committed such crimes against humanity and who were the primary parties of the genocide that had infected this country. However, is the government suppose to refuse such Trials because there are not "enough defendants?" What if the prosecution of 5 primary parties is a true and symbolic gesture of accountability that the republic can give to its' people in which it decree's that the instigators of genocide will be held accountable for what they have done to their very own? What if the republic recognizes that there were no true demons during this time, but that the "soldiers of the Khmer Rouge" children and youth alike, alongside the tortured, killed and enslaved, were all victims of the same demon and that by holding these trials they are able to recognize the tremendous amount of grey in the discussion of "good versus evil" and "soldier versus victim."<br /><br />But, as we have begun to understand some of the history of those times and the true ugliness that existed during those years, we have begun to understand the complexity of that time and the unsettling truths of survival and necessity that unquestionably plagued every soul who was caught in the web of despair that defined this country for so long. As I sit here on the cusp of this trip coming to an end, I find that I, like most, have my personal opinions on the matter, but truly have no answers nor a clear perspective of what these Tribunals sincerely mean and represent. I only know what I believe and can only process what I learn and hear, but have no avenue for which to truly address what can be proven, and ultimately I cannot even begin to phathom a way to answer the timeless question of "what is the purest definition of truth truth and the most sincere and thorough form of justice." These are questions that very well may linger, but at least we have been given the chance to process those thoughts, to ask the questions we find we need answered, and to debate those very issues with one another and the people alike. And, as I find myself about to depart a Country and a People that I have grown to adore, I realize that those questions, along with the images of the countryside filled with shanty upon shanty, and echoing with the laughter of the children and painted with the smiles each and every person alike, I realize the gift that this trip has been and have slowly begun to understand the great humility and inspiration it has brought me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-25376238637742494702009-01-26T02:57:00.000-08:002009-01-26T03:02:25.173-08:007 (Christine W.)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Battambang Day 2</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />Battambang is much more impoverished that Siem Reap, and has nowhere near as many tourists. Our hotel, which was very nice and had a pool, looked out of place in the middle of the city, most of which looked pretty poor to me. While Siem Reap seemed underdeveloped, there is a slum-like quality to the poverty of Battambang. If you are not in the city in Battambang, you are in one of its villages, which is where we spent our second day, visiting two NGO’s working on rebuilding Khmer society through youth education programs. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tean Thor</span><br />Tean Thor, which is Khmer for “Acts of Compassion,” is a small HIV/AIDS hospice and rehabilitation center that provides education to orphans of parents who died of AIDS and hospice care to HIV/AIDS patients living in the Battambang community. Staff members of Tean Thor find HIV-positive members in the community, many of whom are looked down upon, and offer them a safe haven for rehabilitation and HIV/AIDS education. At the center, the members can choose to take either antiretroviral medication to fight HIV or traditional medicine provided by a medicine man. One of the aims of the organization is to improve and prolong the life of HIV positive parents so that their children do not become young orphans.<br /><br />We were all impressed with the amount of warmth and hope that emanates from Tean Thor. We met several of the HIV positive patients who all seemed content to be there despite their discomfort and afflictions. Jenny, one of the peaceful staff members from Switzerland who “receives her funding from the universe,” talked about her search to find an organization to work for before deciding on Tean Thor. She said she visited 15 different organizations before she settled on this center, and she was frustrated at the fact that all of the previous organizations had problems with corruption and egos. <br /><br />We were given a full tour of the facilities, including the room where the traditional medicine is kept (stinky), and we dropped in to visit the young students during their class time. We brought fake tattoos to share with them, which sent them over the moon. Though they were shy and hesitant at first, after we applied a few tattoos, it was a madhouse. By the end of the day we had them all looking like PG-rated sailors. Before we left, the children sang us two of their favorite songs: Celine Dionne’s My Heart Will Go On, which I will never hear in the same way again, and The Beatles’ “Hello Goodbye,” which was equally precious. Nobody wanted to leave.<br /><br />http://www.teanthor.com/home.htm<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">FEDA</span><br />The next organization we visited was FEDA (Friends Economic Development), a secondary school for the children in the village of Ksach Poy. This is a much larger organization, with more funding and beautiful grounds. FEDA places a strong emphasis on hygiene and English, and the teachers are all young and motivated, many of which are FEDA alumni. The teachers have a large task before them because the Cambodian educational system is reeling from the eradication of entire generation of scholars during the genocide.<br /><br />The grounds of FEDA are lush and tranquil, scattered with coconut and banana trees. The main classrooms are upstairs in a beautiful new building made of dark wood. Some of us, myself included, were asked to teach an impromptu English class. It’s quite a humbling experience to teach English to a group of children whose language skills you underestimate. I co-taught with Brandon, and we decided to play games upon the teachers’ suggestion. We started with hangman, but changed the hanging man to a frowny face because we didn’t know how appropriate it would be to explain that the dead man hanging in a noose means you’ve lost the game. The students were much better at this than we had anticipated, perfectly capable of spelling words like “cat and rabbit,” and only when we snuck in “California” did they get tripped up. We then had them create new words out of the letters they could find in the phrase “United States of America.” Upon reflection I wish we hadn’t been so nationalistic with our word choices, but you don’t think of these things when you’re in front of 30 pairs of blinking eyes. To our surprise they came up with words like “dictation,” and my personal favorite, “tsar.” So much for C-A-T.<br /><br />After we returned, we discussed some of the differences we saw between Tean Thor and FEDA. For starters, there are a total of 800 students that attend FEDA, far more than the amount of students at Tean Thor. Additionally, FEDA has more funding than Tean Thor, more foreign visitors, and since it places an emphasis on hygiene and English, the children that we met at FEDA seemed privileged compared to the children we met at Tean Thor. We then launched into a discussion about the importance of avoiding generalizations about the face of poverty; since the children that attend these organizations come from equally destitute communities and families, it is dangerous to consider one organization more deserving of funding than the other. If there is one thing I’m truly learning in Cambodia, it is that still waters run deep and appearances are not the sum total of reality. We also discussed the importance of personality and style when it comes to grant writing and asking for money, which also plays a major role in the amount of funding<br /><br />http://www.fedacambodia.org/an organization receives.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492266553788051680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-28384283908106029272009-01-25T07:45:00.000-08:002009-01-25T07:45:01.778-08:00Where to start?Well it's been a couple days since I last blogged, and so much has gone on since then -- where can I start? I am a bit surprised, though, that no one's posted yet about our experience yesterday morning which took place before our designated daily activities, so I'll take this opportunity to tell that story.<br /><br />The night before last, at around 2am, I was awakened by a complaining Faith -- "do you hear that?!" she asked. The faint sound of someone speaking on a megaphone was making it's way through our 2nd story window. We made little of it, and I quickly fell back asleep, though Faith (who was right next to the window) spent the remainder of the night disturbed by that and other unusual noises coming from the street.<br /><br />The next morning, not thinking anything of it, we went down to eat breakfast on the terrace outside our hotel only to find hundreds of people milling about on the street in front of a barricade. Our fellow MIIS students promptly informed us that the last slum in Phnom Penh, which we had seen standing just the day before, and which was located about half a block from our hotel, was being evacuated and demolished. "Major human rights violation!" Sarah said.<br /><br />Of course, most of us weren't terribly interested in breakfast, so many of us spent our morning trying to get in on the scene. Faith grabbed the video camera from the room and jumped on a few interesting people to interview (including a missionary working in the slum, a director of an art program in the slum, a BBC reporter, and someone from Human Rights Observer), and while I can't post the video here now (mainly because I'm not quite sure how!), I can give you the jist of what we learned from them:<br /><br />Apparently the evacuation started without warning at midnight the night before, though many had expected it would eventually come as much as 3 years earlier, at which point the development company began negotiations with the families there to move them out. Basically, the land which the slum was located on is worth $44 million, and 120 families were living there. According to most lawyers, the families actually have a legal claim to the land, as they've been living there for longer than the required period of time. However, a development company named 7MG is now claiming the land and has offered the option of either $20,000 (only 5% of the land's market value, but up from earlier offers) or a new plot of land located 22km outside of the city to each of the families for their moving. Unfortunately, as much as $20,000 may sound like to a family living on less than a few dollars per day, it is not enough to find a place to live in a comparable location in Phnom Penh due to the rising property values and heavy development in the city, and to relocate so far outside the city would mean that these people would no longer have access to the jobs or schooling that is present in their current location. Additionally, no one is actually sure whether or not, and if so, how, 7MG will actually go about allocating that $20,000 to each family, and many believe that the "offering" was really more of a publicity stunt to pacify the media and human rights activists. A few families, not knowing any better, moved out awhile ago, and received compensation in the amount of $5000-$7000. And about a week ago, the company paid off some of the most well-known artists from the slum with $60,000 to move out early so as to reduce press attention.<br /><br />Anyway, that is most of what I know, though if any other bloggers have further details please throw them in! Of course, this is not the first time a slum has been emptied either in Cambodia or elsewhere, and - as many of us have talked about here - it's important to recognize that this sort of thing is happening all around the world on a daily basis, even in places like the United States (albeit perhaps more subtle in form, or at least presented with a greater aura of morality and legality). Still, it would be a mistake to observe this as a uniquely corrupt Cambodian, or even third-world, occurence.<br /><br />In any case, though, I'm running late for breakfast, so I'll leave it up to the others to describe the remainder of our day yesterday, which was pretty intense on its own! (torture center and Killing Fields, anyone?)<br /><br />Will write more later! ;)Ashley Starr Kinsethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11551738124709671264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-5994958607600963052009-01-23T17:47:00.000-08:002009-01-23T17:49:13.998-08:006 (Christine W.)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Battambang Day 1</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bus Ride to Battambang</span><br />The bus ride from Siem Reap to Battambang is not a smooth one. Through classes at MIIS we have learned about the lack of sufficient infrastructure in developing countries, but nothing illustrates the need for better roads than a 5.5 hour journey spent in the back of a cramped bus on an unpaved road that may very well predate Angkor Wat. Having a small bladder and zero stops along the way really drives it all home. During the rainy season, many Cambodian roads take a beating-potholes and construction zones are commonplace, as are wandering cows. In any case, “suboptimal” was the word of the day. However, I did appreciate the bus ride for the fact that it gave us a moving portrait of the Cambodian countryside. I loved seeing the water buffalo and rice paddies, along with occasional strips of road lined with huts on stilts. The economic poverty of the Cambodia is obvious, but the country is rich in beauty. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner</span><br />Dinner was at a local Khmer restaurant called “Cold Night,” a very ironic name. The restaurant was very tropical looking, and had a parrot in a cage that spoke Khmer. There was talk of freeing the parrot, but that never happened. I ordered a spicy green mango salad marinated in garlic dressing with dried salted fish that just made my life better. I was a bit hesitant to try anything too fishy at the beginning of this trip, but fish is really a (delicious) staple here, along with rice, noodles, and fresh fruit. We always eat until we are stuffed to the brim, but the food doesn’t leave you feeling heavy or uncomfortable.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492266553788051680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-77507161990330507252009-01-23T04:29:00.000-08:002009-01-23T04:32:55.189-08:005 (Christine W.)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Siem Reap, Day 2</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">More Angkor Wat</span><br />On our second Day in Siem Reap, we visited four more temple sites of the breathtaking Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This undertaking sounds benign enough, but the sheer size of this temple complex is enough to exhaust the hardiest of travelers. Each of the temples had its own characteristics and idiosyncrasies. They are giant stone structures devoted to various Hindu gods that date back to the 9-13 centuries. A couple of temples are surrounded by beautiful canals strewn with water lilies, while others have merged with nearby trees whose monstrous roots crawl in and out of the stone walls. I even got to ride to the first temple on an elephant, which took about 20 minutes. I felt like Indiana Jones. There are also vendors galore who line the temple entrances with every kind of souvenir a tourist might want. We stopped in an open coffee stand at one point for a pick-me-up. Nescafe is very popular, and Cambodians like their coffee STRONG. The server brought out condensed milk to pour into the coffee, which is also a common practice. It was at the site of the first temple we visited where I had one of the sweetest, strongest cups of coffee I’ve ever ingested and discovered that a tablespoon of condensed milk goes a long way indeed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian Dance Performance</span><br />After our day of temple exploration, we went to a traditional Cambodian dance performance, which included a delicious buffet. The costumes for the dance were so colorful and warm, and the music was great, but of course the food stole the show for me. I am rarely in such a frenzied state of culinary ecstasy than I am on this trip. If I had the time I could easily create another blog devoted entirely to Cambodian food. But speaking of time and food, I am starving and there are an infinite number of possibilities calling to me, so this is where I will stop.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492266553788051680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-923722247808034262009-01-23T04:21:00.000-08:002009-01-23T05:02:59.266-08:00To make a long story short.... well kindaSince this is the first post I have written since the start of this course, I would like to say this trip has far exceeded my expectations. I knew at first that this course would be an amazing experience that I would never forget, but it has also opened my eyes to new thoughts and ideas that I was not expecting. I am extremely appreciative of the hard work and planning that Pushpa has put into this course to make it the incredible experience it has been this far.<br /><br />Thailand was a great experience, and learning about the Southern Thailand conflict and the border region has been very interesting. I went to Thailand early and visited the island of Phuket which is very diverse. The influx of immigrants into Thailand is huge, and meeting with a local NGO (The Center of the Protection of Child Rights - CPCR) was a great experience. We learned about the problem of Human Trafficking into Thailand from neighboring countries which are not as developed, and the problem of people coming into Thailand to work on the boats to generate a minimal income. I found this problem to be similar to the immigration problem in the United States, and the influx of Hispanics into our country to try and make a better life. While some of these people coming into Thailand are coming to find a better life and a higher income, they are significantly abused and taken advantage of. The regulation of these migrants is difficult, and the harsh working conditions and low wages are a violation of their rights. CPCR is working to teach these people their rights and reintegrate them back into their own society. I was interested to see how effective this program was, and if the migrants have ever been repeated offenders like we see so much in the United States. The CPCR is solely working in Thailand and attempting to reintegrate the workers back into their own country. However, I believe it might be beneficial to increase this organization into the neighboring countries so that these migrants would be able to participate in this organization in their home country which could smooth the process of the reintegration process easier. <br /><br />Going onto Cambodia was a very different experience. The difference in the development of the country is extreme, and obvious how people could try to go to Thailand for better opportunities. Siem Reap was incredible! The temples of Angkor Wat were so much more than I ever expected. The vast amount of different temples is impossible to see in one day, but the couple that we visited were truly something I will never forget. We woke up early one morning to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat and heard a story from someone who survived the Khmer Rouge. It difficult for this person to explain the story which was extremely touching and I was very grateful to be able to hear it directly from a survivor, who was still fearful that the Khmer Rouge could come back to power. This fear is very troubling to me, and made me wonder if that could be one reason why there is a lack of education about the Khmer Rouge. We learned so much about the great Angkor period and the vastness of this great country during those times. I wonder though if the lack of teaching the children of Cambodia about these experiences is to prevent the spread of this fear that the Khmer Rouge could come back. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuhpfsAFNBfnHr4UK6LYMHtptTfr5Y45Cu7qkIpXwgD3tspGkFdo8_spp3rWcUPrxkHKbapfySH0dsPwrBhVivHh38Usqg_PimHJ7ygMoB2klCOBorHTOMzPt2m8VA1hARKVbJRiilIMr/s1600-h/ThailandCambodia+207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuhpfsAFNBfnHr4UK6LYMHtptTfr5Y45Cu7qkIpXwgD3tspGkFdo8_spp3rWcUPrxkHKbapfySH0dsPwrBhVivHh38Usqg_PimHJ7ygMoB2klCOBorHTOMzPt2m8VA1hARKVbJRiilIMr/s200/ThailandCambodia+207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294473401329553810" /></a><br /><br />The Bus ride to Battambang which is a small province in Cambodia was definitely a bumpy ride. We visited two schools in the outskirts of the city of Battambang which were very different from each other. The first school we visited, which is also an HIV/AIDS refuge called Thean Thor means Acts of Compassion. This school was extremely touching mainly due to the happiness of all the children there. One of the teachers there explained how some of these children will seem incredibly happy, but once you get to know them you see the problems of extreme poverty that they suffer from. I found that the children here, as well as almost all the people of Cambodia are incredibly grateful for what they have, and never take anything for granted. I've seen children play with things as simple as their own flip-flops and how much fun they make of them. It is so different coming from a developed country and seeing children already wanting everything and anything they can get their hands on, while here it seems as though the children make the best of what they have. I found this to be extremely touching and made me think of life differently, and how that sometimes you need to just make the best of what you have or of your situation and just experience life for what it is. <br /><br />The second school we visited was the Friends Economic Development Association (FEDA) which was much larger than Thean Thor and consisted of about 800+ students. A few volunteers just arrived at this organization the day before to start a program to develop jobs for people living in this rural community and preventing the migration of people from these rural areas into the bigger cities. They are planning on creating a method of transportation from this rural community to the city by kayak. This will help create jobs for the people of this community and hopefully improve their standard of living. I also feel it is important to preserve their culture living in the rural areas of the country and prevent a migration of people into the city. I found this to be a great thing for someone to come and help develop and will hopefully be a great success! <br /><br />I've obviously gone on forever and there was so much more I haven't included, but I am committed to writing more on a regular basis so things will be shorter and hopefully even sweeter!Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08427719860874152512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-39869964577986701162009-01-23T04:02:00.000-08:002009-01-23T04:42:48.851-08:00ReflectionsOver the past few days, our class has traveled from the city to the country and back to the city again. The ride itself provides enough to write several pages on, but while in Battambang, we were able to interact with Cambodian children from the Tean Thon children's clinic and FEDA. This was a very touching experience. Some of my classmates have already elaborated on what we were doing there, so I will add only what touched me the most... <br /> Basically, these children were subsisting on close to nothing, some with HIV or AIDS, and yet they were ten times more grateful and happy than most other children I've met in my life. I've learned through their eyes that poverty, in a conceptual sense, is relative- these children do not see themselves as poor, because everyone around them is in a similar situation. Instead, they count their blessings and stay in the present, focusing on what they can actually do something about (e.g. getting enough food for the day). Coming from a wealthier western society, we partly expected them to be sad, resentful, or at least not as energetic in comparison, but we quickly came to realize they had found more joy in life than most of us who never have to face those worries. They were so excited when we came to help put temporary tattoos on their arm and to talk about how old they were, what their name was, and what sport they like to play, etc. Afterwards, in appreciation for our visit, the children gave us a mini concert, singing Celine Dion's "My heart will go on." This made me laugh and tear-up all at the same time and no words can really describe that.<br /> Additionally, I also noticed a cultural version of HIV treatment, which to any western medical doctor sounds absurd. They have shelves full of roots and other plants, labeled "anti-vomit," "anti-pyretic," etc. Apparently, these are used in conjunction with the AIDS anti-retroviral medication to overcome cultural barriers to administering medicine. I found this to be very interesting, because culture plays a major role in Cambodian HIV/AIDS treatment not only in terms of giving out medication but in overcoming social stigmas as well. The man who was running the clinic told us that most of the time HIV/AIDS victims are severely discriminated against- no one buys their products, hires them, or associates with these individuals. So part of his way of helping these victims has been incorporating the monks (which are highly revered in Cambodian society) in AIDS education and giving the victims skill-sets like sewing. <br /> After lunch, we visited the FEDA facility. After giving out supplies, Adam and I were allowed to help teach english in one of the beginners' class. Even though we were put on the spot, I think we made it fun and interesting for the children- we played Bingo, drew pictures to associate words, and counted. At least I thoroughly enjoyed myself...<br /> Lastly, I will briefly explain a moving experience which took place in Angkor Wat. We had gotten up at the break of dawn that day to see the sunrise over the main temple and it turned into something I will never forget- We were able to hear from a survivor of the Khmer Rouge period and all that he lived through. He never found out what happened to his father, watched infants be thrown into the air and shot, almost starved to death in which his joints became bigger than his limbs, and gave us other gruesome depictions of life in that era. Then after living through all of that, his house burned down and he lost everything once more. This man is an inspiration who does not give himself enough credit because despite all of that, he is still incredibly grateful, humble, and has found inner peace- "Peace comes through forgiveness." If only everyone could be as wise as him...Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01142385653923343969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-17561613505326463162009-01-23T03:55:00.000-08:002009-01-23T03:57:18.632-08:004 (Christine W.)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodia – Siem Reap, Day 1</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arrival</span><br />We flew to Cambodia from Bangkok, and immediately I was struck by how rural Siem Reap seemed compared to the frenetic city of Bangkok. We checked into our very charming cabana-esque hotel, and then went to an artisan’s guild where blind and deaf people can learn to carve wood, paint silk, and make other silk products. This is a program that lasts 6 months to a year, and after the students have been trained, they sell their wares in markets. It was really neat to see the way they make their pieces, but my favorite part of that experience, by far, was the gift shop.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Temple Sunset</span><br />In the evening we climbed up a mountain to watch the sunset at one of the temples in Angkor Wat, a temple complex built by Khmer kings during the time of the Khmer empire from the 9th to the 13th century. This temple complex is massive, covering miles of temples devoted to Hindu gods. A combination of animism, Hinduism, and Buddhism influence Cambodian religion, though Buddhism is practiced more widely than Hinduism. I asked our guide whether she knew of any other countries that had this dual influence, but she said she didn't know. <br />During the period of the Angkor Empire, Cambodia was very powerful and the empire included the majority of Southeast Asia. This glorious history contrasts shockingly with the post-colonial period and the Khmer Rouge genocide, and throughout the history following Angkor Cambodians have revisited its grandeur. The Khmer Rouge gave Cambodians hope that they would achieve a glory similar to that of Angkor, and Angkor history is taught more than the history of Cambodia’s post-colonial period in most schools.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Khmer Story</span><br />Climbing the mountain to the temple was satisfying, as was struggling up its steep narrow steps to get a panorama of the lush Cambodian countryside. However, the most meaningful part of the trip for me was talking to someone that our group met at the temple. It is cliché to say, but he really did have a twinkle in his eye and a kind smile. He told me about his life during the Khmer Rouge era, which he survived through a fluke. He was born in 1958, which made him 17-23 years old during the time of the Khmer Rouge, and was forced to labor in the fields, becoming a human ghost. He said that Cambodia was a “country of girls” due to the emaciation caused by starvation. He shared with me that the Khmer Rouge killed his father and brothers. His father approached him when the Khmer Rouge came, and told him that he would now be the head of the household. His background comprised a family of academics, which the Khmer Rouge especially targeted. We read in one article that after the genocide, only 3 PhD’s were left in all of Cambodia. Currently the lack of educated people greatly affects Cambodian society, and the need for more schooling is exceptional. <br /><br />I tried to remain “neutral” while asking this man questions about his life during the era, and ask in such a way that would not elicit a “formula story.” In the two days of class prior to the trip we learned that the Cambodians who survived the genocide now have a structure for understanding and retelling the tragedy in a way that is not so raw and painful as it would be without the formula for their narrative. This man does not have a unique story, however, there was really nothing that seemed formulaic or sterile in the way he told it. When he said that his mother died of a broken heart through barely contained tears, all I could register was the profound sadness in his eyes. I understand that conflict resolution requires thinking more deeply about individual stories, contextualizing them, and using theories to understand how they connect to the bigger picture. I must admit that I was not thinking of a single theory as I stood talking to this man with such a gentle soul tell me about how he rebuilt his life after all of the love that he had previously known was systematically destroyed during the time of the Khmer Rouge. <br /><br />After pausing to watch the sun disappear behind the horizon, I asked this man whether he had heard of any of the books we had read in our class, particularly First they Killed My Father. I was curious about his reaction to this book because apparently it was deeply criticized in Cambodia. His face grew stony and he said that books, movies, and documentaries fail to cover the immense tragedy that occurred. He said that even The Killing Fields, which I found hard to watch, does not do justice to the genocide. I was surprised at how forthcoming he was about answering any questions I had, because many Cambodians do not openly talk about this time in history. During the Khmer Rouge era, he forgot how to smile and had to relearn this after the Pol Pot regime fell. He said that a general sense of relief did not even begin to occur in Cambodia until 1998, when Pol Pot died. The most awful part for him is not knowing now who were former members of the Khmer Rouge. They blended back into society after they had committed so many atrocities, and a sense of fear pervades the Cambodian psyche. The fact that Khmers killed Khmers during the Pol Pot era adds even more complexity to the conflict, and survivors of the genocide do not know who to be angry with or who to forgive.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11492266553788051680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-44468704386869459652009-01-23T03:09:00.000-08:002009-01-23T03:54:44.250-08:00Symbolism in Cambodian CultureThis morning we had an incredible briefing at the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. So very many questions we have been pondering were aired and so many bridges between concepts were built. Understanding Cambodian culture, history, and politics requires an immense amount of layered and interconnected information. Religious transitions (from Animism to Hinduism to Buddhism to fledgling Christianity), Angkor heritage, cultural identity, regional conflict between nations, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, historic hatred and friendship, and of course clandestine or blatant short-term political support pouring in from the US, UK, China, Russia, Australia, the EU...it is imperative to consider all of these factors when simply trying to conceptualize why the average Cambodian feels and thinks the way he/she does.<br /><br />One very important moment in the briefing was about the importance of symbolism to Cambodian people. We in Western countries defer constantly to the power of honest discussion and the verbal apology in reconciliation efforts, but here this strategy applies less. Cambodians appreciate and recognize the <u>symbols</u> of forgiveness much more readily than they do for the words describing it. We were told of many personal examples in which incredibly sensitive community conflicts were put to rest after never having been discussed or examined, but rather by simple gestures of inclusion or changed behavior. We also learned that our obsession with using "sorry" has no counterpart here in Cambodia. A parent will never apologize to their child and someone of a status greater than somenone else would also never employ the sentiment. They do not have to and are not expected to due to their elevated position in society.<br /><br />This type of cultural understanding is imperative in our peacebuilding investigations. Being reminded that our perceptions and methodologies are distinctly our own, and not reflected in all or even many cultures, is true to our educational paths. Thank you to the Center for an amazing day!Melissa Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16243250971427121203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-77932958747151490702009-01-23T02:42:00.001-08:002009-01-23T03:08:14.270-08:00We visited the dam at Battambang, which was built by the Khmer people during the Khmer Rouge. It was about an hour and half away from our hotel by bus because most of the road was so torn up from carts, tractors and other vehicles. The bridge had an chilling feeling to it. Knowing that thousands of people had died building it and that anyone in the village or near by villages had probably built it if they looked over 30 years old didn't sit well with me.<br /><br />The children were excited and curious to see us. They would follow us around as we looked at the dam and would whisper and laugh if we looked back to see what they were up to. We learned that they were so far from the city that it was very hard for them to get pens and pencils. We gave all the pens that we had on us to the children and they were so happy. They drew on themselves and when we gave them paper, they drew pictures and wrote in Khmer. It was really awesome to see kids that happy.thewandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09304695361648830883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6696767762664626159.post-53231154158002349132009-01-21T17:38:00.000-08:002009-01-21T17:50:49.883-08:00Angkor Wat tour guidesJanuary 18th, 2009<br /><br />After climbing down from watching the sunset at Ba Kheng, a temple in the Angor Thom city, I met two tour guides. Both of them spoke multiple languages including Japanese, which I also speak. They wanted to practice their Japanese so we didn't speak English. After exchanging the usual where are you from's and the usual niceties, one of the guides asked me about my family. I casually told him about my parents and siblings. Then I asked him about his family and he said, "I don't know. They were killed. I was only two." How did you become a tour guide, I asked. He explained, "I was lucky. A teacher took me in and sent me to school." I asked him if he learned about the Khmer Rouge in school. He said, "Nothing. I know nothing." So I asked him if he wanted to learn about the Khmer Rouge and if he wanted to remember what happened during that time. His answer was, "Yes!"Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05436289152270924039noreply@blogger.com0