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HERVE GIRAUD: Kradji: A Child Of Cambodia (Children of the World (Blackbirch Press).)
Franklin Huffman: Cambodian System of Writing and Beginning Reader (Yale Language Series)
David Smyth: Colloquial Cambodian: A Complete Language Course (Colloquial Series)
Loung Ung: Lucky Child : A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind
Recently, three different people sent along information about their blogs that chronicle their experience in country working on projects. I'd thought I'd pass this along to you for your enjoyment:
Kari Grossman, an adoptive parent, recently wrote me about the publication of her book, Bones that Float. Purchases of the book benefit the Grady Grossman School project she has been working on a few a years. She is just now concluding a trip in country and you can read about it at her blog.
I received an email from Jonathan Lacocque who is producing a documentary film in Cambodia called Year Zero. At the project blog, you can read abou the production is unfolding.
Finally, John Bell, who works with Ogilvy Public Relations, emailed me to let me know about his blog and inquiring about social media in Cambodia. It looks like he has already met Jinja and others.
We got married twenty years ago today!
See some photos from our wedding!
How do couples in Cambodia mark their anniversary? What are some of the wedding customs?
Sara started her first day of Kindergarden. Harry went back to school today too.
Sara's school as a "dress code" which means she has to wear navy blue, white or beige. They don't require uniforms like Cambodia.
It reminded of the middle school I visited in Cambodia and the village school in Roteang where I taught ESL lessons and Khmer literacy school -- both run by the Sharing Foundation.
So, I would love know what your experience in Cambodia and school is like? What are the traditions? How long do you attend? What's it like? I would love to send some information in to Sara's teacher to share with her classmates.
I remember Lux Mean's post about school in Cambodia and I know others of you have written about your school experience - can you point me to the URL or share what you remember on your blog?
Phatry Derek Pan has had an incredible week! He met, interviewed, and posted about his experience meeting two Khmer legends, Master Kung Nai and Mr. Vann Nath.
Kung Nai is a master musician of the long-necked guitar, known as the chapey dong veng. I first learned about him from Arn Chourn Pond's project, Cambodian Living Arts, and then the POV Documentary The Flute Player. You can hear a recording of Kung Nai here. Phatry heard him perform at pre-CD release party at the restaurant, Romdeng. (Romdeng is run by the NGO, Street Friends, and provides restaurant training for youth)
Mr. Vann Nath is the famous painter of S-21, the KR's torture machine, a high school turned prison. For one full year in Tuol Sleng, he painted KR propaganda and of Pol Pot. For his talent, his life was spared. For being alive, he witnessed humanity's cruelest moments of execution.
Technorati Tags: cambodia
I just read with horror about Phatry's moto accident:
my motodop, sophanny, was a very cautious driver. he had a helmet (i didnt) on and was not speeding. when we cross chroy changvar bridge, he was extra careful of the traffic and the limited visibility that the area is accustomed to.
we spotted the restaurant to our left. he slowed down, signaled with his lights and his left arm for a turn. while both of us looked back, a lightning flash of a moto pulverized us causing all 4 involved to fly out. i was in shock.
i fell on to the hard paved cement. initially, the adrenaline numb all the cuts and burns on my arms. i recovered my bag, a shoe that flew off my feet that now rips at the tongue, and checked around for my valuables. by this time, several dozen onlookers have congretated to the scene of the crime.
He goes on to describe his injuries:
pencil length streak on the back shows a deep blue bruised. my left leg seems worst than before. i can't put too much pressure while walking. the big cuts on my right arm is still visible but starting to regenerate itself. the left pain above my ear is still the same. i am thankful that i only escaped these cuts and sprains. in all honestly, without a helmet and the velocity in which the other moto was going, i anticipated the worst.
I remember when I was in Cambodia teaching ESL at the village school, the head of the english program arrived on his motorbike, wearing a helmet. We talked about what a good role model he was for students.
Earlier this year, I had bookmarked Jackie Chan's wear a helmet campaign that he conducted a year ago. I didn't blog about it at the time because the campaign was over. Everyday more than 3 people are killed and 100 people injured in Cambodia in traffic accidents. Most of the injuries and death could be avoided with the use of a helmet.
Technorati Tags: cambodia
When I was in Cambodia, I was told that most Cambodians don't celebrate their birthdays ... particularly those in rural areas. However, I purchased the above card from a street vendor for Sara's birthday and was told that cards were mostly for foreigners.
I stumbled across Khem Vansinin's blog entry about her birthday party. So, I want to ask again - how do, if at all, Cambodians in Cambodia celebrate their birthdays?
How do you say the word birthday in Cambodia? What customs or songs are sung? Do you have parties?
In the US, we get a cake with candles that we blow out. We might have a party and get presents.
I want to know because it's my birthday today!
Apparently, they are touring and have performed in Cambodia, although they had to cancel their first appearance because of some issues around equipment.
Anth, an expat and blogger who is in Cambodia now caught their performance, complete with photos (including the one above.)
There is an informal update from the band on their web site about what they've been doing in Cambodia the last couple of weeks, including this tibit:
"today was not stop. we recorded with a blind master musician named kong nai 8am. he is like a Cambodian Ray Charles who plays the chapai..we had a connection, he was super sweet."
Wow, Kong Nai! We learned about him from the Flute Player on PBS. Later, I got a DVD of one of his performances when I was in Cambodia. Here's the description from the flute player site:
Kong Nai plays the chapei dang veng, a two-string long-necked guitar. He also practices the Khmer tradition of improvisational singing while he plays. Improvised lyrics were traditionally satirical or humorous, but this was forbidden by the Khmer Rouge, and he was forced to sing songs of praise for the government. He now performs less controversial songs, mostly stories and fables. Kong Nai has been a teacher at the Cambodian Master Performers Program since 2002.
Here's a clip of what he sounds like via the Flute Player site.
Technorati Tags: cambodia
