Clips from Cambodia

Back Together Again

As the 13 students who left Cambodia on April 10 were finishing the last leg of their two-day journey to Goshen College, the idea of having coffee together as soon as possible arose in conversation.

A date was planned and nearly every Thursday at two o’clock since that first meeting, at least a few of the former team have gathered together to catch up with each other.

Today was just such a day.

Isaac, Greg, Luke N., Melanie, and I chatted for an hour, joined half of the time by Nathan. We

discussed our lives now (Luke’s poor fish sculpture, Greg’s excellent Praxis essay, and Isaac’s ability to pick locks), our lives in Cambodia (“Remember how a shirt cost three dollars?”), and where the two intertwine (Greg’s family in PA’s phone messages left in Khmer, Melanie’s Phnom Penh family’s new home in California, and the unbearable coldness days like today seem to have after three months of constant temperatures in the nineties).

Each of us was wearing something we’d brought back from Cambodia, as you can see in the pictures. Although, the purple socks Isaac has on only came as far as Singapore—they were free from Singapore Airlines.

This was probably the last time we’ll be able to get together like this, before we all go in separate directions for the summer.

Cambodia in the News

PBS

I spent an evening recently with a few of the former Cambodia SSTers watching a special on PBS about Cambodian-Americans who were deported by the US government back to their "homeland"-- Cambodia.

This was an issue we learned about first-hand while in Cambodia, hearing a lecture from four deportees. It seems to me to be an impossibly unfair situation, one that could benefit from public scrutiny.

According to a US law, all immigrants who are convicted of a felony are at risk of being sent to their native country without ever being able to return. One catch is that many of them served their prison sentences years ago and only recently, post 9-11, has the US government made an agreement with the Cambodian government that allows the law to be enforced in. In the past three years they have deported over 100 Cambodian-Americans, doubling the total from before 2005.

An organization called RISP is helping deportees with the reintegration process once they arrive in Phnom Penh. Their website provides detailed information about the situation as well as what some of the major issues with it are.

The program on PBS followed the stories of a few different Cambodians, catching them at various stages of the process of the law being enforced. You can find out about it in much more detail on their website. But to give you a bit of direction this links you to some more information about the law and more specifically here is the Wikipedia version of the law, and this is an interesting Q & A with the makers of the film that touches on some of the infuriating things about this law for me.

NPR

And just for another version of the story, here is a link to an NPR podcast about the law including the story of one Cambodian-American scheduled to be deported.

Many important stories relating to Cambodia's social issues can be found on NPR. A recent one of particular interest to most concerns the sex trade. This is an interesting/heartbreaking problem in Cambodia for two particular reasons. First, prostitution is legal there and second the deman for it began with the presence of UN officials who entered the country in the nineties in an effort to aid the country post-genocide.

NYTimes

Cambodia has shown up in Times' stories three times recently, in stories unrelated to the Khmer Rouge tribunals, previously a rarity.

First was the announcement that oil was found by Chevron off the southern coast of Cambodia. I think most of us fear the oil money will increase the corruption present in Cambodia, instead of help the deeply impoverished nation, which it has the potential to do. "Cambodia Faces Curse of Oil Money."

Then a type of turtle, thought to be extinct was found in a former Khmer Rouge stronghold. "How to Survive in Cambodia: For a Turtle Beneath Sand."

And finally on Sunday there was an article published online describing the discovery that villagers had come upon mass graves from the genocide period and were spending hours and hours digging through them for any sort of valuables. This is a tough issue because in one sense the spirits of ancestors are a very real part of Cambodians' spiritual lives and to disturb their graves seems unthinkable, but on the other hand, the valuables are just sitting there under the ground when they could be allowing Cambodians to feed their families for a little while. Ghosts "Wail as Cambodians Plunder Killing Field Graves."

Closing Thoughts

Having just spent three months in Cambodia, of course these bits of news from that front are incredibly interesting.

On a more general Goshen interest note, we've all recently received a bit of news from former SSTer Paul, who, as I mentioned at the beginning, is still in Asia. He and his fellow traveller, it seems have decided to become engaged while on the beaches of Thailand. Congratulations Paul!!!!

Sheldon reflects on his family, motos, and corruption

Sheldon took some time to answer a few questions about his SST experience via e-mail from his post in Pennsylvania. He did as good of a job as I could have telling you his thoughts, so I’ll just let you read his own words.

What are you up to these days?

I am interning for the GC May Term, with split duties between BikeMovement Asia (bikemovement.org) and Franconia Conference (franconiaconference.org).

What is the point of SST as you see it?

As Christians we are called to be global ambassadors. I believe that SST is an outlet for GC students to begin to think about what it means to be a global ambassador, specifically through experiential living, conscious observations, and relationship-building. SST is good for both the student and the country, not to mention Goshen College itself and the world as a whole. I am a pretty hardcore believer in cross-cultural experiences.

The specific program we were a part of allowed us to learn not only about a new culture and way of living, but about ourselves, our classmates, and our God. I believe the Cambodian people we came into contact with -- or even those who simply stared at us -- were able to retain at least a little part of what it means to be American. I don't often think about what it means to be an American; I probably thought about this more when I was in Cambodia than I had my entire life up to that point. And that is what SST is all about: learning about and engaging ideas you wouldn't have otherwise.

How have you noticed your life changing since returning?

I am more aware of my family life. While in Cambodia, I was reminded time and time again how important family is. And not just one's blood relations, but also friends and neighbors who are referred to as "brothers" and "sisters" both in language and in people's hearts. I have become more conscious of how I relate to my family -- how much time I spend with them, how I treat them interpersonally, the ways I talk about them with other people, etc.

How has your transition into US culture been?

My transition was intercepted by a two-week stint in the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. I didn't experience much "culture shock" coming back to the US because even though China is a "developing country," it is vastly different from Cambodia -- in ways, it is very much like the US. We saw our fair share of KFC, Starbucks, and 7-11 before ever stepping foot on American soil.

What have you learned from SST and what good do you see that knowledge being?

SST is all about challenging your worldview. People like to say that cross-cultural experiences always "change" your worldview. I would agree, but also challenge that with the fact that sometimes it makes certain particulars of your worldview more concrete.

Would you go back to Cambodia? If so, under what circumstances?

I would definitely like to make a return trip to Cambodia. I would probably never go there to straight-up vacation in Sihanoukville, but more likely would go as an MCCer or to visit my host family in Phnom Penh. Whatever the reason, my Good family will hopefully be able to go over with me sometime in the future.

Are you still in touch with your family?

I just sent my oldest brother and my mother emails last Friday. I have emailed with my mother -- who began emailing my parents while I was on service, because I had no internet connection -- two or three times already since being back. I am waiting for the day they call my cell phone, since they all have my number! I have also emailed back and forth with Nathan's host-brother, TR, who I established a very good relationship with. He is considering applying for MCC's IVEP program for the group that would leave two years from now.

Have you noticed any changes in the States since you were last there in December?

I live in the sprawling suburbs of Philadelphia, so YES. There are newly paved roads, new roads, more stop lights, housing developments that were formerly unused farmland, along with countless other physical objects. Oh the suburbs, you leave for even a week and they're not how you left them!

What (if anything) did Cambodia help you appreciate about America?

Even though I have considerable disagreements with our country's political policies and stances on current issues, I am thankful that I am allowed to vote for a government that actually counts my vote and allows me to voice my opinion. We oftentimes view our government as "corrupt," but after being in Cambodia, I have learned of new potential for corrupt governments.

What was one of the best things and one of the hardest things about your experience?

Wow, another hard one. At least you asked "one of the best/hardest..." and not just "THE best/hardest..." As for one of the best things, I would have to say riding moto against SST rules. One of the hardest? Probably the fact that I couldn't fit a moto in my luggage.

If a student told you he/she was considering Cambodia for SST and wanted your thoughts, what would you tell him/her?

Can you think of any reasons NOT to go??

"It's the only place to go!" -Melanie

As we hit the halfway point of the term dubbed by Sheldon as “Kra-May Term,” Melanie reflects back on the land of karmas that will likely continue to color her life experiences for years to come.

After sitting down for a little chat with Melanie about her life now and reflections on her experience in Cambodia, I’ve gathered a few of the highlights of her thoughts as I see them.

On SST

“I think that SSTers are really just student ambassadors, or student observers. We were going as representatives of the West more than anything else, and it became important for me to do that well.”

What would Cambodians say about the West after meeting the GC Cambodia SST group?

“I hope they would say we are friendly and curious. They might say we were strange because I think sometimes they devalue their culture. They think we’re strange for being curious about them when they’re so curious about us.”

If a student told you they were considering Cambodia for SST and asked for your thoughts, what would you say?

“Yes, definitely go, it’s the only place to go.”

What does SST teach?

“To be, you know, global citizens.

“I think that a lot of times Goshen students can become anti-American to a certain extent and I think in our group we found an increased understanding and value of our own culture, our own politicians, and I think that’s especially important for Christian students to realize.”

What was one of the hardest parts of SST?

“Being sick.

“And, at the times during service when it wasn’t as active as I thought it could be; and then I felt like I was wasting more time and money then I could have been at home.”

What do you miss about Cambodia?

“I miss the unfamiliarities in things. In certain ways, I know what to expect here. There, there was a surprise in most days. Learning experiences were much more defined.”

On the effects of SST

“I don’t think there’s one big thing I do dramatically differently as a result of SST.

“I think it’s kind of a myth that people change dramatically.”

Questions people ask most often since your return

“How is the adjustment back here going?

“What was the food like?”

What are some things that get missed in brief discussions with others about your experience?

“When I think of Cambodia, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Khmer Rouge, but that’s awkward and lengthy and no one knows anything about it. So I would have to start at the very beginning [to be able to talk about that].

“I don’t usually discuss the historical and cultural context of Cambodia. Or what it was like to hear survival stories [from the Khmer Rouge period].

“Or, when people ask ‘Are the people there poor?’ I can’t usually explain why. I just have time to answer, ‘Yeah, the people are poor, they eat only rice.’”

Melanie is currently enjoying Kra-May Term by gazing at the stars for her Descriptive Astronomy class which will fulfill the science requirement for her degree (Art Education). She is also taking an upper-level drawing class for one credit hour every afternoon. If she’s not drawing or learning about astronomy, she might be found hanging out with Adelphian.

From the Other Side of the World to Math World

When Jesse was last visited in the blogging world, he was living atop stilts in the “floating” village of Kampong Phluk teaching English to Cambodian children.

To find him now, look in a vastly different classroom where a class called Math World is being taught to college students anxious to be out in the sunshine that is not so common to this part of the world.

But, you may ask, Jesse is a math major, what’s he doing taking a 100-level math course at the end of his Junior year? Turns out he’s not taking the class, but assisting with it.

As well as attending the class and helping out when students have questions, before each class Jesse receives upper-level math credit in order to go over the work to be assigned. But even though his life and tasks today seem so far from what he was doing just over a month ago, the two experiences will never be separate from one another.

And one indication is the shoes he still wears, a few sizes too small, that were given to him by a monk who taught at the same place he did in Kampong Phluk, when he lost his own shoes.

Another might be a dip in his usual level of drive. “It’s harder to feel motivated about doing school work,” he says. Perhaps this is reflective of one of the lasting effects he has seen Cambodia having on him: the regularity of afternoon naps.

Other ways Cambodia is still a part of his being show up at times when prices seem outrageous, traffic always seems tame or Khmer involuntarily slips out of his mouth.

But as far as long-term changes and effects his time in Cambodia might have on him he says, “I feel like I need more time still to process.” He expects to be able to look back after awhile and see those changes more distinctly.

What is it that he’s processing? Maybe it’s what Cambodia taught him. “[I learned about] Cambodia as a country, its people, its tragic recent history, and about what it’s like to live without all the luxuries I take for granted,” Jesse said.

With this knowledge, he says, “I hope I will be more aware of how my choices affect people in countries like Cambodia—developing countries, where tourism and exports to the developed world are important to their economy.”

Despite the things he enjoyed about Cambodia and hopes one day to travel back to (Khmer food, his Cambodian family), there were pieces of Cambodia that helped him come to value American culture in a different way. In particular he appreciates the better treatment of women and minorities, economic freedom, and the relative lack of corruption that can be found in America.

For Jesse, one of the hardest things about his Study-Service Term (SST) was, “Seeing cultural practices I disagreed with but not really feeling comfortable voicing my opinion.”

Jesse found that SST “made it more important to me that I choose a job that allows me to help people in some way.”

But for now, he can be found at Goshen College, where after being gone for three months, he’s found that things haven’t changed much. Outside of the classroom, Jesse might be found sitting in his room in Coffman preparing for Math World, taking naps, “watching other people do their homework,” or, nearly every other day, outside of the Rec Fit Center, playing Ultimate Frisbee.

And in all likelihood, you’ll wonder why his shoes are too small.

World Travelers

Before going into detail about those who are immediately reachable (aka: in the country), let me say a bit more about what those who aren’t are up to.

Janie, Krista, Jonny, Dirk

The SST ended a few weeks before the last term at Goshen College (GC), which is a short, three-week intensive course called May Term. Most of the group is back in Goshen for that. But a few members of the group are taking classes that are located in Europe. Dirk and Janie are in London with a class called The Arts in London. Krista and Jonny are traveling around Europe on the Anabaptist Mennonite (the church that GC is affiliated with) History Tour.

Nicole and Tim

These two passionate people can hardly say that SST has ended for them. After a short ten-day break they spent traveling in neighboring countries, they have begun a new project called Bikemovement Asia. They hope to raise awareness about the church by learning about Christianity in Asia and keeping this website updated about it.

Another member of the group, Sheldon, is participating in the same movement, but from his hometown in Pennsylvania. He will be keeping up with the blog and helping to gather information from this end. To learn more about his part in this visit here.

Paul and Colin

Before leaving for Cambodia in January, Paul planned a two-month journey across Asia, which began the day most of us returned to Goshen. His plans included a friend from home who arrived the same day. Their travel will include research for Paul's senior thesis and many other pre-planned activities.

Colin had originally planned only to travel for ten days but extended his return flight date and no one really knows what he's been up to since.