Author: Charles Dittmeier

A *BIG* lizard

Cambodia has lots of geckos, the small lizards that are part of every house, frightening intruders to the foreigners newly arrived but like old friends to the long-term experienced people. Then are the deuk-gaais, like this one pictured on a gate post. They are big, about 10 inches or 25 cms, and they are loud! Their cry is almost like the bark of a small dog: “DEUK-gaai, DEUK-gaai,…” repeated usually about 12 or 13 times in a decreasing volume. They’re pretty harmless, as far as I know, but they certainly make their presence known with their call, especially if one gets in the house. Usually, though, the deuk-gaais are outside.

Pope Francis on taxes


Pope Francis called tax evasion a “structure of sin.” In a recent interview, the pontiff said: “It has become evident that those who do not pay their taxes are not only committing a crime, but murder: if there are not enough hospital beds or respirators, they too are partly to blame.”

“I think it’s the black one….”

Today our Internet was not working at the Deaf Development Programme office. A man came from the Internet service provider and said that it was a problem on the street. A little later I went to a meeting and found this crew working near our office on the mess of wires and cables that hang above every street. The man from the ISP said they had cut down some other wires and took the Internet cable with them.

Who needs it?

Because there is basically no traffic law enforcement, just about anything goes here. Probably a good third of the vehicles here are not street legal for things like mirrors, license plates–and especially lights. Tonight I was sitting at a light in a tuk-tuk and twelve motorcycles passed me by. Three of them had taillights.

International Day of Sign Languages

This is International Deaf Week and this year there is a special emphasis on sign language. Here is some interesting information about a nation’s sign language:

How does sign language work?

A sign language relies on a combination of hand shapes, movements, and facial expressions to deliver messages. These can include a combination of:

  • Hand shapes —20-50 hand shapes with many variants
  • Orientation — This is the direction of your hand in relation to your body. For example, making a sign near the head suggests ‘thinking’.
  • Location — Signs are made near different parts of the body to convey meaning
  • Movement — Small or large movements of the head, arms and hands can suggest different words
  • Expression — Head and facial movements or expressions are used to convey emotion and emphasis.