Welcome to Cambodia, and…..

Topics: Phnom Penh is wired

Just about every wire ever strung from the poles of Phnom Penh seems to be still there. The mass of wiring above the streets is remarkable. Click here to see some of it.

Occupational Hazard

Social distancing doesn’t count when your job is washing motorcycles.

Coconut Season

Many of the Cambodian fruits are seasonal and only available for a a few months a year. Coconuts, though, are year round and always at hand.

Notable Quotes

“The way to God lies through love of people. At the Last Judgment I shall not be asked whether I was successful in my ascetic exercises, nor how many bows and prostrations I made. Instead I shall be asked did I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners.”
Mother Maria Skobtsova

This graphic from Morning Brew, an interesting (and cheeky) daily take on the news, shows that the vaccines are working. Breakthrough infections–those happening to people already vaccinated–are minimal and produce usually only mild symptoms. Get vaccinated! (And thanks, Morning Brew!)

Summer job

With school closed, Mom says I might as well help make some money.

An Unstable Situation

Cambodia is in a volatile and unstable situation with COVID-19. A few days ago, the WHO declared that the next two weeks will be critical for the kingdom as daily infection numbers remain high and the Delta variant becomes established. [All photos are from the Khmer Times]

The good news is that Cambodia has received more than 7 million doses of vaccine and 73% of the population has been vaccinated. China, the United States, and the UK are contributing 2 million more doses this week.

More good news is that today vaccinations began for 12 to 17 year old children, and the prime minister announced that a third injection, a booster, will be offered to all who have received the first two doses.

Bad news is that hundreds of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand are daily crossing the border to return to their home provinces because the factories in Thailand have shut down because of the pandemic. The Thai-Cambodian border is now closed but people like these are crossing illegally. The worry is that they are importing the Delta variant spreading through the country.

More bad news is that a new curfew declared in Phnom Penh and other cities is not being strictly observed. 275 persons were detained last night in Phnom Penh during the curfew hours of 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM.

What NOT to say….

DEAF is a four-letter word but not THAT KIND of four-letter word! It’s perfectly acceptable and certainly preferred by deaf people. Don’t use the terms on this poster and other terms such as “audially challenged” and “deaf and dumb.” Hearing people jump through all sorts of hoops trying to avoid the word “deaf” but it is the scientifically correct and most acceptable term used by deaf people.