“It’s OK…. I don’t need to look down–and they don’t smell!”
Difficult Cultural Differences
I just sat through a two-day review of the National Disability Strategic Plan organized by the United Nations Development Program. I’m not sure how much good such large scale (200+ people) reviews accomplish but at least a few good ideas were aired.
Such meetings are conducted in Khmer with simultaneous translation for all the United Nations people, foreign consultants, and others who wouldn’t understand Khmer. That’s standard procedure. The difficulty is that it is part of Khmer culture to always use a microphone, even for a small group (ours was large) and to turn it up almost as loud as it goes. A typical large meeting in Cambodia had a noise level that would literally be illegal in the United States unless people were wearing ear protection. What makes it especially difficult is that we foreigners have to listen to the English translation through the headphones but the ambient noise is so loud from the PA system that it is sometimes almost impossible to understand the interpreter even when we are wearing the headphones right over our ears! Two days of that is really frustrating.
A Happy Return
In 2000, Rachel (red hair) came to Cambodia as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner, in the same class as Charlie Dittmeier. She worked with children with severe disabilities at the Rabbit School. At the same time, Sambath (second from right) was teaching at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in a Maryknoll project. Rachel and Sambath met and eventually married after they returned to the United States. This week they are back for a visit and to introduce to us their two children. Welcome back!
An Increasing Problem
In an earlier post, I noted the advent of graffiti in Phnom Penh, but on a small scale and in isolated places. Now it is becoming mainstream and a real eyesore. It’s not on the scale of large American cities, but we’re catching up.
Motorscooter Wi-fi?
Notice on this sign for a shop selling motor-scooters the words “Free Wi-fi.” Do you think they are selling a scooter that has wi-fi? I rather doubt it!
Topics: Morning Rituals 2
One street that I travel in the early morning has a series of appliance shops and every morning they set up walls of appliance boxes out on the sidewalk. Click here to see more.
Notable Quotes
There will be two posts for Sunday, 20 August 2017. This is the first.
There is absolutely no way of establishing what Trump believes. He says whatever he feels he has to say at any given moment to get attention, strike back at foes or advance his personal (especially economic) interests.E. J. Dionne ~ Op-Ed writer for the Washington Post |
Cambodian Government:Corrupt, Incompetent 5
This is No. 5 of the nine examples of incompetence and corruption that appeared in the headlines of The Cambodia Daily in just two days. Try to picture how callous these officials are to so abuse their own people, people they live with.
Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Thursday, 10 August 2017
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Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor….
Many of us are familiar with the old nursery rhyme and counting song that sings: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief. That’s the American version.
Here in Cambodia, we still have tinkers but now they ride motorcycles hung with all the metal implements of their trade.
You Too Can Earn Big Bucks!
The career prospects don’t look too good but maybe he will get enough to pay for supper.