Why wait?

Notice all these motorcycles turning left on to the street where I am stopped for the red light. The motorcycles are all driving the wrong way in the opposing lane of the street they’re coming from rather than wait in their lane till the traffic moves forward. In Cambodian traffic, if you can physically get your vehicle into a space, you have right of way.

Difference between women and men

The first time I headed for the toilets in the baggage claim area after getting off a flight in Phnom Penh, I did a double-take before entering to make sure I was in the right one. Most toilet iconography would feature a figure with a skirt or something similar for the women’s room, but in Cambodia the emphasis seems to be on a waist and a flip of the hair.

Spring Equinox

Thursday, March 20, was the vernal equinox, the day when the day and night are equal in length, and the first day of spring. Angkor Wat was built in the 1100s, long before modern developments of science, but it was constructed so that the sun on the vernal equinox rises directly above the main tower of Angkor Wat. This is a stunning achievement with the limited knowledge of astronomy and cosmology and architecture available at that time, and a dramatic expression of the curiosity and creativity and intelligence of the human species. This year more than 85,000 visitors were at Angkor Wat to observe this phenomenon.

Still working…

The exterior of the new St. Joseph Church in Phnom Penh is mostly finished. The big holdup in using the church is the interior. They need money to add pews or chairs, statues, etc., and a technical design in the ceiling is giving them fits. No construction people here have ever put up a curved ceiling like the architect called for. There are still a few outside details to take care of also. The compound wall was removed and replaced with a fence so people can see the church. Today workmen were spray painting the gate for the new fence.

Quebec Mission Society

Today the Quebec Mission Society celebrated their coming to work in Cambodia thirty years ago. Their superior general (he gives his title as SERVANT general) came for the occasion that was celebrated with a liturgy and lunch for about 60 people at the pastoral center.
Also today, Quebec lay missioner Betty (with flowers) was recognized for her 25 years of mission service in Cambodia with Quebec. Betty spent her first six years working in a Maryknoll project for the prevention of transmission of HIV from pregnant mothers to their children.

Getting ready

Our Saturday night mass for the English Catholic Community is held at the St. Jude Thaddeus School in Phnom Penh. Today I was there for a meeting on Friday afternoon and the students were setting up the chairs for us to use tomorrow evening. (Thank you!)