Cambodia: Same Same...but Different
Who: I joined the Taipei International Church on a mission trip to Cambodia. Specifically, my small team of 3 (Wanda, Daniel, and I) went to Kampang Cham Orphanage.
What: This was a mission trip targeting Christian orphanages in Cambodia. We had 3 teams: one went to Battambang to build a wall around the orphanage and teach English, one outreach team went to 14 different orphanages around Battambang teaching English and Scripture, and Wanda, Daniel and I went to Kampang Cham to teach English and to take the entire orphanage on a journey to Siem Reap. In reality, however, we were there to give love and attention to the kids.
When: Spring Break 2011: April 2 to 9.
Where: I flew into Phnom Penh and stayed there for 24 hours. I saw S-21 (jail and torture area during Khmer Rouge), the Killing Fields, and went to Sunday devotion at the headquarters for the orphanages. Then Wanda, Daniel and I drove 3 hours to Kampang Cham where we stayed at the orphanage until Tuesday morning. We drove 5 hours to Siem Reap, where we swam in the Tonle Sap lake/reservoir, toured Angkor Wat and Tah Prohm, ate at the Night Market, and visited the Cambodia Cultural Center. On Thursday we drove back to the orphanage and stayed one more night. Friday we returned to Phnom Penh, where I went to the Russian Market and ate yummy Khmer food. We left Saturday, much to my dismay.
Why: This trip was initially inspired by my desire to understand Cambodia before teaching First They Killed My Father. I joined the TIC mission because I would like to do more service trips while I'm in Asia. I thought working at an orphanage teaching English would suit me, and it did. However, looking back, I feel like I've had Cambodia in the back of my mind for quite some time now. While I've always wanted to understand what happened over here during the Vietnam War (or as SE Asia calls it, the American War in Vietnam) and the Pol Pot regime, I must admit that when I am honest with myself, it was Angelina Jolie who sparked my interest in Cambodia (don't make fun of me). I remember reading her story and seeing some interviews about the impact Cambodia had on her while she was filming Tomb Raider. It made me want to go there, and it made me want to adopt a child from there. Unfortunately, Maddox's adoption inadvertently led to a government ban of American adoption in Cambodia. My understanding is that the US and Cambodia are trying to find ways to change this, and many Americans over here are hopeful it will become legal soon. Until then, there many people who financially support and regularly visit orphaned children in Cambodia. I am glad I followed my instincts and went to Cambodia. In one of my recent posts, I said that I thought this trip might prove to be the beginning of a long relationship with Cambodia, and I was certainly right about that.
How: We flew Eva Air (I was bumped to first class on the way there!), stayed in hostiles while in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and stayed at the orphanage the rest of the time. The orphanage had no running water and no electricity, except for a generator they ran from 7pm to 9pm each night. We traveled by van around Cambodia. In general, I found driving around Cambodia to be easier and quicker than driving around the other SE Asian countries I've been to so far, certainly better than Malaysia and Indonesia, and fairly comparable to the Philippines. People spoke enough English that, had I not been with a group who had a translator, I think it would have been quite easy to get around Cambodia - at least in the touristy areas.
The People: It is very clear that the educated people who are in their 30s and up are trying desperately to bring back the Cambodia of the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. This was a prolific and prosperous time for them, their height in modern history. These adults are devoted to their people and their country, and despite their devastating and tragic stories, they have an unbelievable amount of joy and love. They smile often, and they smile big. Every where you go, you see or hear "Same same. But different." That is Cambodia.
The Worst Parts: The poverty of this country is astounding. It is worse when you know that it was caused by 4 years of brutal genocide. Over 30 years later, they still have not recovered economically. Going to S-21 and the Killing Fields was heartbreaking. It makes you wonder if humans have evolved or devolved through time. It also made me want to know more about what America really did over here during the Vietnam War and the Pol Pot regime. Did we do anything that helped? They never got to that part in history class. It makes me angry to know that we are letting this happen in North Korea. What are we waiting for? Finally, it was very difficult to leave the children. It was heartbreaking to smile and blow kisses to them as they chased our van down the dirt road and out of the village. As soon as they were out of sight, I found it nearly impossible to talk and even to move for the entire 3 hour ride back to Phnom Penh.
The Best Parts: Certainly Angkor Wat and Tah Prohm were the touristy highlights. They are magnificent structures worthy of being called one of the World Wonders. It is worth the long journey to this part of the world to see these temples. I also loved Phnom Penh. Once the "Pearl of Asia", it is finally beginning to make a small comeback. There is a cool vibe to the city, and I felt both invigorated and at peace being there. By far, however, the best part was the children. I am not sure how to put my feelings about them into words, but very truthfully and simply, I fell in love with the children.
To Go or Not To Go: If you want a scenic, exotic, relaxing, or luxurious vacation, do not go to Cambodia. If you want an easy trip that gives you a "taste" of SE Asia, don't go to Cambodia. If you want to go someplace to "get away" from life, don't go to Cambodia. But if you want to go to a country that has an epic story behind it - the kind that leaves you in awe and in tears, the kind with unsolved and ancient mysteries, the kind with a good people at the heart of it - a real "little engine that could" story - go to Cambodia. If you want to go someplace important, someplace that will show you exactly what it is, someplace that will make you a better person, go to Cambodia. If you do, you will come home "same same, but different."
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| Wanda, me, Daniel, and Dara |
What: This was a mission trip targeting Christian orphanages in Cambodia. We had 3 teams: one went to Battambang to build a wall around the orphanage and teach English, one outreach team went to 14 different orphanages around Battambang teaching English and Scripture, and Wanda, Daniel and I went to Kampang Cham to teach English and to take the entire orphanage on a journey to Siem Reap. In reality, however, we were there to give love and attention to the kids.
When: Spring Break 2011: April 2 to 9.
Where: I flew into Phnom Penh and stayed there for 24 hours. I saw S-21 (jail and torture area during Khmer Rouge), the Killing Fields, and went to Sunday devotion at the headquarters for the orphanages. Then Wanda, Daniel and I drove 3 hours to Kampang Cham where we stayed at the orphanage until Tuesday morning. We drove 5 hours to Siem Reap, where we swam in the Tonle Sap lake/reservoir, toured Angkor Wat and Tah Prohm, ate at the Night Market, and visited the Cambodia Cultural Center. On Thursday we drove back to the orphanage and stayed one more night. Friday we returned to Phnom Penh, where I went to the Russian Market and ate yummy Khmer food. We left Saturday, much to my dismay.
Why: This trip was initially inspired by my desire to understand Cambodia before teaching First They Killed My Father. I joined the TIC mission because I would like to do more service trips while I'm in Asia. I thought working at an orphanage teaching English would suit me, and it did. However, looking back, I feel like I've had Cambodia in the back of my mind for quite some time now. While I've always wanted to understand what happened over here during the Vietnam War (or as SE Asia calls it, the American War in Vietnam) and the Pol Pot regime, I must admit that when I am honest with myself, it was Angelina Jolie who sparked my interest in Cambodia (don't make fun of me). I remember reading her story and seeing some interviews about the impact Cambodia had on her while she was filming Tomb Raider. It made me want to go there, and it made me want to adopt a child from there. Unfortunately, Maddox's adoption inadvertently led to a government ban of American adoption in Cambodia. My understanding is that the US and Cambodia are trying to find ways to change this, and many Americans over here are hopeful it will become legal soon. Until then, there many people who financially support and regularly visit orphaned children in Cambodia. I am glad I followed my instincts and went to Cambodia. In one of my recent posts, I said that I thought this trip might prove to be the beginning of a long relationship with Cambodia, and I was certainly right about that.
How: We flew Eva Air (I was bumped to first class on the way there!), stayed in hostiles while in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and stayed at the orphanage the rest of the time. The orphanage had no running water and no electricity, except for a generator they ran from 7pm to 9pm each night. We traveled by van around Cambodia. In general, I found driving around Cambodia to be easier and quicker than driving around the other SE Asian countries I've been to so far, certainly better than Malaysia and Indonesia, and fairly comparable to the Philippines. People spoke enough English that, had I not been with a group who had a translator, I think it would have been quite easy to get around Cambodia - at least in the touristy areas.
The People: It is very clear that the educated people who are in their 30s and up are trying desperately to bring back the Cambodia of the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. This was a prolific and prosperous time for them, their height in modern history. These adults are devoted to their people and their country, and despite their devastating and tragic stories, they have an unbelievable amount of joy and love. They smile often, and they smile big. Every where you go, you see or hear "Same same. But different." That is Cambodia.
The Worst Parts: The poverty of this country is astounding. It is worse when you know that it was caused by 4 years of brutal genocide. Over 30 years later, they still have not recovered economically. Going to S-21 and the Killing Fields was heartbreaking. It makes you wonder if humans have evolved or devolved through time. It also made me want to know more about what America really did over here during the Vietnam War and the Pol Pot regime. Did we do anything that helped? They never got to that part in history class. It makes me angry to know that we are letting this happen in North Korea. What are we waiting for? Finally, it was very difficult to leave the children. It was heartbreaking to smile and blow kisses to them as they chased our van down the dirt road and out of the village. As soon as they were out of sight, I found it nearly impossible to talk and even to move for the entire 3 hour ride back to Phnom Penh.
The Best Parts: Certainly Angkor Wat and Tah Prohm were the touristy highlights. They are magnificent structures worthy of being called one of the World Wonders. It is worth the long journey to this part of the world to see these temples. I also loved Phnom Penh. Once the "Pearl of Asia", it is finally beginning to make a small comeback. There is a cool vibe to the city, and I felt both invigorated and at peace being there. By far, however, the best part was the children. I am not sure how to put my feelings about them into words, but very truthfully and simply, I fell in love with the children.
To Go or Not To Go: If you want a scenic, exotic, relaxing, or luxurious vacation, do not go to Cambodia. If you want an easy trip that gives you a "taste" of SE Asia, don't go to Cambodia. If you want to go someplace to "get away" from life, don't go to Cambodia. But if you want to go to a country that has an epic story behind it - the kind that leaves you in awe and in tears, the kind with unsolved and ancient mysteries, the kind with a good people at the heart of it - a real "little engine that could" story - go to Cambodia. If you want to go someplace important, someplace that will show you exactly what it is, someplace that will make you a better person, go to Cambodia. If you do, you will come home "same same, but different."
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