The conversion rate of US dollars to Cambodian riels is roughly four thousand. $1 USD = 4000$ KHR. So do the math. To be a millionaire in Cambodia you need roughly $250 US dollars. Or to be more concrete, you need to be able to own an iPod. Your money will definitely go further in Cambodia like it will in many other parts of the world but don't get me wrong, you can't move to Cambodia and live like a king or queen with $250. It is helpful however to know that for a lot of people that's close to how much money they will see in a year. On the street, you can eat well for a dollar or two a meal. Most of our gang got hooked on the ice coffee which made paying for Starbucks on our arrival home ludicrous considering a bag of ice coffee (yes, everything "to go" comes in a bag, an icy bag at that) costs about 50 cents. But here's the point: you are filthy rich.
You.
Yes you, boy or girl sitting in front of the computer.
You are dirty, stinkin' filthy rich.
Maybe you already know this, so I apologize for the lecturing tones. It's just something that really hit us. Sure you could argue that you're in debt with the line of credit, mortgage and all, that your neighbour just got that fancy new flat screen, that, boohoo, you don't have the right outfit for your friend's wedding this Saturday. Boohoo. Really, I mean this, please listen, we are richly blessed. So richly blessed.
I was talking to a friend this past week, someone who has also seen the poverty around the world. He shared how he was scared that one day he would come face to face with God. The fear is not coming face to face with God in itself, although that would be terrifying. The scary part is that both he and God would know that he knew the poverty out there, that he was richly blessed here on earth, and that he had seen the suffering of his brother and sister and did...
...nothing? something? went ahead and bought your 10th pair of shoes? You fill in the blank.
I often think back to the story of a guy in the Bible who wanted eternal life. So naturally he approached Jesus and, "How do I get eternal life?" Jesus rambles off a few of the Ten Commandments. And this guy, who we are told is a ruler of some sort, says I've kept this since I was a boy. Great, he's on the right track, right? Then Jesus says, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Boom, it hits him. Maybe he takes a step back. This guy is rich. Like I mentioned, he's ruler. Maybe rulers dressed a certain way, maybe everyone knew of this guy, probably had a good reputation. Sell everything...everything?
This is one of those texts I've glossed over more often than not - you know when you read something but then realize you didn't actually listen to what you've read. My two working observations/applications are
1) this does not actually apply to me because I am not rich;
2) if I were rich I would not sell everything because although Jesus was speaking literally to this guy he is speaking metaphorically to us.
I'm not so sure anymore.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The Images
Here they are. If you want some more description, follow the link to the actual Flickr site.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Not in the Lonely Planet
After getting acquainted with the city for a few days, we finally went to a more 'touristy' place of Phnom Penh. The waterfront area which includes the royal palace, is one of the first places listed in Lonely Planet but it was nice that we didn't do the touristy things. That was never the plan anyways. Instead, the area we work in Tuol Kork, is known for its number of brothels. Not in the Lonely Planet's itinerary of things to do.
One day I was at the clinic hanging out with some of the girls from the brothels while George and Loretta treated them one by one. Our travel Connect Four came in handy and the girls picked it up quite fast. Again, not a very Lonely Planet kind of thing to do. It was early that morning and we were kind of surprised to see a number of girls at 9 in the morning; most of them probably worked through the night. After some fruit and waiting around they eventually fell asleep on the mats. We had bought wicker chairs but no one except us barang, foreigners, seem to be sitting on them, we may just invest in a few more pillows and mats. Our hearts break for these girls. When they see us they are often smiling, but their reality is nothing to smile about. They come to the clinic to get as much treatment and meds that we can provide for them but it's no way out of the brothels. As they slept we prayed for them. It was almost all we could do...
One day I was at the clinic hanging out with some of the girls from the brothels while George and Loretta treated them one by one. Our travel Connect Four came in handy and the girls picked it up quite fast. Again, not a very Lonely Planet kind of thing to do. It was early that morning and we were kind of surprised to see a number of girls at 9 in the morning; most of them probably worked through the night. After some fruit and waiting around they eventually fell asleep on the mats. We had bought wicker chairs but no one except us barang, foreigners, seem to be sitting on them, we may just invest in a few more pillows and mats. Our hearts break for these girls. When they see us they are often smiling, but their reality is nothing to smile about. They come to the clinic to get as much treatment and meds that we can provide for them but it's no way out of the brothels. As they slept we prayed for them. It was almost all we could do...
Monday, June 25, 2007
unPublic School
School is school, right? In Cambodia private schools seem to abound. Two in particular we noticed are run like a chain of fast food restaurants, there's almost one in every district. By private school we're talking 20 to 30 dollars a month. Very little by North American standards but unaffordable for the average Cambodian. So, public school, that would be the logical option.
The Cambodian government is 'committed' to have having every child in school. But there's a problem. Public school teachers are paid about $40 US per month. Now I used to be a teacher, and I can tell you there is no way in...well you get what I mean. The government, apparently, thinks their teachers, the people entrusted with educating the future leaders of their country, should live in poverty. Other professionals suffer this consequence too. How does this affect the children? Students are extorted money from their teachers in public school. Hmmm, just imagine Mrs. Zuckerman demanding a loonie from all her students in the morning. Ridiculous.
Now, I'm not relaying first hand experience, but talking with various students, teachers, and other locals there is no doubt that this is taking place widely across the public school system. I've heard of extremes, such as teachers mocking, ridiculing and failing students who don't pay. Anything to make them uncomfortable enough not to come to school unless they can pay. Others have said this money is for extra tutorial sessions only, but that didn't seem to be the consensus.
So, you must be wondering, "How much?" How much does it costs to send a child to public school? The answer: 200-1000$ riels per day (see "If I Had a Million Dollars" for money matters). That's 5 to a whopping 25 cents to go to school per day.
The Cambodian government is 'committed' to have having every child in school. But there's a problem. Public school teachers are paid about $40 US per month. Now I used to be a teacher, and I can tell you there is no way in...well you get what I mean. The government, apparently, thinks their teachers, the people entrusted with educating the future leaders of their country, should live in poverty. Other professionals suffer this consequence too. How does this affect the children? Students are extorted money from their teachers in public school. Hmmm, just imagine Mrs. Zuckerman demanding a loonie from all her students in the morning. Ridiculous.
Now, I'm not relaying first hand experience, but talking with various students, teachers, and other locals there is no doubt that this is taking place widely across the public school system. I've heard of extremes, such as teachers mocking, ridiculing and failing students who don't pay. Anything to make them uncomfortable enough not to come to school unless they can pay. Others have said this money is for extra tutorial sessions only, but that didn't seem to be the consensus.
So, you must be wondering, "How much?" How much does it costs to send a child to public school? The answer: 200-1000$ riels per day (see "If I Had a Million Dollars" for money matters). That's 5 to a whopping 25 cents to go to school per day.
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