Today, I said goodbye to two friends who both make me laugh a lot… what a sad day!
The Aussie friend was just visiting for a week but it was really enjoyable to just hang and chat. The best part was being reminded that there are like-minded people in Australia.
My young Danish friend is heading home soon with her husband and one and a half children. She is a wonderfully wacky young woman who can find a reason to smile in the face of almost any circumstance. (She taught me how to say “wuss” in Danish while working out at the gym).
She tells me that she is experiencing that odd mix of “looking forward” and sadness at leaving. Her husband (a project director) commented that one of the things he was looking forward to was just having a normal job and joking around at work.
Life does get very intense here. Not only is the environment different and challenging, but cross-cultural workers also take on roles such as trainers / educators, mentors, directors, ambassadors, learners, hosts, role models, tour guides, marketers, financial managers and guest speakers (who may or may not wash the dishes).
We take each of these roles so seriously with a large dose of purpose and urgency… sometimes forgetting how young and silly we still are.
I think that is why I seek out friends who make me laugh. I’m sure going to miss them.
Flyve-kys xxx
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Money bags
My two eldest have been quite fascinated with money these mid-term holidays (which were survived with a helpful visit from their legendary Grandma known as Mummo).
They want to earn it, count it, hold it, exchange it, spend it, recount it and show anyone around them how much they have.
I have been trying to teach them how to deal with money well and that money isn’t everything… which is a difficult lesson when they see poverty first hand.
Was I successful? The following picture says it all.
What is it? A home-made money purse … sold to Mum for 500 riel (12.5 cents).
They want to earn it, count it, hold it, exchange it, spend it, recount it and show anyone around them how much they have.
I have been trying to teach them how to deal with money well and that money isn’t everything… which is a difficult lesson when they see poverty first hand.
Was I successful? The following picture says it all.
What is it? A home-made money purse … sold to Mum for 500 riel (12.5 cents).
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Angels in Disguise
Picture this…
A 30-something woman with three young children is weaving down the busy street towards the local market. Two of the children are gripping her hands as they naturally dodge motorbikes, cars, potholes and rubbish. Their light coloured hair and skin is in stark contrast with those around them and they cant help but attract attention. The baby is strapped to her back in an odd-looking carrier, creating more smiles along the roadside which he happily returns.
Bustling along, she accidentally bumps a white van with the baby carrier on her back. Focused on her destination, she doesn’t stop. Bumps are normal here. The van catches up to her and a man calls out… another foreigner. She realises he’s not “local” and expects he’s either upset by the bump or needs help with directions.
“Are you a missionary?” he asks. Uncomfortable with the term, but recognising that this is what most people would call her, she replies “Yes”.
At his signal, the van stops and a whole load of foreign men spill out onto the road stopping traffic. Horns honk as they introduce themselves. “We’re from Texas”. “Texas” she smiles unintentionally copying the broad Southern accent. “I’m Australian”.
It feels like a crowd is gathering around. A woman carrying her begging bowl comes close, hopeful. Their translators press closer, curious. The men give the children lollypops while the leader of the group continues asking questions while fossicking in his bag for something. He presently presses money into her hand.
“God told me to give you this. It’s from Him not me.” Tears prick her eyes as they circle around to pray for her. The children look up at the bowed heads, wondering and a little embarrassed.
The crowd soon moves on, with thanks and blessings. She peeks at the money and is surprised to find a $100 note. The men would never know that the money wasn’t urgently needed as she is far better off than most around her (even though they were looking a bit grubby).
It is the reminder that God is mindful of them… of her… that waters her thirsty soul as she continues onto the market with a prayer of thanks.
A 30-something woman with three young children is weaving down the busy street towards the local market. Two of the children are gripping her hands as they naturally dodge motorbikes, cars, potholes and rubbish. Their light coloured hair and skin is in stark contrast with those around them and they cant help but attract attention. The baby is strapped to her back in an odd-looking carrier, creating more smiles along the roadside which he happily returns.
Bustling along, she accidentally bumps a white van with the baby carrier on her back. Focused on her destination, she doesn’t stop. Bumps are normal here. The van catches up to her and a man calls out… another foreigner. She realises he’s not “local” and expects he’s either upset by the bump or needs help with directions.
“Are you a missionary?” he asks. Uncomfortable with the term, but recognising that this is what most people would call her, she replies “Yes”.
At his signal, the van stops and a whole load of foreign men spill out onto the road stopping traffic. Horns honk as they introduce themselves. “We’re from Texas”. “Texas” she smiles unintentionally copying the broad Southern accent. “I’m Australian”.
It feels like a crowd is gathering around. A woman carrying her begging bowl comes close, hopeful. Their translators press closer, curious. The men give the children lollypops while the leader of the group continues asking questions while fossicking in his bag for something. He presently presses money into her hand.
“God told me to give you this. It’s from Him not me.” Tears prick her eyes as they circle around to pray for her. The children look up at the bowed heads, wondering and a little embarrassed.
The crowd soon moves on, with thanks and blessings. She peeks at the money and is surprised to find a $100 note. The men would never know that the money wasn’t urgently needed as she is far better off than most around her (even though they were looking a bit grubby).
It is the reminder that God is mindful of them… of her… that waters her thirsty soul as she continues onto the market with a prayer of thanks.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Not so good news
Whenever I am out and about, I like to purchase a copy of the Cambodia Daily – a local English language newspaper with a Cambodian language insert of the top stories. For 1,200 riel (30cents) I get current events and language practice in one!
News is rarely good, but Thursday’s edition disturbed me more than usual.
The front page story was headlined, “PM Bans Rice Exports in Bid To Rein in Price”. The country’s staple food has experienced a series of price rises, almost doubling in the last two months. The article also reported that in the last year, food prices increased by 20%. The price of cooking gas has doubled in the last week.
Cambodians are resilient people. Yet, these kinds of increases to basic necessities combined with already tight household income will create real suffering (not the kind that means you can no longer buy your favourite orange juice or holiday at the beach).
The Government’s response is to ban exports for two months and sell its rice reserves, mostly within Phnom Penh because of the amount of concern there (despite their higher purchasing power). No mention is made of the impact of these decisions to those in rural areas (ie 85% of the Cambodian people), except that farmers shouldn’t be too affected because it is only a short ban.
Further back in the paper was an article on the daily blackouts we have been experiencing coinciding with the HOT season. Annual demand in the capital is increasing by 10-20% - the major contributors being increased use of household appliances and the world-wide rising costs of oil encouraging factories and hotels to switch from generators to public electricity. Blackouts will continue to occur for two to three hours on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to fill in the lack of energy in central Phnom Penh.
Again, it’s another example of the rich being appeased while the poor and less powerful are left to sweat it out in the dark.
The only bright spot about all this is that I am concerned. My sleep-deprived hardened heart has softened enough to be concerned … concerned enough to make a stand. My night-waking Lion cub slept fantastically on the weekend when we stayed at an air-conditioned hotel for our team retreat. But sorry, I'm not about to install aircon at home. We’ll sweat it out so that our neighbours can have access to affordable power.
You might think I’m crazy, but our actions and consumption really do affect others. The only difference between you and me is that I know the people I am affecting.
News is rarely good, but Thursday’s edition disturbed me more than usual.
The front page story was headlined, “PM Bans Rice Exports in Bid To Rein in Price”. The country’s staple food has experienced a series of price rises, almost doubling in the last two months. The article also reported that in the last year, food prices increased by 20%. The price of cooking gas has doubled in the last week.
Cambodians are resilient people. Yet, these kinds of increases to basic necessities combined with already tight household income will create real suffering (not the kind that means you can no longer buy your favourite orange juice or holiday at the beach).
The Government’s response is to ban exports for two months and sell its rice reserves, mostly within Phnom Penh because of the amount of concern there (despite their higher purchasing power). No mention is made of the impact of these decisions to those in rural areas (ie 85% of the Cambodian people), except that farmers shouldn’t be too affected because it is only a short ban.
Further back in the paper was an article on the daily blackouts we have been experiencing coinciding with the HOT season. Annual demand in the capital is increasing by 10-20% - the major contributors being increased use of household appliances and the world-wide rising costs of oil encouraging factories and hotels to switch from generators to public electricity. Blackouts will continue to occur for two to three hours on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to fill in the lack of energy in central Phnom Penh.
Again, it’s another example of the rich being appeased while the poor and less powerful are left to sweat it out in the dark.
The only bright spot about all this is that I am concerned. My sleep-deprived hardened heart has softened enough to be concerned … concerned enough to make a stand. My night-waking Lion cub slept fantastically on the weekend when we stayed at an air-conditioned hotel for our team retreat. But sorry, I'm not about to install aircon at home. We’ll sweat it out so that our neighbours can have access to affordable power.
You might think I’m crazy, but our actions and consumption really do affect others. The only difference between you and me is that I know the people I am affecting.
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