SUPPORT

I have been thinking a lot recently about what support is and what the word has meant to me this past year. Dictionary definitions include such things as “to endure bravely or quietly;” “to promote interests or causes of - to advocate;” “to assist or help;” “to hold up or prop up;” “to comfort;” and “to keep something going.” In so many ways every one of these definitions sum up my PC service thus far. (Financial support and the idea of incentives and development work will be left for a later post as that is a whole nother can of worms. Physical support was covered a bit in my discussion of the medical service PC provided for me when I had dengue. Here let me instead focus on emotional support for which this post will only scratch the surface.)

To endure bravely or quietly - definitely how I started out last September at site. 

I was shy, unsure, reserved, and hyper-aware of how I might be perceived by everyone in my community by my smallest of actions. I endured the constant yells of “hello!” (often from kids way off in the distance) with gritted teeth. I was THE barang (literally French because of the strong past French influence, but which now has become the term for any foreigner who does not seem to pass for Khmer or Asian). Often THE crazy running barang who knew a little Khmer. A year later I have settled in and feel as though I can express more of my personality within the bounds of my limited language ability. I know that as much as I try to fit in I will always stick out, but I no longer endure, I embrace it.

The crazy barang jumping rope and exercising.

The crazy barang riding a water buffalo.

To promote interests or causes of - to advocate - this is my job. 

As a Community Health Educator (CHE), on the daily I advocate for better health practices and behaviors. I encourage people to go to the health center; I feel like a broken record with the hand-washing reminders for the kiddies and explaining the benefits of exercise as I run by the gaping mouths at the road side stalls; I help translate medicine instructions and explain the whys of healthy nutrition because I believe in informing and advocating for patients.

Working alongside the pharmacist at the HC.

Teaching about the female body.

Teaching about nutrition at my friend Sokphea's house.

To assist or help - I would like to think that I have been doing this all along...

but I think more likely that there are so many more people who have continuously reached out a hand to help me out. These people range from the VHVs who help step up education sessions in the village, my neighbor Phoumy (17 year old girl) who patiently explains concepts and answers all and any questions I may have, the PC Program Staff who respond to my numerous emails, my host cousins Srey Ny (11 year old girl) and Nam Hong (9 year old boy) who are eager to cook tacos and pasta with me, my tutor Bunsean who laughs at my jokes since he is one of the only fluent English speakers around, the list goes on.

My friend and neighbor, Phmouy, helping prepare food for a party.

(L to R) Nam Hong, Ahouy, Srey Ny, and Nooan enjoying some pasta. 

An Thy - my CHE program manager at swear-in.

To hold up or prop up - this applies to my friends and family back home...

who email, video chat, and send snail mail. They are the people who reach out just because. The ones that offer an encourage word and say they are proud of me. They know who they are. They are the ones who I think about as I am falling asleep, whose smiles and laughter and energy I channel when I hear that I am big/fat for the umpteenth time.

Some fans back home :)

To comfort - I feel lucky to count myself among the likes of other PCVs. 

These are individuals who left behind home to set down roots in another country for 2 years with the sole expectation of making a difference. These idealistic types are who I have leaned on and friends who have been eager to comfort for they are well aware that for any low that I may have that they can help me through I will be there in the future to offer the same right back. It is reciprocal and it is ongoing.

The K6 group upon arrival

To keep something going - the sun that rises everyday, a new set of challenges unseen,

and the knowledge that there is always more to be done. You can’t do everything, but you must do something…So as I look ahead to this next year - a year, which the fortune teller (nek merl gkruu) whom I saw with my friend Danet yesterday for 75 cents, said in essence would be my best yet… - I am thankful for all the support that I have had. Support which has thus enabled me to offer support to others in my community and beyond. A wonderful, beautiful gaa jom newee cycle. 

EXAMS & ELECTION RESULTS (again?)

Test Time

Since the end of elections and the school year I have become acutely aware of how quiet it is around my community. The rain and the demands of rice transplanting have translated to fewer patients in the health center and limited the times (if at all) people can meet with me when out in the villages. But the first full week of August was Capital Q “Quiet.” Too quiet. Why? Because of the 12^th grade exams. Across the country 107,835 students were eligible to sit for the exams. Testing centers are typically in district and provincial towns so the 100 or so seniors from my community headed to nearby Pouk High School often accompanied by parents or relatives, the majority of whom waited outside of the school compound for encouragement. My host mom and sister did this for my younger brother, and this is a common practice across the country. My host brother and his classmates will get their results at the end of the month. Fingers crossed!

The 12^th grade exams or bralong bactdop are a two day intensive exam sequence with a reading day squeezed in, that in essence determines EVERYTHING. It is the SAT or ACT if that was the absolute ONLY criteria for admission to college and university and scholarships so that these seniors can actually attend. Because of this pressure to do well, cheating is a common practice. Some examples of cheating include sending photos of answer sheets that are bribed from school officials and teachers via smartphones, bribing proctors to allow copying, etc. The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport has acknowledged cheating as an issue, but as of now has done little if anything to curb it. PCVs in the English Teacher and Teacher Trainer (ETTT) program often are discouraged by the rampant cheating and many are exasperated knowing that if they crack down on cheating at their school they will be putting their students at a great disadvantage because the practices will continue elsewhere. Many chose to wish their students luck on the exams and get as far away from the testing centers as possible.

Elusive Election Results

In other news, debate over the national election results continue to rage! Internationally, Khmer people have been protesting the government and urging the UN to get involved. Most notably, last week there was a protest of over 1,000 people outside of the UN headquarters in NYC. The UN has released a statement saying that they will get involved only if invited by the Cambodian government - very unlikely seeing as the result put the CPP in power (again) for another five years. Since the preliminary results were released after the July 28^th election (68-55 CPP win), the National Election Committee (NEC) did a quick “recount” and said that it was actually only 67-56 in CPP’s favor. The CRNP (opposition) party and popular figure head, Sam Rainsey, claim to have actually won and who knows what will happen when the “official results” are announced on September 8^th with the new government supposed to be formed by the end of September.

Monsoon Moments

While we wait (don’t hold your breath…), the rains continue to fall. The beginning of the monsoon season in Cambodia also marks "Choal Vassa," known as Buddhist Lent or the Buddhist Rains Retreat.  During this three-month period starting on the first waning of the eighth moon, which fell on July 23 this year, monks no longer make their early-morning rounds seeking alms and rice. Instead they are required to stay inside the temples, where they concentrate on studying the Dhamma, or Buddhist precepts. Choal Vassa, practiced throughout Buddhist Southeast Asia, originated from the need of wandering monks to seek shelter indoors during the rainy season. In addition, villagers don't want monks tromping through the fields during the planting season, ruining the seedlings. Coinciding with school vacation, Choal Vassa is also a period for boys and young men to temporarily enter the monkhood, studying the Dhamma and earning merit for their parents.

However, in Cambodia, it has changed a little bit now. Even though monks are no longer allowed to go from house to house to beg for food during this period, we observe that some still do this as there are not many Buddhist people taking food to the pagodas to offer to them there because most of them are busy on their farms. 

transplanting rice

Stay tuned for my adventures doing quintessential Cambodian things, like riding water buffaloes and transplanting rice...