Saturday, January 29, 2005

khmer kulture

as i was leaving cambodia, i've realized that more should be said about its people. in short, they're amazing. they're so warm and friendly despite years of bloodshed, oppression, and terror. even in the relatively shocking border crossing incident we were directed where to go by the locals.

many are trying to learn english. my motorcycle guide kept asking me how to spell words. one night when i couldn't sleep i helped the night receptionist work on his english homework.

being the dumb american that i am, i didn't realize just how much of the vietnam war was fought in cambodia itself. many landmines are still left from the vietnam war, the pol pot regime, and the khmer rouge. they are tough conditions to live in, their consciousness must be scarred. but they keep smiling right through it.

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