Friday, 29 March 2013

Cambodian Village Life Gives Perspective

On the way into a CambodianVillage one early morning I found myself thinking how important it was for me to go into these villages with an open mind. I needed to observe, listen, and try to understand their struggles while reserving all possible judgements. This is not always an easy thing to do as we will often wonder why don't they do this, why don't they do that....it is not always that simple, that black and white. During the meeting - based on forestry inititatives, sustainability and conservation - there were many women in attendance (yay) but with women come children. They were often running around naked, topless or bottomless. I often could not tell if they were boys or girls. There was one moment when I looked into the faces of someone of the dirt covered gorgeous children and my mind flashed to the World Vision commercials we see on TV at home. They have been dealt some unfrotunate circumstances, yet they are still children, full of hope and innocence. It often seems unfair to see any human living in poverty but children are often the hardest. This village was not at the bitter end of the poverty scale which allowed me to believe they weren't starving or suffering.

One thing I struggled with was how they dealt with garbage. They don't. Garbage is thrown on the ground or in the ditches along the roads. Now obviously they do not have a garbage service where someone comes along and picks up each households trash everyday so what else are they to do. On our ride home from the village the skies were clouded with a smokey haze often from burning piles of garbage. I have learned this is their basic solution to garbage accumulation.

There were many times on this day I felt my presence was useless haha. I could not speak to the villagers as they spoke Khmer and I speak English. I was asked to help entertain the kids so they wouldn't distract their mothers - I feel like I failed horribly at this task. I did not understand an iota of what was said or what was going on haha. All I could do was smile and hope to be accepted as a foreigner not only in their country but in their home as well. Being there all I wanted to do was see everything and HELP. Buuuuut I came to realize as I was riding on the back of a moto back to Siem Reap that my purpose of visiting these villages was not so I could help these people or change their circumstances ... it was for me, for me to gain perspective and observe. I have been given a wicked hand in life and it is because I am so fortunate that I got the opportunity to go to these villages and see some NGO work being done. These experiences can only enhance my own future and my understanding of this world.

I wish I could have or would have learned more about the people but it was difficult and I STRUGGLE with language barriers, it is one of the hardeast things I deal with while travelling, honestly. Just one of many challenges I encounter along my journey. But I leave you with this - always think twice before you judge someone elses circumstances and always think twice when you build up expectations of an experience to come. Life often plays out in a way that we never expect it to. Someone once shared with me a wonderful way to look at life.

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it, or basically life is what you make of it, so go out and friggin live it guys!!  

I send good vibes and love from Cambodia! xoxox

2 comments:

  1. Sara, these blog posts are amazing! I love reading these and just seeing how your perspective on everything has changed due to your travels. I am so glad you have had the opportunity to take part in all of these adventures, I can't wait to hear (well, read..) more about them!

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  2. Oh man Emily! i just saw your comment... no one has commented on here before haha. I think you have to have a specific account or something its dumb.
    Its exciting to hear your reading it! I hope your final semester of school went well!

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