Incentive

Sou s’dei,

School in Cambodia is not enforced what so ever. Kids, babies, whoever, roam the streets all day and parents and other adults do not care one bit. Schooling might be the easiest way to a future in America but here in Cambodia school and education only takes a few kids to successful lives. So many parents do not see the need to send their kids to school, because it is not benefiting them to try for that slight chance. I have not understood this yet, and it really surprises me. Leading into my next topic, people in Cambodia need an incentive that will directly and absolutely affect them positively. That is why I also believe people here do not pick up trash. At the orphanage kids throw their trash everywhere except the trash can. When Meng, our lovely Cambodian chaperone, offered the kids a little money for one big bag of trash each, the kids grabbed a bag and dashed off. Lee Lee a cute little girl who hates picking up her trash, was the quickest one and all the kids had returned within 5 minutes of receiving their bags. It was so cute, as they all went and bought a slushy and some Styrofoam chip twist. I realized then that the kids see the trash they just don’t care or see any need to pick it up. A few days ago, we put on a meeting to inform the people about trash and pollution, then there was a clean- up. For every 5 bags of trash the people received one bag of rice. Many showed up and it was a good start to picking up trash. Lisa Marie told me that one lady said “Wow, I did not realize how much trash there really is” and she was living within the area. The people of Cambodia do not know any different because this is all they know, so there is nothing wrong or need for a change in their eyes. They do not want to pick up trash because it’s not going to benefit them in their lifetime. The Cambodian people   are not worried about trash, they’re concerned about whether they are going to survive another day or have enough food to support their families. Incentive can change that. What surprises me is that places in Cambodia collect plastic bottles in exchange for money. When so many people need a way to make money why don’t you spend one hour picking up plastic bottles which are everywhere instead of drinking and gambling more money away?

Poverty is woven into the life and culture of many in Cambodia. In Cambodia you are either poor or rich and unfortunately many are really poor. Kids run around without shoes, babies run around butt naked, and many do not have a place to call home. Niron a village boy with 8 older siblings is the sweetest dude ever. He really likes to sneak up behind you and scare you or tickle you, reminding me a lot of my little brother. Sadly, Niron is very poor and is not taken complete care of as his parents love him but are old. When Lisa Marie and Karlie first came here they found Niron with a huge gash in his foot. They wrapped it up, and found him two hours later with a huge machete trying to cut the bandages off. He was four at the time. To me it looks like in the poorer areas that there are families and people that care for each other but it is more every man for themselves. It saddens me to see how little all these people have and most just gamble and drink their time away. It’s a great way for them to solve their issues…NOT. Do something about it, sitting down all day is not going to help you do anything, and if you get the chance to improve yourself and others around you, take it. The other day I was writing and I started to listen to the rain beat against the window. Man does it rain hard here. My mind started to travel as I am easily distracted, however a sad thought popped in my head. I was wondering how many people are getting poured on because they don’t have a home, I wondered how many people are getting rained on through their roof. I wondered how many people are running around trying to catch the rain water so they have water to drink from to survive the next week. I bet a lot.

I am over halfway through my trip and I can’t believe it. I have had so much fun and I have learned so much . The Cambodian life and culture. It is going to be a hard goodbye

Aw Kohn,

Karsen