Hi Loreto,
Good gracious, the holiday weekend was long! I apologize for not replying any sooner. It's just that family, work and friends are just so darn demanding!
Anyway, let me get back to answering your list of questions below. Here is just a general overview of my understanding of Cambodia.Hope this helps.
A. What would you say, are the biggest issues in Cambodia for Cambodians?
1. Politics: Cambodia has a history of land disputes with Vietnam and Thailand. Women are not expected to go into government but a few have disputed with or against the leadership of Hun Sen and his party.
2. Poverty: Cambodia is still a third world nation whose people are struggling to rebuild their nation from "year zero." Cambodia's Campot black pepper industry and rice industry are still thriving, albeit slowly.
3. Human Trafficking: Young children are forced into prostitution by their parents and guardians as a source of income. Sex tourism enables this.
4. Health: Increase of AIDS/HIV and diseases associated with third world countries like cholera, hepatitis, miscarriage, scurvy and malaria.
5. Education: Most Cambodian educators are too expensive for the country to afford. Most parents can't afford to take their children to school.
6. Land Grabbing on behalf of foreign buyers: Foreign investments made by persons born outside of Cambodia are constantly purchasing land which rightfully belongs to native Cambodians who are too poor to own their own land. This is a constant struggle for rice farmers and the poorer villagers whose average monthly income per household is less than $25.
B. Could you describe how someone from the rural areas or farmers spend their days? Could you also describe how people from the cities spend their days? I mean a normal workday in a week.
Cambodians from rural areas like to spend their days tending the fields. They actually live for their lands because the lands are their source of income with which they invest in better farming equipment and housing. Cambodians from the cities like Phnom Penh like to ride on bicycles and watch live performances including theater, music or comedies.
C. What do they do in their free time?
It all depends on the weather and the person. If the weather is too hot for anything to be done, people usually just sit in the cool shade and fan themselves. If the weather is too humid, which is almost constantly, people like to bathe themselves in a nearby lake, river or waterfall.
D. What types of media do the people use in Cambodia? We have read general info about radio, internet, newspapers and TV being there. Which media are popular in Cambodia?
A friend of mine who lives in Cambodia says Radio Free Asia is one of the most popular radio broadcast stations in Cambodia (RFA). It can also be listened to via the internet. Also, the internet is starting to touch base in Cambodia. Social media sites are cropping up and the locals have already created their own brand of software which is called "KhmerOS."
E. How do people in the rural area's receive news? We know that there are many papers, but we do not know if people in the villages read them a lot.
Traditionally, news go around by word of mouth or via the radio. Cambodians love their radio.
F. Are the villages well connected to each other? As in, do the people visit other villages or area's a lot or do they remain in their own areas?
I would assume that most villages are well connected to each other through the people, kingdom and government, especially. Though Camobodian communities are usually close-knit difficulties may occur across communities, especially those nearest to neighboring countries.
G. Do you hear much about the landmines and unexploded objects in Cambodia? Do schools teach the children about the dangers of landmines?
Yes, I still hear about the landmines and unexploded objects in Cambodia. As far as I know, the tourist paths and walkways have been cleared by landmine removal technicians. That means, should a person veer off the trodden path, look out! A limb could be lost if reckless.
Good gracious, the holiday weekend was long! I apologize for not replying any sooner. It's just that family, work and friends are just so darn demanding!
Anyway, let me get back to answering your list of questions below. Here is just a general overview of my understanding of Cambodia.Hope this helps.
A. What would you say, are the biggest issues in Cambodia for Cambodians?
1. Politics: Cambodia has a history of land disputes with Vietnam and Thailand. Women are not expected to go into government but a few have disputed with or against the leadership of Hun Sen and his party.
2. Poverty: Cambodia is still a third world nation whose people are struggling to rebuild their nation from "year zero." Cambodia's Campot black pepper industry and rice industry are still thriving, albeit slowly.
3. Human Trafficking: Young children are forced into prostitution by their parents and guardians as a source of income. Sex tourism enables this.
4. Health: Increase of AIDS/HIV and diseases associated with third world countries like cholera, hepatitis, miscarriage, scurvy and malaria.
5. Education: Most Cambodian educators are too expensive for the country to afford. Most parents can't afford to take their children to school.
6. Land Grabbing on behalf of foreign buyers: Foreign investments made by persons born outside of Cambodia are constantly purchasing land which rightfully belongs to native Cambodians who are too poor to own their own land. This is a constant struggle for rice farmers and the poorer villagers whose average monthly income per household is less than $25.
B. Could you describe how someone from the rural areas or farmers spend their days? Could you also describe how people from the cities spend their days? I mean a normal workday in a week.
Cambodians from rural areas like to spend their days tending the fields. They actually live for their lands because the lands are their source of income with which they invest in better farming equipment and housing. Cambodians from the cities like Phnom Penh like to ride on bicycles and watch live performances including theater, music or comedies.
C. What do they do in their free time?
It all depends on the weather and the person. If the weather is too hot for anything to be done, people usually just sit in the cool shade and fan themselves. If the weather is too humid, which is almost constantly, people like to bathe themselves in a nearby lake, river or waterfall.
D. What types of media do the people use in Cambodia? We have read general info about radio, internet, newspapers and TV being there. Which media are popular in Cambodia?
A friend of mine who lives in Cambodia says Radio Free Asia is one of the most popular radio broadcast stations in Cambodia (RFA). It can also be listened to via the internet. Also, the internet is starting to touch base in Cambodia. Social media sites are cropping up and the locals have already created their own brand of software which is called "KhmerOS."
E. How do people in the rural area's receive news? We know that there are many papers, but we do not know if people in the villages read them a lot.
Traditionally, news go around by word of mouth or via the radio. Cambodians love their radio.
F. Are the villages well connected to each other? As in, do the people visit other villages or area's a lot or do they remain in their own areas?
I would assume that most villages are well connected to each other through the people, kingdom and government, especially. Though Camobodian communities are usually close-knit difficulties may occur across communities, especially those nearest to neighboring countries.
G. Do you hear much about the landmines and unexploded objects in Cambodia? Do schools teach the children about the dangers of landmines?
Yes, I still hear about the landmines and unexploded objects in Cambodia. As far as I know, the tourist paths and walkways have been cleared by landmine removal technicians. That means, should a person veer off the trodden path, look out! A limb could be lost if reckless.
