Some things I will/will not miss in Cambodia

I'll be wrapping everything up in the coming week and a half (while also trying write my dissertation proposal!) and so it seems appropriate to reflect a bit on times here in Cambodia.

Many things can be separated into miss and won't miss lists, but so many other sights and sounds just can't be labeled. It has been a wonderful experience overall, and an amazing education on culture, history and the work I want to do collecting oral histories of trauma victims. But those lessons will need their own post. For example, there are still a few things that I can't get used to during interviews. For example, when someone we’ve interviewed can remember every province, commune, district and village to which they were sent during the KR regime, but then forgets that two of their previous children were killed. Or when someone asks after we conclude an interview if I believe their story. This still pains me so much, and really represents the magnitude of some people's search for recognition and acknowledgment. It also shows the importance of listening work, and of giving people the opportunity to tell their stories.

More on this as I reflect on my work here, but first a few things I will and will not miss. :)

Some things I will be happy to leave behind:

-Pollution
-Crazy traffic

-Witnessing moto accidents (luckily no major injuries)
-Complete lack of communication between people – even speaking the same language
-The look of fear, suspicion and sadness on people’s faces
-MOSQUITOS and sand fleas
-Visits to the hospital where the “doctors” knowledge is often questionable at best
-Aiden's various rashes/bites/infestations/otherwise unexplained maladies.
-Spending personal money on projects organizations say will be covered and NOT getting reimbursed. Nope, definitely won’t miss that.
-Living in hot muggy climate with no air conditioning
-Lack of good organic, clean food

people pinching, grabbing, hitting Aiden as an expression of their "love" and "adoration"

-Similar people grabbing Aiden's private parts. Apparently a male "bonding" thing. (In my country there's a word for it. It starts with a "p" and ends with "philia")
-Having to contend with the possibility of political censorship with every interview, presentation, thought of exhibit, etc.

But the above-mentioned have been largely overshadowed by some amazing and wonderful experiences with lovely people and incredible countryside. Here are some things I will very much miss about Cambodia:

-Those frogs at night, whose call sounds like someone running their finger across a stand up base.
-Riding in a tuk tuk every day, everywhere

-Smiling people who love kids! After the UK, this was the greatest joy.
-Open air markets with lots of color
-Mangoes and fruit smoothies
-The Cambodia daily newspaper – a really great paper for a country with serious censorship issues
-Restaurants with outdoor play spaces for kids.

-The riverside walk at about five pm when the light is just right, and especially right after a rain when the sky feels clean (er).
-The temples of Angkor, especially Angkor Thom.
-Hearing Aiden speak some Khmer (his “English-speaking” babysitter doesn’t speak any English).
-Hearing Aiden speak some French
-Hearing Aiden speak some Spanish (Dora videos)
-A beach! Sand/Sun
-Good friends, old and new, and lots of laughter
-Ice cream, and lots of it
-Sitting in my chair watching the torrential rainstorm move across the sky and come directly into my living room
-Vietnamese coffee (any coffee, really.)
-That little market in Takeo with bowls of snails, and veggies from Vietnam
-Motorcycles! Seeing how many people can fit on one small motorbike – SIX is my top! As Alan says, seat belt laws are for ninnies
-Elephants!

-Testimony therapy ceremonies at the killing fields

- The "crew", a great group of people who helped with aiden, with translation, with photographs, and with everything else we needed in Cambodia. Thank you Vandy, Tongny, Sinoun, Channut, and Judith. We will miss you guys, but hopefully will be back to continue our work sometime in the near future!

-And most of all I will miss interviewing amazing people with incredible stories. So many brave and open hearts giving their time and sharing their lives.

Thank you all!