Today I was excited to begin teaching my class! I've emailed CCF back and forth many times over the past several months, and we agreed my 6-week class would start on the 17th. But when I arrived at CCF today, the staff was so laidback they insisted I take the next couple of days to sightsee and relax before seeing the other CCF facilities and then begin teaching (MAYBE) next week! I tried to protest, saying I'd already been in Phnom Penh a couple days and I was ready to work.... but they wouldn't hear of it. Concepts like time and schedule seem very fluid & abstract in Cambodian culture, as far as I can see.
I guess I wanted this, right? Wasn't this the very attitude I found sadly lacking in Hong Kong?
But still, I am a little disappointed. I am going to take the time to explore a bit more, but my heart was ready to be with children today. That's why I'm here!
Well, after I left CCF, I went to Toul Sleng -- the genocide museum mentioned in my previous post. :) Toul Sleng represents the other reason I am here. It was in my Southeast Asian History class at UCLA (2001) that I first heard about the Khmer Rouge and Killing Fields genocide. Learning about that tragedy was what first peaked my interest in Cambodia.
Toul Sleng is a very sobering place. The Khmer Rouge was like the Nazi regime in that they kept meticulous records of their "project." So Toul Sleng is filled with artifacts & photographs of the dead and dying prisoners.
Pol Pot's crew documented their victims before and after torture.
The former classrooms turned prison cells/torture rooms
contain hundreds of horrifying photographs.
This woman is holding her baby.
There were countless photos of innocent children who were imprisoned, tortured, and later bludgeoned to death in the Killing Fields.
Toul Sleng is a chilling reminder of what humanity at its worst is capable of. I cannot comprehend how humans would do this to other humans -- no matter what their ideology! Shocking....
However, let us not deceive ourselves into thinking this is history. Similar events and cruelties are happening elsewhere in the world AT THIS MOMENT. What can we do to help?
So true Nova! I was just reading last week about the raids in Congo since its not so far and its just unreal to hear about whats going on. I was reminded of what I read in "blue like jazz" we are all capable of doing really awful things... its being human but then we have to realize that at the same time we are all capable of doing really awesome good things... I think this is where we have to focus on! We can talk about justice too because I feel like I have learning a lot about that here too. love you! M
ReplyDeleteSo interesting. I remember visiting Dacchau in Germany and thinking a lot of the same things. It is pretty crazy...well, at least you have some time to sight see for a couple of more days. Maybe it will help you minister to these children better--you will get more of a feel of where they are coming from. Is there anything you need from me? Besides prayer? Anything you forgot to take care of in the states? Write again soon...
ReplyDeleteThanks! But who are you, OverThinker? I'm guessing Monica?.... :)
ReplyDelete