Monday we visited the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are filled with riches—I could not imagine how they survived the Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge regime.
Nipia, Local Guide for Phnom Pehn
Our guide said that collaboration with the King was critical to the Khmer Rouge holding power and that any plundering of the riches of the King would have jeopardized that collaboration. The National Museum held many treasures. The early Khmer collection was quite astounding. I also was quite taken with the photographs of the intricate and powerful movements of traditional apsara dancers.We had dinner at a restaurant supported by a local NGO. We also took a boat ride on the Mekong River to see the sunset. Our boat went through the confluence of four rivers—upper and lower Mekong and Tonle Sap and Bassac Rivers.
Mekong River
Along with two other delegates I walked around an area of Phnom Penh near the riverfront. I had a conversation with a tuk-tuk driver who approached me asking if I was American. After conversing about what we were seeing in Cambodia and learning, he told me he was learning English and was eager to practice. After further conversation I learned that he is studying English with his daughter. He is hoping that learning English will improve his chances of getting work. He was 3 years old when the Khmer Rouge came to power. He was separated from his parents and lived in a children’s camp and was unable to attend school. I cannot begin to put into words how powerful people’s stories are.
Royal University Phnom Pehn Studentss
Tuesday we visited the Royal University of Phnom Penh and the International University and had lunch at the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC). The FCC is filled with photographs of war and its impact on the Cambodian people, particularly the continuing impact of landmines. The session at the International University gave us an overview of the official ideology about health care and the role of women. The session at the Royal University was very moving and meaningful. About 30 undergraduate sociology students were assembled in the room when we came in. This is the next generation that Cambodia is hoping will bring a new future. The eagerness on their faces truly brought tears to my eyes. Their courage in standing and asking questions and being willing to answer our questions was very inspiring. After the formal session, we talked with individual students who were so proud and excited to have been visited by sociologists from the United States. There is so much to be done with education in Cambodia—the people are willing and eager if only they can get the needed resources.
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