Cambodia ABCs: December 2010

Friday, December 17, 2010

Media Articles

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/world/asia/26cambo.html?_r=1&ref=cambodia

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/world/asia/16cambodia.html?ref=cambodia

http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-as-cambodia-angkor-airport,0,1272062.story

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/thisweek/stories/082210dntraangkor.861bc7.html

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-03-21/travel/ct-trav-0321-cambodia-lede-20100321_1_cambodia-tuol-sleng-phnom-penh

Z is for Zoo

In Cambodia, there are actually many different types of animals. They have the saltwater crocodile, elephant, tiger, and clouded leopard.

Davis, Kathleen. "Cambodian Culture." Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies - . Web. 17 Dec. 2010. <http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/outreach/resources/cambodiawebunit/culture.html>.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Y is for Yum.

Cambodians enjoy eating! Though they do have some food that originated in Asia, Cambodians have created some of their own unique food. Ingredients in many dishes are rice, tropical fruit, and noodles. Some recipes include noodle dishes, banana pound cake, and beef salad.

X is for X Marks the Spot

Cambodia is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand and it's surrounded by Thailand Vietnam and Laos Its approximate geographical coordinates are 13 N 105 E. This shapes the culture by providing Asian influences in the clothing and architecture.

W is for Ways of Everyday Life

Cambodians have a very simplistic way of life. They wash all clothing by hand and walk everywhere. The grow their own food. Most clothes are all hand made.

V is for Vacation and Recreation

Most Cambodians do not ever take vacations. They do find ways to have fun. Popular games include Win Lip, which is Cambodia's version of hop scotch. Many of the young children will garden outside of the house or play with dolls.

U is for Urban or Rural

Nearly all of Cambodia is Rural. Most of the land is used for farming rice. A typical community would consist several houses within a five mile radius. In between the houses will be a large patch of fields. This is where the rice is grown.

T is for Taboos

In Cambodia, it is not proper to tip a waiter. The waiters are taught to do the work out of the goodness of their hearts. Also, the Buddhists may not drink alcohol. This however is a taboo for all Buddhists, not just those in Cambodia. Cambodia doesn't have many taboos.

S is for Status

After the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia became much more accepting of different religions and social status. However, there is still some religious prejudice. 90% of the population is Buddhist. So there is some discrimination twords the non-Buddhists. Though the citizens are generally welcoming to new members of the community, "one may be shunned if they practise the religion of Islamic " (Grosser). Another way to establish one's status, is by their job. Most people do work in the rice fields, but the few that have high paying jobs, such as a doctor or teacher, have a higher status. Also, once the man and woman get married, they are considered a higher status than someone who is not married (Understanding Cambodia).

Grosser, Sandra. "CAMBODIA: The Government Must End Discrimination against Opposition Parties and Their Followers." Asian Human Rights Commission - AHRC. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2009statements/1980/.

"Understanding Cambodia." SEAsite - SE Asian Languages and Cultures. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. http://www.seasite.niu.edu/khmer/ledgerwood/patrons.htm.

R is for Religion

Religion in Cambodia is predominantly Buddhism with 95% of the population being Theravada Buddhist. Most of the remaining population adheres to Islam, Christianity, Animism and Hinduism. Buddhism in Cambodia has existed since the 5th Century. There are also several tribal regions. One of the tribal groups is The Khmer Loeu.

Q is for Quality of Life

Cambodia does not have a very high quality of life, but it is improving each year.The quality of health in Cambodia is rising, as of 2009 the life expectancy for females is 64 years and 60 years for males. The government is enforcing new healthcare laws in order to provide citizens with a healthier life.

"Cambodia - Location and Size, Population, Forestry and Logging, Fishing, Mining, Services." Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about Countries of the World, United Nations, and World Leaders. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Cambodia.html>.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

P is for Population

The population in Cambodia is 14,453,680. Of these people most of them are Buddhist. They mostly speak the language of Khmer.

O is for Organizations

Most organizations in Cambodia focus on education. One of the biggest organization is the CEO, or Cambodia Education Organization, and HumanTrafficing, an organization dedicated to ending human trafficking in Cambodia. CEO is an organization that is dedicated to providing free education for all children. HumanTrafficking is an organization that tries to put an end to the issue in Cambodia.

Rogers, Richard. "Cambodian Culture." Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies - . Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/outreach/r

N is for National Pride

National pride is a very important issue for Cambodia. Because of the Khmer Rouge, all of the country knows how bad their country was at one point. On January 7, the country commemorates the end of the Khmer Rouge. They also celebrate the birth and death of Buddah. There is also a new year holdiay called Chaul Chnam Thmey.

M is for Movement and Migration

Most people in Cambodia travel by walking or bicycle. It is not common for the people to travel for over a mile by foot in order to get to a location such as a grocery store or school. Some do have cars, but because there are not many nice roads, people tend to just walk.

Rogers, Richard. "Cambodian Culture." Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies - . Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/outreach/r

L is for Language

In Camboida Khmer is the official language. It is spoken throughout the country, and 90% of the population read and write in this language. Common phrases include ...

Hi - suor-sdei

Hello - chom-reab-suor

What time is it? - mong-pon-man-haoey?

Excuse me. Where is the restroom? - ort-tos-tur-born-tob-tek-nov-a e-na?

I miss home. - khnhom-noek-ptah

How kind you are! - nak-chet-lehor-hvey-mles

French fries - dom-loung-chean

Egg roll - chai-yor-chen

Clothing - som-leak-bom-pak

I need a glass of orange juice. - khnhom-trov-ka-toek-kroch-sros -muoy-kev

Rogers, Richard. "Cambodian Culture." Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies - . Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/outreach/resources/cambodiawebunit/culture.html>.
"The Khmer Rouge Years." EdWeb Home Page. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. <http://www.edwebproject.org/sideshow/khmeryears/index.html>.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

K is for Knowledge

Education in Cambodia was originally offered in the Wats which are the Buddhist temples. This meant that education was only for the wealthy men. The 1917 Law on Education introduced a primary and secondary education system modeled after France's. This system of education was not successful. Most children only go to school until they are 18, but some do go on to pursue a degree.

Larlton, Jennifer. "Cambodia: Introduction to Cambodia: Education." Web. 14 Dec. 2010. http://www.culturalprofiles.net/cambodia/Directories/Cambodia_Cultural_Profile/-36.html.

"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cb.html.

J is for Jobs

Most Cambodian have the same job. Because of the rice fields, most work in the fields as a farmer. This provides a steady pay for the works. There are also more modern jobs including nurses and doctors.

"Cambodian Flag History." CRW Flags Inc. Store in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/kh_hstry.html.

"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cb.html.

I is for Icon

The flag of Cambodia is a well known icon. The flag consists of a single red stripe and two blue stripes. There is also a building in the center which is a historic landmark in Cambodia. This building is called the Angkor Wat.

"Cambodian Flag History." CRW Flags Inc. Store in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/kh_hstry.html>.

Rogers, Richard. "Cambodian Culture." Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies - . Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/outreach/resources/cambodiawebunit/culture.html>.

Monday, December 13, 2010

H is for History

Little is known about the old history of Cambodia, but one of the biggest historical events in Cambodia is the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge killed nearly 2 million Cambodians during 1975 to 1979. The Khmer Rouge conducted a genocide. They, the current communist government, "attempted an agricultural reform which led to a famine" (Rogers). The country at the time was not rich enough to provide medication for the citizens. There was a shortage of medicine, resulting in over half of the citizens being killed or seriously injured. The Khmer Rouge began in Cambodia's jungles and rice fields. These areas would soon be controlled by the government (Rogers). The leader, Plot Pot, was soon taken down from power with the help of other countries. Neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam assisted in returning Cambodia back to a peaceful country (The Khmer Rouge Years).

G is for Government

Cambodia's government is a constitutional monarchy. The executive branch consists of a king, an appointed prime minister; 10 deputy prime ministers, 16 senior ministers, 26 ministers, 206 secretaries of state, and 205 undersecretaries of state. Cambodia gained independence in 1953 and had their constitution created in 1993. The average citizen is connected to the government by their opportunity to speak to government officials.

"Cambodia Government Information." Expedited Visas, Visa Applications, Rush Passport, Passports, Travel. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.traveldocs.com/kh/govern.htm>.

"Cambodia - Government Structure." Country Studies. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://countrystudies.us/cambodia/77.htm>.

F is for Family

The typical Cambodian family is extremely close. Most families work together the entire day in order to complete the daily chores, jobs, and field work. The family members includes the children, mother, father, grand parents, aunts and uncles. The husband is considered the head of the house, but the wife also has a good deal of authority. The wife is normally in charge of family spending, food, and religion. While the husband is in charge of the income and working.

"Khmer Cambodia Household and Family Structure." Asian Food Recipes, Asian Cooking Culture, Recipes from Thailand, Asia Foods Recipe, with Asia Herbs,asia Culture, Hinduism and Islamic Food Recipes, Food Ingredients, Recipe Glossaries and Cooking Techniques. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://asiarecipe.com/camfamily.html>.

Rogers, Richard. "Cambodian Culture." Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies - . Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/outreach/resources/cambodiawebunit/culture.html>.

E is for Economy

The economy is Cambodia is mostly based on the agriculture. 85% of the area is used for the production of rice, which brings in the most income for the country. The farms are run by the government. The issue of who runs the farms has been a long issue in Cambodia. The money in Cambodia is called a Riel.

"Cambodia Currency and Money Guide." Travel Guides - World Travel Guide. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.worldtravelguide.net/cambodia/money>.

Middleton, Gary V. "Economy - Cambodia - Tax, Problem, Average, Growth, Area, Annual, System, Infrastructure." Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about Countries of the World, United Nations, and World Leaders. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Cambodia-ECONOMY.html>.

D is for Dress

Cambodian people dress very modestly. They tend to dress casual most days, unless attending a formal event. The average Cambodian will "be sporting a short sleeved shirt made out of light cotton" (Dordman). The more affluent people wear silk shirts and nicer pants. The Cambodian women dress in loose fitting clothing. The sarong is almost always worn by woman. This is a large piece of cloth that is worn around the waist. To locals the sarong is known as a Sampot (Dordman). The Sampot is crucial for the women because of the unpredictable weather. With the Sampot, women can take it off when the temperatures get overwhelmingly hot and use it as a sweat rag (Clothes of Cambodia :: Sampot and Krama)

"Clothes of Cambodia :: Sampot and Krama." Virtual Teacher Aide. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.vtaide.com/ASEAN/Cambodia/clothes.html>.

Dordman, Nancy. "Cambodian Dress." Professional Translation Services | Interpreters | Intercultural Communication & Training. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Cambodia/Cambodian-Dress/1691>.

C is for Communication

In Cambodia, 75% of the people have access to cell phones. This percent has rapidly increased in the last five years. However, most do not tend to use cell phones because they stay near their home the entire day. Cambodia does have several newspapers which spreads local and global news. Not all homes have a radio or television, so information can not spread this way.

"Cambodian Newspapers : Newspapers from Cambodia : Cambodian News." Thousands of Newspapers on the Net. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/cambodia.htm>.

Smith, Ricky. "Communication in Cambodia." Geekzone: Technology News, Blogs, Forums. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=48&topicid=33713>.

B is for Buildings

The architecture of Cambodian buildings is very unique. While some buildings are very intricate, others are more simple. For example, the homes of the citizens is very simple and is made out of straws or the bamboo with the roof covered with the thatched leaves of dry coconut palms. Most homes are either one to two rooms. The bigger, monumental buildings are large and often have a golden colored roof. The famous buildings are often the homes of dignitaries or royals. Some famous buildings include the National Museum of Cambodia and Choeung Ek Memorial.

"Cambodia Architecture, Buildings, Images, Designs, Cambodian Buildings." Architecture News, World Architects, Building News, Architectural News, World Buildings. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.e-architect.co.uk/cambodia_buildings.htm>.

Wongbet, Aphisit. "Cambodia - Khmer Architecture." Cambodia - Angkor Wat Travel Professional. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. <http://www.cambodia-travel.com/khmer/architecture.htm>.

A is for Art

The most popular art form in Cambodia is dance. Although there are many different styles of dance in Cambodia, the Khmer Dance is considered to be a Cambodian tradition. The Khmer Dance is danced by women that are between the ages of seven and fifty. The costumes, which include brightly colored robes and intricate headdresses, are worn have Asian influences in them because of Cambodia's geographical location; Cambodia is surrounded by Thailand and Vietnam. Some of the Asian influences include the costume resembling Buddha's own robes. Because of the very ornate costumes, the women who dance in them are considered very beautiful and wealthy (The Royal Ballet of Cambodia). However, children of all age attempt to do this dance even without a costume. In its beginning days, the Khmer Dance was preformed for kings and queens at events such as a wedding or funeral. Because of the dance's strong, upbeat music and colorful costumes the dance would bring joy to people in times of sorrow. Although the dance started out being only preformed for a royal family, it soon became a part of everyone's life and became known as more of a folk dance. The people felt that the style of dance uplifted them in hard times, such as a political struggle. The Khmer Dance continues to be a very popular style of dance that has migrated to Cambodia's neighboring countries (Vachon, Michelle).

The Royal Ballet of Cambodia - Cambodia. June 4, 2010 Fes Festival. December 6, 2010 <http://www.fesfestival.com/2010/en/fes.php?id_rub=41&type=6&id=157&mod=1>.

Vachon, Michelle. "The Language of Khmer Classical Dance." Cambodia Daily 2008: Deveta. 2008: December 6, 2010<http://www.devata.org/2009/02/the-language-of-khmer-

classical-dance-the-cambodia-daily/>.