Parlor Game Certification

On 24th May we celebrated the Feast of Mary Help of Christians... the religious service like the Mass and the Procession was optional (religious tolerance and sensistivity reasons)... problem is they all like to participate. Perhaps a Marian festivity always generates much interest not because of religion but rather it personifies and celebrates motherhood - something which we all dearly adhere to regardless of social status, nationality/race/color, or creed.

Afterwards we had some games to cap off the day. Every student has to complete six parlor games to be able to get their prize. In short they have to show that they're "parlor-game certified."

The answer's not "wrong" only "incorrect"

Cultural sensitivity is something we should really, really strive for (that means anywhere we are). I'm so used to correcting my students in terms of: "Oh that's good, that's bad. This one is correct and the other is wrong. And that one is really intelligent and the other seems stupid."
Little did I realize that they were using a different set of English vocabulary from mine, like... "this answer is not so good, the other is incorrect, and that last one is not clever at all."
I thought we were speaking the same language until I realized that we were using different words to express the same thing.... so I reflected on this and found out the reason.

Laurence Mills wrote something like this: "Buddhists try to avoid the use of 'good' or 'bad' and prefer to talk instead of the categories of 'wholesome'and 'unwholesome' in terms of actions and their consequences."

From hindsight I think this is because in the buddhist philosophy (very much like the Christian one) only actions which are willfull, conscious, and deliberate leads to 'karma' - meaning potentially productive of a future result. Hence could be termed as good or evil.
But the innocent mistake of my student for example, is unintentional and thus bears no future result in the future. Even though I am the teacher I think my students have taught me the importance of kindness through choice of words through this little episode.

When I was younger a teacher of mine once quoted to me a line: "Little acts of kindness, little words of love, help to make earth happy like the heaven above." Mercy and compassion do make sense. It's definitely a way of getting up there to You!

Something funny happened on my way out of school

Today I picked up from our school my much-awaited and long-overdue MBA diploma and transcript. It took longer than usual because they have added documentary requirements like High School diploma/document (Form 137 in the Philippines). Problem is… the high school I went to is now buried in lahar together with all the documents. The irony was that I couldn’t prove that I studied and finished my high school studies in a school of which I later became its HS principal.

As I was driving our van out through a narrow exit passage, there was this coed student who was trying to fit in her motorcycle to park in a small space along the turn. As a result I hit its back side and damaged the park lights. Here in Cambodia with a little incident like this, everybody becomes curious. Before you could spell “hello” a big crowd has gathered around the poor motorcycle and the girl. The girl was probably more shocked of the crowd rather than of the incident.

I parked my car a few meters from the “accident” and approached the girl for the “negotiation process.” Along with the curious onlookers we surveyed the damage to the park lights. I asked the girl how much I could offer to settle in order for her to buy a new set. The shy girl was more confused than ever because it was probably her first time to be put on a “limelight.” In the end, I gave her $5 so that she could replace the park lights. And a smile lit everyone’s faces. Luckily, I was among I was among cool headed and kind persons. But if are a foreigner amongst a rowdy group, you’ll have to shell out $20 on a situation like this. So that’s how I got to "flee the crime scene."

I remember now that You have two friends Micah (6:8) and Ezekiel (18:23) and they once wrote on what to do in a situation like this: “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk (drive) humbly!" Hope I learned my lesson.

A Ship's Last Voyage

Many things could happen to a ship in its last voyage: for the luxury steamship Titanic it was tragedy; for Blackbeard the pirate’s Queen Anne’s Revenge it was notoriety; for the slave schooner Amistad it was freedom; for Cook’s exploratory ship Bark Endeavor and Columbus’ Santa Maria it was glory. What future awaits Coco Explorer II?

Last week, on the 16th of April, I celebrated Easter Sunday mass with the crew of Coco Explorer II. This was to be their final voyage. Feelings of thanksgiving for the past voyages mixed with anxious expectation over what awaits are painted over their faces as we joined together in the liturgy of Christ’s resurrection. After this last voyage, the crew members will be headed back home to see the faces they’ve long missed. And although the crew may never see each other again, they are full of hope to meet others in another voyage, in another ship.

They have taught me the meaning of Easter. Although Your earthly voyage of dying and rising has given us victory over evil, I must with a continued faith and hope sail towards the high seas over life’s daily battles knowing that in the end that last voyage will ultimately lead to You. And your parting words to me: "Fear not, I have conquered the world!" will see me through.

Khmer New Year celebrations

The Khmer New year technically lasts for three days (although celebrating this festival usually lasts for a week - we closed school on the 11th and we'll resume on the 19th).

The first day of New Year is called as Moha Sangkran, and it when the New Angels (Thevada) come to take charge of the world for a one-year period. This year Moha Sangkran of the New Year will begin on April 13th. People have to clean and decorate their houses and prepare fruits and drinks to welcome the New Angels at their homes. The elederly often meditate and pray so that any angel who comes to their houses at that time will stay with them and take care of their family for the whole year. In the morning at the first day of New Year, most Khmer people prepare food to offer the monks at Khmer temple to get their blessings. It is also a time for boys and girls to play traditional games together at the temple or any field or playground in their village because it is only at the New Year period that boys and girls are allowed to play or to get together traditionally. Also it is an opportune time for single people to search for the special partner to get married in the future. We must remember that in the past 30 years, "dating" did not exist in Cambodia.

The second day of New Year is called Wanabot, which means day of offering gifts to the parents, grandparents and elders. Usually, Cambodians like to share gifts or presents to employees and also donate money or clothes to poor people. In the evening, people go to temple to build a mountain of sand and ask the monks to give them a blessing of happiness and peace.

The third day is called Leung Sakk - this means the new year starts to be counted from this day, for example as the international year 2005 begins to be 2006 after December 31, the Buddhist year of 2549 becomes 2550 after this day. To complete the New Year festival, Khmer people need to perform the last ceremony, called "Pithi Srang Preah", which means giving a special bath or a special shower to Buddha statues, the monks, elders, parents, grand parents to apologize for any mistake done to them and to show gratitude to them also (Our students and teachers performed our version of this in school before they left for the holidays).
Every one has a wonderful time during this ceremony because it is an occasion for every one to enjoy themselves by sprinking or throwing water at each other. Happiness is everyone's wish for each other during these days as people treat each other extra-kindly. Let our wishes be that the joy & kindness-filled spirit of the New Year extends throughout the entire year.

For more information and pictures on Khmer New Year, click on this link: http://www.mot.gov.kh/event_festival/khmer_new_year.htm

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the opening of the much revered Holy Week for Christians. Of interest is the fact that this year's Good Friday will coincide with Khmer New Year (same as Thai New Year). And so for pastoral reasons, fasting will be on Wednesday instead of Friday, so as to join the entire nation in its most important celebration which lasts for a week.

Today as I watched the people (me included) raise and wave their palm branches in a symbolic gesture of welcoming Jesus triumphantly to Jerusalem with joyful shouts of "Hosanna."
Ironically, a few minutes later as the gospel was dramatized by the youth, I found myself one of those shouting this time "Crucify him."

How inconsistent are my thoughts and how confused are my ways. That is why I'm always in need of conversion. Conversion - a metanoia, an internal turnabout, a change of heart; yet for me, simply put it's a "coming to my senses" and "remembering what I am here for?" and basking once again in the experience of Your love.

Spreading Good Books

I am living now in a culture where the teacher is held in high respect and as in the olden days, the one with unrefutable knowledge and the answer to all questions, and where many times his ways are unquestioned. Something like: "No student can be greater than the teacher."

But surprisingly one student of mine asked me: "How can I be better and more clever than you are?" I said: "Simple, read more books than I do. (Lol, problem is I'm a speed reader!)"

Here at times, the teacher is one who has read one book more than the student... Funny, they can't seem to understand why foreigners go to the beach just to stay under the sun and read a good book. Reading books have to find a way into the hearts of Cambodians in order to better themselves.

St. John Bosco has this to say about a good book (Spreading Good Books, 1885):
"It can find its way into homes where a teacher/preacher is not welcome.
The dubious will take it as a gift or remembrance. Read, it calmly teaches truth. Scorned, it is not discouraged.
Set aside, it does not complain, but patiently awaits the time when conscience may rekindle the desire to know the truth.
It may be left to collect dust on a table or on a library shelf, and given no attention for a long time. But then comes the hour of solitude, of sadness, of sorrow, of boredom, of need for relaxation, of anxiety about the future- and this faithful friend shakes off its dust, opens its pages, and as was the case with many great men, it may bring about the most extraordinary of paradigm shifts. "

Don Bosco in "Reasmey Kampuchea"

Way back in the 2nd of February, 2006 the local khmer newspaper published this article about us here at Don Bosco Sihanoukville (original in Khmer):

More than 40 out of 400 students of the DonBosco Technical School a Non Government Organization located in Ou Pram Sihanoukville are facing the danger of being sent out of school and thereby preventing them to continue their skills program. This happened after the Representative of the organization and the Principal of the school did research and found out that more than 40 students were children of people who could afford and have the possibility to study at the University level in evening courses.

The plan to send away pupils who have done nothing wrong and having more than 40 students go out of the Don Bosco school without allowing them to continue their skills program was immediately announced. And it was just recently that the said organization has come up with the decision of not accepting students that can afford to study in the University. They cannot allow these students to enter Don Bosco School because it would take away this good opportunity from the poorer boys.

Aware of (related to) this decision of the Don Bosco school, those numerous students who had their names in the “send away” list informed the newspaper “Reasmey Kampuchea” crying that they have never failed to follow any order or rules given by the school and they had always followed school regulations to their best effort.

Also each one of them had fought hard to endure the painstaking misery and the difficulties of staying in the school - some for almost a year now, others for almost two years. That of being already near the end of their skills program and the immediate school decision makes this situation a horrible and profoundly sad one for them.

The same group of students continued saying that the Representative of the Don Bosco Organization and the Principal of the School accused the students that they are studying in the University in the evening courses and during the day they come to take the courses at Don Bosco. And so for this they must be sent away according to that decision of the school that has just been newly announced.

The students admit that their parents are not so poor. But they cannot afford to pay money for bachelor and master courses at the university. They take short and affordable (cheap) computer courses only.

If their parents had much money they would not even volunteer to endure the painstaking misery they are enduring these days in Don Bosco School. Perhaps they all would go to study in Phnom Penh or abroad without the need to come to seat down shedding tears as they are doing.

Therefore the President of the Don Bosco Organization and the Principal of the School, please, should consider these and be tolerant to allow them to finish their two year course for this year!

After hearing the situation (phenomenon) mentioned above, many parents and tutors of the Don Bosco students had this reaction, “They say: Don Bosco School shouldn’t view the students as poor or as rich at all. If the students were rich and they willingly observed all and every internal rule and regulation of the school all throughout this time- one year for some, almost two for the others, the Don Bosco School should give encouragement to these students because they now understand well how to live in society. They have changed their thought from bad, from mischievous, from only roaming around, vagabond and playboy, and have now become good young people. All this should make the Organization and the School proud to be able to change men like that.

As for sending away students and not allowing them to continue just in the middle of the year like this was not a good point. It has made all these young boys and girls broken-heart. It could cause them to go back to their old ways and be more brutal, more cruel, or worse than before.

The parents and tutors of all these more than 40 students of the Don Bosco School that have to face the situation of being sent away appealed to the Sihanoukville authority of the government of Cambodia, to please intervene and coordinate with the Don Bosco Organization for this situation (phenomenon). In order that their sons complete the skills program successfully and to ask the Don Bosco Organization to cancel this decision because that looks discriminating.

For now the “Reasmey Kampuchea” newspaper didn’t yet have any contact with the Don Bosco Organization in order to clarify the problem.

On the 7th of February, 2006, they sent representatives to contact us about the issue. Until now they have not written an article to correct their statements.
1. We never chased out anybody for an unjust reason; students (rich or poor) asked to leave are only disciplinary cases (and after having been given public warnings and having talked with their parents/guardians).
2. We have only around 200 students. DB PNH has around 400.
3. Students in Don Bosco are non-paying students - there is no tuition fee (why should the rich or those who can afford avail the slots intended for those less fortunate khmers? Is our fundamental option wrong?) Let's hope the more fortunate Cambodians help their fellowmen who are less fortunate not only in words but in deeds and instead of getting their place in such pro-poor institutions.
4. Watch out for my next post for the aftermath of the this policy issue.

From dust you came to dust you shall return

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Christian Lenten Period of 40 days marked with prayer and fasting. Here in Cambodia this rite is done in the First Sunday of Lent so that more people could participate and be aware of its significance.

Interestingly, this period of purification of oneself is also present in the Islam religion. They have the Ramadan in the ninth month of the Muslim year. Even here in Cambodia they have the Buddhist lent which lasts for three lunar months during the rainy season (July-September) where monks are required to remain inside their wat (convent-like abode) and when many lay persons adopt more ascetical practices like entering the monkhood.

"O wash me O Lord from my guilt. Purify me and I shall be whiter than snow." Such is our prayer to You during this period.... but our fasting and prayer would be useless without our change of heart. This is the essence of this season.

Exam jitters?

It's examination time once again. Here in Cambodia they have a funny saying:
An exams without a cheatsheet is like a city without electricity.
ការប្រលងអត់មានព្រីយ៉ុង​ដូចទីក្រុងអត់មានអគ្គីសនី​​
If we analyze this closely it could be because there never is any attention paid to high or low grades attained by a student. You're no 1? so what? you don't get a scholarship or medal like in other countries... you're just like the rest. You're 2nd to the last? it's ok, you still pass, just like the rest. If then there is no need to compete, then the saying above would be most useful.
So do they have exams jitters? Problem is that here in Don Bosco even if they go only for a certificate course, the teachers really guard them tightly to make sure they can't use their cheatsheets. At least it's an attempt to break the cycle of academic indifference.

In the real world, exams results count. And at the end of one's life, one asks himself, did I really do well in this world? It's also a pass or fail thing, isn't it?