Monday, August 25, 2008

Cambodian Facts and Figures

Interesting Cultural Facts
The Days
The Cambodian business day is based around the hot afternoons and history in agriculture. Most Cambodian people get up every morning at 5am for morning stretches and exercises and begin work at 7am. Everywhere from banks, to temples, to offices and tourist attractions have a two hour lunch break from approximately 11am to 1pm. Most people spend go home and spend these two hours sleeping and eating. The afternoon is spent at work from approximately 1pm to 5pm. Most Cambodian’s, particularly women, do not feel safe traveling after 8pm and prefer to be in bed by 9pm.
The Weather
There are two seasons in Cambodia, the wet and the dry. As the climate changes there is a lot of discussion about when exactly these seasons begin and end. But generally November to May is the dry season (more popular tourist season) and June to October is the wet season. During the wet season the rain is usually very regular and will rain heavily from 1pm-4pm every day. The whole country stops while it rains as people prefer not to travel for fear of flooding and poor visibility.
Number Crunch
Cambodia 2006 figures
Population
Approx 14million
Gross Domestic Product
Approx $27billion (Less then the Beijing Olympics)
Real Growth Rate
Approx 5.5%
Employment
Labor in agriculture 75%
Unemployed 2.5%
Below poverty line 40%
Aid Donations
Approx $500million
Religion
95% Buddhist
Age
Medium age approx 20 years
Only 3% over 65 years
SABORAS
Handicraft Wage
US $40 a month
Commissions per item
US $1
Item retail prices
$4 - $8
Handicraft Students
6
Funding met
40%
Further required funding
US $16,000

"Eat, Pray, Love" - Book Review

Extract from page 23
I was actually feeling kind of delighted about all the compartments of time and space that were appearing in my days, during which I could ask myself the radical new question: “What do you want to do, Liz?”
Most of the time I didn’t even dare to answer the question, but just thrilled privately to its existence. And when I finally started to answer, I did so cautiously. I would only allow myself to express little baby-step wants. Like:
‘I want to go to a Yoga class.’
‘I want to leave this party early, so I can go home and read a novel.’
‘I want to buy myself a new pencil box.’
Then there would always be that one weird answer, same every time:
‘I want to learn how to speak Italian.’
Eat Pray Love
This month I had three good friends recommend me a book, the same book, at the same time! An omen that even I could not ignore. Suddenly the four of us were calling each other as we read and found ourselves holding impromptu book club meetings that involved whiteboard markers and excel spreadsheets!
‘Eat Pray Love’ is a brilliant snap shot of Elizabeth Gilbert’s year of self discovery that every female can relate to. Gilbert shares her methods and ideas for improving one’s life. Her honesty is so contagious that I too found myself wanting to write a pledge, meditate and eat pasta! The book itself has been translated into 30 languages, has sold 5 million copies worldwide and is about to star Julia Roberts in a blockbuster movie. So, you know, it’s doing ok.
About the Author
Elizabeth Gilbert was born in Connecticut in 1969. Her older sister, Catherine Murdock is also an author (‘Dairy Queen’ and ‘The Off Season’). Gilbert’s writings have appeared in popular magazines and were the basis of Disney’s ‘Coyote Ugly’. This year she was voted by Time Magazine as one of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’. Wow!
Her books include:
‘Pilgrims’ - New York Times Notable Book, Pushcart Prize Winner, PEN/Hemingway Award Finalist
‘Stern Men’ - New York Times Notable book
‘The Last American Man’ - 2002 The National Book Award Finalist, The National Book Critic’s Circle Award Finalist
Frankie’s Top 5 Favorite Leanings
1. Grow four legs
One of Gilbert’s first insights is a story of meeting an Indonesian medicine man. She expresses her desire to have a ‘lasting experience with god’ and he procedures to draw a beautiful picture of a women. The woman in the picture stands with hands ready to pray and four legs. Where the head should be there are wildflowers and ferns and over the heart is a smiling face.
I love this image of a woman with her feet firmly placed on the ground but watching the world through her heart. I get excited thinking about women embracing this confident yet faithful way of living!
2. Write a petition
In amongst the humor and story telling is Gilbert’s own pain and tough times. She has a moment of clarity on a long drive with a friend. Gilbert is encouraged to ask for what she wants. Not a new idea but one that many women often don’t do.
Gilbert writes a petition to the universe asking for her husband to sign the divorce papers. She then lists everyone she thinks would agree to sign this petition.
My fellow book club members and I now have lists of petitions and found its amazing how many people want to see you happy. It’s more then you can imagine, literally.
3. Standing still
I often feel I am in a race to ‘get happy’, filling my time with hundreds of pursuits that will supposedly make me feel more deserving, more fulfilled, useful etc. but often make me tired or angry. Gilbert travels across continents to find peace and self acceptance and in India she stays in an Ashram to learn meditation.
My favorite Zen master quote she ponders during her stay is, ‘You can not see your reflection in running water, only in still water.’ I know we can’t all disappear to India but for a few minute every day we can practice being still.
4. Be Your Own Best Friend
Throughout the book Gilbert talks and writes to herself, lending to a lot of the books charm as readers are allowed to hear her personal dialogue. She begs, laments, sooks and screams at herself but also cares for herself and learns to be more loving.
My favorite line in the book is when an exasperated Gilbert tells herself to simply, ‘Go back to bed Liz’. A sensible suggestion a kind friend would advise.
5. Four Brothers
For the times you need more then one best friend the book recommends you solicit the help of your four brothers, your guardian angels of sorts. Gilbert learns that Indonesians believe that we are born with family spirits whom we can ask for help.
Whether you interpret these spirits to be real or metaphoric, I like the idea that even when you can’t see anyone around you, you’re not alone.
Hopefully these tasters have inspired you to read more of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ and begin, complete or continue on your own journey. And if you do, it might be nice to get a girlfriend in on it to, who knows, you might need someone to sign your petition any day now.
Written by ‘Frankie’ Linda Scott

Dear Frankie: The chicken or the egg?

Question
I'm in a bit of a weird situation. I am in my final year of university following which I will be moving home for a year as I am contracted to a graduate job there for one year. My boyfriend does not want to move to my hometown and I do not want to do long distance especially seeing as he is likely to head to Australia. We have painfully admitted to each other that while we love each other we cannot see ourselves being together in the long-term so there is no point trying to negotiate a way of working our relationship into the next year’s changes.

My predicament is therefore what do we do in the meantime? Currently we have decided to stay together till then as we live only houses apart and share the same group of friends therefore would be miserable seeing each other but not being together. My best friend thinks that I should start moving on and break-up with him now however I think that the break-up would be easier when we are living apart and will not be seeing each other constantly.

I’m 22 almost 23 and am worried that I shouldn't be wasting my time when I could be out there finding someone who is my future. What do you think? Are we stupid for just delaying the inevitable?
Thanks,
Anonymously torn
Answer
Dear anonymously torn,
Your name sums the situation up perfectly. ‘Anonymously Torn’ you must become ‘Accountably Decisive’. To do this you need to:
- MAKE decisions based on facts, not assumptions
- STICK to your decisions
You haven’t pleaded your case that you love him, only that you will miss him from a front row seat. Causing me to think you have two options.
Option One – You feel moving cities is a comfortable way to leave him, but not the real reason. You are confident this is not a lasting relationship. You are looking for a way out that won’t hurt people’s feelings. If this is the case, don’t waste another second and end it now!
Option Two – You feel you are in a good relationship and the change of location is the real reason you want to break up. If so, try and enjoy your time together and diplomatically separate when you leave. This will be the easiest way to move forward.
It sounds like you have based current relationship decisions on a lot of assumptions.
- You assume now that you do not want to be together in the long-term.
- You assume he will move to Australia.
- You assume he will not go to your home town.
- And, you assume that your graduate role will work out and you will stay there.
If a single assumption changes the decision you make now will be useless, and on the table for constant change, opening this emotional wound again and again.
Therefore, it is important to trust your instincts and stick to them. I know I’m being hard but you are still young and you must protect your heart as best you can. Whether that be from leaving a boy you love, or staying with a boy you don’t. It’s your decision.
Good luck,
Frankie