by Phally Chroy
Sovanna Phum, in Phomn Penh on march 23, 2008
At times, I find my Fulbright experience in Cambodia so bleak. All the problems that Cambodians face: corruption, oppression, fear, and poverty, strike me at a personal level, perhaps because I too, encounter them daily. But, it is the same everywhere, right? Sometimes, I am not so sure, although the problems in Cambodia do not seem so different from the problems in America, aside from being Cambodian in nature, shape, and form. It was my choice to do research here, but sometimes I think, was it really worth it? To come to a country that I call “mother” in heart, although never truly being accepted by her children?
You see, I understand that I can never play right with the locals, but the playwright who wrote this play, still wrote it anyway. As the playwright, I will have to see it all the way through. Look at it from this perspective: I try to place my train of thought as a local Cambodian would, but knowing the severity of the country’s problems, it becomes disheartening to try to live by the “local thought” while possessing American idealism. Yet, it is this duality that I uncover that makes this situation advantageous. I can learn from both sides and take it all in. The rabbit trick: I can only learn and feel, but not obtain a local thought.
Yet, there is always hope that makes me feel that this is a good chapter of my life. They say happiness, laughter, and smiles remedy the pain of the world. We can medicate and heal our traumatic wounds with happiness and humor.
The Tonle Bassac dance troupe is made up of beautiful Cambodian children who are experiencing the world in the midst of all these problems. The magic I see in their eyes makes the work they do really wonderful (We are talking about art as hope). These kids do and know more than most of the people I have met in my lifetime. They sing, dance, and play traditional Cambodian instruments, and what makes that extra special is that they are doing so in a time when the traditional arts were thought to be lost. They are the investment in Cambodian’s rich history. How many Cambodian kids do you really know that can sing traditional Cambodian wedding music, play the full musical ensemble… or dance the court and folk dances? Not a lot, and seeing these kids really made me hopeful that I was not lost by being here.
Watch the clip below and see how much fun these kids are having, in a dark, sweaty room in the evening, but sill dancing like beautiful Cambodian children when they get on stage. When I was about to give up, these kids brought me back. That is why I have their picture on my desktop. Living without hope for Cambodia would be living a lie (that’s what they taught me). Every time I meet these kids, I laugh and smile with them. They are just a reminder to myself and a special something that I wanted to share with folks who manage to read this blog.
Phally (which means purpose in Khmer)
They are going on tour in France for two months. If anything, for most of these kids, this will be their life’s greatest. And even if life stops here for some of them, they will remember this time. (My shameless plug. Normally, I do not make shameless plugs for support, but, if you really want to help out, it would be a great. Feel free to contact me for info.)
Click here to email Phally with your questions or comments
The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.
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