The Shoin Times Spring 2010

Memories of Cambodia A week in Cambodia taught Kobe Shoin Student Ambassador Noriko Iba about the rich history and culture of this poor country

From 17th to 25th of September, I visited two cities, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, in Cambodia. Going sightseeing, having home-stay and taking classes in the Royal University of Phnom Penh led me to meet new people and learn more about the country and its rich culture. In the first city I stayed, Siem Reap, Noriko Iba xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I could see one of the famous World Noriko Iba enjoys Khmer hospitality heritage sites, Ankor Wat, and other historical temples. Most of them were Sadly, however, there were many In the Royal University of Phnom well kept, and the atmosphere was very young children working or begging for Penh, I took classes in the English quite and peaceful. It was dramatic to see money from tourists at the sightseeing Department. All the teachers and them in the sunset as well. sites. Some of them could speak students spoke only English in class and I also had a cruise tour to a floating English very well as they had learnt it I was very impressed that they were so village to see a school, church and from other tourists. This experience keen and enthusiastic. The students were people living a different lifestyle. It was made me understand that if they could not afraid of making mistakes but spoke afternoon so most people were lying have education without any financial with confidence, not hesitation. down in their houses and taking it easy problems, they could reach their Seeing the well-organized syllabus because it was too hot to work outside. I potential and make their dreams come and orientation of the classes, I could see believe it is pleasant for them to be able true. However, the education should not that the teachers are putting so much to spend a lot of time with their family, be done by foreign volunteers because effort in their work as well. When they while in people are too busy with this might diminish the rich and were asked any questions from their their work or school. peaceful Cambodian culture. It is my students, they gave clear answers and hope that the Cambodian education also praised and encouraged the students. system will keep improving and give Through the field trip to Cambodia, I equal opportunities for all children. could see the rich history of the country, In Phnom Penh, I stayed with a learn the importance of education, meet Cambodian family and took classes in many people and, most importantly, I the Royal University of Phnom Penh. could explore the culture. I would During my homestay, I could try typical definitely like to go back again in the Cambodian food: Cambodian sour soup, future and, by that time, I hope to see porridge, dried meat and fish, fresh Cambodia retaining its history and passion-fruit juice and so on. I find valuable customs and way of life with Cambodian food not only healthy with warm-hearted people as the country lots of vegetables, but also similar to grows and develops  Japanese food since the dishes were made a bit salty to be enjoyed together with rice. My host family took me to Kobe Shoin Poster markets and let me try sugar cane with Presentation Contest chili and salt powder. The taste was very Would like to be our spicy at first, but the sugar cane juice you helped me cool down gradually. It was next ambassador? an interesting experience but I think I The third contest will be held this June. Nature gone wild at Ta Prohm prefer the sugar cane on its own. You could win a trip to Cambodia! Hop -step-Kolap! though I felt both excited and nervous afterward, I still want to take the Tomomi Yanagihara gets to know rollercoaster ride and watch that kind of the Kobe Shoin Cambodia Prize Winner movie again. Kolap Ry (21) is from Phnom Penh, Food cannot be left out when talking the capital city of Cambodia. She goes about my experience in Japan. I have to two universities: Cambodian Mekong always heard that Japanese foods are University, majoring in business healthy because of the nutritious fish and management, and the Institute of rice, so I really wanted to try. Having Foreign Languages of the Royal thought that Japanese people always eat University of Phnom Penh, majoring in raw fish, I felt worried I would have teaching English as a foreign Language. trouble with food since I had never eaten She visited Japan for two weeks last raw fish before. However, when I was December as her prize for winning a eventually in Japan and ate Japanese debate contest at her university. food, I found everything to be delicious. On December 4th, Kolap came to I tried lots of foods, such as Japan. Because she is from a warm okonomiyaki, yakisoba, takoyaki and place, her first impression of Japan was nabe, and I love takoyaki and nabe the that the weather is cold. She thought most. During my stay with different Japanese people look busy because every families, I ate nabe three times, and the KolapSovan with Srun host got sister into Taeko the Japanese Koyama taste was different each time. The first time she took a train, they were sleeping atculture the Kobe during Shoin her speech visit, Dec contest 5-20 and always looked tired. On the other nabe was very spicy, but I liked it; the hand, she was fascinated with the second and third times, the taste was cleanliness of the streets and the beauty quite similar. I wish I could eat all those of Japanese women. Japan, I was shocked by the Japanese dishes again soon. Kolap stayed in four Kobe Shoin way of living. Everyday, people travel I did have a chance to try sake, but students’ homes. At dinner, her host by train on lots of complicated lines and since I don’t drink alcohol I dared not family often served her nabe-ryori. She in many directions, and they have to run drink it. I was surprised to see people loves it and also she loves takoyaki. during the rush hours to catch the train. drink lots of alcohol, especially girls. In In Cambodia, she lives with her Also, they have to transfer or change the Cambodia, it is rare for women to drink, parents two sisters, a brother and two line many times before they can reach especially teenagers. aunts. On weekends, she goes to debate their destination. What surprised me Finally, I would like to take this club, helps with her parents’ business most is that people know where to get opportunity to express my great thanks and, in her spare time, likes reading. She off even though they are sleeping along to my four host families: Haruka, used to work at the Buddhist Morality the way, while I need to be woken up by Mizuho, Miyana, Taeko and their family Education Center as a part-time English my host family. It seems the lives of members for their time and hospitality. teacher. And now her dream is to be an the Japanese are so busy, but They made me feel like I was home English teacher at her university. meaningful. Unlike in Japan, though in fact I was a thousand miles Kolap is friendly, easygoing and Cambodian people prefer traveling by away from my family. My sincere warmhearted. The last question for motorbikes or cars, on which they can gratitude also goes to Mr. and Mrs. Kolap was “Would you like to come go straight to their school or workplace. Mallett and all the professors and back again?” She replied “YES!” with an Also, we don’t have public students at Shoin whose support made transportation in Cambodia. my visit to Japan a once-in-a-lifetime angelic smile  Though it was just a short visit, I experience. I will share all these great went to many places, such as Kobe events with my friends and family  Winter wonderland Harborland, Kiyomizu For Kolap Ry, a visit to Japan opened Temple in Kyoto, the Kobe her eyes to a different world Luminarie, Himeji Castle, Taiyo Park, Universal The seventeen days I spent in Japan last Studios Japan (USJ) and, December was one of the most exciting especially memorable for times that I have ever had. It was me, Kinkakuji, which is one wonderful, though the cold and chilly of the most wonderful winter weather of December in Japan temples in Japan. I loved made me a bit uncomfortable as I had to everywhere I visited, but the wear thick clothes. Honestly speaking, I place I love the most is USJ. had never thought I would have a chance The reason is that I rode the to visit Japan since it is very difficult rollercoaster, which has for Cambodian people to get a visa. always been my dream, Therefore, I was over the moon and very though we don’t have one in proud of myself when I heard I had won Cambodia. Also, I watched Kolap enjoys the last colours of autumn the scholarship to visit Japan. 3D movies – Spiderman and with Kobe Shoin students The first few days after I arrived in Future Technology. Even Free and easy in Cambodia 9 November: Independence Day A bloody past 10 December: Human Rights Day. Mai Kakimoto and Shoko Kakuda We were surprised to learn about Miyana Hasegawa learns about a discover what the Khmer youth Cambodia’s public holidays. There are painful period in Cambodia’s history do in their free time so many of them! The Killing Fields is a film based on a Mobile phones have become a true story in Cambodia. Sydney Kolap explained about the differences necessary article around the world for Schanberg, a reporter for the New York and similarities between leisure time in young people and in Cambodia this is Times, covered Cambodia’s civil war Cambodia and in Japan. true too. Most people there have two and the secret bombing campaign there Popular areas in Cambodia among mobile phones. One is for their family, by the US with Cambodian interpreter young people are the riverside and the another is for their friends. Recently, Dith Pran. The experiences and suffering stadium. At the stadium, people enjoy those using two mobile phones have of Dith Pran during the Khmer Rouge dancing and singing. Japanese young been increasing in Japan, too. regime provide the basis for the story. people also like dancing in the park. We found that Japanese and It is one of the best films from the She also told us that she hangs out Cambodian youth share many similar great director, Roland Joffe. Filmed on with her friends, going shopping or habits and we believe Cambodian location in Thailand in 1984, this eating junk food in the fast-food popular culture will develop in the thrilling and awful movie can tell us the restaurants. It is similar to Japanese  future as the country modernizes horrible reality of life at that time. young people. They chat with their The Killing Fields are the generic friends and order a pizza or bubble tea. name of the execution grounds in This drink is tea containing tapioca and All change for women Cambodia where wholesale slaughter it’s from Thailand. Inori Suwa reports on improving took place. Kolap Ry heard stories about Some boys like to play soccer. Other conditions for Khmer women the Khmer Rouge regime from her popular sports, such as badminton, parents and also sometimes from her swimming and tennis are common for In the past, Cambodian women had few teacher when studying something related both men and women. opportunities. The situation has changed to it. It is not clear, but about 1.8 The best place for food in Cambodia for the better today but there are still big million people were killed in the war. is in a restaurant but this is expensive differences between the country and the I asked her how often she has been to for most people. There are cheaper city. What are the opportunities for see the reminders or exhibits of the war restaurants, of course, but the food is women in Cambodia today? I asked in museums or sites where people were less delicious. So this is also not very Kolap about this topic. tortured to death. Kolap has lived in different from Japan. There are schools in the city but Phnom Penh since she was born but she The most popular food is prahok. It’s there are few schools in the country. So has never been to the museum. a kind of smelly and salty condiment, people who live in rural areas often There are many land mines in which is one of the main ingredients for move into the city for their education. Cambodia and some children cannot read typicial Khmer food. Curry with noodles Women can get education like men the warning signs. But Kolap believes is very common for Cambodian people. and, in certain circumstances, they can that most children now can read the There are many cinemas in Japan but get a higher education than men. With signs because there are many there are few cinemas in Cambodia education they can get jobs, for example organizations providing them with because people do not really like going office work, accounting, bank work, some education and knowledge of the to the cinema at all. In Japan, we often receptionist and cashier and earn money dangers from unexploded mines. go to see a movie with our friends, but like men in the city. The job that they Finally, I asked Kolap what ‘peace’ the movie theater is used mainly for do depends on what they study. In the means to her. She replied, “To me, the dates in Cambodia. workplace, there is no difference in word ‘peace’ means peace emotionally Kolap said that very few Japanese attitude towards men and women. and physically. It means that I and actors or singers are famous among her Like Japanese women, Cambodian everyone around me is healthy and can friends. women want to work as hard as men. be happy. There is no war, no There are a few amusement parks in But in Cambodia, sons are given instability in the society. Everyone lives Cambodia, but they are small. There is priority over daughters in the family, at their own pace, and are not jealous of no amusement park like Disneyland or just as in . In Japan, we start job- each other.”  Universal Studios Japan. hunting when we become seniors. In is a popular pastime in Cambodia, it depends on the family Cambodia, just as in Japan. But Kolap financial background. People who are Familiar relationships seldom goes to a karaoke box. from rich families will start job-hunting Takako Sakamoto took a look at There are many public holidays in late; those from families which are not Cambodian family life to discover it’s Cambodia – more than in Japan: very rich may start even in high school. 7 January: Victory Day not so different from the way In Cambodian society, the status the Japanese used to live 8 March: Women’s Day depends on education or job, regardless April: Khmer New Year (3 days) of sex. The opportunities for women to We had a great opportunity last year to May: King’s birthday (3 days) work are much better than in the past. meet Kolap from Cambodia. She taught September: Pchom Ben (like Now many women are working outside us about her life style. It is surprising Japanese Obon) the home and can enjoy a high position that Japan and Cambodia have similar November: Water Festival as well  points. That is our family life style. First, we have the same family roles. For example, fathers work outside and KSJCP wins the Kobe Youth Prize mothers do housework. In Japan, women work outside these days. However after marriage, most women in Japan and Cambodia work in their home. Some mothers work outside or, in some families, mothers and fathers work outside together. This can be seen in both countries. Secondly, the age of marriage is rising in both countries. Cambodian women used to get married between the ages of 16 and 20 years in the past. Now, they get married from 20 to 25 years on average. Japanese women used to get married between 23 and 27 in the past but now they are generally from 26 to 32 years old. Kolap told us an interesting fact: if a woman is smarter In a ceremony on 14 February 2010, Noriko Iba, Kobe Shoin than a man in Cambodia, she finds it Student Ambassador, accepted the Kobe Youth Prize on behalf of the difficult to get married. The trend might Kobe Shoin Japan-Cambodia Project. Before the ceremony, she had be seen in many countries because a an opportunity to talk to the Mayor of Kobe City, together with number of men think that women’s students from other schools who have been making great efforts in ability must be below that of men. volunteer work. However, there is a different point. “By sharing stories about experiences from volunteer work, I After marriage, Cambodians live in the found that the joy of interacting with people made all of the students home of the wife’s parents. Such a work harder. For example, standing outside a station in the cold custom is rare in Japan. In fact, the winter season to raise funds for Haiti, or helping clean up the damage number of newly-wed couples living from the flood in Sayo District made the students realize the warmth with the parents of either partner is of people and the pleasure of seeing them become happy. It is the decreasing in Japan. same with the Kobe Shoin Japan-Cambodia Project that leads the Cambodian family style is similar to Japanese and Cambodian students to know and understand each that which existed in the past in Japan. other and gives us opportunities to interact with others through the Therefore, as Cambodia develops, Global Charity Festival and by raising funds selling cookies on the Cambodian women will surely work campus. I believe that these precious experiences have kept and will outside more and more in the future. Of keep the Shoin and Cambodian students inspired and enthusiastic. course, at the same time, lifestyles in I am grateful to have been a part of this project and to have such a Japan will change more, too  chance to talk with the mayor and the students before the ceremony. The project and the talk made me appreciate the importance of Cambodian campus interaction with others through volunteer work.” It’s hard being a student in Phnom Penh, If you would like to help the Kobe Shoin Japan-Cambodia Project in its work says Yuko Shimizu, but education supporting educational projects in Cambodia, please contact Prof Mallett is the route to success has club activities, for example, go abroad. If she could go to another Now a senior at two universities, Kolap football, traditional dance, and golf. country, she wants to go somewhere told us about her interesting campus life Kolap started studying English when people speak English  and how she has learned English. she was 13 years old. In junior high In Cambodia, students take a test to school, she studied one hour a day. At Published by enter University. About 2,000 students the age of 15, she decided to change to Kobe Shoin Global Citizens ‘GP’ take a test which only 700 of them pass. another school where a foreign teacher Kolap Ry drives herself to school in teaches English. Since entering Editor: Peter Mallett a car but most students go to school by university, she has learned English at a Special report by Noriko Iba motor bike, so in the morning the traffic private school. There are many private Reporters: Miyana Hasegawa is terrible. There are no buses or trains. schools which teach English, because if Mai Kakimoto Kolap studies at university from 7:30 people can speak English, they can get a Shoko Kakuda to 16:00, Monday to Friday. From higher-paid job. Yuka Kishimoto 11:00 to 13:00 is lunch time. At that In Phnom Penh, there are also schools Takako Sakamoto time, Kolap goes back home to help to study Japanese, Korean or Chinese. Yuko Shimizu with her family’s business. The teachers are people who have learned Inori Suwa Kolap’s favorite class is literature; those languages for years. Tomomi Yanagihara she likes to read stories. Her university This was the first time for Kolap to