The Shoin Cambodia 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 Japan 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.