Who is the winner?

by Soratha Chan

The entrance of Preah Vihear temple situates ontop of a 525-metre-cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains in the Preah Vihear Province of Cambodia.

Preah Vihea temple became a hot headline in the press, both local and international. First, the news was about the temple which was listed as world heritage status. Then, it was about the dispute around Cambodia-Thai border. As far as I know, the dispute occurred on the 15^th of June, nine days after the temple was honoured as world heritage status by UNESCO. (more…)

By Sokunthy Heng.

Feeling mixed writing this last blog, I will leave this beautiful land of Bonn for my country tomorrow. I look forwards to meeting my family. At the same time, I cannot imagine how I will feel on my departure day.

I really enjoyed my time in Germany and with CARE. Now it's already time to say good bye.(Photo:CARE)

It is true that time passes quickly when we are happy. I am feeling happy now. 80 days are enough for me to miss the life here.

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By Sokunthy Heng.

Wearing jacket to warm myself up, I am writing from a room in a house with many apple trees at the back yards. The room belongs to Ben, a 15 years old boy who is away for schooling in England.

A child selling lemon in a market in Phnom Penh. (Photo: Heang Lim)

He is the son of my former journalistic lecturer in Cambodia. This week, three friends of mine and I are invited to visit her work place, Die Zeit newspaper, and some other media institutions in Hamburg.
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By Sokunthy Heng.

When people talk about public transportation in the cities of Europe, the word “subway” normally appears.

Many motor bikes on the streets of cambonia. Some motor-taxi drivers are bringing customers by destination. (Photo: Heang Lim)

The same thing, the word “motor taxi” is always mentioned in Cambodia in this context. (In Cambodian language motor taxi is called motor dup).
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By Sokunthy Heng.

How much do you know about Cambodian women? Now, you might gain a bigger picture about Cambodian women when you browse through my blogs.

Picture of three women. Three Cambodian girls selling goods. (Photo by CARE)

For example, some cultural norms women are supposed to behave in order to obtain good reputation in the Cambodian society. However, the problem Cambodian women face is not yet ended …
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By Sokunthy Heng.

For more than one month in Bonn, it was the first time I had a chance to speak Khmer, my language, with a Cambodian woman who lives in Germany.

Kunthy with two friends of her. Mey (left), my friend (middle) and me (right) (Photo by Vuthy Sok)

“Since I am here for nearly three years, I have met no more than ten Cambodian people,” said Chea Xev Mey.
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By Sokunthy Heng.

You might think I might be crazy when you hear me saying, “I want to experience earthquake.” It was three weeks ago that a slight earthquake occurred in Bonn, where I live at the moment.

People on the streets in cambonia. People come out of houses after the rain stoped in Phnom Penh (Photo:Vuthy Sok)

However, I was asleep and I did not realize. Later, I was astonished to learn it from my colleagues the next morning. As I have only seen on television, I want to feel how the earth shakes when a small earthquake occurs. But not a big one!
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By Sokunthy Heng.

One month in Germany is enough for me to adjust to its very changing weather. Before, it used to be funny to me that weather is usually mentioned either in the first or last of conversation whenever people make appointments.
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By Sokunthy Heng.

Have you ever asked yourself what you need the most in your life? How to make your life a meaningful one?

Group of gays on a stage. Christopher Street Day in Bonn. (Foto: Sokunthy Heng)

“Life is our choice.” This is what my friend always reminds me. To her, it simply means we should do whatever we think is right and that makes us happy without upsetting other people’s lives.

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By Sokunthy Heng.

If you go to Cambodia and you ask, “Do you have a boyfriend or girl friend?” to a Cambodian that you know for just a few days, you will appear to be odd.

Pupils try to use condoms. Lectures on HIV prevention to school students in Cambodia. (Photo:CARE/Valenda Cambell)

Besides, you have to wait for some seconds before you can get the answer. Unlike in Germany, I have responded quite many times to the question since I have been here for just a few weeks.

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