Inspiration

Something to be grateful for

By Maria Hach

I am grateful for an endless list of things that would take forever to translate into words—a loving family, inspiring friends, Ben Harper, books that nourish the soul, opportunities to develop myself, clean water, food, sunshine, education, live music, options in life, my Mac. I am guilty of taking these things for granted, guilty of being caught up in the ease of my fortunate life which is so easy to do, and the things I love and cherish; so hard to imagine without. But ever since I began to understand where I came from and the struggles connected to where I am today, I have felt grateful and guilty in equal measure—guilty because my parents’ enormous sacrifice means that I have so many things to be grateful for. When I was asked to write a personal piece for PEPY, I thought—“What story have I got to offer? What wise words could I possibly impart to our already amazing support base?” What I’ve come to realize is that I don’t need to be wise, or offer new insight (I’ll leave that up to Daniela!). For me, this piece is about sharing my experience and hopefully encouraging you to think about the things in your life that you are grateful (or guilty) for, and how these feelings can motivate all of us to want to be, and do better.

I was born on the 28th January 1986 in a refugee camp on the Thai / Cambodia border. Two months premature, I came into the world quickly and unexpectedly, and not without drama. My two sisters and I are daughters of Khmer Rouge survivors, a bloody regime that engulfed Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. My mother lost her father and four siblings. My father does not talk about what he lost—I suspect it is more than I will ever understand.

Chim Seng Podcast

Chim Seng is our Traveling Teacher Support program coordinator. He travels to five schools training other English teachers to deliver English programs in their own schools. This past summer, Seng took his first trip abroad to Camp Sangamon in Vermont, in the US. As soon as Seng arrived back in Cambodia, everyone was impressed with his new-found confidence and general chattiness!

A perspective of the Education Fare from Noem Chhunny

Last month, Hour (another PEPY employee) and I took a group of high school students from Kralanh high school to join the R.I.C.E. Fair – more than 550 Cambodian high school students attended. Most of the students who attended the fair came from a rural area, where information about universities is hardly ever heard. For those students who just finished high school or are even still in high school, they are not sure if a university education is right or don't even know what to do after high school. The fair offered them an opportunity to meet with professors, academic advisors, and many students from different schools, universities, and organizations as well.

A group of 13 students from Kralanh High School were enthusiastic to learn about these hot topics, and they were so excited to leave their local village to see new things. It’s kind of a big turning point in their lives since most of them had never visited other provinces.

“I learned a lot from the fair after participating in panel discussions. Especially, I know how to choose the major that I like the best. Before coming here I did not know anything or even have an idea on what to do after high school,” says Limdy, a school girl from Kralanh High school. “I am glad I came for this great event, thanks PEPY for supporting our trip to come for the fair.”

“I find this was great since I got a good chance to learn what I should know after finishing high school. More importantly is that we do not only learn how to choose a major and know how to have academic success at university, but we also create an opportunity to meet up with current university students and professional advisors from different universities, and hear their great opinion on how to choose a major that I am interested in,” says Vichai, a student from Kralanh high school – his home village is just opposite the PEPY house in Chanleas Dai. He also said, “I feel more confident on choosing a major after participating in the Education Fair.”

Three other students also from Kralanh high school told me, they are glad to be at the fair because, “Before we were scared of choosing a major or even hopeless in pursuing our study after high school, but after listening to a motivating idea from a professor from Pannasastra University, we have new hope and dreams to reach for in the future.”

The fair offered them a chance to learn all the hot topics and give them the idea or show the right path for them to walk after high school. I noticed most of the high school students who attended the fair were coming from the rural area and they hardly knew any information about universities. It especially creates a chance for school girls to get the knowledge or ideas on how to live in Phnom Penh or live safely in the city. Due to what I heard, many of them will pursue their university degree in Phnom Penh so this was great for those who will graduate high school either next year or in two years.

You Are Brilliant and the Earth is Hiring!

Lacking some inspiration in your life? Read this amazing speech delivered by Paul Hawken during his commencement address at the University of Portland.

"When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was “direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful.” Boy, no pressure there.

But let’s begin with the startling part. Hey, Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation... but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement. Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

This planet came with a set of operating instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or air, and don’t let the earth get overcrowded, and don’t touch the thermostat have been broken. Buckminster Fuller said that spaceship earth was so ingeniously designed that no one has a clue that we are on one, flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with no need for seatbelts, lots of room in coach, and really good food, but all that is changing.

There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive, and in case you didn’t bring lemon juice to decode it, I can tell you what it says: YOU ARE BRILLIANT, AND THE EARTH IS HIRING. The earth couldn’t afford to send any recruiters or limos to your school. It sent you rain, sunsets, ripe cherries, night blooming jasmine, and that unbelievably cute person you are dating. Take the hint. And here’s the deal: Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.