Curfews Need Rethink

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009090228130/National-news/curfews-need-rethink.html

My letter to the editor on Phnom Penh Post, it’s good to just “write whatever comes into my mind” and it is published

Female Curfews???

I personally found the request made by the Governor of Phnom Penh to ban a girl under the age of 16 from going out alone at night after 9pm as a bid for promoting good morals inappropriate, ridiculous and fundamentally weak.

“The governor said young girls should not be allowed to go out in the evening because they are likely to go to clubs, karaoke bars and other entertainment spots that could be reserved for adults”, according to The Post’s last Friday article namely “Girl Curfew Proposed”.

I really appreciate the governor’s intention to promote morals among youth, however, I believe that in this era, the Cambodians should never experience such a thing as “curfew”.

I remember riding past one of a nowadays Cambodian’s biggest entertainment facilities, whose name I found unnecessary to elaborate, at two o’clock in the afternoon of every Friday and weekend seeing its whole outside parking lot was filled with male and female youth. Under the tropical heat of Phnom Penh, the crowd is excitingly and tirelessly waiting to enter their world of entertainment. I noticed most of them are so young whom I believe are high school students, and of course under the age of 16. More ironically, some of them are still in their high school uniform, maybe they haven’t found a suitable spot to change their outfit, just yet.

The young crowds are ready not only for the a/c cold dance floor where they can shake themselves up after the long wait under the heat and wide variety of drinks, both soft and alcohol, which consume their parent’s money, they are also ready for certain types of extreme competition. The competition which offers young partners the club’s stage floor in the middle of the cheering crowd to manifest their French-kissing skills, and sexually-aroused dancing skills can be seen and passed on from one to another via different communication means such as mobile phone and websites.

So to ban the under 16s to go to clubs, karaoke bars and other entertainment spots, shall the curfew be imposed on the Afternoon of Friday and weekend as well? Or has the matter been so far ignored because they are not going to the club alone but as a team?

Having read one article about “Female Curfew” on “Letter to the Editor” of the Post in the morning of Monday, August 31^st, I found what was proposed by the writer concerning the matter more appealing and fundamentally strong.

Problems:

-          Prohibiting girls from going out at night deprives them of their rights to education, mobility and free will

-          Contradicting to the gender equality the government claims to be trying to achieve

Solutions:

-          Night club rules should be properly enforced under the close monitor of the authorities

-          Building better social infrastructure for children, such as public spaces, parks where children can have their own entertainment zone

-          Morality should be rooted in education system at their early age

Chak Sopheap

International University of Japan

Therefore, I believe there are alternative solutions to handle poor morality among youth in Cambodia. And I wish the governor would have read it and reconsider his proposal.

Make Way For Development

This Naga head was removed yesterday and I think that the whole roundabout will be demolished as well, as a bid to build the first sky way in Cambodia to avoid heavy traffic jam in the city. One new bridge was just built next to the old and smaller Monivong bridge to avoid the traffic jam as well.

For the love of the old architectural symbol:

Naga On The Roundabout

Naga Roundabout

Naga Removed

Naga Removed

Memoir of DMC Batch Two

This could be the first and the last group picture of second batch DMCers.

First and Last

Since the time we took this picture, DMCers batch two have never managed to get a big group shot again even on our graduation day what a sad feeling??

First row, from left to right: Oum Vantharith, Kong Sunchhay, Tram Lyrattanak, Yorth Bunny, Borei Sylyvann (me), Nin Savuth, Chhor Sinheang, Sok Pitour, Khan Chenda.

Second row, from left to right: Socheat Kanharith, Chhoeun Kongkea, Khieu Sansana, Ros Sothea, Meng Chheng, Lim Makara, Lim Channa, Bunna Rany, Ngay Somealea.

Last row: Oeurm Savann.

First Round –> Nervous!

Fulbright shortlisted announcement!

The email below came to me at full surprise though I was expecting it so nervously:

Dear All,

I wish to inform that you have been selected to interview for final selection.  Please come to the U.S. Embassy for the interview on Thursday, September 10, at 9:30 AM.  If you need additional information please call me at 012-812-453.

I look forward to meeting you on September 10.

Thanks,

Chau Sa

————————————————-
Chau Sa
Cultural Affairs Assistant
Public Affairs Section
U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh
# 1, Street 96
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel. 855-23-728-248
Fax: 855-23-728-800
Website:http://cambodia.usembassy.gov

Of course, I am extremely happy! But how can I not admit that I am now feeling so darn nervous? Only one more round, it will determine the issue of “life and death” during the time which I determine to hunt down scholarships abroad. I don’t know, but I am so nervous now and it’s “all that comes to my mind” now.

Fulbright 2010- Where Are You?

This year is my scholarship-hunting year! I applied American Fulbright scholarship and I am now expecting the first stage result. However, it seems too silent now and I start to doubt that it’s just another unsuccessful attempt to get scholarship abroad:( Last year, the announcement of the first selection was made in mid August, and it should be more or less the same this year. My friend tried to call the embassy for the result a couple of times but there was no answer. I started to get nervous and upset.  However, let’s keep my finger crossed and wait a little bit more! Maybe the announcement this year is delayed, or maybe my application…………….. Hmmm, I don’t know what to say and I won’t even want to think about it; but at least for now, I am writing “whatever comes into my mind“:p

Personal Statement

I have developed a strong interest in TV production over the years of studying and practicing TV journalism in Cambodia. I love audio and video editing, and I love cameras. But that is not because they are high-tech, multi-functional tools. It is because they are a powerful means whose lenses can construct social reality. Unfortunately, I believe, what is being presented on the screens of Cambodian televisions is an under-representation of social reality. Whether it is an entertainment segment or a news program, social reality is oftentimes distorted on Cambodian screens. Should we analyze contents of Cambodian TV news, I believe some of the basic news standards like independence, balance and fairness are largely missing. There is so much room for improvement in Cambodian TV production.

My intention to bring about change to Cambodian television contents has always served as a motivation for my pursuance in TV production. I decided to build this career path since I was a junior, and I have built my portfolio ever since. During my junior and senior years, I joined and sometimes led teams of journalism students to produce video documentaries and TV spots. In 2005, I mobilized and led a team of four, which received a grant from the German Embassy in Phnom Penh, to produce a forty minute documentary about international development projects in Cambodia. The documentary was aired on two national televisions. In the same year, I was selected to intern in the TV unit of the BBC World Service Trust in Cambodia where I learned to produce TV spots aimed at educating young adults and married couples about maternal and child healthcare.

The above-mentioned experiences have armed me with a strong foundation in broadcast production to become a media professional. After graduation from college, I joined the Women’s Media Centre as a scriptwriter and producer for a weekly infotainment TV magazine program whose purpose was to promote social change through women education and empowerment to raise awareness of women’s rights in Cambodia.

Because of the knowledge and skills I have acquired, I was normally nominated by my organizations to participate in training courses and seminars abroad. In 2007, I was awarded a fellowship to attend a training program called “Imaging Our Mekong” in the Philippines where media practitioners from countries in the Mekong region reported on cross-border issues critical to the development of their countries and communities. I was also sponsored by Deutsche Welle Akademie to attend a training course on “TV Operations Management” in Germany where I learned how to run a TV station.

From my academic and professional experiences, I have recognized the significance of TV contents in contributing to nation-building, especially in an emerging democracy like Cambodia. So, it has been my unwavering desire to bring media, particularly TV contents to a level that can truly promote democratization process and social and economic development of Cambodia. I have a strong commitment to doing my best possible part to bring about change to Cambodian television and to promote development projects in Cambodia, and a graduate study at an American university will surely help me to fulfill this dream. I know a Fulbright scholarship will be a perfect means to making this dream come true.

I view a graduate study in the United States as reciprocity, which means receiving and sharing knowledge and know-how with one another. I have been in the workplace long enough to know about media situation in Cambodia so as to share with my American and international friends once I sit in an American classroom.

This is a personal statement which I wrote as partial fulfilment of  my Fulbright’s application. I hope I can get more comments for the improvement. In between, a big thank goes to all the friends who previously helped edit this piece of writing:)

Helpful or Selfish Me???

People who get to know me say I am one of the most helpful friends they’ve ever came through. I am flattered. For that reason, I always maintain my helpful status toward everyone I know.

But, the reason I am almost always helpful for everyone is: 1) I want everyone to endorse the culture of being helpful to one another; and become a helper whenever help is needed 2) Ironically, I want them to be as much helpful to me as possible in return.

For the second reason, am I becoming rather selfish than being genuinely helpful??? I help and I care, I do it without hesitation. But, most of the time when people whom I do care didn’t really care and help me enough in return, I feel sad.

I am doubtful about whom exactly I am now- a genuinely helpful friend or a selfish creature that just hides behind the insane cloak of helpfulness– I am so stressful now and I just write “whatever comes into my mind”

My Resignation Day:(

This afternoon, I just submitted my resignation letter as Communications Officer to my supervisor. I’ve been here for almost a year already, and of course; my last day of employment will be my one-year anniversary working for this organization. I don’t know what will come next, but I just resigned even before I found a new job! That might be the craziest thing I do during a time which everyone in the world considers to be hard to find employment due to global economic crisis. However, I just need a short break to restart my engine and hopefully I will not be the victim of the economic crisis.

For now, honestly, I am feeling quite clueless! I don’t know exactly what best to do next! But let’s just strive for the best and I am still just writing “whatever comes into my mind” now.

Facebook Vs Me

Every day, at work; I spend many hours in front of my computer, surfing the net; yet I never do anything much about my work, this is not to mention about the fact that I have done nothing significant for my life! I cannot imagine how boring my day will be working without the internet! But with the internet, I am always hooked into something else besides my work; social networking such as Facebook, or other interesting sites about travelling, adventure, photography etc…

Poor communication and technology in the past had separated old friends! This is the fact that I was so upset about. I lost track of some good old friends. Close friends became strangers and we’ll never know when we can be friend again, just like before; even when we meet. It’s not a matter of distance or time, but it is a matter of the ability to communicate.

For certain reason, I became a member of Facebook one year ago. However, I had never known what Facebook is all about. But when I started to use it, I started to get connected to some old friends. I couldn’t remember how they could find me or how I could find them. But it seems like magic! Old friends from High School, good friends in University, some friends I’ve known from different places and occasions; suddenly we just come together in one page! Moreover, strangers can become good friend just within a blink of an eye! It’s so simple: 1) when someone adds you; you just click “confirm” 2) or when you found your old friend or someone interesting to be friend with on the network, you just click “add friend” and wait for his/her “confirmation”.  With a single click, we can either get connected to our long-lost old mates around the world or make new friends!

On Facebook, not only we can get connected to old friends or make new friends, but also we can do many other things such as updating our status, posting pictures, notes, video, links to our favorite web sites, sharing them to our friends whom we’re expecting comments from. The more comments we got, the happier we are and the more important we feel about ourselves. And it will keep you active on the network, or in other word; it keeps you busy with updating it. With all of these elements, I found that every day we never run out of issues to talk about, to discuss, to argue, to share, to tease or even to flirt each other. Regardless of time and distance, we always stay connected.

And the most wonderful thing is that I met my girlfriend on Facebook:P

“But”…. Believe it or not! The worst thing is that sometime I spend my time on Facebook almost more than that I spend for my work! And I doubt I am the only one. Whenever I read my notifications, seeing my friends’ comments on either my wall or the other friend’s wall; I just write them back, write them “whatever comes into mind” just so we can keep communicate.

My Dream Last Night:(

It was in a green grass field with green banana plantation around. I was walking with a man who dressed up in white shirt and black trousers, interviewing him with my video camera on recording. I believed I was on my mission to produce a film documentary. After having finished my interview with the man, I was amazed by the beauty of the afternoon cloudy sky with the bright light of the sunset. The sky was so red, yellow, and gray and the man just disappeared. I quickly grasped my tripod, set up my camera position and struggled to get a good angle of the sunset shot. As I was handling my camera to get a good shot, I looked at the beautiful sky again; suddenly a strange feeling came to me as a shock. It was a sadly strange feeling, lonely and empty. It was 4:30am when I woke up.

There were so many things going on in my head after waking up and I could still sense the sadness in my dream. I asked myself why I felt this way, it was only a dream. But why this dream really had an impact to my mentality. As a flashback, I recalled the first time my classmates at the Department of Media and Communication and I had our first lesson on video production. I remembered everyone was so exciting to learn this new skill. I was, too; so exciting when I first laid my hand on Sony Mini DV Camera and learned how to use its various functions. I was falling in love with video production since then.

I remembered a crowd of mere 20 students roaming around the University’s campus putting into practice their first camera skill. We came back with our first video footage, we commented each other and we improved.

I had learned about how Cambodia’s film industry flourished and came to its peak during the 1960s and how it dramatically fallen down to ground zero during the Pol Pot’s regime. I had experienced going to the cinema watching Khmer movies during the 1990s, a time when Cambodia’s film industry was struggled to restore its fame after the Killing Field. But I was also a witness to the second collapse of this industry during the late 1990s. Therefore, having joined the video production class in university, I began to believe that, along with our enthusiasm and passion in the field; we, although only a handful of new media students; will be the representation of a new generation of film maker for this country.

It should be noticed that Cambodia has never offered any formal education in mass media and video production. The Department of Media and Communication was the first institution in the country open in 2001 to offer higher degree in journalism, media and communication. Video production was one of the skills provided.

During the course of the next one year after our first lesson, I noticed a rapid change of interest of young people especially those among my batch in video production. My friends and I had involved with various trainings and video production projects and we did it with enthusiasm. As part of class assignments, internship, paid or volunteer projects, we produced educational spot, short video report, documentary and even video drama. Since then, I determined to improve my knowledge, skill and to pursuit my career in video production for the development of this country. And I also believed that, along with my classmates who shared common interest in video production, we could bring change to the industry.

As time went by, graduation came. It was time for fresh graduate to start new life. Some of my friends were struggling to get scholarship abroad and some decided to pick up other career which was not video production. The fact is that the film industry in Cambodia is still fragile due to the lack of capital and human resource, poor quality production, less interest in local made film, unstoppable influx of foreign movies and copy rights violation. City’s cinemas were closed continuously and turned into other entertainment facility such as karaoke, massage parlor and gambling club. Some local production house went bankrupted. There were several NGOs who were implementing video production projects for educational purpose. But the demand for labor force was still limited.

Finally, only a few of us remained faithful to this profession. I was one of them inevitably. I had my first full-time job as scriptwriter and later producer for a local NGO namely Women’s Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC). During the last two years in WMC, I tried to develop and improve my portfolio in video production. However, nothing is always green. The first year was a great time despite the challenges I faced; I produced more than 10 video reports focusing on Cambodian’s women and their role in the Country’s development. Moreover, I helped train ten other young people to produce video program. But the second year was the beginning of my turning point. I was assigned to work on other project which put me in the position that I became less productive in video project. For that reason, I decided to quit my career in WMC after a year away from the production. A first sign of betrayal to my determination to pursuit my passion in video production. Moreover, I decided to choose another career as a communications officer for another NGO, another sign of betrayal to my determination to pursuit my passion in video production. However, I was not so upset about it at that time because I had two reasons: 1) I believed that I could employ my video production skill to promote the status and work of my new organization, an expectation which never becomes true 2) there seemed to be less demand of the skill at that moment, instead; an international media NGO where my friend was working had to cut off the staffs due to exhausting fund. My friend was one of the lay-off staffs.  Due to economic crisis, funding to NGO in Cambodia was limited and I heard that another local media NGO recently ran out of fund and could not implement any new activities at all. I started to feel the need to pursuit my dream but only if it fares me well both financially and spiritually.

In one month, I will be with my new organization for one year. It also means that I am away from video production for another one year too. Although, I try to look for any possibilities that I think I can involve with video production, I clearly understand that I experienced many setbacks already. I am now feeling controversial about my own life as I do want to pursuit my love in production but have to balance passion, finance and stability.

Having had a picture in mind of 20 students from my batch roaming around the University’s campus manifesting their camera skills, filling school’s editing room to complete our final piece of video production, cheering when our piece of work was screened; I found it merely a bitter-sweet memory. Until, now only one of my classmates remains fully active in TV industry, while I am now only a backstage player in an unpaid video production work in which I use my free time for. The other mates have given up this career already. It is so sad to find myself the only one out of my batch who still struggle for this cause. I struggle alone with uncertainty not only in reality but also in my dream.

A sadly strange feeling came to me as a shock last night and I just want to write “whatever comes into my mind”