Cambodia
[Update: Video 25.08.16]
Hi everyone, hope you're all well and thriving.
Those of you who follow me on social media would know I have just been to Cambodia and back, a holiday slash visa-run that I need to embark on every 6 months to remain in Vietnam.
It hasn't quite been 6 months but close to it (where did the time go?) and a group of friends happened to be going so I thought why not.
As the 5 days came to a conclusion I came to realise that Cambodia isn't at all that much different to Vietnam, the poverty is apparent, the street vendors look the same, the scooters look the same, the people are slightly darker, the culture seems to be very similar and if you didn't listen carefully you could swear they were speaking Vietnamese.
We spent most of our time between Sihanouk Ville and the Koh Rong islands, so I guess Cambodia just became more or less of a beach resort extension of Vietnam rather than a new cultural experience in a different country. Nevertheless, it was nice to have a couple of days of serenity to take in the beauty creation has to offer.
Really there's not much to say about the trip, so I would like to inform you now that the dual-purpose of this blog is to also update you on how life has been overseas in Vietnam. Maybe I will entitle this section of the blog: ‘What I have learnt observed thus far’
What I have learnt observed thus far
Vietnam, a country with a lot of history, more horrifying than good. As a second generation immigrant, born in the beautiful country of Australia, I have no idea what my parents and their generation had to go through in order to provide for us the life we so take for granted. Still, my knowledge and insight is very limit and will probably always remain as such.
The poverty, small children who should be in school, maimed, lamed, mutated and diseased individuals selling you lotto tickets in order to survive, the filth and trash lining the streets and landscape, scrappy buildings and houses that the peoples inhabit, the survivalist mentality that causes all to tread on top of one another so they don’t end up crushed underneath, the wide social chasm that separates the rich from the poor and the condescending persona that accompanies it, are the residues of war, of a torn country trying to rebuild itself from the rubble.
Though not much is spoken about the war in daily conversation, the above is a constant reminder of the havoc mankind can wreak, and a short trip to the museum can open your eyes to the atrocities and unspeakable evils of human conflict.
Being a second generation immigrant, I don’t know what my parents had to go through to get me to where I am, this is true. But I am eternally grateful they did what they had to so that I didn’t have to experience it or deal with the aftermath.
From what I see now though, Vietnam has come a long way from the videos you use to see in documentaries and photos in humanitarian pamphlets. The youth have left what is behind and, thanks to globalization, are more than aware of what is happening around them, moving the country out of the ditch it was left to die in.
The standard and luxuries of living can be quite high in certain areas of Vietnam, even higher than those in developed countries but the gap between those who enjoy such a lifestyle and those who feed off the crumbs is a lot more than an arms width.
Some of the things I have been able to observe are not new nor are they revelatory, it doesn’t take moving into a new country to see these things (not with internet globalization anyway) or to understand them. Many of which I already knew but being in another environment allows me to observe and confirm such things under a different light. So here are a few things I would like to mention:
(1) Having more does not significantly alter your mental well being after you have reached a certain standard, we all know this
As an expat, living expenses is not much of a problem if one at all. Life is comfortable and all you really have to put up with is the language, climate, food, culture and cleanliness (the lack of it). Which can be an adventure in itself depending on how you look at it.
In Australia I find myself living week by week on a meager salary, however, that salary is worth 3 times as much in Vietnam and propels me to a class higher than most. So in a sense I have been able to observe two perspectives of the social spectrum.
In a country that is still developing and rising above the dirt, a lot of what you work hard to own will be covered in that dirt and quickly lose its aesthetic value which is the only real value of luxury material things. What’s the point? Well, I guess that’s the logical path when you have no other purpose in life.
“The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; It is like a protective wall in his imagination.” - Prov. 18:11
In developed lands though that dirt may not be so obvious in a physical sense but isn’t this system of things figuratively dirt? Dirt that will eventually be swept away.
(2) Take good opportunities as they come, sometimes waiting too long for something better causes you to lose out
I have a bit of what they call a ‘maximiser’ attitude, always thinking there’s something else better somewhere - the grass is greener on the other side. Sometimes though I regret not going for the first opportunity that offered itself.
This scenario can present itself in many ways. An example is when I was guitar shopping and was offered a discounted price but refused. Opting to go home and do some research in case there was a better bargain elsewhere, there wasn’t, and that guitar was gone the next day (probably taken by an opportunist). This is a materialistic example but can be applied in many areas of life - spiritual, romantic etc.
Make necessary calculations and take up opportunities within your reach or create them. Also don’t dwell too much on loss opportunities, learn and move on.
"making the best use of your time, because the days are wicked.” - Eph. 5:16
Somebody posted this on their social media profile, thought it was apt for this section:
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The second best time is now.”
-Chinese Proverb
(3) Comparisons leads to discontentment
6 months seems to be the average figure expats give me for adapting to life in Vietnam. However, I think ‘accepting’ is a more suitable term, as time goes on anyway. Yes, climate, food etc. will take its toll on your body if you have lived somewhere different for most of your life but I think the remaining time is more mentally challenging than physical.
My first couple of weeks were plagued with IBS symptoms and colds, I was pretty much a human fountain spraying out from all orifices (exaggerated).
Comparing Vietnam to Australia has caused me to be incredibly homesick at times, the comforts and standard of living becoming a longing I wish to come back to. However, such comparisons do little more than hinder or alter my focus and cause me to adopt a more negative attitude towards my current circumstances. Preventing me from experiencing the blessings and joys of the present, the ‘now’.
Accepting my surroundings for what it is, getting things up to a reasonable standard and getting on with it would be a much more productive approach for me.
This applies in all other aspects of life too, comparing social status, looks, assets will all breed discontentment. Comparing your friends, wanting to be with the better group will cause you to lose appreciation for your real friends those who are actually there for you. Appreciate and celebrate with the friends and family you have not with the ones you wish you had or you'll end up very lonely.
No matter how good you are at something or how handsome or gorgeous you think you may be there will always be someone else more so. Comparing others to yourself results in judging and a critical attitude of yourself and others, potentially hindering peace and unity with those around you and ultimately leaves you discontent.
“But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person.” - Gal.6:4
Accept who you are, where you are, do the best you can with your present circumstances and what you have because, really, what other choice is there?
"So, having food and clothing, we will be content with these things.” - 1 Tim.6:8
(4) Don't follow the crowd or be overcome by fear
In a land that’s developing, crime can be common and corruption becomes the norm. The media picks up stories and exaggerates them, people gossip and spread rumors, a game of Chinese whisper is played by the masses. This can breed fear in the people and fear influences behavior such as self-containment and suspicion of others.
Before leaving Vietnam and since arriving I have received countless advice and warnings from individuals with horror stories of what happens in Vietnam. Though these stories may be true it does little more than discourage and create baseless doubts and fears.
Being in Vietnam for a few months now I have found a lot of the farfetch cries and fears to be avoidable if not non-apparent, or maybe I just haven’t lived here long enough. Last I checked Vietnam was a fraction the size of Australia and is inhabited by almost 90 million people, clearly motorcycle accidents and food intoxication hasn’t wiped out the nation.
However, that doesn’t change the fact people are still fearful. For example, motorcycle stealing and thievery is a crime constantly thrown about, along with dishonesty and fraud. So stories surface of people blaming you for causing their accident when you’re just stopping to help in order to make money off you, stories of people snatching your things while you’re helping others, stories after stories of what can happen to you if you show a bit of decency and help someone in need creates fear and so when you are confronted with an accident what do you do? Do you stop and help? Will fear get the better of you? Well, a particular case comes to mind and I regret not stopping to ask if he needed help.
You will find the majority of motorists will continue riding on and sometimes a few locals will come to aid, which is a relief in cases where I was able to stop at the scene but not get off and help. So do you follow the mentality of the masses, go with the flow or do you swim against it and do what you know to be right?
Today I saw a lady with a front trailer bicycle that flipped because of her unbalanced load, she was clearly struggling to get it together but nobody stopped to help her, not even those standing by and looking offered a hand. I pulled over, parked my bike and walked over to help, she was grateful and I felt good about myself afterwards.
Will fear and pressure cause you to box yourself in and follow the crowd? Or will you be different and stand up for your beliefs?
“Do not withhold good from those to whom you should give it if it is within your power to help.” - Pro. 3:27
Another pet hate of mine is the service, shop owners in Vietnam and their staff rarely seem to smile or joyfully greet their customers. They sometimes make you feel like you’re more of an annoyance then a much appreciated consumer. To their defense, the customers can also be quite pushy and annoyingly demanding and impatient, so it’s a vicious cycle. Plus their salary is so meager they don’t have much of an incentive to be joyful and happy. Please and thank yous are out the door.
If you’re not careful this will easily rub off on you and soon you will find yourself shouting demands. Can you still remain polite and use your manners? Or will you see it as a sign of weakness and follow the crowd?
There’s many more things that I could mention but that’s probably enough for now so I’ll probably slap a ‘to be continued’ label on it and leave it for another time.
In Australia people tell me how dangerous Vietnam is, in Vietnam people tell me how dangerous everything is. There are good and bad customs in every country, take the good and leave the bad.
Take everything people tell you with a pinch of salt and discover things for yourself, unless it’s an official warning, don’t allow the fear and worries of others to dictate how you live your life. There is a lot to see and learn out there, many friends to make and good times to be had, make the most of it.
“Remember, then, your Grand Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of distress come and the years arrive when you will say: “I have no pleasure in them”” - Eccl. 12:1
To my family and friends,
I miss you all dearly
