I was browsing through Beth’s flickr album today and just couldn’t help admiring her pics from the pumpkin carving fair in Rhode Island. They were just so awesome. I could hardly believe these super artistic works were made on pumpkins.
Happy Halloween!
Not a painting but a pumpkin carving
Cool, huh? 
Do you know how to set your necktie properly? Do you know how to replace your flat car tires? Do you know how to help someone stop hyperventilating? All of these can be found on Videojug.com, a website devoted to instructional videos. Calling itself, “Life explained on film,” Videojug teaches viewers some of the most obvious instructions you can ever find elsewhere.
Click this picture to see one of the videos–how to fold your t-shirt in 2 seconds.
In contrast to youtube, where most videos are of the entertainment sort, Videojug teaches you almost anything from important life skills such cooking, social etiquettes, personal health care, household management and beauty to the funniest stuffs such as how to kiss somebody passionately, and more. Even more special, in case you love any of the videos, Videojug also allows you to download them for your iPod and cell phones. Hmm mmm! Cool, isn’t it?
So, check it out and make your internet experience more useful!
Opened in 1876, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is one of the most comprehensive museum in the world. Its collection encompasses more than 450,000 works of arts from all corners of the world. Once in a while, MFA also organizes special art performances by some of the world’s most famous artists.
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Performed there today was a marbling demonstration by a group of artists from Turkey. For your information, marbling is a technique for producing colorful patterns on paper by swirls of paint, traditionally water-based paint, floating on water.
From day to day, the weather is getting colder, and the worst of all was today. It was not only freezing but also windy… The wind was blowing like a mini-storm, at approximately 20 miles an hour. Without being here, I believe you can imagine how cold it is huh…
Somehow, not a bit did this terrible weather deter me and Chenzi from going out.. We had planned a few of days before that we would go to the Museum of Fine Arts this weekend.
By the time we were ready, it was lunchtime. Since Chenzi wanted to try Khmer food, we decided to go to the Elephant Walk, which is a Cambodian-French food restaurant near Fenway. There we ordered some Chicken Sour Soup (ស្ងោរជ្រក់សាច់មាន់) and Loc Lac (ឡុកឡាក់), which were all so yummy. Chenzi loved the foods so badly, and we agreed to come back here again with our other friends in the next few weeks.
For now, enjoy some of our cool pics there.
St. Mary, a Catholic church close to the Elephant Walk
ចុះចាញ់
ដោយ យក់ ថិតរដ្ឋា
ស្រមោលច័ន្ទក្នុងផ្ទៃទឹក
ដោយ ម៉េង កែវពេជ្ជតា និង សាពូន មីដាដា
គ្មានអ្វីត្រូវស្តាយ
ដោយ ព្រាប សុវត្ថិ
ព្រះស្រីក្នុងចិត្ត
ដោយ រិន សាវ៉េត
មើលរូបនេះហើយ អ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាណាដែលធ្លាប់មើល Spot ឃោសនាសេវា Roaming របស់ MobiTel ច្បាស់ជាចាំមុខបុរសម្នាក់នៅខាងស្តាំដៃនៃរូបខាងលើនេះហើយមែនទេ? កំពុងញញឹមរកស្នេហ៍យ៉ាងពព្រាយនេះជា រតនា មហាមិត្តខ្ញុំ។
ខ្ញុំភ្ញាក់ពភ្រើត ពេលបានឃើញរូបអាសម្លាញ់ច្រលើមបស់ខ្ញុំមួយនេះ នៅលើគេហទំព័រ CELLCARD កាលពីព្រឹកមិញ។ កាលពីនៅស្រុកខ្មែរ រតនាធ្លាប់ប្រាប់ម្តងដែរថា វាទើបតែបានថតឃោសនាថ្មីមួយទៀតឲ្យ MobiTel។ ខ្ញុំចេះតែចាំមើលដែរ តែមិនឃើញចេញសោះ។ តែឥឡូវឃើញហើយ មានអីឡូយណាស់ដែរតា៎ លោកបងខ្ញុំ។ ទៅដល់ណា ក្នុងហើយនឹងក្រៅទូរទស្សន៍ ពព្រាយជានិច្ច។
អបអរសាទរ លោកមហាមិត្ត! សូមឲ្យមិត្តបានជោគជ័យជាដរាប។
Picture courtesy of Cellcard
Race is a sensitive issue. Before coming to the U.S., I regard racial issue as inquisitive but unimportant. To me, Cambodia is a homogenous country – I am convinced of this notion since I was born. And while I am aware that there are some small portions of ethnic groups other than the Cambodians/Khmers living in the country, school textbooks and national media hardly include the information relevant to minority groups residing across the country. Up until now, to what extent these groups of people (Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotians, Muslim communities and tribal people) have been discriminated against or mistreated by the dominant group remains a rarely touched on topic. In fact, tracing back the history of my ancestors tells me that I belong to a mixture of Cambodian, Chinese, and Vietnamese origins. However, since the way I look, behave, or speak does not make me any different from the surrounding majority, I often regard the occasionally encountered mistreatments as some kind of misunderstandings rather than racial discriminations.
Being caught up in a context as diverse and complex as the U.S makes me feel different, however. From the first day of my graduate class, I start to feel uncomfortable in a context where I cannot locate familiar faces: those of Asian students other than myself and a couple of others. (Everytime I find a Cambodian, I am just as pleased as finding a million dollars.) The more I read news and articles describing people from one racial group being harassed by another, the more I feel discrimination in the U.S. is on the rise.
As a matter of fact, Americans are divided into two big groups–the liberal and conservative. The liberal are open-minded and normally live in cities or towns along the coasts, where the demographic makeup is highly diverse. The conservative stick to the ideology of white superiority and mostly reside in the midwest and southern parts of the United States. The fact that Boston College is on the east coast convinced me that racial harrassment should never happen here.
By Robert Evans
GENEVA (Reuters) – Communist-ruled Vietnam was given the go-ahead on Thursday to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and become its 150th member before the end of the year.
A farmer walks in a gourd field in Ha Tay province, 23 km south of Hanoi, Vietnam March 8, 2006. Communist-ruled Vietnam was given the go-ahead on Thursday to join the World Trade Organization and become its 150th member before the end of the year.
A WTO working party approved documents setting out the terms of the South-East Asian country’s accession — lifting the last major hurdle to entry after 12 years of tough negotiations.
Cambodian authorities announced Wednesday that they will round up beggars from the streets of Siem Reap — Cambodia’s main tourist destination — in order to burnish the country’s image ahead of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo, which will run from Nov. 21 to Jan. 9, 2007.
“We need to protect our nation’s honor. It’s shameful for us to see beggars chasing tourists for money,” said Siem Reap provincial governor Sou Phirin.
He said that beginning Sunday, police and social workers will comb the streets and markets of the tourist town for beggars, who will be gathered in a designated area before being taken away by trucks to their hometowns.
Sou Phirin was unable to give estimate of how many beggars are now in Siem Reap town.
Personally, this is really rediculous. If it is so shameful to have beggars around, the government and municipal authority ought to seek solutions that can better deal with this issue. The tactic of keeping them in a designated area and then sending them home, which had been used prior to major international events before, is not a good choice. Sooner or later these poor people are going to be back.
Everybody knows that Cambodia is poor. Learn to face the truth, sir.
Cambodia’s national assembly has voted to introduce conscription so young men aged between 18 and 30 will be liable to serve 18 months in the military. The move comes despite years of international efforts to reduce the military’s excessive size.
A government spokesman said conscription was an important way of reinforcing the army.
But it may be a crude attempt to head off a looming unemployment crisis, a BBC correspondent says.
Worsening job situation
Defence Minister Tea Banh told reporters that while Cambodia’s army was numerically strong, many of its soldiers were not fit to serve.
“Many of the military personnel are old and physically fragile,” he explained.
Watch these two responding pro-Republican and pro-Democrat ads in regard to the North Korean crisis..
Who is to blame?
Courtesy of Beth Kanter
A Cambodian puppet show titled the Story of the Dog rocked Providence, RI this Friday night. Another revolution in Khmer performing arts, the Story of the Dog is an east-meets-west piece newly co-set up by Cambodia-based Sovannaphum Khmer Arts Association and Sandglass Theater Company from Vermont, USA. Combining performers from both companies, the story integrates Sandglass’ characteristic puppet style with beautiful traditional Cambodian shadow puppets, dance, and music.
Coming with me were Beth, Walter and their kids–Harry and Sara. I am so glad that I made it there, despite the long distance from Boston. Somehow, the show has brought me closer to the Cambodian communities over here. Prior to and right after the show, I met so many Khmericans, some of whom, just like us, had travelled all the way from Boston and Lowell just to enjoy this masterpiece. I am so impressed by the tremendous support they, as well as almost 300 other American audience, have for Khmer arts and performances.
However, that’s not all. While we were waiting for the Q&A session with the artists, we noticed one white guy approaching us from the distance. Surprising us from behind, he said, “Hello Mongkol and Beth! How are you? Mongkol, how are things going with your study?” At first I thought he was Beth’s friend, but yet how did he know my name? Hmmm.. A big question, huh? Only later did I find out that his name was Decker and he was one of our regular blog readers. Decker is from the UK and currently resides in Providence. He loves Cambodia and viewing Cambodia-related blogs is one of his ways to get in touch with Cambodia. Well, what a coincidence! Nice to meet you, Decker! 
I hope to see you again sometimes. :p
Well, it’s 2 am now.. I guess I’ve been writing enough. That’s enough for tonight’s midnight oil. For now, please enjoy some of the pics and video clip I got from Providence..
Viva Cambodia! Viva Khmer Arts!
Our quick dinner at Whole Food Supermarket in downtown Providence before the show
Jan
Pretty/handsome. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Sensitive. Down-to-Earth. Stubborn. Repost this in 5 mins and you will meet someone new in 8 days that will perfectly balance your personality.
Feb
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexiest out of everyone. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest And loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Horny. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions. Repost this in 5 mins and you will talk to someone new and realize that you are a perfect match.
Dearest Ms Juliet,
I am very happy to inform you that I have fallen in Love with you since the
08th of October (Sunday). With reference to the meeting held between us on
the 07th of Oct. at 1500 hrs, I would like to present myself as a
prospective lover.
Our love affair would be on probation for a period of three months and
depending on compatibility, would be made permanent. Of course, upon
completion of probation, there will be continuous on the job training and
performance appraisal schemes leading up to promotion from lover to spouse.
The expenses incurred for coffee and entertainment would initially be
shared equally between us. Later, based on your performance, I might take
up a larger share of the expenses. However I am broadminded enough to be
taken care of, on your expense account.
I request you to kindly respond within 30 days of receiving this letter,
failing which, this offer would be cancelled without further notice and I
shall be considering someone else.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Yours sincerely,
Romeo
Mom, Dad and my cousin Bong Vanna recently traveled to Bangkok for their regular medical checkup–a routine trip that I would take care of when I was in Cambodia. Fortunately, this role of mine was taken over by my Thai friends Rita, M, Ning and Durian, who, despite their busy work schedules, would take turn to accompany my parents and cousin to the hospital and other places around town. My parents told me they were so pleased with the trip. Rita, Ning, M and Durian had treated them like VIPs, something beyond their expectations; They are so grateful to what these guys have for them.
Rita, M, Ning and Durian, I wish to thank you all so much for everything. So proud to have great friends like you. I look forward to meeting you again in a year or so. Do let us know if you ever go to Cambodia again in the near future.
Below are some of the pics from their visit to Erawan Museum and Ancient City.
Rita, Dad, Mom, Bong Vanna and Durian at Erawan Museum
Activities in Japan
Welcome Address by Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Cabinet Office of Japan
Introduction of each national leaders
Discussion with Japanese local youth at the National Youth Center. Do you notice any familiar face there?
Visit to Hanazono Primary School in Tokyo
This Sunday was another fun, fun, fun day for this weekend. I, together with Beth and her family, made another trip to Lowell and Pepperell for some Khmer food and apple picking. Sounds fun, huh?
In Lowell, we first stopped at Mokot Pich Haircut, where Beth, Walter and the kids were supposed to have their hair cut. According to Walter, it is a lot cheaper to have haircuts here in Lowell than in Boston. The deal was at $10 per head. This price would be impossible in Boston. Since my hair was pretty long now, I decided to have one too.
Walter getting ready for his haircut
Beth before and after
And me… សង្ហាទេ?
By the time we were done, it was almost lunch time. We then headed to a nearby Cambodian restaurant called Sen Monorom. For lunch, we ordered some Nem Chhao (ណែមឆៅ), Lok Lak (ឡុកឡាក់), Fried Trey Proma (ត្រីប្រម៉ាចៀន), Stir-fried Chicken and Broccoli and Samlor Proheu (សម្លរប្រហើរ). Most of the foods were so good. Don’t laugh at me though! I ate and ate until I could hardly walk. Funny me..
តាំងតែពីមកដល់បូស្តុនមក ក្រៅតែពីទៅរៀន និង យូរៗម្តងទៅដើរលេងនៅ Downtown ជាមួយមិត្តភក្តិ ខ្ញុំដូចជាមិនសូវបានដើរទៅណាប៉ុន្មានដែរហ្នឹង។
ហេងអីអាទិត្យនេះ ពូខ្ញុំម្នាក់នៅ Rhode Island ដែលជារដ្ឋមួយនៅប្រមាណ១ម៉ោង ពីបូស្តុនបានមកទទួលខ្ញុំទៅលេងផ្ទះគាត់។ គាត់ប្រាប់ថា នៅវត្តម្តុំផ្ទះគាត់មានគេធ្វើកឋិន ហើយសួរថាខ្ញុំចង់មកលេងអត់។ ថីមិនចង់។ ហេហេហេ… កំពុងតែចង់ទៅម្តុំខ្មែរៗផង។
ប្រមាណម៉ោង១១ កន្លះ គាត់ក៏បានមកដល់ផ្ទះខ្ញុំ។ បន្ទាប់មក យើងក៏ទៅញ៉ាំគុយទាវយួន និង ទិញម្ហូបនៅនៅម្តុំ Quincy។ បងប្អូនអើយ នៅស្រុកនេះ ទៅណាក៏ឃើញតែយួន ហើយនិងចិនដែរ។ ចង់រកហាងបាយខ្មែរ ពិបាកដូចរកម្ជុលនៅបាតសមុទ្រអញ្ចឹង។ តែបើរកហាងចិនយួនថៃវិញ កៀរនឹងជើង។
ពូ និង មីង កំពុងទិញឥវ៉ាន់នៅផ្សារចិន
TGIF! After a whole week of stress, it’s time for movie night.. I’ve just watched “The Departed” with my housemates, and it was cool.. If you love the Hong-Kong-made “Infernal Affairs” or are into action and crime movies, try this American version… It’s even better…
REVIEW
‘The Departed‘ is set in South Boston, where the state police force is waging war on organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Billy is quickly gaining Costello’s confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the gangsters and the police that there’s a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy — and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself.
This week was the busiest and toughest week I’ve had since school started. The reading load from my 3 classes is at its peak. I never thought that it would be this much. Did you know that I have to read almost 800 pages in total? I could barely finish those for the past two classes (on Monday and the one today). I guess I will have to spend next week’s Columbus Day holiday going thru all of them again; otherwise, I’ll be dead when the next term papers come.
Anyways, not all things this week were bad though. I got my very first ED770 term paper back today. Guess what? I got an A. I’ve been so anxious about it. Been worried that I didn’t do well. Below is my professor’s comment:
Somongkol,
Great work. You should think about paraphrasing and synthesizing such long citations as on page 4, and developing the central point of the passage!
I definitely agree with her. I knew from the start that my citation was not well written. I was using too many direct quotations, some of which are too long. But yeah, just like what Zeena said, I can’t be perfect in my first paper. I should lower my expectation and keep working harder. Wherever there’s a will, there’s a way.
I hope my straight ‘As’ dream will be realized.
Contestants of Miss World 2006 perform in the Congress Hall in Warsaw. Czech beauty Tatana Kucharova won the Miss World title, in a glitzy finale of the beauty pageant broadcast to more than 200 countries from the Polish capital.(AFP/Janek Skarzynski)
This weekend was way better than the past one. I was lucky enough not to have any more papers to work on. Early this morning, I got a call from Praneth, a former student of mine who is now doing his Master in Computer Science at Bridgeport University in Connecticut. He told me that he had just got in Boston and wished to meet me. After a bit of discussion, we agreed to meet up at Quincy Market, a popular tourist shopping spot in downtown Boston.
Joining him in this trip were 50 other people, most of whom were Chinese and Taiwanese. By the time I reached Quincy, most of them have already split up. Meeting me there with Praneth were two of his friends, Lee from China and Chai from Thailand.
Praneth and I
Only during this past Saturday did I know how crazy Americans are about football. That day, BC was hosting a match with a team from the University of Maine. Oh man! That was the first time for me to be at a football match and to see such a big crowd on campus. I would say it was over 20,000 people. An hour before the game started, the whole campus appeared more like a fun fair or picnic venue than a school. People were having their barbecue in all corners, even the parking lot. :p
A stream of people flocking onto campus
