Just to inform everyone that I’ll be offline for awhile.. I am going to be superbusy with exams and papers in the next two weeks.. Will be back with new stories once they are over.
Wish me good luck & see you soon!!!
Cheers,
Mongkol
Archive for April, 2007
Shot of the Week: A Ballerina
In Photography on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 10:09 PM
A Ballerina: My first try taking a portraiture. Taken during the 2007 Boston College Arts Festival last week. For more photos from the Festival, click here.
Shot of the Week: Eros
In Photography on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Eros, the Greek God of Love. Taken in Boston College’s Gasson Hall
A Seasarella Story
In My Life on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 12:59 PMMarking its 16th year at Boston College, the Southeast Asian Student Association (SEASA) last Saturday put on its best culture show to date– A SEASArella Story. Based on Disney’s all-time favorite fairytale, Cinderella, Seasarella came with a complete Southeast Asian twist, filled with traditional dances from Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines.
Sounds cool, huh? Check it out!
To Phalkun and V, here are the pictures you have longed to see. 
As always, BC programs begin with FOOD… And just a note: Since SEASA is dominated by Filipinos and Cambodians, please don’t be surprised to see most of the cast, plus the two ladies here, wearing Cambodian dress.
Collage of SEASA activities
An opening introduction by Meakara Bou, President of SEASA. FYI, she is also a Cambodian (Cambodian-American, to be true). A very sweet and smart girl indeed.
GISA Spring Party
In My Life, United States on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 2:33 AMThere is so much about BC that I love. Right from the first day I knew that my experience here would be like no others. Right from the first day I was sure I would gain lots of wonderful experiences, academically and socially. And through all these times, BC has confirmed me just that.
From one week to another, events after events happen on campus. They range from academic and professional development seminars and workshops to such fun events as cultural shows, art festivals, acapella singing contests, and a ton more. In addition, BC is also home to some 150 student clubs and associations, which cater to all sorts of students, social/political groups and interests.
As you might have seen in the previous post, I had just participated in the Grads Give Back Day –when I joined almost 200 other grad students performing community service around the Boston area. And again, on Wednesday last week there came another one, which was utterly different but so fun and colorful. That was the GISA Spring Party.
For your information, GISA stands for the Graduate International Student Association, an organization advocating for the interests of international graduate students at Boston College. From this introduction, you should have known by now what I was trying to mean by ‘colorful’ . If you still feel unsure, check the pics below and decide for yourself…
Wherever there is a party, there must be food. So, as you may have expected, we began our program with a yummy dinner. I don’t wanna brag, but GISA was truly international. Believe it or not, that evening they got us all sorts of food: Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Indian, Italian, Cambodian, and Vietnamese…
We Love Spring!
In My Life on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 5:13 PM
Finally Spring is officially here, and Boston is experiencing a warm weather for the first time this year.
Look at the above pictures ! That is what is happenin’ on BC campus right now. I just can’t believe that Americans can be so crazy about sunshine. See that? Everyone just comes out, lies down, and sunbathes wherever they can. You name it! On the grass. On the bench. Just anywhere..
Why? The only reason is ‘they wanna get tanned!’
I am more than sure that some ladies in Cambodia will find this funny and ridiculous, because this is the last thing on earth they would do. To them and many other Cambodians, ‘being dark’ is synonymous with ‘being ugly.’ No wonder lotion and whitening cream are gaining more and more market share down there from year to year.. Lol…
J/K…. Forgive me, ladies.. 
From the Mekong to the Merrimack
In Cambodian Living Arts, Khmer on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 6:22 PM
An audio slideshow on the ‘Where Elephants Weep‘ opera. Click on the picture to view.
Related Posts:
Madu dan Racun
In Indonesia, Music on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 12:57 PM
If you love ‘Girl You Are My Love,’ you are gonna love this…
Check it out!
Like it? Wanna download? Click here!
60,000 Hits
In Blogging on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Big Thanks to You All for Visiting and Supporting…
សូមអរគុណគ្រប់គ្នាជាអនេក សម្រាប់ការគាំទ្រ!
Where artists meet Lowell births Cambodia’s first opera
In Cambodia, Cambodian Living Arts, Khmer on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Marc and Mary Frans, star in Where Elephants Weep in Lowell next week.
By NANCYE TUTTLE, The Lowell Sun
LOWELL – Giving birth to exciting new art is nothing new in Lowell — a city where world-class artists James McNeill Whistler, Jack Kerouac and Bette Davis were born.
It reaches back to the 19th century when mill girls wrote their published journals to today, where artists create distinct art in their studios; actors, dancers, singers, directors and designers perform on the city’s stages; and poets and musicians offer enlightened words and music.
In the past month, creative forces have united in what may be one of Lowell’s greatest artistic achievements — preparing to stage the only American preview performances of Where Elephants Weep, the first known contemporary Cambodian opera ever written. Performances are next Friday-Sunday in the Cyrus Irish Auditorium at Lowell High School.
Where Elephants Weep is a love story that is loosely based on the Tum Teav story, Cambodia’s Romeo and Juliet tale, it tells of two young Cambodian American men — Sam and Dara — who return to Cambodia to spend time in the Buddhist temples, paying respect to their ancestors. In the process, Sam falls for Bopha, a 20-year-old Cambodian pop singer whose brother is manipulating her career.
Quote of the Day
In My Life on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 1:21 PMYou had a hundred billion chances and ways to have avoided today. But you decided to spill my blood. You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option. The decision was yours. Now you have more blood on your hands that will never wash off.
Cho Seung-Hui, the student gunman reponsible
for the attack at Virginia Tech on Monday
Why Did He Have to Be a …?
In My Life on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 8:29 AMThere’s a crucial moment early in many crime investigations when the first description of the assailant comes out. When the attack happens on campus, like it did Monday at Virginia Tech University, the initial question is obvious: student, faculty, staff or outsider?
Then come the details. Student. Male. Black coat. Stoic. Maroon hat. Determined.
When the gunman is identified, there’s the possibility of more tense moments when, after all rumors and accounts are sorted out, the ethnicity is announced. In this case, the first official word came that the shooter was an Asian student, but it was unclear whether he was an international student studying in Virginia or, as it turned out, an Asian immigrant who grew up in Virginia.
Then, finally, confirmation: the killer was Korean. That news — along with a face plastered across television sets and tabloid-style Web pages — arrived early Tuesday and was repeated in nearly every account. Soon, the conversation had turned to heritage. Facebook groups started with titles such as “I’m Korean and Have a Gun, Don’t Be Scared,” “Why did the Virginia Tech shooter have to be an ASIAN” and “This is Not About Ethnicity.”
South Korean government officials expressed their dismay that a native son would commit such a crime. National Korean groups sent their condolences. Korean student groups created message boards to both express grief and prepare for the venom likely coming their way.
Picture of the Day: Virginia Tech Vigil
In My Life on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 12:54 AM
More than 900 students and members of the Boston College community gathered at St. Ignatius Church on Tuesday night for a prayer vigil to honor those who lost their lives in the Virginia Tech shooting.
More on KNY Parade in Long Beach
In Khmer, United States on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 3:38 PM
CAMBODIA TOWN – The Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, March 7, 2007. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Long Beach Press-Telegram
CAMBODIA TOWN – Smin Chaeng, left, Dabalak Ham, and Zaleakhema Ham, and Melissa Phay, left, laugh as they greet the wave the parade-goers along Anaheim Street during the Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, March 7, 2007. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Long Beach Press-Telegram
CAMBODIA TOWN – Don Chaky, left, chases Michelle Heang in a traditional dance where he is a monkey and she is a mermaid during the Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, March 7, 2007. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Long Beach Press-Telegram
CAMBODIA TOWN – Dontey Henderson, 1, watches the Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, March 7, 2007. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Long Beach Press-Telegram
CAMBODIA TOWN – Members of the Angkor Wat Cambodian Feather Sport team demonstrate kicking a weighted feather around a circle during the Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, March 7, 2007. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Long Beach Press-Telegram
CAMBODIA TOWN – Destiny Uy, 8, laughs as she marches with the Khmer Arts Cultural Center during the Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, March 7, 2007. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Long Beach Press-Telegram
CAMBODIA TOWN - Los Angeles County Sheriff deputy K. Inital relaxes as fellow deputy Sopheak Touch gives him a ride in a bicycle rickshaw before the start of the Third Annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, March 7, 2007. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Long Beach Press-Telegram
Related Post
Shot of the Week: Shark
In Photography on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Taken at the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts
Cambodian New Year in Rhode Island
In Khmer, My Life, United States on Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 7:32 PM
សួនខាងមុខព្រះវិហារ
ព្រះវិហារវត្តធម្មឃោសនារាម
ទិដ្ឋភាពខាងក្នុងសាលាឆាន់: ខុសពីនៅស្រុកយើងដែលជាធម្មតាមានព្រះសង្ឃច្រើនអង្គ នៅក្នុងវត្តនេះ មានតែពីរអង្គគត់។ ខ្ញុំ កំពុងឆ្ងល់ថា តើលោកទាំងពីរព្រះអង្គនេះ នឹងឆាន់ម្ហូបម្ហាទាំងអស់នេះអង្កាលអស់ទៅ បើមហាច្រើនយ៉ាងនេះ។
Grads Give Back Day
In Community Service, My Life, United States, Volunteerism, Youth activities on Friday, April 13, 2007 at 6:29 PM
Our hardworking team!
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) and the Law Student Association (LSA) of Boston College today launched their annual “Grads Give Back Day” campaign. Beginning in 2005, the campaign aims to promote volunteerism and community service among BC grad students. According to the organizers, nearly 200 Boston College graduate and law students participated in this year’s event, offering their time and energy at various locations throughout the Greater Boston area.
After gathering and picking up their t-shirt and materials at the Murray Graduate Student Center, the BC volunteers headed off to their service placements for the afternoon. I, along with five other classmates, were placed at an elderly homeless residence called Hearth Home in Dorchester.
Ronan Keating Live in Phnom Penh
In Cambodia, Entertainment, Music, Social Events on Friday, April 13, 2007 at 2:02 AM
Via ZJ: Are you ready? Cambodia is about to stage its biggest international music event ever with a concert by worldwide singing sensation Ronan Keating.
Ronan (30), who is famous for number 1 hits ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’, ‘Life’s a Rollercoaster’ and ‘When You Say Nothing At All’ as well as his work with boyband Boyzone, will perform at a concert to be held at the Indoor Arena of the Olympic Stadium on May 9th 2007. The performance will start at 7.30pm.
Tickets can be purchased at $15, $25 and $65 through a telephone ticket hotline at 012-999-099.
សួស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មី!
In Cambodia on Thursday, April 12, 2007 at 8:03 PM
សូមឆ្នាំថ្មីនាំមកនូវសិរីសួស្តី ជ័យមង្គល និង វិបុលសុខមហាប្រសើរ ជូនដល់ប្រិយមិត្តជិតឆ្ងាយទាំងអស់!
ដោយក្តីគោរពដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់អំពីខ្ញុំ
សុមង្គល
Southeast Asian Service Leadership Program
In Exchange Program, Youth activities on Monday, April 9, 2007 at 9:11 PM
Speed Bandits
In A Minute of Laughter, Denmark on Sunday, April 8, 2007 at 9:41 PM
Should Cambodia introduce the same thing?
Just Seen: Blades of Glory
In Movies on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at 7:14 PM
This movie is bloody hilarious. The funniest I’ve seen this Spring!
A Social-Networking Weekend (Part 2)
In Cambodian Living Arts, Khmer, My Life, United States on Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 12:43 PMVERMONT–THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE
The first view of Vermont took my breath away. On both sides of the highway were miles of green hills and snow-capped mountains, which blended perfectly with the clear, blue sky of the day. Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed that such a paradise existed. I can quite see why Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State.
Our two-hour drive from Lowell took us to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, where our appointment with Dr. Burt was scheduled to take place. I was surprised to learn from Dickon that Dr. Burt had visited Cambodia and is well-acquainted with top CLA board members. Through them, he had learnt a fair amount about Pou Sithul and was sorry for the health problem he is facing. Realizing how important it is for Cambodia to have a talented master like Pou Thul, Dr. Burt offered to treat him for free.
Pou Ieng Sithul and our kind doctor Burt
Following almost an hour of questioning, Dr. Burt at last found an answer to Pou Thul’s problem. From what he said, our heart is made up of a complexed system of wiring, which facilitates and determines the speed of our heartbeat. Unfortunately, in Pou Thul’s case, a small part of that system is malfunctioning, and that destabilizes his heart rate. As a preliminary solution, Dr. Burt suggested Pou Thul increase his current drug dose and report his condition daily. If things don’t improve, he will think of another solution.
PUTNEY
After our appointment at the hospital, we headed to Putney, another small town half an hour away from Brattleboro. One of Dickon’s CLA colleagues John Burt lives there and had offered to put us up for the night.
Putney Public Library
Just like the rest of Vermont, Putney is pretty rural, hilly and densely forested. According to the 2000 census, it has approximately 3,000 residents who earn a median household income of $40,346–putting it among the medium-range income towns in America.
John has a very beautiful house on one of Putney’s hills, where he lives with his friend Ruth and two cats. It might sound a bit lonely, but having seeing where it is and how he lives, I can’t help by envy his lifestyle. So ideal, carefree and serene. A real cool and crisp shangri-la, I’ll say.
John’s house
John’s career has been focused on the arts for all his life. He’s produced many plays all over America. As a result his house is full of odds and ends from various productions. When we arrived, John and Ruth were shopping in town so we got up to plenty of mischief. There’s an old expression that I have heard which goes something like this, “when the cat is away, the mice will play”.
Trying John’s wigs… Bad mice we were! 
On top of that, both John and Ruth are also big animal lovers. As you may expect, they’ve got a big farm situated up on the hill behind their house. That afternoon, Dickon, Pou Thul and I went there for a brief visit and we were so amazed by how nice it was. There we found 7 sheep, 2 goats, 3 donkeys, 1 exotic bird, and a whole flock of guineas and chickens
Pou Sithul feeding carrots to one of the goats
Hardworking Ruth with her sheep and goats
We didn’t just visit. We also helped Ruth on her farm.. Very good boys we were. :p
My most favorite animal in the farm, an exotic bird of some sort…
The Cambodian and British farmboys
Handsome farmhand in the haybarn
As you can see, we had a fantastic time.
And then came the last and best part of the day. That evening John cooked us a wonderful dinner. Believe it or not, he cooked us Cambodian food. Amazing, isn’t it? I am sure you are finding this weird. Who would imagine an American cooking Cambodian food for a Cambodian? He really put me to shame because his food was truly yummy… Even better than that of some of the Khmer restaurants in Lowell. John later told us that he loves cooking and he had learnt how to make all the food from a Cambodian cookery book. What a smart guy! Two thumbs up for you, John! I clearly have a lot still to learn.
Our sweet host and chef John…
All of us at the dinner table. Seen here are Pou Ieng Sithul (far left), Nancy (2nd left), Dickon (3rd left), Ruth (center), John (4th right), Dr. Burt and his wife Harriet (3rd and 2nd right) and Dr. Bob (far right).
In addition, we also had a great chat. It felt just like a reunion of chatters, with Cambodia and Where Elephants Weep opera being our biggest topics. I found our conversation particularly interesting when it comes to the various impressions and experiences that everyone had of Cambodia. The group was so rich in great ideas and interested to hear my perspectives on things. It is clear to me that these people have a great love for my country and that truly warmed my heart.
Related Post
Khmer Folklore Dance
In Arts and Culture, Cambodia, Khmer, Social Events on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 9:46 AMKhmer Folklore Dance (របាំប្រពៃណី) is a very popular form of Khmer dance among the general public. Folkloric dance often embraces mythical stories but mostly represents life of the common people. There are dance pieces that represent the rice harvest, the beginning and ending of the rainy season, fishing, times of group game when young men are “officially” allowed to flirt with the opposite sex, and other aspects of traditional rural life. Every province has its own indigenous dance as do all the major Khmer holiday.
To celebrate the coming Khmer New Year, Amrita Performing Arts presents Folklore Dance Performances on Saturday & Sunday 7 & 8 April 2007 at 6.00 PM at Chenla Theatre.
Tickets: 3000 & 6000 riels, available at Amrita Performing Arts (#51, Street 113, Fourth Street behind the Ministry of Tourism) and at the door.
A Social-Networking Weekend
In Khmer, My Life, United States on Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 4:44 PMThere is something special about my weekend this week. Instead of trotting around Boston as I often do, I took a long journey to the northern-most New England state of Vermont with my super-duper buddy Dickon…
WHERE IS VERMONT?
A state in the New England region of the United States, Vermont is located in the northeastern part of the United States.
According to Wikipedia, the state ranks 45th by total area, and 43rd by land area at 9,250 square miles, and has a population of 608,827, making it the second least populous state (second to only Wyoming).
The only New England state with no coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, Vermont is notable for the Green Mountains in the west and Lake Champlain in the northwest. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north.
The state is famous for its scenery and dairy products. It is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States. The state capital is Montpelier, and the largest city is Burlington.
WHY VERMONT?
Cambodian Living Arts (CLA), a Boston-based World Education project which works to support the revival of traditional Khmer performing arts and in whose board Dickon is part of, is organizing a big opera in Lowell later this month. Titled “Where Elephants Weep,” the show is said to present a new revolution in Cambodian performing arts by fusing Western and Cambodian musical elements in a completely new contemporary sound.
Starring in this new masterpiece is renowned Cambodian Yike legend Ieng Sithul. Along with 20 other performers, directors and musicians, Sithul arrived in the US a week ago. Ever since the arrival, his whole team have been rehearsing hard in preparation for the big day, when an audience of 900 from all over Massachusetts and Rhode Islands is expected to congregate.
Unfortunately, since 1996 Sithul has suffered from a heart problem, and doctors in Cambodia have yet to figure the root cause of this ailment. Wanting it or not, his good and bad days have always been determined by his heart’s condition. Basically our reason for going to Vermont this time is for him. Dickon and several other CLA board members had worked out an appointment with a local doctor there. Since neither Sithul nor Dickon respectively is fluent in English and Khmer, I was asked to help.
OUR JOURNEY
Dickon attentively focusing on the road…
Our journey began early Thursday evening, with Dickon picking me up for a one-night stop at our friend Duey’s house in Lowell. As sweet as always, Duey and her best friend Chanda prepared us a very yummy dinner that evening. We had Lok Lak, which is Dickon’s all-time Khmer favorite, Pad Thai, stir-fried vegetables and some red wine. Throughout the dinner, we chatted nonstop, sharing our funny stories and experiences in college. The talk went on and on until around midnight when everyone became too tired to go on.
The chatty people (Duey, Chanda, Dickon and I)
The next morning we woke up at 7:15 (pretty early to my US standard.. lol…) and went to pick Poo Sithul up from his hotel, which was around 5 minutes away. Surprisingly enough, meeting me there was my close friend Sal’s brother, Bong Bunrith. How cool to find another familiar face there! After a brief chat with Bong Bunrith and Poo Thul, we embarked on the second leg of our journey.
To be continued…
