Children of Cambodia

A trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia has opened my eyes to the reality of how children live in rural, under-developed countries like Cambodia. Children there are poor and unhygienic. Their faces and hands are dirty and clothes looks like they have never been washed.

Children are EVERYWHERE in Siem Reap. And often, kids as young as TWO YEARS OLD will work for their parents selling trinkets and souvenirs to tourist.  The level of English command of these children is surprisingly good. I asked them where they learned English from, and they said from tourists. No wonder got American accent -_-‘’  

Here are some of the pictures that I took. 

 Angkor Wat

              The place where they shot Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie

 2 kids begging on one of the Angkor buildings. Their hair very yellow. Malnutrition or being in the sun too much?

Kids selling souvenirs to tourists. Oh and that’s my dad =]

My dad refused to buy anything from them and they kept reducing the price.

Girl: Sir, buy bracelet. 5 Dollar for 1.

Dad: No thanks, I don’t need it.

Girl: Buy for your daughter, Sir. 3 Dollar, 3 Dollar.

Dad: No thanks. *Smiles*

Girl: Sir, please. 1 Dollar for 1, Sir.

Dad: No thanks, really.  * walks quickly trying to escape*

Girl: 50 cents, Sir.

Dad: Shakes head.   *runs away*

Girl: FREE, SIR!  

Funny lar. Haha!

Injured child

Cyber Café Cambodia style

 

 The next day we went to visit the floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. It is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. (http://mandalayinn.com/tour_tonle.html)

This was our tour guide on the lake. He’s only 18

Floating houses on the lake

Children living on the lake

Floating basketball court

 Small kid following parents to fish

The 2 boys in the red circles are paralyzed. They put themselves in a basin like thing and float to tourists and ask them for money because they can’t afford to go to school.

 Floating school

These children need donations from other people to be able to buy uniform, books and stationery.

The guy in white is the teacher

Education is seen as a privilege in Cambodia. Not every child gets the opportunity to study.

This trip to Siem Reap has been an eye opener to how poor and difficult life can be in an undeveloped country. The people there are very friendly. This place and its people have really touched my heart and helped me appreciate the things I do have. If you have the opportunity I would recommend you to visit this place. =]

 Here are some additional pictures I took from Hanoi, Vietnam.  Apparently the kids there are also very “geng”.  XD

credits to Carmen Chan Jia Wen, T4

classic poem for children

Where did you come from, baby dear?

Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into here.

Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than anyone knows.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into hooks and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs' wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.

 

But how did you come to us, you dear?

God thought about you, and so I am here.

credits to Tang Tze Chiun, T4

Positive Approach

im not sure if u can see.. click to view :D

if you can't see then.. =/

it goes like this.

Positive Approach

Father : I want you to marry a girl of my choice.

Son : "I will choose my own bride!"

Father : But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter.

Son : Well, in that case..... OK!

The next day.. the father approaches Bill Gates..

Father : I have a husband for your daughter.

Bill Gates : But my daughter is too young to marry!

Father : but this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank.

Finally, Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.

Father : I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president.

President : But I already have more vice-presidents than i need!

Father : but this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law.

President : Ah.... in that case..... OK!

This is how business is done!!

Moral : Even if you have nothing, you can get anything. But in order to do so, your attitude and approach should be positive.

PS : i know it has nothing to do with child development.. haha.. totally random.. just thought i might want to share with with u guys ;)

have a great wednesday! :D

children songs

@credits to : Ong Luei Haw

When you thought I wasn't looking

when you thought I wasn't looking

I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,

and immediately wanted to

paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I heard you feed a stray cat,

and i learned that it was good to be kind

to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw you make my favorite cake for me,

and i learned that the little things can be

the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I heard you say a prayer,

and i knew that there is a God i could always talk to,

and i learned to trust in Him.

When you thought i wasn't looking

I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,

and i learned that we all have to help

take care of each other.

When you thought i wasn't looking

I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it,

and I learned we have to take care of

what we are given.

When you thought i wasn't looking

I saw how you handled your responsibilities,

even when you didn't feel good,

and I learned I would have to be

responsible when I grow up.

When you thought i wasn't looking

I saw tears come from your eyes,

and i learned that sometimes things hurt,

but it's all right to cry,

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw that you cared,

and I wanted to be everything

that i could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I learned most of life's lessons that i need to know

to be a good and productive person

when i grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I looked at you and wanted to say,

"Thanks for all the things i saw

when you thought I wasn't looking"

- Anonymous

Adapted from TheStar Newspaper, Sunday, 21th March 2010, SM15 Starmag - Heart & Soul.

please show a good example to your children.. don't think they wasn't looking on everything that you're doing.

Cheerios,

:D

University Class Swaps Grades for Experience Points

It would be great if we can have this throughout our three years in Kampar!

by Mike Smith
March 18 4:38 P.M.

Inspired by popular video games like World of Warcraft, an Indiana University professor is applying game design principles such as clear, well-defined goals and gradual, incremental rewards to his college classes. A hit with students, the approach has some employers showing interest, too.
Students at several of Indiana University's game design courses begin their class with zero "experience points," which corresponds to an F grade. Instead of completing presentations, they'll perform "quests;" sitting exams becomes "fighting monsters;" and handing in assignments becomes "crafting." Students even team up into "guilds" to tackle group projects.
Setting assessments in the context of video game achievements helps students get motivated, according to the courses' coordinator, Indiana University's Lee Sheldon.
"The elements of the class are couched in terms they understand, terms that are associated with fun rather than education," he told iTnews. "We are teaching the gamer, social networking generation."
Sheldon reports his students are showing far greater enthusiasm than with old-style assessment methods. He's convinced employers can improve staff performance with similar tactics -- and his message is hitting home with at least one CEO, according to iTnews.
Distribution firm Express Data, one of Australia and New Zealand's top employers, and renowned for its highly engaged employees, finds staff perform better once they're given clear expectations and plenty of feedback -- not so very different from the way many games organize their quests and update players on their progress.
"If you had a game of ten pin bowling and you put the pins behind a curtain and told people to bowl," Express Data's Ross Cochrane told iTnews, "then it doesn't become much of a game, and...they tend not to get the best outcomes. You need to provide very clear feedback."

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/university-class-swaps-grades-for-experience-points/1394472

By Ho Khee Hoong

Monday Morning

Hey~ its monday morning :D seriously speaking i hate mondays =.=

anyway.. to my friends who applied for cyber care~ there's a intern interview today at 10am, D211~

i bet u guys might be nervous eh? xD coz i am! Lol..

and to others, statistic 2 midterm is today.. so good luck to all of us!! :D

here's a song dedicated to all hehe.. hope u had a great monday ;)