What We Read

In the moments where we are not teaching, lesson planning, project organizing, or generally being productive, what are we doing? Reading. From the amount of book that we consume on a monthly basis, you could argue that when we are not living in Cambodia, we are living in books. We all have different tastes in what we read. Some read science fiction and fantasy, while others prefer history books or biographies. I have one friend who, when bored, reads the instructions of the various medicines she takes in French. The most sought after reading material here is anything that describes current events. It is the information that we are most deprived of, and any magazines or newspapers that we can get a hold of are quickly devoured within a short while. Copies of the Phnom Penh Post and the Cambodia Daily, two English language publications, can be bought in most provincial towns. They usually have good information about what is happening in Cambodia or in the world right now. I have even started taking copies of the ‘Post to my Khmer teacher so we can talk about national events. Aside from the recent skirmishes with the Thai army on the border, the biggest thing going on right now is the Khmer Rouge tribunal. Everyone, including Noam Chomsky, seems to have their opinion on the current proceedings, including the villagers in my tiny rural district. The consensus is that while the tribunal is good, there is a lot of quiet anger that there are not more people from the KR who are not on trial for their crimes.

Other than news publications, we retire to our various books and novels. Books can be found in the volunteer resource library at our office in Phnom Penh, as well as in various bookstores across the county. There are some places where you can sell your books, or exchange them for others. Of course, you can always swap your books with other volunteers who may want to read them.

I seem to have a tropical theme in my reading these days because it better fits the reality around me. The best book I have read so far would have to be Burmese Days by George Orwell. Other than having a terrific story, Orwell described a vision of ordinary life in Southeast Asia that was perfect in its detail and sentiment. Everything from the seasons, the baffling customs of the natives, and the corruption of the local governments is dead on. Even in a post-colonial Southeast Asia, there are parts of the colonial life that Orwell described that correspond with the modern Peace Corps experience in Cambodia. Of course, the whites-only European clubs are no longer here, nor are the power structures that kept Europeans in a position of power. However, these are replaced by the ex-pat or tourist bars that no Cambodian would ever want to enter, and the large multinational companies that have some sway over the Cambodian economy. What has not changed is the corruption in the local governments, the fascination that some foreigners have with the local brothels, as well as a complete aversion for these people to understand the language or the local culture around them. And I have noticed all of this from simply reading a novel!

I do not know what I would do without my books here. It's a tremendous relief to go someplace else within the pages of creased and damp pages. Even if it is for a little while.