"Advice of Mother" by Paula - From The Anjali House Writing Project. - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Paula, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not even share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.

The Advice of Mother

 by Paula

 

   One year, there was a girl called Neat. She was 15 years old. She lived in Phnom Penh. She studied at Grade 8. One day shewants to travel to Angkor Wat but her mother and father said to her, “This month your school does not have a holiday.”

   Neat said, “I don’t want to study anymore!”

   Her mother said, “Why do you say this? Knowledge can help you to have a wonderful life. You know that.” But she did not listen to her mother.

   Eight years later she became an adult and she wanted to work, but no one wants her to work because she doesn’t have the knowledge. She went back home and said to her mother, “Sorry,Mum, that I said that bad word to you but now I know knowledge can help. We all want to have wonderful days!”

 

 

 

Paula, age 15 (as required by Cambodian regulations, all writers are using Pen Names)

 

   When I was 13 years old I was very very happy because I was going to Phnom Penh with my parents. When I arrived there I met my uncle, my aunt, my grandfather, my brother and my sister.

   One day we went to Dreamland, the place where you could play with anything. We were very very happy because we could play, we could eat and we met a new friend too. I was so very happy then with my family.

Mel u

"When Problems Happen" by Victoria - From The Anjali House Writing Project. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  -Project Director - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Victoria, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not even share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.

My thanks to Victoria (a pen name as required under Cambodian privacy regulations)

for allowing me to publish this very interesting well written poem.

"When Problems Happen"

 by Victoria

 

In my dream I want to travel around the world.

When I see bad things happen to people

I want to help, too, but I don’t know who they are.

 

When I look to the sky

I see the bird fly in the sky.

I want to fly, too, but I don’t have a wing to fly.

 

I want to touch the sky,

but I can’t touch the sky,

because the sky is very high.

 

I feel unhappy because there is a flood in a country.

I want to help the people.

When their trouble is over I will help them to build a house.

 

 

 

 

Victoria, age 12 

 

One day at Khmer school I had a test. I did some tests and some I didn’t. One week after that, my teacher checked the tests.Some tests had good scores, some had bad scores. Then the next week my teacher gave the student record book and I saw that I had a good score. I had passed my exam. I took the student record book to give to my mother to see it. My mother was very happy and I was very happy too.

Mel u

"Boyfriend and Girlfriend" by Chara. From The Anjali House Writing Project, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  -Project Director - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Chara, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not even share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.

My thanks to Chara (a pen name as required under Cambodian privacy regulations)

for allowing me to publish this very interesting well written story.

Boyfriend and Girlfriend

 by Chara

 

   One day I went to play football with my friends. One friend asked me, “Hey! What is your name?”

   I answered him, “Hey! My name is Linda and what is your name?”

   He told me, “My name is Rattanak. I’m 16 years old. I have one brother and two sisters. My brother is a very handsome boy. His name is Rattana and my younger sisters are very pretty girls. One girl is called Sophy and another girl is called Rina. I have one mother and one father. My father is a policeman. My mother is a housewife.” Rattanak asked me, “And how old are you? How many brothers and sisters do you have?”

   My answer is “I’m 16 years old, too. I have one brother and two sisters. One of my sisters is called Linna and another is called Linra and the one brother is called Sokunty.”

   When they were asking to know about their brothers and sisters they were very happy. Linda and Rattanak were students who studied in one class and sat at the same table.

   After one day, Linda and Rattanak are going to the supermarket. When they are going to the supermarket they are very close friends. After they had their talk about their families they knew each other well. So they were very happy and very close friends. In the supermarket when Linda bought something like sweets, Rattanak bought the same thing like Linda. Linda asked, “Why did you buy the sweets like me?”

   Rattanak answered, “Because I like to eat sweets.”

   Linda said, “Crazy boy,” and she smiled. Rattanak was smiling, too.

   After three years, Linda and Rattanak finished the university.Rattanak said, “Linda, can you be my girlfriend?”

   Linda said, “Wait. I want to think about this question because I want to find work first.” After she found a job Linda andRattanak were boyfriend and girlfriend.

   One day, Rattanak asked Linda a question. Linda said, “Hey,Rattanak. I can be your girlfriend but you have to take care of me.”

   Rattanak said, “Three months more and we will marry.” Now they are happy.

 

 

Chara, age 15 

Mel u

"How We Feel When We Are Traveling" by Robert. - from The Anjali House Writing Project. - Siem Reap Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  -Project Director - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Peter, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not even share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.

My thanks to Robert, a pen name as required under Cambodian privacy regulations)

for allowing me to publish this very interesting well written story.

"How We Feel When We Are Travelling"

by Robert

 

   People like travelling when they’re having a holiday.

They want to know the differences between places. They want to show how they are feeling when they are visiting the places that they don’t know.

   For me, when I am travelling I want to see a lot of things that I have never known before and I want to know exactly what that place is like. How surprised I would be when I see that place!

   Actually people travel for different reasons, but especially for me, I travel to know many things. What new kind of animal will I see? Are all the people the same? How many types of buildings can I see? Is it a good place for me to visit? I want to answer all of these questions, but can I really imagine the new place?

 

 

 

Robert, age 16 we have no bio data or picture for this author

Mel u

"The Unlucky Boy" by Van - A Story from the Anjali House Writing Project. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  -Project Director - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Van, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not even share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.

My thanks to Van (a pen name as required under Cambodian privacy regulations)

for allowing me to publish this very interesting well written story.

The Unlucky Boy, by Van

 

   In Cambodia there are a few floating markets in the water village. People sell around their houses. Some of them are fishing on the water. They went fishing in the night. When the sun comes up, they sell fish or something for food around the houses.

   One day, a boy called John went fishing. He wanted to sell his fish. But he was unlucky. He fell ill with a headache, and then he fell into the water. He can swim but he was so tired that he cannot swim that time. Nobody knew him. He died in the water. John never went home. His family cannot find him. They were very unhappy. Finally, they learned he was dead.

 

 

 

 

Van, age 16 

 

One year ago, I went to Tonlé Sap Lake. I went there with my friend. We also rode a boat to the floating village to see the floating village life. When I arrived there I also fished with my friend and we spoke about the floating village. We went to have lunch together and in the afternoon we climbed the mountain to see the sunset and we took a photo together.

Mel u

"Beautiful Snow in Antarctica" by Victor - from The Anjali House Writing Project, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  -Project Director - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Victor, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not even share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.

My thanks to Victor (a pen name as required under Cambodian privacy regulations)

for allowing me to publish this very beautiful poem.

"Beautiful Snow in Antarctica" 

by Victor

 

Antarctica is very nice, I love Antarctica.

I want to go to there but it is very cold.

I can’t live there.

There are some dangerous animals.

There are sharks in the sea.

Polar bears in the caves of ice...

I love ice.

 

Antarctica has a lot of penguins.

They have wings but they can’t fly.

They can only swim and walk.

Some dangerous animals like to eat penguins.

Some of the penguins are dead

because the dangerous animals eat them.

 

The people can skate on the ice.

I hope I can go to Antarctica

Because Antarctica is very nice but it’s very cold.

 

Victor, age 13 

 

When I was 10 years old, I was swimming with my friend in the pond. I tried to swim very hard, but next I felt like I drowned in the water. I thought I was going die but my friend was trying to help me. Finally I was safe. My friend helped me  by swimming to get me from the water. When I came home I was very scared that my parents would hit me. Then my friend tried to help me again by using good words and they didn’t hit me. I am very happy that my friend always helps me.

Mel u

"Damage, Flood" by Tory- A Marvelous Poem from The Anjalj House Writing Project Siem Reap, Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  -Project Director - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Tory, , like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not even share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.

My thanks to Tory (a pen name) for allowing me to publish this very beautiful poem.

"Damage, Flood"

 by Tory

 

The weather is coming

The floods are running to nature

The plants and rice fall down

People do not have much food to eat

or much water to drink

Many people move to different places

They are working for their food.

 

Sometimes they are happy with their jobs

Sometimes sad

because they miss their hometown and family.

 

In three months the flood

leaves their world

The people can come back home

Now they have freedom

They are happy with their life.

 

 

 

Tory, age 17 ( author supplied data)

 

   When I was young, I had a school trip at Anjali House. I went there by bus, there were a lot of people with me. They were all students and teachers. There were two people with me there from my family. The place that I went was Kompong Som. From here to there it was a lot of hours to arrive there. We started at 7 o’clock in the morning, and reached at 7 o’clock in the evening. When I was on the bus I felt carsick but I slept because I had fever.

   There they had many houses and in the night I saw a lot of lights in one house. When I arrived there I felt very tired and wanted to go to bed but before I went to bed I had dinner with friends. After dinner I went to take a shower with my friends and then went to sleep.

   When I woke up I had a breakfast and got in the bus because we had to go swimming in the sea. This was a very long story, but my feeling is that I wanted to tell you  that I was very happy and that there were a lot of interesting things there. I felt I want to go there again and again.

Mel u

"Travel" by Soupie. - A Wonderful Poem from the Anjali House Writing Project - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Soupie, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master. The two languages do not share a common alphabet and Khmer is written from left to right.   

My thanks to Soupie, a pen name to protect her privacy, for allowing me to share this very moving poem with my readers.  You can see the recurring images of forests.  

"Travel"

 by Soupie

 

I want to go to England

Because I like to travel

Because I like to work in another country

England has a lot of people

England has four seasons

At night the weather sometimes is cold

I like to live in a hot country but I want to feel cold

like in England

Before I travel I can’t sleep. I am scared.

But when I travel I think I will feel

Happy to see a new place

Sad maybe to see a fire in a forest

Pity if I see people who don’t have houses

Excited to see a beautiful forest

I like to travel to new countries

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soupie, age 15 - we have neither bio data or a photograph of Soupie but I think we can discern an innate goodness and curiosity in her moving poem.

Mel u

Ruprecht sends greetings to all Anjali House Writing Project Participants

"Redemption of Man" by Toots - from The Anjali House Writing Project - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Master Link to All Project Related Posts

Sue Guiney's Introductory Post  - contains important links 

My Overview of the Project

My Q and A with Dana Hui Lim author of Mother and the Tiger- A Memoir of the Killing Fields. - essential background information

Toots, like all the work shop participants, is just starting to learn English. Unlike European languages, the structure and grammer of the Khmer language does not share Latin roots with English, making it very hard to master.  Of course the reverse is also true.

My thanks to Toots, a pen name to protect her privacy, for allowing me to share this very moving story with my readers.

"Redemption of the Man"

by Toots

 

   Five years ago there was a small village that has a lot of people living in it. But in the village was one family which was very poor. They had many children. The husband did not have a job. He was always fighting with his wife for money to buy wine to drink with a friend every day. Their life was very hard. They had six children.

   The woman was very afraid of the husband. The woman wanted to run away and took her six children. They went to their aunt’s house in Phnom Penh. The aunt wanted to know about the husband and asked the woman about her husband and what he did with her and her children. The aunt got very angry. She wanted to kill the man. The aunt said: “you

can stay here, when he comes here, I will kill him. You don’t have to be afraid.”

   Two weeks later the man was coming to Phnom Penh. He wanted to say sorry to the aunt, but the aunt didn’t forgive him. The aunt spoke with the woman, the woman said: “I have pity for him because I know that he has changed his attitude and that he doesn’t drink wine anymore.” One son came to the mother and said “I want to have a father. Mother where is my

father?” The mother didn’t say anything.

   One time, the father came again and he prayed to the aunt and the mother to forgive him. Then they forgave him and the family went back with the father. Now they live happily ever after and the children can go to school. The man has a job and he has a lot of money. Last year he went to build a big house for the family.

 

Toots, age 15 - we have no bio data on this author.