Cambodia is quite different from Vietnam. Mr. Ra, our Cambodian guide, and Ken gave us several good mini-lectures on the history and culture of Cambodia. We watched "The Killing Fields" and toured Tuol Sleng, the prison/interrogation center in Phnom Penh. We plan to visit one of the actual killing fields in Siem Reap. With a population of 8 million, around 2 million Cambodians were killed between 1976 and 1979. There are no words to adequately respond to the horror.
There were eight survivors of Tuol Sleng, two of whom were there this morning. They have written their stories and many of our students bought copies. The photo is of Alexa with the two survivors.
I was reminded of the Cambodian family that was sponsored by some Kalona, Iowa churches at that time. I realize now how little we could understand or empathize. They seemed so different, so odd to us. I know we tried; I'm not sure how well we were able to care for such wounded people.
There are still 100 deaths or injuries each year from land mines laid during the civil war. The mines were laid by a number of countries, including the U.S.
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