Meetings Gone Awry

As a continuation from my last post, the drama intensifies...

The most hilarious and horrible thing happened at a meeting last week. (Other than being asked to raise money to build a government building. Sheesh.) I got to see all the miscommunication in action. Meaning, there was a meeting with only three participants and they talked over each other, refused to listen, but then finally agreed upon the appropriate action. Three divisions of government authority in the District were represented: a Councillor from the District Council (the Director did not attend. again.); the Head of Administration in the District, and; the Second Deputy District Governor. Chairing the meeting was the NCDD Facilitator. My VA Virack and I were there to observe.

Another day, another meeting...

The entire agenda of the meeting was to discuss putting one new point on the agenda for the Monthly District Council Meeting. It took about two hours. What was the point

Presenting Problems without Solutions

Royal Arms of Cambodia

Last week I attended a meeting with the District Council. A majority of the Councillors attended but noticeably absent were the Director and the lone female Councillor. This special meeting was arranged by the NCDD (the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development) Facilitator who is responsible for development the capacity of 4 districts in Kratie province. Since I am only working with Chet Borei District he is eager for me to help him out. I plan to have him facilitate some sessions for me so hopefully it will be a mutually beneficial arrangement!

The meeting was intended to bring together the Councillors to discuss the problems with their work. This is the fourth meeting of its kind and the Councillors were frustrated; they had already submitted their complaints at the last three meetings and nothing had been

Mosquitoes, lizards, and other creepy crawlers

I am really not squeamish when it comes to insects or other animals that scurry about unexpectedly. I suppose that comes from growing up on a farm where capturing garden spiders from their webs in clam shells and 'rescuing' baby mice from the barn was a childhood past time for my sister and I.

One huge spider in Japan

While living in Japan, I had some run-ins with spiders - or rather, mice with eight very long legs -
that left me a little shaken, sleep deprived and with a twitch in my eye. I think it is a primal reaction with spiders like that as I read somewhere that some spiders adapted their poison specifically to kill primates, so there's that. Thus far, there have been no sizeable spiders in this place to speak of - knock wood! (see end of post!) I did see an injured spider crossing the street in town and its body was half the size of a golf ball...so I know they're out there!

Anywho, whenever you're in a new place, squeamish or not, there are always adjustments to make when it comes to the other living things that you live with - willingly or otherwise. In other words, I've been taking some pictures and getting to know the local wildlife in my house in Kratie, Cambodia.

"When the decent people stay out of politics, they shouldn't be surprised when politics become indecent" (Friedrich Naumann)

My VA and I have had this discussion a couple of times already, and we've only been working together a few weeks. How do good, honest, hard-working people get into government? Or, more accurately, why? Why is it that local government authorities are so undervalued that they don't get paid enough to dedicate themselves to the public? In Cambodia, people like my VA have considered public service, but he can't afford to work honestly as a public servant (that means, not taking 'extras' and working other jobs instead of serving the pubic) and adequately support his family. This work attracts those who can afford not to work, those who are looking for the power, prestige, connections, and the extra money that may come on the side, as well as those few altruistic types that are truly looking to represent the public.

Dar Commune Office, Chetr Borei District

So, how does this affect me? Working with people who are, yes, dedicated to their work, but not really an advocate for those less fortunate, it can be difficult to convince them to let go and support the voices from below, as much as I try. I've heard a lot about the villagers being 'uneducated' 'dirty' and 'children'. The commonly held view and the perpetuated hierarchy in Cambodia emphasizes the parental role of the government. In my research conducted on land governance, the villagers were rejecting this paradigm, asking "how can they be our parent if they don't help us or listen to us?" The local authorities said