A slim chance to get a holiday

I can't really complain about the fact that my holiday from school is not exactly like one. The exam has just been over, and a new internship has to be confirmed as soon as possible, part of the manadatory school task as announced. My study isn't very bad, but it has dropped quite a bit. I stop having enough time to read what I like anymore. Every time I open my eyes to read my favourite and exciting books or novels, the eye-lids start to drop. That's why I know I need to find something stimulating (like coffee/water) to do to keep myself awake, only to find out later in the morning, that I fell asleep. Thanks God, the third year of my academic study was just over this week!!!

The long period of taking more tasks has somewhat changed my perspective about everything I do. Even the way I see blogging changes as well. I find it annoying or even irritating since reading now is much more crucial than blogging. Maybe my mind cheats me. It says I enjoy taking up more responsibilities but my heart does not. I want to be the same as before. I want to read, watch nice movies, hang out with cool friends and yes be with my beloved boy.

When I ponder over the past, I really miss out on some very important things like being with my family and friends. Due to my hectice every day schedule, as described, waking up in the morning, going to school, studying from morning till evening, writing stories or doing some other jobs and returning home late in the evening, I feel like living someone else's life. At least, a good thing that can compensate that is trying to console myself that I had a nice childhood as well. I was not begging or traumatized as a child. But as an adult (I call myself so), I am obliged to take up responsibilities such as paying bills, supporting family and yes, earning some surcharge for my school education. I presume this is fair enough.

Some friends at school call me 'money-faced' because I'd rather spend time working than being with them. I always wish I could join. 100% sure. However, I am the same Kounila anymore. I am more responsible and accountable for my well-being and family's. So to say, I have more than 2 or 3 jobs. The reason I have simply explains that if I want to buy something, I can't depend on my parents anymore. My most beloved teacher, whereas, advises me not to be used by anyone who longs for me to do any job. I cried when she told me so. Did I miss much fun already? It is not something I should cry over; it's not the spilt milk... it's only a chance I miss. My boss persuades me to take up a few more days of work after told that my third year study is over and my new internship starts. But I was very hesitant.
My jobs:

+ a part-time job on Saturdays and Sundays and for another news organization
+ a freelancer at an international daily newspaper
+ a freelancing interpreter........and any job that is related to communication and journalism...
I can't trust myself anymore to have a holiday. Sounds gloomy??

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Protect yourself from Swine Flu (healthAndsurvival.com)

NEW BOOK RELEASED MAY 2009: Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun by Eric Madrid MD -Learn about Vitamin D and how it can protect you and your family from the Flu

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source:http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html -Antibiotics do not help this infection since it is not from a bacteria. The only medicines which help are antivirals- -The flu usually strikes during the Winter months and early spring. An epidemic this late is unusual. However, there have been reports of swine flu occurring during summer camps during the summer of 2009.


Swine Flu Deaths
By May 2nd, 2009m the WHO stated there was another 159 probable swine flu deaths, and 1,300 people were hospitalized. The earliest case of swine flu was traced to patient zero- a 5 year old boy in La Gloria, Mexico. The US Company, Smithfield Farms, owns pig farm in town, but none of the pigs have tested positive. Smithfield Farms denied that any of their pigs were infected in a WSJ article in May. Swine Flu Symptoms The swine flu symptoms reported when infected with the swine flu are similar to the symptoms of the influenza virus most are familiar with. The good news is that most people who become infected will do fine and will not have any long term complications. Those who are immune compromised, older or pregnant may be at higher risk of complications or serious respiratory illness. The most common swine flu symptoms include:

• Cough
  Congestion
• Nasal Congestion
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Body aches
• Joint Pains
• Fevers
• Sore throat
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Decreased energy

Rarely death in more severe cases, especially from pneumonia.
Transmission

The viral infection is transmitted to humans who are in contact with swine, although there are several cases of swine flu in people who had no known exposure to either infected people or pigs. Once the species barrier is crossed, human to human transmission can occur with casual contact or airborne transmission, like when one sneezes or coughs. Eating pork products will not cause one to develop the swine flu. Basically, this flu is passed from one person to another like any cold of flu infection.


Prevention of Swine Flu

Washing hands routinely with soap and warm water, and wearing a N99 mask/respirator, such as the Wein ViraMask may also be helpful if you must be in public places. The Wein mask/respirator is strapless and adheres tightly to all faces. When used appropriately, it does not leak. N99 masks provide 100 x more protection than a N95 mask, which are sill a decent option. 3M is also a manufacturer of such masks. If you are planning on traveling by air or train, having a mask available would be a good idea in case it is needed. Also, avoid contact with sick people whenever possible. If you are sick, stay home.
Use alcohol based hand sanitizers to minimize infection risk. Some also use the Wein Air Supply Personal Air Purifier to help reduce exposure to airborne germs. Further, we know that eating healthy food, getting plenty of sleep and keeping your immune system strong can help prevent infections. Vitamin D supplementation may also be of benefit when taken in adequate doses.

Diagnosis of Swine Flu

Remember- most with flu symptoms simply have a viral infection and NOT the swine flu. Maintaining adequate hydration is very important if you contract any viral illness. The swine flu is diagnosed when a physician suspects infection, and sends a nasopharyngeal swab ( a Q-tip of shorts placed about 2 inches in your nose towards your throat) in a special viral collection container to a special lab to be tested.

Treatment of Swine Flu

If you contract the swine flu, there are 2 flu medications which can be helpful. The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. These medications can also be used for the usual avian influenza. Symptomatic care is most important. Antibiotics will not help. Ask your doctor about your options. Those at high risk should strongly be considered for treatment with medications. High risk patients include those with diabetes, heart disease, immune compromised, seniors over age 65.

Swine Flu Vaccine

On June 12, a new vaccine was apparently produced by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. If you did receive a flu vaccine this year, it will not offer you protection against the swine flu. Baxter Pharmaceuticals however issued a press release saying they are working on a vaccine also. Whether these will prove to be effective is unknown. In 1976, the swine flu vaccine actually killed more people that it helped (learn more). Other A study by Dr. Cannell from California also showed that vitamin D can help prevent traditional influenza infections by strengthening the immune system. A daily intake of 2,000 IU daily should be taken at minimum, by most. A dose of up to 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily for a few days may also be helpful. Talk to your doctor about this. However, there are no studies specifically which show swine flu is prevented by vitamin D. Read more about vitamin D’s potential and the swine flu. or visit the vitaminDcouncil.org Talk to your physician if you have concerns or other questions regarding swine flu.
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Swine flu has hit Cambodia

As of this week, local and foreign media have reported that Cambodia announced the first domestic infection of the A(H1N1) virus. Four traveling US students who arrived in Cambodia last week, one Flipino and one Cambodia have tested positive but they have taken to the wings of the ministry of health. WHO has been alerting the whole world for this fast-growing disease. I am personally worried because I heard two cases of death from swine flu in Thailand and an increasing number of infections in the neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Laos.

Deep in the thought, communication is one of the most crucial people skills while 'communication' disease like H5N1 and H1N1 can be passed from one person to the other. 'Communication', as I know it, is the most mentioned activities since it constructs or destructs the whole world. And, yes, it results in another form: communicable disease. The word 'communication', thus, has made a tremendous as well as frightening track record of humankind history. Don't get me wrong... I'm only trying to see the nature of 'communication' in many forms.

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another discovered letter I sent to a lady when I was 17 (Funny, so enjoy!)

Dear Sister XXXX,
I am happy to see V (a girl older than me) caring about me and to have a good friend like her. But I am rather upset when I see her doubting about me. She does not seem to trust me. I am just a little worried about it. I am afriad my relationship with her will get loose.

No matter what I do, I don't want to do stupid or silly things. I just want to play and she thinks I am in love. I am just happier because I can lie to that person. But I can control myself. I have learned a lot and have not thought of one like that. But you said you would want too, right? kidding...

When I do anything, I want to get ideas from my good friends, and everytime I do it, I want trust from my friends. The word trust is so important with friends. Just only that. I am 17 but I don't behave like a baby or someone who does not know something at all.

I want to ask you a question. Do you trust me? There are always solutions. But I am most troubled when my friends do not trust what I am doing.

Goodbye
From Keo Kounila

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My articles written by me on the Phnom Penh Post, enjoy!

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009061126408/Education-and-Career/Students-seen-as-primary-medicine-for-neglected-ailing-health-system.html

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/Special-Supplements/Constitutional-limits-make-King-s-role-hard-to-sell-to-young-Khmers.html

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/component/option,com_jcs/Itemid,261/crestrictid,24876/task,add/ Read more

my favourite media or journalism (more to come)

I’d like to make this post clear and concise. ‘Media’ is what I am taking classes to understand more and more. Historically, it has done so much work to the people with good and bad impacts, as known.
Media theories are very useful and authentic in the way they can help improve society and people’s living conditions. It also shapes the structure of the society and how it is run depends on many factors, but one of them is the media itself. It turns out to be very hard for me to decide a favorite among different media outlets. As we have all known, media are divided into three big divisions: print, broadcast/electronic and new media. Print consists of newspaper, magazines, books, bulletins, newsletters, billboards…etc. Whereas, broadcast includes: radio, television…while the new media is the Internet. Every day, I consume some of these divisions. I like reading newspaper, magazines and watching interesting movies and shows on TV. But my all-time favorite is obviously the Internet; that’s why I’m called ‘net devil’ at school. Not funny :D . Why do I like it? You guess :) . I can’t find everything I want to know in newspaper or radio because they have a limit of coverage, while the Internet can provide everything I’d like, such as virtual communication with different people throughout the world. What’s more, I realize the world is flattened by it.
+I read news online almost every day, by typing www.google.com/news and type in Cambodia into the box of directory.
+I read several books during the day and at night to keep my head clear of the Internet ;-).
+I watch TV only sometimes.
+I read newspaper, just several of it when I have time aside from surfing :D.
+And, I am a news maker (a euphemism for journalist). :D Read more

I find this AFP article quite funny!!

'Ghost' dollars offered for Pol Pot's shoes: report

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — A Cambodian photographer's attempt to sell the sandals of late Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot has yielded only one bid -- 790,000 fake dollars offered in protest at the sale, a report said.

Nhem En, who photographed inmates at the regime's main torture centre and also snapped pictures at official regime ceremonies, announced last month he was selling the footwear along with two cameras.


The shoes belonging to Pol Pot, who died in 1998, were made of car tyre, while the two cameras were manufactured in Germany and Japan.


But "bidder" Pok Leak Reasey told English-language Phnom Penh Post newspaper that he was offering 790,000 fake dollar bills traditionally used to make offerings to spirits of the dead.

"And the reason why I have offered the money in ghost notes is because I want to say that all material remaining from the regime is worth nothing," he said, according to the paper.

Ghost money is used during funeral rites in many parts of Asia.

Up to two million people died of starvation, execution, overwork or torture as the Khmer Rouge, which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, dismantled society in a bid to forge a communist utopia.

The former chief of Tuol Sleng prison, Kaing Guek Eav -- better known as Duch -- is currently on trial for crimes committed during the regime.

Cambodia's UN-backed court also plans to try four other senior Khmer Rouge leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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One night at the Heart of Phnom Penh

Today I spent the whole night scrounging the heart of Phnom Penh for hours only to find myself completely drained afterwards. It was Thursday’s night when my university-mates and I went to celebrate the farewell party for our friends Geoff and Dahye. At first, we all gathered at KT called Korean Town, located in Tuol Kork district, a kilometer away from our university. What I found surprising about KT was that it was a newly-built apartment which offers 6 dollars per kilometer square. It has elevators and a rather big parking lot. It was very koreanized, designed especially for Korean businesses. Inside the room we gathered to sing Karaoke, everything from the room decoration to the posters glued on the wall was in the Korean language.


It was until nearly 12 that everybody decided to leave the karaoke and it cost around 88 dollars, which some of us joked was a good number! It was clearly very expensive here, but we footed the bill. My girlfriend and I talked and agreed we would go straight to our teacher’s house as it’s already very late. Yet, the guys who were coming with Geoff and Dahye insisted we all went straight to Pontoon.

“H-O-M-E,” I said to Geoff.
“P-O-N-T-O-O-N,” one of the guys protested against me, while the others laughed.
Since my 26-year-old film-making teacher was going there too, my girlfriend and I had to go because we had nowhere else to stay except his house. And he had the power in making the decision. Yes, we went with the flow. It seemed to me that every foreigner knows about Pontoon, which I believe is a very energetic disco dancing club. Pontoon once sank into the river. It was built above the riverbank. And when people started to stomp and dance wildly and excitingly, it didn’t take a minute to think it was the cause.

To me, Pontoon is just another night club where only foreigners come and dance, have fun and well, nothing else. I am not a dancing type, and the kind of dancing I like is standing looking others dance. That’s it. My friends, Geoff and Dahye, motioned each other to make me dance. But sorry. The music went on and on, and people danced restlessly. Part of me wanted to snatch my bag and leave for home. “I’m very exhausted...why aren’t they exhausted yet?” I thought to myself. And, the other part of me understood that if I left, it would not look good in front of the two people who were desperate to keep us accompany them for “their last day” in Cambodia.

I kept wondering why foreigners like coming to this place. What’s special about Pontoon? I could only answer a little bit. It is still a place to throw themselves on the floor without being judged. You can be crazy, sexy or bitchy right over there, and nobody cares. And, I’ve been told many night clubs in western countries are always like this. Nothing much different. But for me, I didn’t need to throw myself into the floor; I didn’t need attention from people. All I needed was a sleeping bag, a book to read and a lamp. During the pause, my friends sat down and I glanced through the darkness for people with familiar faces. Yes, I found many familiar ones. They were from the Phnom Penh Post, the daily English newspaper in Cambodia. Then, I concluded that it’s a place where they like but not me. I am open to be called a ‘yokel’ or ‘a faddy-daddy’ girl because this is how I always am. But, no hard feelings, really. I only found out that I don’t like something they like; and I don’t say it’s bad or good. It always depends.

After Pontoon, I thought everybody gave up going for more. But they went on to dance at another club. It was the Heart of Darkness, which is located near Independence Monument. I was very surprised at its size which could host many dancing people. When I got in, I felt lost. Surprisingly, I often go past “the Heart of Darkness” when I go to school after work. If you are outside the club, you can guess it’s only a 10-metre square inside. But it wowed me. It was huge, dim-lighted and could get you lost. At the entrance, the security was tight. I had to have my bag kept with the guard and I was frisked down by the female guard. The entrance door is on the left while the exit one is on the right. Inside, people were dancing senseless, as I saw it. There were girls, drinks, pools, girls, guys, gays and lesbians. It was common to see people dancing kissing. At least to them, not to me. But nobody was bothered, as they say it’s an entertainment place. Ladies who showed too much of their cleavage were at hand. They were dancing, and eying on lonely customers. I don’t know if it’s the best job. From to time, I asked myself what I’d do in their position. 80 percent of the women in prostitution say they don’t want to do it if they have a better choice. But choices remain the matter! Who offers them choices?

I was standing on the stone platform with dancing friends. All I wanted to do tonight was to observe what was happening. I saw sexy dances those ladies performed to attract customers. I thought to myself, “All hunters are that attractive...and these women are so tempting to be refused by guys.” Next to the platform, I noticed two middle-aged Cambodian men. One was sitting and every time people walked past him, he reached out his both hands, close-eyed. Was he sleeping sitting? Was he drunk or high because of drugs? The other guy was dancing closing his eyes. He didn’t look rich of course, just like a normal motordop driver (motor-taxi guy). Was he drunk or on the drug? I still didn’t find out. I suddenly wondered what the other people were thinking about this. Is it a common thing to use drugs here or at any night club? Dancing was going on for another 10 minutes. Suddenly two girls came next to the platform and suddenly touched Geoff’s legs. I asked my friend if he knew the girls. He said no. I thought immediately that they were interested in Geoff. I was told by an older friend before that women working in this place have more choices that women in brothels. They could choose to dance, play or sleep with whoever they like. I don’t know if it’s still a better choice to them.

On my left hand-side were tables. Two guys and several girls were sitting there. It appeared carefully guarded. Nobody was allowed to sit or stand near there. Who are those two guys? One of the guys dressed simply when the other was hatted and in a formal business grey suit. The second guy was talking to a girl, who I believed was not one of the girls here. She looked more like a rich girl who came here only to have fun with her boy. I tried to peer through darkness for the resemblance of the faces.

“Who are those people,” I asked myself constantly. I knew already they were rich guys who needed a tight security everywhere they go. Finally, the girl was leaning on the sofa, her hair covered her face. All of a sudden, she grabbed her bag and left. The guy sat there for nearly 10 seconds and then left for her, I’m sure. Before I decided to come here, one of Geoff’s friends assured that I would learn something. Yes, something that’s very similar to a movie scene I watched when I was younger [I rarely watch TV now.] So, it wasn’t surprising to me at all.
Something else I noticed was the gays in the bar. They were so open and dancing wildly. My film-making teacher enjoyed it; he’s from France. So I think he finds everything quite normal except one, he told me. Gays here are so open. In France, people will just go about being normal men while they are completely gay. Here in Cambodia, gays behave very differently; they are very much girl-like. That reminds me of a group of teenagers who danced during a New Year celebration. They were too young to behave like that. But disclosure of sexual orientation here is becoming much much bigger over the years.

Thus, I learnt nothing but girls, gays, guys, ganja (I believe someone smoked it there). That reminds me of a book written about Cambodia in the early 1990s by an Israeli guy “Off the Road to Phnom Penh”. It was a very heart-breaking book. Well, I am not very sad, since it’s no use crying over something that has to happen. It happens for reasons. And, I am not the one to judge those reasons. I am the one who will contribute to the change; while all the next generations will get this torch and go on. I want to see the human conditions improve—I don’t want to see that pathetic sight of women dressed to kill (the customers), but see them have a roof over their head and moral capacity to feed themselves.
And, my journey was finished till the new day (around 2 am), walking on foot to the teacher’s house nearby. I said ‘goodbye’ to the ‘Hell’ of Darkness. I don’t hate the place but the darkness it gives to my perspective about life.
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