Depends

When we are young we know the answer to things.. .everything is black and white... 2 + 2 does actually equal four.

As the years pile on we slowly come to discover the answer is really Depends. So 2 + 2 depends on factors on whether you want to boost profits, minimize tax returns, hide your wealth from your divorcing wife or whether these are statistically significant numbers.

In the real world, this can be coped with because you have cultural touchstones, a moral base to make judgments and societies norms to help you with the Depends. Working here in Cambodia we don't have that pleasure.

The country has so many factors that come into play in every decision that sometimes it is better not to ask. Corruption places highly in that is pervades all parts of the countries life and every dealing with the government or official powers is rife with it.

Certainly Cambodia is not unique in the corruption that exists within society. In fact the UK has only recently had the MP's expenses issues, Jimmy Saville (how if the man on the street knew, did the police not do anything), media corruption and companies finding ways to minimize their tax bill.

In all of the cases Cambodia on the other hand is open and honest about the corruption. See these news stories for proof 

• Police fight battle of Bulge. More than 100 military police from a unit in Banteay Meanchey province were ordered to strip off their shirts on Tuesday, and take a walk of shame—in front of assembled cameras of the media
• Anti Election Trio charged with terror plot - Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court on Thursday charged three men with breaking the election law and participating in an anti-government movement after they were caught transporting T-shirts urging Cambodians to abstain from voting in the July 28 national election.
• Motorist to enjoy fine free roads ahead of election - Motorists will have an easier ride over the next few weeks, as traffic police in Phnom Penh have been ordered to focus on easing the flow of vehicles ahead of the July 28 election rather than fining drivers for traffic violations.

(Awesome, its like a world ruled by the Daily Mail ...)

This along with rigid structural hierarchy, a social pecking order, White is Right mentality and the open sexism that invades all of strata of life makes things erm .. interesting.

So to any to any question asked here we get a fabulous Cambodian Depends. It is a source of much much much frustration.

It greets you at every turn, answers every question and just when you think you have made it to 4, someone points out it is a public holiday and everyone is off for a week!

With the positive love I espoused before you would think that it would be easy to rise about it and enter a zen like state of happiness. Sadly the last 4 days has created the need to go an find a cave and carry out some primal screaming. Probably followed by some small banging head against the wall.

It has made me doubt my abilities, the fact of my existence and why don't I spend more time in bars!

At least a farmer knows that his crop is likely to grow, I am sowing madly and when I ask the gods if this will bear fruit ... guess the answer. .. 

And yet ....

When you get that Cambodian smile or someone is really truly pleased to see you (and therefore touches you a lot) it is easier to deal with the pain.

Yes I might be rubbish but it is sunny outside.
Yes I should spend more time in bars but then I wouldnt get to go to villages and see some amazing parts of the country.
My existence is a fact for now, and some point it will stop being a fact and there is (relatively) little I can do about.

It is like a puppy who knows that it has destroyed the last toilet roll in the house, chewed your favorite shoes and left you a present in your bed ...  you have to forgive...

So embrace the Depends, make it your friend and let it buy you a beer ...

Oh and the running is going well :-)
Mid way through the plan ... on target for first 5k in about 4 weeks.
Fingers crossed ...