Rudeness is simple it doesn't go by nationality

I haven't blog in a long time been busy but I will soon with pictures of cause.

In the developing world or not I believe basic manners are from within and people are either plain rude or just have bad character. I'm on my way to Japan right now and while I was in line there is a man (Caucasian) just walk right in front of me and cut my line which I see so commonly but mostly are Asian men or women who I always assume has less of characters. Just because he is "white" the airline personal let him do that. Simple rudeness. I didn't say anything because maybe I lack courage but I am being a bigger person here brush off the bad character person which I think the world must have at least more than 50% in population. 

They should label these people and have a stay away sign light up on top of their head. This way at least I can avoid thing I hate.

Suggestion to deal with rude people?

Sometime I just bi&*%$ about it because it releases by stress....

Last night before I closed my eyes I suddenly remember my trip to America in June during my brother's graduation. I have been busy and couldn't bother to blog about it but it hits me that the event hit me so hard. I still remember the faces of those immigration officers at SF.

I don't understand why people still being racist and no customer service skill or whatsoever.
These are such a common sense that all people should know by heart.

My whole family was so excited to attend my brother's graduation ceremony at UC Davis. His honor was highly important to us as we appreciate education in general, that's why everyone flew over to the far land of United States just for that one day.

Some of you may not find it as important or treat it as just another day but coming from a country that great school and higher level education is limited, almost none when I was young. It is a big deal.

What happen was my mother went through immigration at SF international airport and the officer who happen to be "white" he told us that her passport expiration date should be 6 months from the visa issued. I never heard of that before but the guy sent us to a room where an "Asian" officer was working and he just let us go because he said it's no big deal! We waited 45 minutes in there. That's one discrimination.

So Asian family tend to carry ton of cash when travel, specially my family, our country is not credit base. We work with cash in thousand and thousand of dollars, it is so common to see a dress-down gentlemen wears flip-flop but bank in hundred thousand cash in one time.

As I said, my brother's graduation is a big deal so my mum carried big sum of cash just enough to spend for his after graduation dinner and to sustain our one week in America for all 7 of our family members. On the other hand, I carried a certain sum just to open bank account in America for my son just because I assumed it will be safer and better for his future, who was six months old and sick at the time.

This last trip proved my decision to move back and never obtain the citizenship are all right thing to do. We didn't declare our cash on hand as a family, so officer "TRUN" (will never forget that name) stop us and inspect all of our luggage, cut them open, go through every little detail even our hand carry bags, and we couldn't touch any of it until they said so. Just because during the questioning my sister mentions that he wasn't as fortunate as my son that his mother is saving for him, he got so upset and wasn't going to let us go easily, his supervisor who is again "white" American pulls him aside told him to be firm and threaten us. Second discrimination.

The government of America was going to confiscate all of our cash on hand because we didn't declare the total amount (Come on! do their mother tell them how much money she have?? Why would my mother tell me honestly in the first place how much she was carrying!)

And accused my father of having a record with false declaration. Really!?? My father doesn't even speak a single English word

ME: "I want a lawyer, if you are going confiscated all of our money"
Officer TRUN: "Let me check with my supervisor"
after 10 minutes
Officer TRUN: "Ok this time we will let it be a warning so you can leave"

All of that after argument, anger and tension we waited for 3 hours! My six months old was on high fever and we have been tired from the plane ride over 17 hours! Seriously this is how people who work with honest money being treated for bringing TOO MUCH MONEY to spend in America?

I regretted for have had study in America and for allowing my son to become its citizen.

What's the different between American government and its policy holds comparing to other countries?

One thing I know for sure it don't give a f***** about tourism or customer service.

Thanks Heaven I wasn't born as American otherwise I will be that ignorant.

Delicious combination...

Today is a lazy day for me since I didn't have much sleep last night and my mind won't stop thinking of random thoughts. I love my son and he's the cutest person ever but he never sleep well during the night. I wonder what are the thoughts that going through his head. I woke up late for work (not like there's restriction of me going or leaving) so I stay at office during lunch break to work on my personal projects and before entering the office, I stop by a mini mart and found these:

A Crispy Anchovy in red pepper powder which came from Thailand and it's manufacture by a company names Utai-Tim Crispy Fish. What a great snack! I was looking for something to top my instant noodle and so happy to find it.

The packaging is great and it goes really well with my noodle. It is my first time to try both if you like spicy and have very little time for lunch try them out. It doesn't have to crispy anchovy, I think many thing go well with instant noodle. The instant noodle is MYOJO brand from Singapore by NISSIN group of Japan. The favor I got was spicy mushroom which tasted just like Korean 'Shin' noodle. It has the kimchi favoring.

The anchovy is sweet and crispy, the noodle is salty and spicy so it kind of balance it off. I was looking for spam to go with my noodle (which is the best combination to me) but the mart didn't carry any. I think Asian people don't really eat spam unlike in America where spam is easy to find and affordable. Share with me if you are having instant noodle combination, I like to know what other eat with their instant noodle. 

Book of the month

Since working for the company I have try many ways to enhance the working environment and doing something good for our staff despite there is time where I gave up on the company due to the leader's vision and management style differ from my beliefs.

An average education level is low through out Cambodia, individual who obtain sufficient education will be able to find job and work at some comfortable surrounding and I like to think that this company is doing something to create a better working condition.

I started a book reader session on a monthly basis, but there are so few of them like to read which is sad but understandable. I used to dislike books and I though it is so boring to read on print. Only after I moved back that books have become an eye opening for me and keep me company through all these empty time. When I finish a book, I always feel that I learn something new.

This month I have been reading One Man's View of the WORLD - Lee Kuan Yew. An interesting insightful of his opinion on the world. I admirer his character and Singapore is fortunate to have such a leader.

It is a great book from a leader perspective, pick up and have read. Great for politic enthusiast.

 

Oceanography....deep blue sea

Interestingly I came across an article published today on BBC NEWS on the down under species and it said scientist has only focus on shallow water and we have no knowledge about other out there. Today I learn that there's a Kingdom call Animalia and I bet your spelling check doesn't even carry this word. It sounds so awesome tho and I get to wiki search on animal like snailfish, cusk-eel, amphipod which look like shrimp and crayfish cross breed.

Alicella gigantea have you heard of it? Such a cool name and so much that scientist doesn't know about them.

It the deep blue that keep me wonder.

Check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28332715 for more reading

Swim away.....

Wake up to reality...investing in developing countries

If I have my readers wonder what do I do? Let me tell you I work for a company that been open for a long time and all we did was to convince investors into the country to invest build factory and create jobs for the local people. We try very hard to present our country to the world that we're ready to accommodate all businesses from major corporation (which many are here already) to medium and small enterprises.

The truth to be told, I believe when venturing into country like ours it is very common and should be expected that not everything work the way you want them to be. At least not from my point of view. The corruption will be there, people will have lesser education level which equivalent to lower mentality of understanding how thing suppose to work. But then again, how does thing should really work? I'm talking about corruption, under table, red tape or whatever you want to call them.

If you're a true transparency company coming over to country like ours do you really expect everything to change, let's be real here. A country runs just like an organization, it sets out to generate profit, maintain votes from its people and all the political wills to maintain "the system" the way it has been.

I believe changes are good and it can bring the country to future growth but all changes come with a price along the way it will also raise problems and more issue to solve.

There's a company who interested to invest with us and have been trying hard to convince the governments that they need to change and not charge any under table money. I'm 100% sure that all Ministers and their team will agree and welcome them happily. STOP! Think! Do you really believe that's how the game work? If the government can't collect from the foreigner then where do you think the income or revenue flows in? The source of their living will stop just because you say it is the right way to do business? Think about it there will always become someone else expenses to continue paying those money. Why? Because if no one pay up then we, the local, will have the hell of live doing business in our own country.

Something will changes but only through time and education that it will make a developing country into a developed country. Don't expect it to happen in the next few years, it will take decades to groom the generation that are selfless and love the nation as it should be.

I'm just hoping that that kind of day will come while I'm still alive.

Shout Out for Youtube stars

If you are like me and love to watch Youtube for all sort of thing and entertainment do check these guys and girls out as they're my favorite people to watch:

Bruno Albouze: He's a chef who move from France to San Diago, CA and his skills for cooking is top notch and I can't any other channel who is professional and fun like him

Michelle Phan: She's huge and I been follow her since she started ipsa the beauty community both hers and Mr. Bruno's video I seen all of it and they are all amazing. She's a girl next door who turn dream into reality and her voice is so friendly that just keep watching her. She's a great make-up guru and have her own cosmetic line which I brought and I'm loving it tho it kind of expensive

CAPE: Subscribe if you're an Asian like me cause they're the supporter of Asia actors with awesome people on it

Cookingwithdog: The Japanese lady chef is so adorable and skillful and I tried her recipes which all turn out super delicious make me want to fly over and learn Japanese cooking with her

Improv Everywhere: amazing people doing amazing things

Kina Grannis: Love her voice and she's so talented

Munchies: I got to say they know food around the world and the chefs are people who just like us but dare to take the step and make their dream come true

Gennaro Contaldo: I can't believe he doesn't have million of subscribers which make me thing what happen to all the food lover? You got to love him amazing amazing person

Last is ScottBradleeLovesya: They are awesome team who did cover for all the famous songs into jazz and their own style which I love to listen

Check them out if you're reading this blog. If you love food, creativity and music like I do, you will love them

When will this corruption stop? Is it never ending? -- updated

I have seen so many corruption in this country and this region that it is so normal but it was to point that I have to bi*^$% about it in my blog which I can't (not that I don't want) but I just can't say who here how the story goes:

Last year a certain very high profile individual brought a piece of land which is very close to my mum's house about 200m away and this person decided to build a juggle house where he raised all kind of exotic animals within his compound which is fine by us cause it doesn't bother any of us anyway. His trees are imported each at least 2meters in height, then a few month back this particular person decided that it is time "improve the road" which our road consider one of the best in town. It doesn't have any hole nor does it has any damage and during raining it doesn't flood.

Just because this person is high ranking and related to the big guy in our country he can just do whatever he feels like. The problem is the damn contractor did the road and leave about 20cm blank from all the residential which is fine but they never did any dike! for the water to flow out! So here is their offer pay $1,000USD and they will complete the blank.

I made a total sum up there are about 20-30 houses living along the 800m stretch of our road so it comes up to 20,000-30,000USD. What in the world? This is the government ideal of improving life for the people? There are ton of roads that needed repair but never did and our neighborhood is not a millionaire area yet we were ask to pay this kind of money just to add concrete so that our car can park into our houses. Tell me what kind of government do this, if not the corrupted one!

Since our internet is so well that I can't upload the pictures to show everyone let it be for now but will definitely sum up the pictures later.

The house that built for a juggle

 In front of my house and that is the space that was left

 I have to admit that the road is much better but still...paying for public road is not the residential duty unless it was through tax money

Thank Goodness for Blogger!

Have you ever have a bad customer service from a bank, a restaurant or anyone? I believe it is so common that any customer related industrial should focus and enhance on their customer service. It is the only way for long term and return business. I recently purchase a unit of apartment here in Phnom Penh and I am so furious about the sale customer service who treated me so unimportant and neglect her duty that I have to write a complain letter.
Her attitude is so impolite and she always busy that she could not take the time to return any of my call and I am so angry that the company doesn't seem to have any other staff who can handle my case.

What will you do if you meet such service? How would you handle the situation?

Loss weight by the bottle

After my son was born I have not been able to loss anymore weight, I know it's only been 6 months but it becomes so hard to just figure out and schedule the time to do it! I was 57kg before I got marry and I gain 17kg during the pregnancy. Now my weight just stay at 64kg and I just couldn't get it to go down. I understand that I suppose to exercise burn more calories than taking in but it is so damn hard! I see why so many people has loss motivation and keep buying pills just to loss weight. I was looking up a baking site when there is an ad show weight loss with "natural" products by 6 weeks. I click on it and man they make it seems so easy and cost $75/bottle which is expensive so I start searching, even though there is no clinical proven that the ingredient help weight loss or and FDA approved on the product but they're selling so well!!

How can any weight loss come by just taking pill? Well I don't believe them but millions of people do! Commitment and hard work is the key to weight loss! So I have started to exercise and doing yoga on my own I'm trying to keep it at least 3 times a week so let's see the result. My timeline is 3-6 months.

MUST KEEP FIT!

Finding Happiness....

A question I often ask myself these days is "am I happy?" or "what can I do to feel happier?" It's not a mental question but I consider it a motivation question to look for higher purpose in life. But, what is a higher purpose in life? I came across audible book call "Delivering Happiness", have anyone read it? The author himself, Tony is the CEO of Zappos one of the largest online shoes store which brought up by Amazon for $1.2billion dollars.
This book was an inspirational moral to me and got to think deeper about my own path of happiness and what I do for a living. I don't enjoy working anymore. I used to come to work with a goal and purpose that I am here making a different for the country and for the people, that were my higher purpose in life. After working at the same company for almost a decade, everything faded. It no longer the company I see how it will be because the company no longer needed my effort to do so. The direction, mission and vision of the operation have changes into just profit generating company. It no longer share any purpose nor the principle I have. I have put my resignation letter our last year in November 2013, but it was rejected. I was ask to stay on until the company goes to IPO which might take another year. At the rate the company is achieving, I can tell that IPO listing is not happening as fast as I like it to be. I then started to think what will I do after I leave?

Is there anything else that I love to do or want to do? Financially, I can't say I have the money to do anything I want but I do have enough to start up something small. I love baking which I don't get the chance to do much. I spent my time wastefully and kept thinking I should or could have done thing that are useful or meaningful to the society. I just don't have the motivation to start. I'm finding my happiness which I want to be able to wake up everyday and love going into my work space and get real satisfaction each time I leave.

I had a goal in my mind that at certain age I should have this or that, but as time goes by those thing became meaningless it was just material thing that doesn't serve any meaning to me.

I'm staring a website call www.mothercare-kh.com which is personal project where information from (mostly babycenter.com) online summary and combined and translated into Khmer for the mothers or women who plan for pregnancy.

What else can I do? I know I have the knowledge and strength in me to do great thing but couldn't find anything that interest me anymore. I like to hear from other people who might feel loss and looking for happiness in life.

Please share with me your thoughts so perhaps I can learn and be inspired by your though.

Thank you!

Have you had a cronut?

It sounds so strange maybe to French patisserie and bakers who doesn't much welcome food revolution but it was so delicious that I need to blog about it. THE CRONUT!
Just a brief intro here, a chef in New York, Dominique Ansel decided that it is time to create something new with the old, putting a croissant and a doughnut - a love of French and American into one bite and it turns out to be so huge that there was a new report on cronut last year which I saw of cause and wanted to try it so badly. I forgot all about that desire till this morning where my lovely sister-in-law (god blesses her!) flow 4 pieces of CRODOS from BAKED by Da Paolo Gastronomia from Singapore to give me a taste and it was all good!
I felt guilty just looking at it - the sinful act - so I told my husband let's share one and I took a bite, of cause he never see the rest.

Seriously I even youtube the "how to make cronut" like few people who actually did it at home but this thing is dangerously good, I would urge you to go and try one! I don't care what any chef have to say but if it is this good you got to really share the loveeeee...... *o*

Can a fortune teller shine light through your way?

Much like any typical Asian family, mine always and I really mean ALWAYS have fortune teller comes over for any reading at any time. Doesn't matter if its holiday or working day, my mother and my aunts will gather and analysis if what the fortune teller reading is accurate or not.
Why do I blog about this is because there a recent development from my mom that a newly found teller who is so accurate could tell a person life without knowing the person at all by reading palm and a book that brought down from China translate into Vietnamese and now in Khmer.
My mother is so devoted that it took her 2 hours to explain to me what the teller have to say about our family, her sisters and her friends. Do your family believe in a fortune teller?
My cousin in-law has also told me about another fortune teller resident in Myanmar who only take appoint 2 times a day and need a year in advance for booking. He doesn't to know who you are and you don't need to ask any questions cause he will tell you how your life will be.
There is a time where my dear aunt was in such worrisome that she has to call a teller to come in at 11PM to read about her business deal. She even let her son gets marry with his girlfriend just because the teller told her it is a great match.
I see fortune reading as a form of entertainment. It is fun to watch how each individual reading sound so vain and everyone face just go "OH..."
I can't deny that there is a certain period of my life that I was so into it too. Why not! it relief my anxiety of troubles and give me some kind of hope that good thing still can happen. We don't have a psychologist here in Cambodia so a fortune teller is someone who can slightly do that job to help you get rib of stress in some way and of cause it is much cheaper!

What a great escape for your mind!

How much is enough?

The politic in my country is a daily discussion and it is said that business must know politic! What degree is the truth based on this? I'm unsure. What nerve racking for me is that the ongoing situation in Thailand which do effect Cambodia business operation and boarder issues. I was in Thailand for my son's vaccination which is very common these days that we, Cambodian, fly over for medical reason or travel to Vietnam which is a cheaper alternative. Coincidentally, the day arrived 22nd May at 4:30PM, the government announced curfew and military take over to retain peace within the nation. All stores closed at 6PM. It sounds serious and dangerous but in real situation nothing was happening, people still going to the mall and live their daily life as normal. What bothering is the nurse at the hospital that I visited asked me if Cambodian prefer "red shirt" rather than the "yellow shirt" she repeated 3 times in total. I assured her 3 time in return that we, Cambodian, has no interest in other country political matter. We are also the tourist who just afraid of the mess in general if we will visit Thailand for medical or other reasons. What was the point of the question anyway? She was judging the whole country political view and assumption, so unfair.
What can I say.....everyone judge!
Aside from my weekend in this political turmoil, I had a conversation with a friend who happen to work for a family member of one of DPM of Cambodia (Deputy Prime Minister). It is just happen that we were speaking of corruption and money laundering. What a serious issues to discuss via text messages. I couldn't help but wonder will I get track down and shut off by the government? If that's the case, can I do anything about it?
In country like ours just like many developing countries, such topics never been discuss in open only privately at home or private space. How do I put this... few of my own family members married business and political associated with corruption and it is so common for red tape. I can't say anything but when will it stop? Will they have anything if they didn't bribe someone for certain land document to be issued? Can my family really survive with that kind of transparency?
Honestly, I don't see any of these family members (maybe few) posses any kind of skills or any knowledge that if they can actually work in more developed country.
Should they actually be proud of such money? I never feel proud about my extended family members. I used to but after working here for almost 8 years, I can say that part of the money was not honest and clean.

Do learn a skill and knowledge that can earn yourself a position you deserved! I believe that is the least I can do to stay healthy, physically and emotionally.

Speaking of truth...

Asian people hate confrontation, well if I put it accurately most Asian people do. I believe it's the truth that they can't handle, it maybe cruel or inconsiderate to them that the truth are spoken. I'm Asian but I prefer to know the truth upfront rather than knowing it later down the line. Trust me it is worst it is best to just say everything you needed to say otherwise it will be your fault and naturally you become the liar. With that being said, of cause certain truth doesn't do anyone good either so it not lying if you don't say the whole truth just enough to protect the person you care about from being hurt. A recent event occurred that I found myself put into a complicated situation. I found that confrontation has it peaks it helps you make new friend but at the same time it makes me became the "busybody" someone and being label "big mouth". I wasn't offended or anything but man it doesn't feel nice to being call certain way.
I try to get out nicely and being cool about it, but it is naturally that I can't confront that's why I rather blog about it. See now! this is Asian thinking.
I consider myself very honest to the point some may mistaken it as being mean or cruel. But really many people can't handle the truth. Most people don't like to hear about it or even thing about it, but I learn my lesson to speak the truth even it's scary and it changed my life completely.
I always think about the past, how thing will turn out if I have spoke the truth completely being honest and without thinking "well....he doesn't need to know since it's in the past". No! it is very important to because without recognizing the past it is the same as not recognizing a part of yourself. I'm a firm believer that the past shape who you are as a person. I knew someone who think the past is unimportant that it needs to stay hidden. Ridiculous? Well that person lives life base on that belief.
I also do look forward to the future, trying with most positive and hopeful thinking.

Anyway, there is a saying which funny enough I saw it on IG and it become my new motto:
"It takes ambitious to stay at the top, bu it takes character to stay at the top"
How true!

It's been a long time coming...

The last post I wrote was October 2013 and since then I have been well and it was an amazing journey so far since my son was born Nolan. He's 5 months old a very friendly, loving and active boy who loves to smile even when he asleep. I found true happiness each morning when I woke up seeing his little hand on my hand. Who knew having a child can bring such joy! I wonder if all parents feel the same.

I came back to work just a few months back and have see thing in much different perspectives. The world seem much better place to live in. Only if you're also passionate about what you're doing then you will make daily life worth waking up to. Within 3 months I have read 5 books and one of the book was such an amazing found that I enjoy so much and have then spread them with my family, friends and fellow employees. I have to say though very few share the love of reading in my family and to my surprise there are more enthusiastic reader from my work place that my family. I recently discovery all the thing that inserted into those books which bring back so much memories. I found a $10 note in one of the book which I still couldn't remember why it was there. I also found an old photography taken ten years ago. What have you left behind in your book? Anything worth remembering?