Welcome to Cambodia Mr. Obama

Two weeks after he was reelected, President Obama came to see me. Aaaaand the rest of Southeast Asia. It was the first time any US president has ever come to Cambodia! While abroad, I'm usually I'm a little embarrassed to say I'm American. Anyone who has traveled outside the US has most likely also felt this way many many times. This was the most national pride I've ever felt outside of America. People here were SO EXCITED for President Obama. It was such a big deal that all schools, many roads, and most businesses were closed. Surprise 4 day weekend? This is my kind of country.

Cambodia hosted a huge pan-Asian conference that fell in conjunction with Obama's visit. Police were EVERYWHERE. Both ends of my block were monitored by police officers, while hundreds more lined the streets. They would temporarily stop all traffic on main roads to allow faceless Asian diplomats in the sleekest black cars I've seen in months, drive down the road straddling the double yellow lines. Right, because they need all 4 lanes to drive down the street. Then again, it's not like anyone respects those double yellow lines...ever.

It was really cool to see the swell of pride from the local Cambodian people. Before school one morning my TA said "I hope because Obama is coming, the whole world will know of Cambodia". The people here are so proud of their country, and the giant strides they've made in the few decades following their dark period of genocide. That being said, corruption is alive and well in Cambodia, and there are countless problems that remain within this country.










I have the same wish as my TA. I hope that Cambodia will continue to develop, and the world will begin to look at Cambodia not with pity, but with open arms, recognizing the enormous amount of work left to do, but appreciating and encouraging their crusade to progress.