Hello all!
This blog is being set up to help me stay in contact with those back home and around the world while I am in Cambodia. I hope to be able to talk about my work; my play; my general thoughts on the culture, life and food; and anything else that comes to mind. In past travels, I have sent out mass emails; however, often they were long and came at in opportune times. Because of this, many people missed out on what I had to say. Also, with the blog, I can keep track of all my thoughts and have a record when I come back. I encourage people to leave me comments on any of the posts. Welcome to the blog!
An MSW in Cambodia 
Mer said,
December 20, 2006 at 9:38 pm
This is SO cool. Good idea!
I’m so excited for you, Clare. I’m also very proud of you for what you will be doing in Cambodia, and in this field. I have come to understand, mainly from a few programs I’ve seen on Lifetime (that 4 hr made for TV movie starring Mira Sorvino was particularly good), that human trafficking is a huge problem all around the world. In other words, Americans are more aware about how it occurs in countries like the one you are about to go to than they are about how prevalent it is in The United States. In addition, a lot of people still haven’t heard the true stories of American teenagers who’ve ended up in humantrafficking situations or dead after going into a chatroom and being noticed by someone who wants to molest or exploit them. I know you are fully aware of how serious this is, so I say this mainly to illustrate that I truly believe you, directly or indirectly, can be a part of saving these people’s lives. You will also help many families avoid the pain that is caused by losing a child, son or daughter to this horrible crime.
Clare said,
December 21, 2006 at 12:27 am
Thanks Mer for being my 1st comment!! I liked the lifetime movie too. I have also been impressed about how it has shown up on TV shows like CSI, Law and Order SVU, etc. I think it is great that the public is gaining more awareness. What I think is sad is that this problem has been around for so long and that before it became more prevalent in Eastern Europe (thus white people being trafficked) that it was not looked at. I am sure I will have a post later about the racist undertones that have created the counter-trafficking movement. Not that I am sorry that the movement exists. Obviously, I believe that these services are necessary and more should be done… but sometimes it is interesting to look at the how things begin.
milly said,
January 8, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Clare,
be safe…..I am very happy for you…..i will keep in touch…love milly
Erin said,
January 8, 2007 at 8:56 pm
We will miss you! It was great seeing you over the holidays. The blog is a wonderful idea and looks awesome. Safe travels. Love, Erin
lakshmi said,
January 10, 2007 at 9:03 am
Yeah I think that one is less likely to see a “white woman” coming out of a brothel and think slave…anywho can’t wait to read another posting from you…And inform us on what Cambodian food is like, I’m guessing it is like Vietnamese…Lakshmi
Mer said,
January 11, 2007 at 1:28 am
I was just messing around on MySpace, and I thought of you! Hope things are going well in Taiwan. It was really good talking with you:)
Clare said,
January 16, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Lak-
I promise to have a post on food forth coming. Let me eat a little more first. 🙂
Erin-
It was great to see you too. Thanks for coming down with the kids. And thank Kevin for lending you to us.
Mer-
Thanks! It was great talking to you too. Guess, technically, it won’t happen again soon. But you never know when I will be back in the country.