Helmets...

The things you see here are unbelievable! Yesterday my and my brother were on the back of a moto coming home from french class and when we were almost home, there was an accident up ahead. It was bloody and nasty! The woman on the one moto who was hurt the most wasn't wearing a helmet and had major head injuries.

This made me think... I always wear my helmet but sometimes (admittedly) I get embarrassed about it. I take moto's everywhere so I am always carrying it with me. Some of my friends don't wear a helmet and wearing one in front of them is a bit awkward. But who cares!?!? What if any of them get into an accident like that lady I saw yesterday? Who knows what would happen to them? I understand that it isn't "cool" to wear one and it looks weird... AND it messes up your hair... but there is no way I am going to stop wearing a helmet. It may not be cool but I am pretty sure you're friends wont think it's cool that you weren't wearing a helmet when you crash and hit your head.

Yea I have a very strong opinion about it and if you don't like it then that's not my problem.. But my opinion is the right one. WEAR YOUR HELMETS PEOPLE!!!!

Life as a Third Culture Kid

I live in Phonm Penh, Cambodia. So, you could guess that I'm a bit different then the average Canadian teenage girl. I don't take the bus to the mall... I take a "moto dop", which, for those of you who don't speak Khmer, is a motorcycle taxi. But I'm not SO different as to not have malls, or ride my elephant to school. ;-) We have cell phones, internet, go shopping, play video games, hang out with friends, etc etc. I think I just view life a little differently. The world doesn't revolve around me or my life as much as my life can make the slightest changes in our world and I truly want them to be a small step in the right direction.

Living overseas, you find you learn much more about other cultures then you do your own. I know more about Cambodia and south-east Asia then I do about Canada and North America. Going back to Canada is something I look forward to in terms of seeing friends and family but dreading when i think about all the customs I will have to familiarize myself with. It's been just over two years since I have come to Cambodia and the only time I have been out of the country was last august for a week or so, and I went to Vietnam. I am committed to this country just as much as my parents are, no matter what people say. I was not "dragged along" this time. I wanted to come back just as much as they did. This is my home. THESE are my people. My heart is here.

Living in a country with such a transient expat community, you generally make friends with people form all over the world. Having people you know placed all over the map makes the world feel much smaller. I like the feeling. It helps me feel closer to the ones i love whom are half way across the world.

Did you know that TCK's (third culture kids) experience more grief and loss by the time they are 21 others do in their whole lives? Well, we do. But you know what else that means? It means we are tough.

It's 1 o'clock in the morning, and I have to go to sleep, but I hope to update on my life stories and my opinions later.

~Sam xx