Can someone give more specifics about these sites, and their appropriateness (or not) for youth? I have 2 kids, ages 11 and 13; my (adopted) son is Cambodian-American, and the Khmer Rouge regime is a part of his family history, and also how he came to be in our family. He knows a little about it, but not much; this will be our first time visiting Cambodia. I feel it%26#39;s important that he learn about it, but don%26#39;t want to overwhelm him, or to make him too preoccupied to enjoy the rest of our time there. Tuol Sleng sounds a little too intense, but I%26#39;m not sure. Maybe part of it is ok? Does the National Museum have info about the Khmer Rouge? What about the Killing Fields?
I%26#39;d really appreciate any feedback.
Children / Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng
We have been to both Tuol Sleng and Killing Fields. I think it depends on your childern! The Cambodions are very friedly and want to show you what happened to them. IF they find it to much you can always walk out. If you are going to Siem Reap give them a treat and go by boat and let them sit on the roof.
Children / Killing Fields and Tuol SlengDifficult choice to make. Either place, S21 or the Fields can be overwhelming or if you like you can stand back a little and not get it right in your face if you know what I mean.
We have some pics on our website of the sites that we visited earlier this year... www.thebobmarsh.com
Happy %26amp; safe travels
Think about what the average american kid that age sees on tv every day.
There is an indifference to violence in america (and maybe other places too) that worries me, mainly propagated by tv, movies, computer games, etc. Older children need to understand that violence is real, not just something on tv, the genocide in Cambodia was a real tragedy that happened to real people not too long ago.
But then I%26#39;d agree that it might depend on your children.
I%26#39;ve had several friends come with children that age and they were forever imprinted both by the history of the tragedy and by the volunteer work the children did while in Cambodia which I encourage you to have them do, if there%26#39;s time in your schedule. If you don%26#39;t have time, at least take lunch to an orphanage or school, or something easy like that.
It will replace whatever somberness from the museums with absolute joy and send the very strong message that inside every tragedy is always hope.
A good place to eat in Phnom Penh (if it is still open) Is Friends restaurent it run by and for the street children of the city and a great place to eat.
Torture prison - still blood stains. Also photos depicting the bodies found in the cells.
As for the killing fields - the monuments with all the skulls/bones inside is pretty disturbing.
However that being said - if the lil ones are descent age - this sort of history of abuse should be shown. The horror of it all teaches us how evil/cruel people can be on the simple disagreement over politics.
s21 and the killing fields are both incredibly intense. i can%26#39;t imagine visiting either and not feeling utterly crushed. but i am so glad that i saw both. it is something i felt i HAD to see, just like going to auschwitz was something i felt i HAD to do. just being in cambodia alone you feel the khmer rouge everywhere. everyone has horrific stories to share which they do willingly. i read a great memoir about a girl growing up under the kr while i was there and one of our guides had almost the exact same experience. i think it will be very intense for your whole family, more so for your cambodian-american son when he considers the hell his family went through. i don%26#39;t remember anything about the kr at the national museum, but i could be wrong. even with all the violence and wrongful death that has so plagued cambodia, the people are warm and friendly. it makes you ask the age-old question -- why -- even more.
Earlier this year we took our 2 boys aged 9 %26amp; 5 to both S21 %26amp; the Killing Fields. Our 9 yr old had watched the
Killing fields before we went so was very interested to go %26amp; although a little overwhelmed by both places he took it all in and was glad he went. The 5 yr old was very moved by all the photos and kept talking about them for weeks after. We thought it important for them to see both places to understand the history of the country but made sure our trip to S21 was quite quick and they didn%26#39;t have to see everything. Our guide was great and made sure we avoided some of the really disturbing things. I suppose it depends on the maturity of your kids but our 9 yr old is fascinated by history and had done lots of research on the Khmer Rouge before we went. I think the Killing Fields is an unmissable place, very sombre but again you can be selective over how much the kids see.
enjoy your trip to Cambodia, we all had a great time and the kids can%26#39;t wait to go back
No comments:
Post a Comment