Two Years in the Kingdom- Farewell

 

 

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is Farewell

The time has come to say farewell to the village and therefore this is the final post for this blog. I want to thank all those that have followed my blog over the past 2 years and allowed me to share this experience. These are images of the village where I have spent the last 2 years. It is basically a crossroads. The Health Center that I went to for the past two years in down the gravel road which until recently was dirt. The village has a surprising number of amenities. The wooden booths with corrugated metal roofs sell meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, fruit as well as all types of household products. There is a restaurant, bakery, gas station and air-conditioned coffee shop with wifi. There is a shop for computer and cell phone accessories. Although Cambodia is considered a developing country, they are working hard to change that. I’ve traveled throughout much of the country and felt welcomed everywhere. Hopefully that has come across through this blog.

Now it is time to say farewell and return to the US. Being the only white person in this entire village has given me a perspective that I otherwise would not have gained in the US. I watch the news and see Americans killing Americans simply because they are Jewish, African American or Latino. Americans telling Americans, “go back to where you came from”. I naïvely thought that, for the most part, the US had progressed further than this. So, I leave this blog with this quote from over 100 years ago.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”  

Mark Twain

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

Advertisement

Two Years in the Kingdom- Museum of Fine Arts

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is Museum of Fine Arts

Cambodia has a long rich history dating back thousands of years. Those of us from a western culture may have a hard time grasping this concept because structures that we can consider old in the US are relatively new compared to the ancient temples of Cambodia. Some of these temples were built a thousand years ago. I live close to the ruins of Mount Chisor and go there regularly. The Mt. Chisor temple was built a thousand years ago and is an example of Pre-Angkor architecture. At that time the people of Cambodia practiced Hindu and the inscriptions and designs carved into the sandstone walls of the temples are most likely related to the Hindu deities with writings in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the ancient language of India and Hinduism. My understanding is that there are elements of Sanskrit in Khmer vocabulary and syntax of today. Even the monks at the Wats will chant in Sanskrit.

During the 9^th century, Cambodia transitioned from Pre-Angkor to Angkorean architecture. The word Angkor literally means city. King Jayavarman VII (1181-1220) had converted the country to Buddhism from Hinduism during his reign. Virtually all temple inscriptions that are carved into the stone walls are related to either Hindu or Buddhist beliefs. By the beginning of the Angkor period the inscriptions were written in Khmer rather than Sanskrit. Many of these stone tablets are on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh. It is truly impressive how they were able to carve these writings into stone with such precision and leaving us with a written record dating back thousands of years.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

This is a short description of one of my books called Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. This is my favorite book filled with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

It’s 1930 and Carson Jones is a prison guard at the notorious Eastern States Penitentiary in Philadelphia where some of America’s most violent inmates and gangsters are serving time. Amidst the desperation of the Depression and a crowd of hostile convicts, Carson finds solace in an azalea garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in helping an inmate he believes has been wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death. Carson’s life begins to take a turn when he meets a beautiful young woman through a coworker. Her father is a judge and agrees to help him, but at a price. Carson is forced to choose between a life of meaning and purpose and leaving his friend at the mercy of a threatening warden who is becoming increasingly more unhinged. Though the life he has always dreamed of is finally within reach, is it worth it? In a novel chock-full of history and suspense, James Rizzo crafts a suspenseful narrative full of real-life history and page-turning intrigue.

This is the book trailer for my novel Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. Book sales are increasing so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have supported me by purchasing my books. Although I’m no longer with Smart Cat Publishing, all my books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Links are on this website. Hope you will take a moment to listen and enjoy.

 

Two Years in the Kingdom- Floating Village

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is Floating Villages

Here in Cambodia, we have officially entered the wet season. It begins sometime during May and runs through October. The day generally begins with a clear blue sky but by mid-afternoon the storm clouds continue to build resulting in a late afternoon or evening rain complete with wind, lightning and thunder. The rainy season is a welcome relief to the punishingly hot dry weather of March, April and May. This year April was so hot that there were days that I only left the house during the hours of 10 to 4 if it was absolutely necessary. Cambodia produces electric from hydroelectric off the Mekong River. This year the Mekong was so low that the government shut off power during the day in an effort to conserve. Temperatures soared well over 100 degrees without even a fan to cool you off.

Now that the rains are here, rice fields will fill up along with the rivers and lakes. Tonle Sap in Cambodia is the largest fresh water lake in SE Asia. There are communities along the shore that use the lake for income. However, as the lake level rises from the rain the surrounding areas become flooded. These pictures are of a floating village. It may not look one now but all these homes and shops are built on stilts because it won’t be long before this road will be under a considerable amount of water for a large part of the year.  I tried to touch the high-water mark on a pole but it was way out of my reach. The only form of transportation in and out of this village will be on boat.  I tried to capture how high some of these homes are built in the trees with wooden walkways between them.  It was a fascinating look at a very different lifestyle.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

This is a short description of one of my books called Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. This is my favorite book filled with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

It’s 1930 and Carson Jones is a prison guard at the notorious Eastern States Penitentiary in Philadelphia where some of America’s most violent inmates and gangsters are serving time. Amidst the desperation of the Depression and a crowd of hostile convicts, Carson finds solace in an azalea garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in helping an inmate he believes has been wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death. Carson’s life begins to take a turn when he meets a beautiful young woman through a coworker. Her father is a judge and agrees to help him, but at a price. Carson is forced to choose between a life of meaning and purpose and leaving his friend at the mercy of a threatening warden who is becoming increasingly more unhinged. Though the life he has always dreamed of is finally within reach, is it worth it? In a novel chock-full of history and suspense, James Rizzo crafts a suspenseful narrative full of real-life history and page-turning intrigue.

This is the book trailer for my novel Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. Book sales are increasing so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have supported me by purchasing my books. Although I’m no longer with Smart Cat Publishing, all my books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Links are on this website. Hope you will take a moment to listen and enjoy.

Two Years in the Kingdom- Health Crisis in Cambodia

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is Health Crisis in Cambodia

Today Cambodia is in the midst of a health crisis. Diabetes and hypertension are running rampant. It has been reported that people dying of kidney disease, a complication of diabetes, is quickly reaching epidemic levels. Worsening the situation is the fact that there are only five dialysis centers in the entire country and the cost is out of reach for the average Cambodian. It seems that there is little awareness among the population as to the cause of diabetes and prevention. I seem to recall reading that the Ministry of Health is working with the World Health Organization and United Nations to address the crisis but, to my knowledge, information on the management and prevention has not filtered down to the Health Center level. Unless there is the blood test, a person cannot know if their blood sugar is in the danger zone. This is why I purchased a glucose and cholesterol monitor for the Health Center.

Today I held a training for the staff on the assessment, management and prevention of diabetes and hypertension that involved me speaking entirely in Khmer. This was an exciting opportunity for me and gave me quite a sense of accomplishment. My goal will be to measure blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and pulse of 300 villagers and collect statistical data on the incidence within each age group. I produced this laminated consultation book written in both English and Khmer to educate those patients that have blood sugar in the danger zone. The issue is most likely multi-factorial but the bottom line is a healthy diet and lifestyle that includes exercise can reduce the incidence of these two silent killers. Education is the key. I’ve seen similar scenarios in other developing countries such as Haiti and Guyana that also raise sugar cane. It is inexpensive and easily accessible. In Haiti, it is common for people to chew sugar cane. Here is Cambodia, the juice from the sugar cane is squeezed out and people drink it straight without understanding the extraordinary amount of sugar they are consuming. I hope that my efforts make a difference but I may never know.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

This is a short description of one of my books called Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. This is my favorite book filled with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

It’s 1930 and Carson Jones is a prison guard at the notorious Eastern States Penitentiary in Philadelphia where some of America’s most violent inmates and gangsters are serving time. Amidst the desperation of the Depression and a crowd of hostile convicts, Carson finds solace in an azalea garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in helping an inmate he believes has been wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death. Carson’s life begins to take a turn when he meets a beautiful young woman through a coworker. Her father is a judge and agrees to help him, but at a price. Carson is forced to choose between a life of meaning and purpose and leaving his friend at the mercy of a threatening warden who is becoming increasingly more unhinged. Though the life he has always dreamed of is finally within reach, is it worth it? In a novel chock-full of history and suspense, James Rizzo crafts a suspenseful narrative full of real-life history and page-turning intrigue.

This is the book trailer for my novel Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. Book sales are increasing so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have supported me by purchasing my books. Although I’m no longer with Smart Cat Publishing, all my books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Links are on this website. Hope you will take a moment to listen and enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

Two Years in the Kingdom- The Khmer Wedding

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is The Khmer Wedding Ceremony

Cambodian men traditionally don’t find a Khmer wife through means that those from Western culture are familiar. Marriages are often arranged through a matchmaker of sorts. Customarily, this mediator would approach the mother of the female and if the mother expressed interest then the mediator would inquire details of the young woman. Details such as the time, day, month and year of birth is required. Then the mediator would turn this information over to a monk along with the same information of the male to see if the birth details are compatible. If there is compatibility, then the family of the male would send a formal proposal to the family of the female. There may be several visits required by the mediator along with gifts to the family to establish a good relationship. If all goes well and the young womans family accepts the marriage proposal then the families will determine the wedding date.

The wedding ceremony has many components and can last for days.:

There is a monks blessing ritual. This is carried out first for the bride and then for the groom. This is an ancient ritual that is no longer required throughout most of Cambodia but is still performed in parts of Takeo and Kampot Provinces where I live.

Honoring the Ancestors. The bride and the groom pay homage to their ancestors by lighting incense, bowing and offering tea. This is a call to the deceased ancestors to view the bond and bestow their good wishes and blessings to the living family.

Knot Tying Ceremony. This portion of the ceremony when guests will have an opportunity to bestow blessings on the couple.

The Grooms Processional. This is when the groom comes to the home of the bride bearing gifts. I’ve participated in this portion of the ritual. It involves a people literally carrying fruit on trays to the home of the bride. Usually not very far, just a short distance. After the procession has entered the home the trays are arranged. The bride and the groom exchange rings at this time.  The number of people involved with this portion of the ceremony can be extensive so most people present the fruit tray and leave. In the last wedding I attended, I was invited to remain.  We were seated in two rows facing each other. The parents of the bride walked down the center between the rows, thanking those for the gifts. Then the bride and the groom, wearing traditional Khmer dress, walked down together while musicians played on traditional instruments. I would have liked to get pictures but nobody else was taking them and so it felt awkward but it is a beautiful ceremony. This takes place first thing in the morning.

Later that day, the event culminates with an evening of food and music. The food is exceptional. There is dancing- traditional Khmer dancing of course. Since I’ve attended a number of these celebrations, these are pictures from various weddings. Some of these pictures are from the wedding for the daughter of the chief from my Health Center.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

I write historical fiction. This one is set in 1880, Tombstone, Az for those that enjoy a good western. I did a lot of research on this one to keep it historically accurate.

It’s 1880, Denis and Hope McConell are on a train traveling through Indian Territory on their way to Tombstone, Arizona. Denis has been hired as copyeditor of The Epitaph, the Tombstone newspaper owned by John Clum whose friends include the Earp brothers and Doc Holiday. Denis will be reporting on the events of the rapidly growing wild boom town. But after their arrival, he realizes that because of his association with the Clum and the Earps he has many dangerous enemies. After the loss of her husband, 19-year old Hope is on her own and forced to protect her infant daughter, a 15-year-old Chinese girl from the Chinese mining camp and a 15-year-old girl that had been forced into prostitution. She finds solace and friendship among the Chinese miners but they are under constant threat from brutal marauders who will stop at nothing, including torture and murder, to get what they want- silver. But the law will do nothing to protect the Chinese miners. Now Hope must now learn to defend herself and protect the others from the constant threat of danger with little resources and fewer options

 

Two Years in the Kingdom- Education in Cambodia

Hello All and thanks for following me. Today’s topic is Schools.

There are both private and public schools in Cambodia. I’ve got friends who teach in the international schools but they are mostly in the larger towns like Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and are expensive. The villages have public schools. This is the high school in my village. The educational structure in Cambodia is primary school which is grades 1-6 and secondary schools which is 7-12. Universities are located in the provincial towns and Phnom Penh. The school week goes from Monday through Saturday, however, the days are shorter.  As you can see from the pictures, the classrooms are very basic and don’t have electricity. These rooms can get punishingly hot during the heat of the day without fans so students leave around 10:00 in the morning then have afternoon classes that begin at 2:00. I live across the street from this school. My host father is a math teacher. The neighbor on one side teaches physics and the other neighbor teaches Khmer and I know several of the English teachers.

The students all wear uniforms. Female students wear long black skirts that extend below the knees and white blouses. It would not be considered proper for knees and shoulders to be exposed and should be covered when out in public. Male students wear long black pants and white shirts.

Also pictured here is a wooden structure with a corrugated metal roof. This would be considered the cafeteria where students are able to purchase breakfast, drinks and snacks here. The bathroom is the small yellow building. Without electricity there is no running water but a cistern that is filled for the hand washing station.

There is no formal sports or physical education classes. Diabetes is a leading cause of death in Cambodia and kidney disease, a complication of diabetes and hypertension, is reaching epidemic levels. Making matters worse is the fact that Cambodia only has 5 dialysis centers in the entire country and there is no such thing as health insurance to pay for it. Therefore, dialysis is not an option for most of the population even if they could afford it. Education is the key to addressing this health crisis in Cambodia. Peace Corps is actively trying to promote exercise and healthy living habits in the schools. I’ve been to other developing countries such as Haiti and Guyana that raise sugar cane as does Cambodia. Sources and the damaging effects of sugar are often misunderstood and when sugar cane is cheap and easily accessible the result is elevated incidence of deadly chronic disease.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

This is a short description of one of my books called Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. This is my favorite book filled with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

It’s 1930 and Carson Jones is a prison guard at the notorious Eastern States Penitentiary in Philadelphia where some of America’s most violent inmates and gangsters are serving time. Amidst the desperation of the Depression and a crowd of hostile convicts, Carson finds solace in an azalea garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in helping an inmate he believes has been wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death. Carson’s life begins to take a turn when he meets a beautiful young woman through a coworker. Her father is a judge and agrees to help him, but at a price. Carson is forced to choose between a life of meaning and purpose and leaving his friend at the mercy of a threatening warden who is becoming increasingly more unhinged. Though the life he has always dreamed of is finally within reach, is it worth it? In a novel chock-full of history and suspense, James Rizzo crafts a suspenseful narrative full of real-life history and page-turning intrigue.

This is the book trailer for my novel Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. Book sales are increasing so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have supported me by purchasing my books. Although I’m no longer with Smart Cat Publishing, all my books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Links are on this website. Hope you will take a moment to listen and enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

Two Years in the Kingdom- Khmer New Year

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is The Khmer New Year

Cambodians like to celebrate and the New Year is no exception. In fact, they celebrate it twice a year. The International New Year on January 1 and Khmer New Year for three days in April. The Khmer New Year has a mythical component. I was given the following in regards to the symbolism of the Khmer New Year. The celebration is connected to the signs of the zodiac. As the story goes there was a young man, Thoamabal, who was a layman in charge of religious ceremonies for everyone. One day a religious leader, Kabel Maha Prohm, decided to challenge Thiamabal with three riddles. If he could not answer them correctly, he would be beheaded. If he did then Kabel Maha Prohm would be beheaded. He had seven days to solve the three riddles. With the assistance of an eagle. Thoamabal was able to answer the riddles. Kabel, realizing his failure, called his seven daughters to share his fate. They are now seven angels that represent the seven days of the week and the New Year is named after the angel of the day on which the first day of the holiday falls.

The first day of the New Year celebration is called Maha Songkran or Great Almanac Day. This day marks the ending of the previous year and the beginning of a new year. People will dress nicely to light candles and incense sticks at shrines. Members of families pay homage and give thanks to Buddha for his teachings.

The second day, called Virak Wanabat or Worshiping Day, is the day that people contribute to charity by helping the poor and less fortunate. They will also attend a dedication ceremony to their ancestors at the Wat.

The third day is called Virak loeurng Sak or Promotion Day. This is the day that the statues of Buddha are cleaned. Bathing the statues of Buddha  is symbolic that all living things need water. It is thought to be a kind deed that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity to life.

There is a custom that people erect mounds of sand at the Wat. There is a large mound in the center that represents the stupa at Tavatimsa. This is the stupa where the hair and diadem of Buddha is said to have been buried. The large center stupa is surrounded by 4 smaller ones which represent the stupas of the Buddha’s favorite disciples: Sariputta, Moggallana, Ananda, and Maha Kassapa. I participated in the ceremony at the Wat and was given incense sticks that were placed in each of these mounds. As you can see in the pictures, the Wat is decorated for the occasion with colored flags and banners.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

This is a book review I had received from my one of my young adult novels “The Gift of Phineas Lake”. Kirkus is well known for their high standards in regards to book reviews since the 1930’s. Needless to say, I was very pleased with their review. Please take a moment and read this review. All ordering information is on this website. http://www.jimrizzo.com

A quick, compelling historical novel with a magical touch.

Rizzo uses historical figures and facts as the foundation for this suspenseful story within a story about the Underground Railroad and racial tension in antebellum industrial Pennsylvania. The book begins in 1897, when Jake and Gordy, two boys, get curious about an abandoned house in town—the former home of the titular Phineas Lake, who disappeared 50 years ago under mysterious circumstances. Though most adults discourage the boys from inquiring further, Gordy’s grandfather Cooper reveals that he was Phineas’ childhood best friend, and he’s just the first of many who begin to tell the boys about Phineas as they piece together the true story of what happened. Phineas had been blessed with a miraculous healing touch—able to cure any wound or illness with his hands alone—but he did his best to keep his gift a secret, since Rev. Davis, the village preacher, was quick to condemn such a thing as witchcraft. During the night,

however, Phineas would heal the freed slaves—the closest doctor refused to treat them—who worked at the iron furnace in town. After a nearby Underground Railroad conductor realized how Phineas’ skills could be used to help the exhausted and sick fugitives, Phineas (along with young Cooper) became a fugitive himself, only returning to town after a terrible storm brings on a deadly fever among the locals. The racist, magic-fearing Rev. Davis, however, hardly gives

him a warm homecoming; it isn’t long before he’s calling for Phineas to be killed. Rizzo’s story has plenty of momentum, and the boys’ eagerness to listen to each of Cooper’s tales works well, keeping the reader as enthralled as Jake and Gordy are. Though there’s not much historical nuance here, the book has an unassailable moral message that would be a great choice for YA readers with an interest in the history of American slavery.

A well-paced, engaging reimagining of antebellum Pennsylvania.

 

 

Two Years in the Kingdom- The Khmer Funeral Ceremony

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is The Khmer  Funeral Ceremony

Hello All, Todays topic is Khmer Funerals. Last weekend I was traveling back to the village from a weekend in Phnom Penh. I travel in vans called turihs. These vans are unregulated and the drivers want to make as much money as they can so they pack them with as many people as possible. The vans have bench seating so if you have an issue with maintaining personal space then riding turihs may be problematic for you. As you might imagine, they aren’t the safest either. Most Cambodians  ride motos, small motorcycles, that they use without any type of head protection. There are no hard and fast rules for driving safety. Red lights are often ignored. On a 2-lane road you might see a moto passing a car that is passing a bus all at the same time. Needless to say, traffic fatalities are a common occurrence.  So, as we were leaving Phnom Penh the traffic stopped and was backed up for a very long way. When we finally passed the accident scene, I could see that it had involved an elderly woman who was most likely traveling on the back of a moto without a helmet.

All cultures have a way of dealing with the death of a loved one. Cambodians view death differently than Westerners. In Buddhism, there is the belief that death is the end of a life cycle. Buddhists believe in reincarnation so the end of a life cycle evolves into another of birth, sickness, old age, death and rebirth. In the event of death, there are certain rituals that must be performed to ensure the person is able to move from one cycle to the next. The Buddhist monk plays a key role in many rituals including death. If at all possible, the monk will be in attendance as a person is dying because this is the time when the soul leaves the body but is still present. It is believed that the soul is in a state of confusion after leaving the body and the monk provides needed comfort to the soul.

Following the death of a person, they are placed in a coffin. The body is not dissected or embalmed but kept at the house of the family for up to 7 days, in the structure that is pictured, before cremation. The funeral procession to the crematorium consists of the monks, family followed by friends.  Mourning loved ones may shave their heads. White is the traditional color for mourning as opposed to wearing black in Western culture. The coffin is carried to the temple crematorium. Cambodians are cremated because it is believed that cremation allows the soul to part ways from the body. The crematorium that I have pictured here is at Wat Opot Childrens Community. The ashes and bones are placed in a stupa that is usually on temple grounds. Each stupa is designated by family. I have pictured some of the stupas at Wat Opot.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

This is a book review I had received from my one of my young adult novels “The Gift of Phineas Lake”. Kirkus is well known for their high standards in regards to book reviews since the 1930’s. Needless to say, I was very pleased with their review. Please take a moment and read this review. All ordering information is on this website. http://www.jimrizzo.com

A quick, compelling historical novel with a magical touch.

Rizzo uses historical figures and facts as the foundation for this suspenseful story within a story about the Underground Railroad and racial tension in antebellum industrial Pennsylvania. The book begins in 1897, when Jake and Gordy, two boys, get curious about an abandoned house in town—the former home of the titular Phineas Lake, who disappeared 50 years ago under mysterious circumstances. Though most adults discourage the boys from inquiring further, Gordy’s grandfather Cooper reveals that he was Phineas’ childhood best friend, and he’s just the first of many who begin to tell the boys about Phineas as they piece together the true story of what happened. Phineas had been blessed with a miraculous healing touch—able to cure any wound or illness with his hands alone—but he did his best to keep his gift a secret, since Rev. Davis, the village preacher, was quick to condemn such a thing as witchcraft. During the night,

however, Phineas would heal the freed slaves—the closest doctor refused to treat them—who worked at the iron furnace in town. After a nearby Underground Railroad conductor realized how Phineas’ skills could be used to help the exhausted and sick fugitives, Phineas (along with young Cooper) became a fugitive himself, only returning to town after a terrible storm brings on a deadly fever among the locals. The racist, magic-fearing Rev. Davis, however, hardly gives

him a warm homecoming; it isn’t long before he’s calling for Phineas to be killed. Rizzo’s story has plenty of momentum, and the boys’ eagerness to listen to each of Cooper’s tales works well, keeping the reader as enthralled as Jake and Gordy are. Though there’s not much historical nuance here, the book has an unassailable moral message that would be a great choice for YA readers with an interest in the history of American slavery.

A well-paced, engaging reimagining of antebellum Pennsylvania.

 

Two Years in the Kingdom- Wat Opot Childrens Community

 

Hello All, and thanks for following me. This weeks blog post is about Wat Opot Childrens Community.  I know ther e is a lot of bad press out there about orphanages. People like JK Rowling are pushing an agenda to have them all shut down. I suggest that you make an informed decision before taking a position. I’ve spent time at Wat Opot. I’ve spent time at orphanages in Haiti and Guyana. I’ve heard the arguments. Yes, there are places that are unregulated and should be shut down. But not all of them. I can say this without hesitation. There are places like Wat Opot and this is their story:

Wayne Matthysse was a medic during the Vietnam War. He was one of only two that survived the war out of his entire company.  The company was out on a mission one day when they realized they were surrounded. They called in for help and that’s when they found out that they were on a suicide mission. There would be no help. Nobody was coming to save them. A shell went off close to them and hit one of the men. Wayne ran out to help him when another went off. Shrapnel shattered the left side of his glasses, blinding Wayne. They tried to call for help and this time a rogue helicopter pilot responded. He flew in and the company got Wayne and the other soldier on the helicopter but this, however, gave away their position to the North Vietnamese. Seconds after to chopper was in the air the rest of the company was slaughtered.  Wayne had only been in Vietnam for 2 months and now back in the US he found work on the Navajo Reservation for the next 12 years. Eventually he made his way to Honduras where he worked with a missionary and built a medical clinic for a remote village. He spent another 12 years in Honduras but due to the violence he was forced to leave. He decided to return to Cambodia. Without money, connections or even knowing how to speak Khmer he opened an AIDS hospice with a Cambodian friend he had met. Back then the medications for treatment were not yet available and little was understood on how AIDS was contracted. Therefore, people diagnosed with AIDS were often completely abandoned by their family and community. They were left to die on their own even if they contracted the virus through no fault of their own. Wayne offered these people a place to die with dignity and care. As more people died at Wat Opot they often left children behind that were now homeless and also carrying the virus. Wat Opot is no longer a hospice but an orphanage for these children. There are about 50 children here, many of which are HIV positive. Many of them have family but for one reason or another are unable to live there. Wat Opot offers them a safe and secure alternative. Wat Opot is about 10 K from where I live and I get up there when I can. Volunteers are welcome to come here and stay. Find out for yourself the facts about orphanages. http://www.watopot.org

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

Two Years in the Kingdom- Cashews

Hello All, and thanks for following me. Todays topic is Cashews

There are so many agricultural commodities that are available here in Cambodia that are not available in the US. I could go on and on about the fruits that grow here that people in the US will probably never get to experience. There are so many different types but I suspect that would get boring if it hasn’t already. So, I wanted to do one more about cashews because I find them really interesting and relatable since we commonly eat them in the US. Cashews grow all around Cambodia in trees. This was a tree next to the bungalow where I was staying on Koh Rong Island. The fruit looks like apples and are edible, however, I’ve been told are an acquired taste. The thick stem growing out of the top of the ‘apple’ is the cashew nut. The stem is cut off the top and then the hard shell is split to get to the meaty nut on the inside. A traditional Khmer dish is cashew chicken. Chicken, cashews and vegetables stir-fried over rice make for a super tasty dish.

============
Disclaimer: The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Cambodian Government.
=============

This is a short description of one of my books called Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. This is my favorite book filled with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

It’s 1930 and Carson Jones is a prison guard at the notorious Eastern States Penitentiary in Philadelphia where some of America’s most violent inmates and gangsters are serving time. Amidst the desperation of the Depression and a crowd of hostile convicts, Carson finds solace in an azalea garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in helping an inmate he believes has been wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death. Carson’s life begins to take a turn when he meets a beautiful young woman through a coworker. Her father is a judge and agrees to help him, but at a price. Carson is forced to choose between a life of meaning and purpose and leaving his friend at the mercy of a threatening warden who is becoming increasingly more unhinged. Though the life he has always dreamed of is finally within reach, is it worth it? In a novel chock-full of history and suspense, James Rizzo crafts a suspenseful narrative full of real-life history and page-turning intrigue.

This is the book trailer for my novel Azaleas Beyond the Prison Walls. Book sales are increasing so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have supported me by purchasing my books. Although I’m no longer with Smart Cat Publishing, all my books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Links are on this website. Hope you will take a moment to listen and enjoy.