International Human Rights Day

Yesterday was a holiday, and we had the day off.  Kim asked me if we celebrated the international holiday in the U.S.  I said no and refrained from explaining that most Americans don't know the day exists, and they don't think about human rights that often.  It takes an outrageous act by the government to raise peoples' awareness of this issue such as a ban on the sale of 32 ounce Thirstbusters.
                                
Loud Khmer music drew me out of my apartment this morning.  I am used to the monks chanting at 4:00 am and the cows mooing, but this was different.  I located the source in a classroom - a cassette tape blasting from a dust covered boom box.  A couple of older students were teaching some younger girls the traditional Cambodian apsara dance.  The girls practiced the signature move of twisting their wrists around in circles and pressing the thumb and index finger together.  The dances are not only beautiful, but they tell stories.