spécifique
“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’
In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”
These pictures were taken in Cambodia, a place I miss and revisit in my memories often. It is a place that taught me the real strength of humanity. The Cambodian people's enthusiasm and dedication to surviving and living life is what makes them true warriors. The movie, The Killing Fields, tells the true stories of Sydney Schanberg and Dith Pran - Sydney was an American journalist, and his assistant Dith Pran had to stay and endure the Khmer Rouge genocide. In an interview with Dith Pran, the interviewer asks “Did you think you were going to die?” and Dith responds : “Yes, but I never gave up.” Even in the face of death and suffering, the Cambodians prove again and again the power of hope and forgiveness. I forgot a lot of this when I returned because I was trying to deal with my own feelings. I was trying to forget what I witnessed because it was too difficult to shoulder when I was so far away from the place. Today I remembered walking through the halls of Tuol Sleng prison or through the killing fields, and some of the deepest and rawest feelings I have ever felt in my life. But I also remembered coming out of each place, and seeing the beautiful smile of my moto driver, Chit. His amazing patience, thoughtfulness, and love. His kindness, his softness, and his hardworking attitude. Everywhere I went in Cambodia, I was gifted with the love of the people. Even though they think they are of not much worth because they are poor, they have darker skin, they cannot go to school, and so on - they are the light of the world. Oh, Cambodia, you set my heart on fire. You make me feel so thankful for everything, and it is an honour to know you and your people.