“I think Cambodian Americans are interested in seeing people who we can relate to succeed in the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, philanthropy, community outreach, business, and science,” says Seth Sin, an Oregon resident employed in information technology. “They provide a blueprint for how we should conduct ourselves in the public eye and can give us guidance on how we can become a productive and proud part of America while still maintaining our cultural identity.”

Sin believes it is important to make such success stories visible as inspiration for future generations. The relationship between the past and the present, elders and youth, is something he has reflected upon—the emphasis many Cambodian families place on respectful attitudes toward older family members and the high value of education. These were instilled in his own family: “My parents stressed the fact that even though we might live the United States, under the roof of their house was Cambodia, we spoke Cambodian, and their children were Cambodian children.”

Although such a stance might seem contrary to assimilation into life in the United States, Cambodian parents simultaneously set a strong example through their own work ethic in providing for their children, according to Sin; indeed, the virtues of education, determination, and tradition account for Cambodians’ ability to move past the adversities they have faced.

Both Cambodians and Cambodian Americans live with those virtues in mind, but our societies are certainly different, especially the dependability of the justice system and the level of rights of the powerless. “I want the Cambodian-Americans here to be informed of what is going on back in Cambodia,” says Sin. “Most importantly, I want the Cambodian Americans of future generations to never forget our legacy, our contribution to history, and our will to survive despite insurmountable odds.”

Based in Beaverton, Oregon, Seth Sin will be a Khmerican reporter covering lifestyle, culture, and business.

“I want to learn what it means to be a Khmerican, so I can better understand what my wife and son experience,” says Will Koenig, a journalist who lived in Cambodia for three years, returning to the states in 2006.

Koenig didn’t have much contact with Cambodians until he went to the country and found various employment, including at publications, academic institutions, and development agencies. His communication and technical skills allowed him to earn his keep while experiencing the culture and meeting people who changed his life, including the woman he would eventually marry.

But he sees the relationship between America and Cambodia in terms of strides to be made abroad. “I think a lot of Cambodians look to Cambodian Americans for a hint at the possibilities the future holds. America offers a beacon for freedom and progress, and Khmericans will have an out-sized role to play in the development, in every sense, of Cambodia,” says Koenig. “That’s why Khmerican.com is so valuable, because it is a place to showcase the best and brightest.”

Koenig believes his involvement with Khmerican will be a chance to experiment with the possibilities of online journalism. He feels his long background in the profession is strength yet also a weakness, given the precarious position of news personnel as their industry changes dramatically thanks to technology. And how is his Khmer linguistic ability after his sojourn in the Southeast Asian kingdom? “Terrible.”

Even so, we welcome Will Koenig, based in Salem, Oregon, to our team. He brings to the table further multimedia competency, having initiated our podcasting, and an eye for copyediting, his day job. An ebook compilation of columns he has written about his adventures in Cambodia is available at http://khmr.cn/at-home-on-the-mekong 

EC