Floating Misery /32/ Photo

Photographer’s Note

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Take 15 (Click the number for info of entire trip)

It was very tough and complicated to calculate the accurate math on how to distribute the value of US$900 to 90 families, based on current rice price and its availability at the location. However, it is so easy to reach the result of the puzzling math now when you and I are sitting at home in front of our computer:

(25 kg of rice x 1,140) + 10,000 cash = 38,500 riel or ±US$10.00

Based on the factor of $10.00 per family, the donors now can see the exact number of families that received your donations. Please note that the green bag contains 50kg, and 2 families have received a same bag then divided among themselves.

As clarified prior to my departure, the purpose of my presence in Chong Kneas is just to relay the donations from the friends whose names are below to some poorest families of this community after they read my theme and learned that I would return. It was them who approached and asked me to forward their assistance, and I am absolutely outside of their combined fund. With or without their donations, I still have the extended trek to Siem Reab, so please don’t count me alongside their generosity. Should you have question, please contact them directly; my role is terminated after the delivery of rice to the last beneficient. The alphabetical list of the benefactors is following:

* Christine Le, Santa Ana, California
* Cuong Le, Alcon Houston
* DiemLe Nguyen, Alcon Houston
* Johnny Ho, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
* Le Nguyen, Alcon Houston
* Lien Tong, Alcon Houston
* Lilian Nguyen, Alcon Houston
* Loi Duong, Alcon Houston
* Nga Vu, Alcon Houston
* Nicoleta Gramada, Judetul Brasov, Romania
* Phong Nguyen, Houston
* Quan Vu, Bellevue, Washington
* Thai Nguyen, Lang Co, Vietnam
* Tinh On, Alcon Houston

For my part, without the assistance of the following friends, I am sure I wasn’t able to accomplish the donation task:

* Hoang Nguyen, Hanoi, Vietnam
* HoangSang Bui, Siem Reab, Cambodia
* Mai-Quyen, Toronto, Canada
* NgocSon, Houston
* Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
* Tuan Bui, Chong Kneas, Cambodia

On behalf of those who received the meal from you, I sincerely thank you all for your love, your care and great consolation.

ngythanh

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mikecone, LesRobin, nicol_g, Flamboyant has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PSYOPS (0) 2007-05-28 9:33

What a trip to this village, Thanh!
I am proud to be in TrekEarth community, and hope there will be other samaritans to have such humanitarian efforts...
God bless!
GJ

ChristineLe (59) 2007-05-28 10:30

We owe you million thanks to help us contribute a tiny thing to poor people that you reported. We are glad that you returned safely from such a trip. The result you are telling us is beyond our expectation.
Please accept my green smiling face in lieu of sign of my respect toward your achievement.
Regards,

TRASH (0) 2007-05-28 14:29

Reading the hardship you have experienced while doing the task, I don't think you have another plan to come back and repeat this kind of work. If this is correct, you should refer viewers to any charitable agency to which they can contact for potential donation.
Thank you for taking extra effort to forward the contributions to recipients and save the transport or transfer cost.
Regards,
MQ

QuanVu (39) 2007-05-28 15:27 [Comment]

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mikecone (15) 2007-05-28 15:58

During the Vietnam War, my Marines unit used to distribute rice and cooking oil and all containers always bore the large slogan, "Donated by the people of the USA". That meant the 200-million population donated something to certain people (along with bombs and bullets). In your picture I didn't see the propaganda listing anybody name. I like the way you arrived unalerted, gave away, and walked away, unknown to them. That's how a charitable donation should be.
I followed up the story of your trip to this village, so I expected to not be surprised at the delivery of donated rice. But in fact, I still be.
God bless!
Mike

[2]

LesRobin (0) 2007-05-28 16:15

Mr. Thanh:
What your friends and you have done is very impressed and extraordinary.
Respecfully yours,

Les Robin

nicol_g (759) 2007-05-28 17:46

'Photography is not only the bridge that fills the gap between different civilizations and cultures: it became a real “language” that unites us' - these are your words, Thanh (taken from your post 'Photography as a language'). These words sum up in a way (as far as I'm concerned) this Chong Kneas experience/ trip.
Cam on.

Flamboyant (0) 2007-05-28 19:16

I found tears in my eyes as I starred at the boy with his milk bottle, holding his mom's back while she was busily holding the bag of rice. That's bitter but that's true: without rice, her family would face hunger...
Mr. Thanh: I would like to borrow this space to express my due respect to the friends behind the scene whom you received money to buy rice. I also noticed that there is a non-Vietnamese name in your donors list. "Nicoleta, I wish I could gently set a rose into your hands! God bless you!"

PhuongVy, Vietnam

NgocSon (282) 2007-05-28 21:12

I regret that I cannot join you in last trip due to my new-born baby. I missed the chance to learn from true life whatever I failed to find from family or school.
Should you or Mr Quan Vu have another charitable plan within one-month duration, you can count on me.
Best regards,
Ngoc-Son Nguyen

Photo Information

Copyright: Ngy Thanh (ngythanh) (8490)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-19
Categories: Daily Life, Food, Event
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L-USM, SanDisk Ultra II 2Gg
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): A quick return to Chong Kneas, The Floating Misery [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-28 3:31