justinparke 3Speak Podcast: Recent Episodes
None
Listen and watch the latest videos from justinparke. Hosted by 3Speak.tv. The free speech video platform on the HIVE blockchain.
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/rrclacpk
In Cambodia it is not uncommon for men seeking "renewed libido" to eat "medicinal dog meat," and on this day a stranger came through the village looking to make a quick sale.
๐ง Lodge Construction Interrupted ๐ต I was doing some curating on Hive when I heard @srey-yuu say that someone was selling dog meat along the road. As our village only has 30 people and is 30km away from the nearest settlement, I was curious to see who was selling and/or possibly kidnapped someone else's dog. Luckily the lady trying to slang dog meat wasn't from our village, but she was also wearing a mask and not revealing too much info about herself.
Eating dog meat isn't illegal in Cambodia, but year-by-year it becomes increasingly taboo because the source of the meat is usually a stolen pet and also cultural norms are shifting with the times. We can safely assume the seller and her son are masked up not because of COVID protocol, but because it would make it harder to identify her in the future if someone comes asking about a missing pet.
๐ถ Dog Meat Not Quite Taboo Yet ๐ด My family and I are vegan, so selling it to us wasn't gonna be easy, but as I walked up to the road I overheard my in-law construction crew discussing the idea of sharing the cost together and buying some. I don't think they purchased any because they would've had to have used their own money, and dog meat is expensive in Cambodia when compared to chicken, beef, or pork. My money is used to buy meat for the workers each day though, and because of this their food costs are 300% more than what my family of 4 is able to live on.
To each their own though, and as a person that tries not to use or support any violence when it comes to feeding myself, I can say that a cow seemingly enjoys its life just as much as a dog does. In my mind eating dog meat is no less weird than a cow's flesh, but perhaps the only caveat is that historically dogs are domesticated wolves that mostly partnered with humans throughout history. In this way it is kind of feels like eating a friend to me, but Italians and Slovenians eat horses and Ecuadorians eat guinea pigs, so different strokes for different folks.
Sidenote - I can't stop admiring the view that future lodge guests will have when dining and hanging out.
JOIN HIVE WITH A VIP TICKET - BYPASS THE VERIFICATION PROCESS - EARN CRYPTO
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@Srey-Yuu | Monkey B@Sakana | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/jkjvchyw
Even though we've frequented the Phkar Chhouk Tep Hotel for years, we will never be staying there again because of some serious incompetence.
An Unwelcome Departing Gift ๐ก
This hotel has always been our go-to place for years when visiting Phnom Penh, mostly because the place has security guards, it's conveniently located, and although the rooms are not that clean, they're affordable and not disgusting. I carefully parked tuk-tuk with the rear-end facing in to keep our washing machine and motorbike out of the rain because we couldn't fully close all the rain flaps.
When I walked downstairs to begin preparing the tuk-tuk for our 360km trip back home, I discovered that my tuk-tuk was missing. After wandering around thinking it might've been stolen under the noses of 4 security guards, one guy pointed for me to walk across the street towards a parking garage where I found my tuk-tuk parked in the open, something that could've been a problem had there been a rainstorm during the night.
Rage Beginning To Build ๐
I was very upset that the security guards moved my tuk-tuk without permission or reason, especially because of the massive amount of parking spaces available. I was going to forget about it until I noticed my mirrors were bent and one of the welds cracked on my driver's side mirror mount. Obviously the guards had moved my 1/2 ton tuk-tuk by using pushing on the weakest possible part. This would now be the second time the driver's side mirror needed to be rewelded, so my morning was quickly getting a bit red.
When I looked inside I noticed the washing machine was tipped over and laying on its glass door, and to avoid rage I tried to convince myself a dog had gotten into the tuk-tuk and done this, and my mirrors were bent because a drunk guy must've clipped them while walking past at night. After 5 minutes I realized I wasn't going to be able to trick myself and that my plans to depart at 5am had been dashed. I now had a serious problem on my hands, and perhaps several hundred dollars worth of damage.
Plans Dashed ๐
I began taking photos and documenting everything for potential legal reasons, and I called over the security guards to ask how many of them had taken part in this bonehead move. None of them took responsibility, refused to contact any of the previous shift's employees, and and also began whispering among themselves and laughing about my situation. This pissed me off beyond belief, so I went back to the hotel to report the incident.
Living In Idiocracy ๐ I should mention I was already running low on sleep after being in a crash the previous night, where a moto food delivery attempted to pass us between on the righthand side in the 8-inch space of road between the sidewalk and our tuk-tuk. He clipped my passenger mirror, got off balance, and hit a raised stormdrain outcropping, motorbike did some dramatic spins, driver went down, etc. I looked at Pov knowing that stopping would involve the driver demanding money from me, but I wanted to make sure he was injury-free.
As soon as I arrived on the scene after pulling over and the guy saw I was a "whitey," he wanted $200 for his $30 smartphone that he smashed in the crash. He had already flagged down another couple on a motorbike who also claimed I hit him. He also walked to the store on the corner and began telling the shop owner about the foreigner that just crashed him. I immediately regretted stopping, the guy was clearly going to use cheap tricks to try and get his way. I let the whole thing play out until I lost my patience and cussed him out.
I let him know even though I am a stupid foreigner, I know the rules of the road like the back of my hand because we stupid foreigners have to take actual driving tests. I reminded him that he came from behind, passed without signaling, passed on the wrong side, and veered back in too early without signaling. I let him know that if we're gonna play this game for hours, and I demanded $30 for the paint damage done to my tuk-tuk, and let him know I'm ready to get the police involved.
The police would almost certainly take his side, but I made it clear I was going to my grave without giving him a cent, even if lawyers need to get involved, etc. Of course I was bluffing, at least about the lawyer/court crap, but that whole mess was a solid hour of arguing and shouting at multiple being extremely racist and just generally sh*tty humans.
Escalate If They Don't De-escelate ๐
Anyhow, back to his hot mess at the hotel that happened only 8 hours later. I just gave you some background to make you understand how exponentially enraged I was at this whole new morning problem. We knew it would take a full day of driving to get home if we left at 5am, and these security guards ruined our plans entirely. The hotel houses hundreds of guests, so I backed up my tuk-tuk the main doors, partially blocking the entrance as if to challenge the security guards, and I began unloading all of my tuk-tuk's contents into the lobby of the hotel, of course while loudly shouting about the details of the incident for all guests to hear.
I was escalating the situation because the management and employees refused to take responsibility nor provide me the appropriate necks to choke. They began to get disturbed and tell me they had a policy about bringing motorbikes into the lobby. I put the kickstand down and let them know I have a policy about people breaking my sh*t without my consent. I then ripped my washing machine out and cartwheeled it over the nearest power socket to see if it was broken or not. After some tense moments I eventually determined the machine was still functional, albeit full of dents. We then spent an hour reloading the tuk-tuk while blocking the main doors of the hotel with our parking location.
The Universe Still Has A Sense Of Humor ๐
After getting the tuk-tuk reloaded with zero help from the hotel staff or security guards who were mysteriously all missing while I was causing a scene in the lobby, I let them all know my years of patronage were over, and I will never recommend anyone stay there ever again. After an hour on the road my "check oil" light came on and I had to unload all of the tuk-tuk's contents one more time to access the hatch and oil filler. In the process of reloading the tuk-tuk after our unplanned picnic stop, I hurt my back, drenched my third change of clothes, then put on a shirt I was previously using to blow my nose with, then drove 12 hours back to Steung Kach while in major pain.
I did get to enjoy this strange James Bond mobile, apparently with 007 written backwards so the driver can read it while reversing into a giant mirror. At least the universe still has a sense of humor....
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/veudjebr
I recently shot a video tour of our place here in Steung Kach, Cambodia, to share with friends and family back home in the USA. Even though I haven't uploaded it to Facebook yet, that is my intention because it seems everyone I know in the USA is either uninterested in my blog and/or unwilling to simply make a browser bookmark to easily visit my Hive blog. I only post on Facebook once or twice every few months just to let my fellow 'Mericans know I'm still alive, but I honestly have no interest in the platform.
Several of you ASEAN Hivers have been asking for a proper tour of the land, and although this (at times) shaky footage is far from a proper tour, I hope it provides a clearer picture of how beautiful and peaceful our surroundings are. The hammock huts by the river are an absolutely great place to spend time, and luckily I didn't tumble down the hill while trying to show them to you all.
The land is now very soft and muddy but at least now we can begin to start some gardening projects to make this place a little greener and more beautiful. Once the mud is around the cabin has been properly landscaped and has some plants growing in it, the place will be much more photogenic for Airbnb, of which hope future bookings will be a lifeline for us.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/pnvdsymk
A deposit has been made, and we are almost the new owners of land adjacent to a natural decentralized mountain swimming pool.
๐๏ธ Too Good To Be True? ๐คทโโ๏ธ If you listen to the video, you'll notice we've put a deposit on the land and agreed to a price. Now it's a matter of receiving the fiat we'll need and reassuring my family members that have invested in our dream. Not only can we power down our HIVE accounts and repay them in 13 weeks if everything goes wrong, but I hope to make my famvestors happy with some nice returns in rapid time.
I've spent the majority of my adult life in trailer parks in the USA and prison-cell sized rental rooms in Cambodia, so even though I grew up on a farm, I've never had a space of my own to stretch my legs. The thought of being able to walk 15 seconds in a straight line without leaving our property would feel to me like having the whole Amazon forest to myself.
I just can't get over how awesome the creek and natural pool are, and it still feels dreamlike when I ponder having these natural features in our backyard. We already have tons of business ideas brewing, but I think most important will be to maximize free time available for swimming in the creek. Things are on the verge of closing as I finish this post, and we're making another visit tomorrow morning to do the paperwork.
Stay tuned....
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/ogwjegmm
Greetings ASEAN Hivers, I am here with some hopeful news that we might just have a chance at owning our very first house/land.
3 Land Options ๐ค The video gives you a short glimpse of the three pieces of land we found for sale on an absolutely incredible mountain creek here in the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia.
Land Option Number 1 is where we originally enjoyed the roadside picnic that led to the discovery of this creek. The land is small but also not much higher than the creek, good for views, but also at the tail end of the rapids where the water isn't moving much.
Land Option Number 2 is the land with the red dirt and giant boulders you can see in the video. It is quite expensive and dealing with the boulders would be a massive project. On top of this, the dirt is fairly new and would take a long time to settle before any kind of construction project would be possible.
Land Option Number 3 is our personal favorite, and happens to have three "homes" on it, although we're not in love with the mini homes as much as we are the land and its proximity to the natural swimming pool above the rapids that provide such a great nighttime audio track. There are also two hammock huts at the back of the property, and if we can get this land, that's surely where you'll find me most of the time.
I've secured family investors by using proof of my family's crypto assets as collateral, and this is awesome because we'd have to completely cash out everything we have. With the loan option we'll have a chance to pay it back slowly via our passive income and monthly earnings.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/ztrpomos
Pramaoy doesn't really have a functioning garbage disposal system, so it's either burn it or throw it out your front door like all of our neighbors do.
๏ธ๐บ Pramaoy Trash-Run ๐ Plastic trash moves easily with wind, so our lazy neighbors' garbage is usually scattered by dogs and weather in front of our room each day. I've lived here on and off for over 12 years, and I hate to admit I've given up trying to inform Cambodians about the dangers of dioxin and/or living among garbage.
University graduates and uneducated working folk both happily toss their trash just about anywhere you go in Cambodia, something that makes Cambodia a not so visually appealing country, and surely a factor in why most tourists spend a month in Thailand and Vietnam, but rarely spend more than 5 days in Cambodia.
We recycle as much as we can and discard our organic rubbish on vacant land, but we still produce a small shopping bag of trash every now and then, and I feel a obligation to dispose of it as responsibly as possible. This place is too small for a proper garbage truck and landfill service, so for now we take our trash to Elephant Roundabout where there are 4 public trash bins with NGO logos on them.
After living in Pramaoy for a few months I began to notice that not only are the bins at the roundabout now all full, but they haven't been emptied since we've lived here. Time will tell what will happen, but I assume a gust of wind will eventually blow the bins over and scatter the trash all around the roundabout. We create as little waste as possible, and even refuse plastic bags at the market, something that causes the veg and fruit sellers to think we are absolute whackos, but that's also why Cambodia is a bizarre, interesting, and often times a very fun and funny place to live.
Take everything you know as normal and then flip it 180 degrees, and that is Cambodia, so watching people zinging trash out their window is just one of the things you just have to learn to watch and accept. Even funnier is when Cambodians drink something while riding their motos, because more often than not, when the cup is empty they just let go of it, often not even bothering to throw it on the side of the road.
Okay, it's 2:00am and I haven't mentioned anything about this quick tour of Pramaoy. Lucky for me I didn't post this in HaveYouBeenHere, cause a Pramaoy Trash Run doesn't jive well with posts about where to find the best white sand beaches in Bali. Cambodia is a little rough around the edges, and so is Pramaoy, and that is actually one of the reasons I've grown to love Cambodia. I have failed to tell you a bit about Pramaoy so I guess I should just give up now and hope the video is entertaining enough without my babble.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/zyatxmas
Osaom was more amazing than we expected, but we had to return to Pramaoy, so we headed back over the now very slick mountain pass.
Time To Go Home ๐บ
As I mentioned in my Part 1 Post of this family trip, I was very busy managing the handlebars of the tuk-tuk on some super-duper slippery clay roads, so I left Osaom without even one image of the mystical reservoir that we would like to live near.
Luckily @sreypov had the time to take lots of pics while I was driving, so do be sure to check out her blog for the more scenic parts of this journey. My posts usually contain the shenanigans and the stuff that really shouldn't be content.
Choicest Pit-Stops ๐คณ
On the mountain pass back to Pramaoy, there are many bulldozed areas ideal for family pit-stops. These spots will eventually become part of a bigger paved road one day, but stuff like that can take years here. Either way, I was so impressed with the landscapes of the random stops, Osaom is truly a gem.
On this particular stop, Pov saw some selfie opportunities, Monkey-B needed to pee, and I was thirsty. Even on the roadside I heard more strange animal noises than I've ever heard anywhere else in Cambodia, signs of a pristine forest.
We were headed back on a Sunday, the day after the massive rainstorm, following the ruts of countless 4x4s that had left early in the morning to make their way back to the capital and other big cities in Cambodia. It wasn't ideal, but our daughters study 6 days a week, and that leaves us with the ability to do overnight trips only once a weekend.
Monkey-B Mud Fail ๐ฉด
Once down from the clouds and off the mountain, it was time to take another pit-stop, and Monkey-B didn't fare well during the ditch crossing. You can see what she lost in the above photo, and without telling me, made the choice to go one-shoed on her potty walk.
It was at this point I realized I am the Dad, so mud, oil, and fixing things is supposed to be my responsibility. I found a piece of bamboo nearby and used it to fish Monkey-B's flip-flop out of the mud. After washing the sandal in road water Next, I used a Jai-Alai move to zing the flip-flop over the ditch and as close to her as possible.
While waiting for them to return, I saw a discarded Chinese road barrier, and I decided to turn that trash into a bridge. Satisfied with my engineering feat, we hit the road and made it back to Pramaoy without any issues.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/njskcdyf
Osaom has always been our final destination for Cambodia, and after being stranded abroad for three years we had plenty of time to plan our return.
๐บ Monkey-B More Than Ready ๐ต
While stranded (thanks to COVID visa problems) in Suriname for three years, we had more than enough time to research areas of interest in Cambodia where we could resettle once it was legally possible to do so as a united family. I shared my research about this place in a previous post, and it's nice to finally manifest this desire so many months later.
โฐ๏ธ Picnic On Arrival ๐งบ
The drive from Pramaoy to Osaom was only 35km, but it took more than 2 hours due to some major construction, no paved roads, and a mountain pass complete with a surprise torrential rainstorm and currents running across the road. Pov later admitted to me that she thought she was going to die, and Srey-Yuu also admitted to being terrified during the storm.
I grew up racing ATVs and riding motos, and I've also spent many years living among 4,000m mountains while attending a wilderness guiding school, so the journey over the mountain pass to Osaom wasn't too intimidating for me. My family has very little experience with mountain weather and steep road grades, so I totally understand why they were fearful.
Hey Chef, We Arrived Unscathed ๐ฉโ๐ณ
The journey over the pass required my full attention, so I wasn't able to document it while managing the handlebars of a constantly slipping and sliding tuk-tuk. It kept raining all the way to Osaom, so after arriving I decided to explore some backroads away from the reservoir for a potential picnic stop, and that's how we ended up at this random location.
My wife is a passenger with two free hands and a smartphone on these journeys, so it's really better to follow her blog for the beautiful scenery not part of pitstops. I'm a full-time driver on the road and part-time content creator only when the engine isn't running, so I didn't even get one shot of the reservoir and the even more stunning landscape there than where we dined on larb tofu.
Monkey-B Returns From A Solo Trip ๐ฉ
You'll see in the video if you watch, but I love how the family often ignores the camera after I've been filming for over a minute, and that is when the good content comes out, often hilarious. Monkey-B started talking about her poop hike while I was filming, and even asked me to delete the footage while I was making this post, but it's much too funny to not share.
Nom, Nom, Nom, Let's Roll ๐บ
Of course our picnic was delicious, but I felt rushed because I had planned to return to Pramaoy in the evening to catch up on work, plus we didn't have enough time to pack for a proper camping trip. It was also the weekend, and the next morning all the Sunday traffic would be headed back over the wet pass, leaving me some very deep ruts to manage with my 10-inch wheels.
Pov made the decision easy by saying she wouldn't go over the pass at night, so we stayed a night in the only guesthouse with a vacancy in all of Osaom, and I pondered how in the world I was going to manage driving my tuk-tuk on a muddy road destroyed by 4x4s in a hurry to return to Phnom Penh.
I hope this is a suspenseful enough buildup to keep you tuned in for part 2 of this very unprofessional travel content.....
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/krhetunn
I have been wanting to share my last moments in Suriname with Harry the lamb ever since arriving in Cambodia, and now I finally have the time.
Viva La Harry! ๐
If you've followed my blog the last several years, you probably know my family's stranded abroad for 3 years story in Suriname. I won't go into details about that saga here, but instead this is a post for you fans (especially @alvonsohiver) of Harry the Lamb, a football-playing dog trapped in a sheep shell.
After the wife and kids left Suriname for Cambodia, I stayed behind a week in Suriname just in case they had any travel difficulties returning home. During my last week I spent a lot of quality time with Harry, our landlord's lamb that we had been with since his birth.
Our three years in Suriname saw much more than the birth of one lamb, but Harry was different, smarter, more playful and inquisitive than even most dogs I've spent time with. He won us over, and we even allowed him in our apartment, something no other furry creature is still allowed to do to this day.
๐ผ๏ธ Immortalized NFT Harry ๐
During my last few days I decided to immortalize Harry in the form of a single NFT, which I sold on the NFT Showroom to the very talented author-ARTIST @vincentnijman. I knew that Harry was destined to become someone's meal, so I wanted to arm him with lasers, a flying baguette rocketboard, a Cambodian visa, and also allow him to take his favorite ball, and basically escape the human race and transcend the space-time continuum.
Wherever in the galaxy Harry is now, I just hope he is using his laser to vanquish any living creature that considers him a potential meal. This kind creature converted me from a dog-lover to a sheep fanatic, and I could only imagine how much fun we'd be having with Harry in Cambodia if he could join us.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/priytytn
I am still recovering from jetlag and catching up on ASEAN Hive Community curation and engagement, but I wanted to share this news and special moment with you all.
The Nightmare Is (Almost) Over ๐ I am back with my family again in Cambodia after an unintended 3-year exodus in Ecuador/Suriname caused by COVID-19 international bureaucratic stupidity and related visa issues. If you have read any of my blog posts the last 3 years, you probably have a basic understanding of my family's ordeal being stranded abroad in an unfamiliar land and having to cope with Suriname's economic collapse and a global pandemic on top of that.
We attempted US immigration and also a return to Cambodia, but both were denied. What was supposed to be a multipurpose one to two month trip abroad to get married, have a honeymoon, and also introduce my American family to my Cambodian family, ended up being the most epic struggle and fight for day-to-day survival and basic human/family rights we all have ever endured.
The bitterness in my heart towards the politicians and bureaucrats responsible for the hell my family lived through the last three years will take a long time to fade, but for now I am simply rejoicing and can't stop staring at my lovely ladies. The ordeal to get out of the USA (and into Cambodia) was also full of hurdles (and a bribe), and I was actually the last person to board the plane in S. Korea, having been held back because my COVID-19 test didn't have a stamp or signature.
I had actually spent a total of $700 to rent a car, hotel, and pay for a PCR test at a facility far from the countryside where I was staying in the USA, conveniently located inside the Indianapolis Airport that I'd be departing from a few days later, albeit only with a negative COVID test result. After already having slowly lost everything over the last three years, I was not happy about this added cost.
The testing facility that conducted my COVID test only offered results only via e-mail, and refused to sign or stamp my test, something I made clear is required for my entry into Cambodia. I asked them to call the lab downtown and arrange a signature (which they did), so I spent my last day in the USA frantically running around downtown Indianapolis searching for a well-hidden and unmarked laboratory in a random skyscraper.
I was told I could only come to the facility between 2 and 4 o'clock, and after finally finding it, the elevator was locked and they didn't answer their phone either. After sitting for an hour downstairs I saw a janitor and asked him if I was indeed sitting below a COVID testing lab. He told me I was and I asked kindly if he could use his ID card to open the elevator and run upstairs to confirm my appointment with them.
Of course they didn't know who I was or anything about me needing a signature or stamp on my test. They weren't aware of my supposed appointment, my request was denied, and I flew out the next day knowing I may be prevented boarding my connection flight in S. Korea, and thus deported back to the USA. Well, I was prevented boarding my connecting flight in S. Korea, but eventually allowed on as the last passenger after a hellish situation involving more stupid bureaucrats trying to please the "paper tiger," a situation which nearly caused me to lash out and have a panic attack.
๐บ Stay Tuned...
The main thing is that I am here with my family in Phnom Penh now, and how disgusting our low-budget guesthouse room is absolutely inconsequential. I feel like a King even though I have to occasionally hit a rat with a broomstick just to get in our room. I'm not familiar with Phnom Penh's geography, but the universe has a good sense of humor. We happen to be staying on a sex tourist street, so everywhere we look it's just old fat white guys with questionably young Khmer teenage girls wandering around for cheap beers.
I'm gonna go ahead and finish this post here, it's 1:00am and I still have to proofread and publish Srey-Yuu's (1 day late) Top 3 for the ASEAN Hive Community before going to bed, and do some curation for which I am still 3 days behind on. Soon I'll have to manage my time and self-imposed responsibilities for ASEAN Hive in a way that allows me to begin posting again daily from my personal profile, something I miss very much, even though I would love to continue to read and comment on every single post published within the friendliest community on Hive.
So I will leave you with the above picture of a saleswoman holding a brochure for something I just placed a $200 deposit on. Hint.....it's 435cc's of diesel fury and it's not a John Deere tractor. Later this week you'll all get to see our new "home." It will comfortably sฬถeฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถ6ฬถ ฬถpฬถaฬถsฬถsฬถeฬถnฬถgฬถeฬถrฬถsฬถ accommodate 6 guests. Surprise ruined?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
soundtrack source
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/dmyhfhhc
I can't think of a better way to end my unintended Hive hiatus than to announce I finally secured a visa for my return to Cambodia and have a shot at residency.
The Battle Is Not Over Yet The end to my family's struggle is not over yet, so I will explain a bit about why my joy is reserved in the video. I've seen nothing but sure things fall apart the last three years, so I won't believe it until I touch Cambodian soil. I did secure a business visa though (it's glued in my passport), the only choice for longterm residency outside of a retirement/pension visa or an NGO visa.
The visa that I now have is only valid for a 30-day use, so I must repeat this whole process all over again a few weeks after arrival in Phnom Penh, and if successful, I will obtain a one-year visa and then be able to relax, enjoy time with my family, and start undoing the trauma we've experienced the last three years stranded abroad.
In what is truly ironic, Cambodia now has a new law that supposedly we can register our marriage, and if we live together for 3 years after this I can request Cambodian citizenship. This would certainly make crypto-related things and Cambodian bureaucracy easier to overcome. Well, I just haven't felt that I had anything to share with you all lately, so I am glad to offer some good news, my departure date is January 5th.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/nvytiykp
Finally a bit of good news, the Cambodian Embassy in D.C. has approved my visa pre-screening, and tomorrow I send my passport off in the mail.
Is The End In Sight? ๐คทโโ๏ธ I must admit I wasn't very hopeful after having my first wave of visa pre-screening denied, but it looks like attempt number two was a success. I received an email this afternoon notifying me to send my passport and all supporting documents by mail to the Cambodian Embassy in Washington D.C.
If this is successful, I will still miss my original flight date for the 21st of December, but I can extend it and hopefully see my family sometime around New Year. I would like to be more excited, but I've had nothing but high hopes dashed over the last three years. I've even once left Cambodia after receiving a visa denial after years of uninterrupted residency.
I'll breathe and rest more easily not only when I get this one-month business visa, but when I successfully renew if for a one-year term. The one-year visa will give me time to create my own "corporation" and be able to sponsor myself for any future visa problems. This post-COVID has world stripped us of many freedoms, especially those relating to freedom of movement and foreign residency.
As much as I don't want to, I'm gonna have to devote a 100+ hours each year towards overcoming the bureaucracy that seeks to separate my family and I. This will just be our new way of life, and although I don't have to like it, I am not in a position of power, so I must play the game laid out for me the by those that run the world.
I really hope you all see me very soon hugging my girls, going for tuk-tuk rides, drinking sugarcane juice, and so many other things I miss from my former lifestyle.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/hheouvfs
I finally managed to capture some quality video of Harry the lamb and I playing football and other games, and it's an example of just how curious and playful this little guy is.
๐ Harry Is Ridiculous ๐ Ever since Harry developed a love of football, we've always wanted to document it for digital memories, but the perfect scenario of Harry dropping by to play while I'm free and energetic with a spare family member available for filming just hasn't happened yet.
That all changed today when Harry dropped by full of his usual happiness and lust for life. He let me know he wanted me to come out and play by taking the football from the porch on his own and staring at me. At that point I felt obligated to go play with the coolest lamb the universe has ever known. Monkey-B has previously taken some shaky video footage, but I really wanted some clear video to share with you Hivers.
I quickly called @sreypov to be my camerawoman because I knew today's playtime was going to be an epic one for the history books. Harry demonstrated all his skillsets in this video, and it shows why he has stolen my family's hearts. I used to have dogs when I was younger, but I think if I take o an animal again, it would definitely have to be a sheep without a doubt.
It's safe to say though that no lamb will ever be "Harry," and I really hope I can convince the landlord or someone else to play with him every day after we leave. He's now accustomed to it and he deserves to have a playmate, especially if he's gonna live in captivity. Viva la Harry!!!!
My inappropriate music choices were inspired by @davidke20's #22Kill Push-Up Challenge video series. He brings much needed humor to the ASEAN Hive Community.
music source: bensound
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/maqrokoo
Greetings Hivers, I have recently upped Harry the lamb's football training regime, and Monkey-B was able to help document this new set of skills.
๐ Proof Harry Can Actually Dribble โฝ I think I've mentioned Harry's football prowess in previous posts, but I've been able to show you all more than Harry just moving the ball around with his head. The truth is Harry actually understands much more about this beloved international sport.
Harry mostly prefers to play a tight one-on-one defense, following the ball very closely with his eyes. It's hard to trick him, and you can see in the video Monkey-B shot how excited he gets when I try and sprint away from him with the ball. I've learned the key is to get him excited then conveniently lose possession of the ball near him, and this almost elicits an offensive attack from Harry.
Monkey-B does need to work on holding the camera steady when filming, but the footage is worth showing because you can really sense Harry's pure joy when playing football. There is at least one occasion of the "Harry Attack" in this video, and that is where he literally runs to the ball and jumps on it, then dribbles it a bit between his front and back legs before losing control.
Eventually I hope to get some better footage before we leave Suriname, because I haven't experienced much simpler and pure joy than when I'm running around with Harry in the backyard. When he gets too excited he jumps uncontrollably, and that lust for life is infectious. There is truly something mystical about this lamb, and I must admit I'll be sad to leave him behind.
music source
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/dkwlmxes
Today started out with Harry and I playing his new favorite game, "chasing and ramming," which always starts with me pushing against the top of his head with a closed fist.
#WednesdayWalk / #MakeMeSmile
hosted by: @TattoodJay & @ElizaCheng
๐ This Lamb Is About To Be A Ram ๐
Harry still plays a bit of football, but recently his red rocket popped out while playing with one of our family members. The red rocket is a sign that this lamb is on his way to becoming a ram, and cute Harry will be a rebellious teenager very soon. A few weeks ago while enjoying my morning coffee, Harry pushed back while I was rubbing his head.
The following day while hanging out with Harry, I closed my fist and pushed into his head again, and he then got excited and pushed back as hard as he could with his head. Sheep have skulls literally built for ramming, so playing this game must be similar to playing fetch with a labrador, it's just a matter of assisting natural tendencies.
In the above video, I show you an example of what this fist game has evolved into. It's now a combination of "ram and run," and it's good exercise for me, and really makes me laugh. If Harry gets particularly excited playing this game, he will occasionally attempt some parkour moves.
Flower Stacking ๐บ
Monkey-B likes to stack flowers when she's bored. I'm not sure the name of the plant, but it's a lot like honeysuckle in the USA. These tiny flowers conveniently fit inside each other like LEGO pieces. Monkey-B exploits this natural quality, and can make necklaces, rings, and anything else that falls apart the moment you touch it.
Checkin' In On The Birds ๐ค
The baby birds are still being fed by their parents, and we are anxiously awaiting a chance to see their first attempts at flight before we leave this country. It would be really cool to document it for you Hivers.
Harry's Studio Apart(mud)ment ๐
I haven't yet mentioned today's journey, which involved us getting some more bureaucratic stuff out of the way that will let us have a better chance at reunification beyond Suriname's borders. So, on our way out to run some errands in the city, I decided to pop my head over the zinc fence and see what Harry was doing. Apparently I interrupted something, and the sheep looked at me like I had violated their right to privacy.
Spicy Content ๐ถ๏ธ
The above shot is of the local Chinese Capsicum variety in Suriname, very similar to a Scotch Bonnet in Jamaica, or a habanero in Mexico. Here they are known as Madame Jeanette peppers, and the local variety is a bit longer than their Mexican and Jamaican counterparts.
Time to cool down with @Sreypov, because she got spicy after watching me snap shots of the chili plant. A few waves of the hat to fan the face and all is good as new. A flower in the ear for natural beauty.
Monkey-B was feeling spicy enough to try standing on one leg for some epic shots, and I managed to capture some behind-the-scenes footage.
๐คทโโ๏ธ I Know Nothing About Flowers ๐ผ
I love flowers and apprecialove their natural beauty, but I also enjoy telling a story in my Hive blog posts, and I just don't know how to write about flowers other than identifying them and moving on. So here it is this Giganticus Purpleanicus, or at least it would be if I was allowed to name it.
I have no conflict respecting the beauty of flowers, but if it's not edible I don't bother learning the name. This could easily be a "Redula Fidgetal Spinneronimus, and it doesn't take away from the bokeh effect it has on the @KidSisters in the background.
I almost broke my wrist trying to get a shot of this Bengal Tiger Butterfly. Did I mention I know nothing about butterflies too? That is definitely the name of this butterfly, but don't look into it.
Belly-Skin Show Costs $8.50 SRD ๐๏ธ
On our way to do depressing bureaucratic stuff, I had the pleasure of Ms. Belly Skin greeting me and keeping an eye on me for the duration of the bus ride. She used to charge $1.65 SRD, but these days her price is $8.50 SRD, a sign of the financial crisis in Suriname. Public transportation is no longer affordable for us, so this was the first time inside a bus in many months.
On our way back home I snapped a shot of a defeated and tired Monkey-B walking with big sister and mom. She is slouching, a tell-tale sign that we need to be home within the next 10 minutes, but luckily we were already on the home stretch when this shot was taken.
That's all folks, until we meet again....
Music: BenSound
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/sxtvwiiz
I sit down to talk about why life in Southeast Asia, specifically Cambodia, is just more efficient, social, and freer than life in the west.
It's Just My Opinion ๐ โโ๏ธ In this ultra-woke modern world, I feel my first words after such a title should be "it's just my opinion." That being said, after having lived in the USA, Jamaica, Suriname, and Ecuador, and also having traveled western Europe, I can say that life is fundamentally very similar in all these places, and the western world in general.
Common themes are a life consumed by debt, being overworked, a huge gap between the rich and the poor, little or no freetime to spend with friends and family, constant feelings of stress and worry, and I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Another thing that bothers me in the west is that individualism is taken to the extreme, and selfishness and ego are encouraged at the state level and by the fabric of society.
Even simple things like conversation, a thing Cambodians use to understand one another more clearly, is actually competitive in the west. I always forget how hard it is to have a conversation and stay on topic in the west, because often times one person is just waiting for the other to shut up so they can push their agenda.
So many times in the west I've had one-way conversations that lasted hours, with me only having asked a few questions, and the other person rambling the whole time. This has never happened even once in Cambodia (with Cambodians) because they are always full of questions for each other, and that's what makes conversation interesting and engaging. There is even a little thing lost centuries ago in the west, but it's still alive and well in Cambodia, and that is the follow-up question, something slowly dying around the world.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/bmyohmjf
Well, it's official, Cambodia has reopened its borders to the world. I am only now an easy e-visa away from being back together in Cambodian with my family again.
Cambodia Reinacts E-Visa Program
``` We've been waiting years to return to Cambodia as a family, and the decision by the Cambodian government to reopen the country, albeit with many stipulations, is one well-received by my family and I. Suriname has never been a right fit for us, and we only ever came to the west to get married and meet American family members.
The get married part happened, but my USA family still hasn't met my Cambodian family, and that's no longer as important as it once was to me. Now that we can envision a return to Cambodia, we are busy creating a plan for action once on the ground there. There will be a 7-day quarantine, a $1,000 USD cash deposit on my behalf for the quarantine hotel stay, and I also need travel insurance.
If we return together we will be separated upon arrival, and that irony is not lost on me. Even though I'll have my own hotel room with 2 beds during the 7-day quarantine period, the family would have to pay $1,000 USD deposit each to join me per policy. They are however, entitled to a free government quarantine that is basically the same quality of room that I will have.
It appears most people are getting around $400 of their deposit back after quarantine, so that would mean an extra loss of $1,800 USD just for us to be together for 7 days. That's almost half the cost of the piece of land we want to buy, so it's out of the question unless a discount can be made, and/or I can sweettalk the authorities into letting me quarantine with the family at the government facility.
```
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/cmvfryvx
I have been reaching deep lately to stay entertained, so I decided to download a faceswap app for my phone, and the results were entertaining.
๐คณ Funner Than I Could've Imagined ๐บ I had no idea which faceswap app was a popular one, so I downloaded a random one that had great reviews and also offered videos, something I was most keen to try. The app I downloaded was ReFace App, and immediately after taking a selfie, the first idea that popped into my mind was Bollywood.
This thing had me in stitches instantly, and the rest of the family immediately wanted their turn. I played with this app for about an hour, and hopefully it was resourceful waste of my time because I get to share it with you all, hopefully make you laugh, and earn some crypto in the process. I even took selfies of my Cambodian wife and kids who are fans of Bollywood, and I must say Monkey-B's results were the most hilarious, I guess because her face is too small, so the AI struggled a little more, creating some weird proportions.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/cogqpodo
Eventual family reunification will be legally impossible without a COVID-19 vaccination, so tomorrow the family and I are going to the city to get dosed.
โ๏ธ No Choice Is An Easy Choice ๐ In about 4 more weeks, I'll be sending my family back to Cambodia, and likely without me unless Cambodia changes its visa restrictions in the next few weeks. Monkey-B's passport is about to expire and our US immigration has come to a standstill, so we now feel our best chance to be together again is in Cambodia.
@Sreypov will have to start her own corporation, at least on paper, and this is how she'll be able to bring me back into the country, as a sponsored employee. All foreign arrivals will be required to show proof of vaccination, so for me it's get jabbed or lose my family, making it a very easy to choice. But as I mention in this video, I'd drink polonium to leave Suriname.
Suriname vs. Cambodia I ramble a bit about the differences between Suriname and Cambodia, and what makes Cambodia so much more livable than Suriname. Whether it be the massive amount of fruit and vegetable variety or the social living, it's hard to find a way that Cambodia isn't more livable than Suriname, at least regarding the things my family and I find important in life.
One problem we've had in Suriname is that people are very rarely straight with us. I remember the first time we looked at a one room apartment, and how the owner basically turned us down because he implied Suriname is too civilized to allow people to live like that. People here would rather leave a room empty without tenants than to allow 4 people to live in it. In Cambodia, rental room building owners could care less about what you do with your room so long as you pay your rent on time and you're civil with your neighbors.
We eventually gave up on affordable housing after countless landlords all refused us a rental room, and now pay $275 USD per month for a tiny corner of a dilapidated house where we've only had three days of running water in the last 2 months. We're no strangers to living simply, but in Cambodia to live under such horrible conditions wouldn't cost more than $50 USD a month.
Harry The Lamb Lightens The Mood ๐ Perhaps I talked about too many stressful issues, but near the end of the video Harry and Monkey-B made a quick cameo. Harry nearly kicked the camera and ripped my lavalier mic out, but he was only trying to say hi to all of you Hivers. He's proven to be a more social creature than the folks living in our neighborhood, and he still retains his VIP status as the coolest lamb that ever lived. Shame he can't join us in Cambodia.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/rxzhakwd
I can't believe it, I've finally reached 25,000 HP. I never thought Hive and cryptocurrency would have such a major impact on my family's lives.
๐ถ๏ธ The Future Is Bright โ๏ธ Unfortunately our immigration plans to the USA have stalled, and by the end of November my family and I will have to separate with my wife and daughters returning to Cambodian and me going to the USA. As of now, our best chance at reunification is within in Cambodia, either through my wife creating a corporation and bringing me in as an employee, or Cambodia reinstating visas-on-arrival within the next several months.
Even though we thought we would be sad about our separation, our three years outside Cambodia have been mostly miserable. Because of this, we are so excited at the thought of being together again in Cambodia, and also excited for all the social living and adventures we'll experience and share with you Hivers.
Reaching 25,000 HP is another imaginary Hive milestone I am happy to have reached, and that makes me basically a half-whale. Our future plans for Cambodia now place Hive at the nucleus of our existence, and we can almost taste the future of being able to survive comfortably on what we earn each month. Please watch the video if you want a more in-depth ramble.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/pmkqqbzy
In Cambodia, "Did You Eat Rice Yet?" is the colloquial form of "How Are You?" Learning this many years ago provided me great insight into the Cambodian culture and mentality.
Decoding "How Are You?" Rice is life in Cambodia, just as it is in many rice-growing developing countries around the world. When something has been a central element to one's culture for a few thousand years, it tends to work its way into every aspect of life, from the language to the mentality, and beyond.
As I slowly learned the Khmer language many years ago, I enjoyed stumbling upon phrases, idioms, and expressions that reveal the Khmer mentality and culture. In English, the word "rice" is used to describe the plant, the uncooked product, the cooked product, the name of the field it's grown in, etc.
Because rice wasn't a central element in the development of the English language, this one word has always seemed to suffice for me. In Cambodia where rice is an integral part of daily life, there are different singular vocabulary words for "rice field," "booked rice," "uncooked hulled rice," "unhulled rice," "rice plant," and just about anything to do with rice.
With this in mind, I decided to highlight the only slang/colloquial form of the expression "How are you?" in the Khmer language. The question "ฦam baay haษy nษจv?" literally means "Eat rice already yet?", and of course it's used to ask is someone has eaten yet.
This question can also be used in place of the Khmer equivalent of "How are you?", and it reveals so much about the culture. When you become more than just an acquaintance with a Cambodian, they may choose to start asking you if you've eaten rice instead of asking how you are.
Fellow (ASEAN) Hivers, what are the colloquial/slang way(s) to ask "How are you? in your language(s)? Please let me know in the comments below.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/kqeoatuj
Still in the silly goose spirit from yesterday, I decided to do sit down with Monkey-B and have a 3Speak silly goose time.
๐น 3Speak Silly Goosin' ๐ฆข Monkey-B and I often brew up some very witty banter, but I must say it's like lightning in a bottle, very hard to capture. I've always wanted to film our cheeky back-and-forths, but as soon as the camera comes out things start to get unnatural. I am hoping with the passage of time we'll both be able to 100% let our guard down on camera.
Well, practice makes perfect, so I figure we should just start filming our chats to see what happens. I mention the idea of a Podcast in this video, and I honestly think Monkey-B could pull off a show of some sort, although I have no interest in podcasting via any mainstream channels. I would however be interested in turning our talks into a themed weekly 3Speak release of some sort.
If you Hivers have any names/ideas/topics for a 3-Speak based weekly video show with Monkey-B, let me know in the comments below. Enjoy, hope you find a laugh somewhere in here.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/vycobqcm
In addition to the lack of fruits and vegetables, Suriname now has no propane for cooking, plus our apartment rarely has running water.
DREAMIN' ๐ญ All these various hardships have caused us to long for Cambodia, and now that US Immigration is indefinitely delayed, a family separation in November is imminent. We've previously been separated for nearly a half year due to visa issues, and I promised I would never let that happen again.
Well, it looks like I'll be eating my words very soon, but the conditions have become so unlivable here in Suriname that @sreypov and I are actually okay with this (hopefully short) temporary separation imposed by bureaucrats. At this point, a few months apart in order to live a live filled with happiness, fresh food, and local economic spending power, is a price we're willing to pay.
We've been spending our last days in Suriname not thinking about how bad our separation will be, but instead thinking of the brand new Piaggio Ape we will buy, and all of the adventures and camping trips we will do with our new wheels. The happiest we have ever been is when we have no schedule, a tank full of gas, an open road, and a tuk-tuk full of food and camping equipment.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
https://3speak.tv/watch?v=justinparke/tzpunegl
Yesterday I received some very disappointing news from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and now it is sure that this family will have to separate.
The Nightmare That Never Ends
``` I hardly feel like posting today, but since Hive is our economic lifeline, I felt the need to both share some bad news with you all, vent my frustrations a little, and hopefully earn enough crypto compensate for today's living expenses. In short we were unable to legally marry in Cambodia, so my family and I left three years ago to Ecuador to get a legal marriage abroad, meet some American family members, and return to Cambodia.
Fast forward to now, where we are stranded in Suriname due to COVID-19 after our Ecuadorian immigration lawyer screwed us, we have been seeking to relocate to anywhere that is not Suriname since we were finally legally married after two years of red tape and bureaucratic hold-ups.
Unable to return to Cambodia due to new COVID visa regulations, we attempted US immigration, and we were in the final stages, hoping to receive an interview date, but only received notifications that my wife's birth certificate and Cambodian criminal check are invalid. To even begin to find out why these documents were refused, we have to place a public inquiry and wait 6 weeks for a response.
Our youngest daughter's passport expires in June of next year, and most countries will not allow transiting of airports with any less than 6 months left on a passport. This ultimately means we had to be in the USA or Cambodia before December, and now it's clear there's no chance for this, and we will have to separate.
```
A Glimmer Of Hope
``` I will likely return to the USA to regroup and start fighting the systems that are preventing my family and I from having basic rights like the ability to earn an income and be together. My wife was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, so we both assume this is the source of the refusal. Even worse is the American government seems to think my domicile isn't legit because I've lived outside the USA too long, even though we have an abandoned house on the family farm that I am registered to vote from, receive bank statements to, and even have filed taxes with this address.
A quick study online says people in this situation need to lawyer up and prepare for a lengthy legal fight. For me, I never wanted to take my family to a country that doesn't want them anyways, so perhaps we are dodging a bullet. Rumor has it Cambodia will reopen for tourism in October to vaccinated travelers, so this could be my/our chance to be reunited. Words can't express how angry I am that bureaucrats are ripping us apart, but at least it looks like we'll be able to possibly be together again in Cambodia.
Even though neither Cambodia or the USA wants us, we can't blast off to another universe, so Cambodia wins by being the least non-welcoming legal system on Earth to this family. For now I can't even wrap my head around the thought of putting them on a plane, but this will become a reality very soon, whether we like it or not.
```
CLICK HERE TO JOIN HIVE AND START EARNING CRYPTO LIKE US
| Dad@JustinParke | Mom@SreyPov | ๐ GIVE THANKS ๐ | Srey-Yuu@KidSisters | Monkey B@KidSisters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |