Just a great week in Siem Reap recently. The town is hit hard from covid as the majority of its revenue is based on tourism. Made a video talking about what I was doing there. Special thanks to World Monuments Fund Siem Reap Director Ginevra. Take a look. Stayed at Sofitel: and also the Anantara…
Foreign Affairs Day
What is Foreign Affairs Day? ‘Each year on the first Friday of May, the Department of State observes Foreign Affairs Day, the annual homecoming for our Foreign Service and Civil Service retirees. This day also commemorates the members of the Foreign Service who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives serving the United States…
African American History Month
I think and feel it important that we celebrate the contributions of African Americans in both American Diplomacy and life itself. The thing about the Foreign Service and serving in the US military overseas is that the average American knows very little about it. Beyond that, rarely do Americans get to see and hear from…
Koh Rong Island, Cambodia
We got away for our one year anniversary. What a first year. Lots of ups and down but would not have it any other way. Koh Rong Island is in the Bay of Thailand off the coast of Cambodia. Really an amazing little place. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rob Joswiak…
What a start to the new year!
Put Angkor Wat on your bucket list right now! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rob Joswiak (@robjoswiak) Ana and I started the year off by going to Siem Reap with our friend, Jaleesa. The city is awesome but the National Park is just other worldly. View this post on Instagram A…
Happy Holidays from Phnom Penh
I am starting to get out and meet people and see places. My tour of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) was VERY moving. the site is a former secondary school which was used as Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 until its fall in 1979. From 1976 to 1979, an estimated 20,000 people were imprisoned at…
Love, dignity, and respect
Went for a run yesterday and it really felt good. First one this year as pitiful as that sounds. I will always love running on the mall and in the VA/DC area. Made a video with some of my thoughts on our current American experience. Khmer studies are going well. Very hard language to learn…
Cultural Affairs in Cambodia
First off, I want to thank everyone who reads this blog and has reached out. Means a lot to me. I wish I had more to report but studying Khmer has been tough. I have my first evaluation this Wednesday. This weekend though, I was able to do a video for the English Access students…