- Landmine Museum 

- Apopo

    The morning sun rises, illuminating the sky with the softest of clay reds -- the blending of earth and sky. Although our days are leaving quickly, I am reminded every morning of the differences in the environment around me. I pause to feel the sway of the mango tree, to hear the vibrations of the funeral chant, to feel the roots and ants below my feet. These senses seems novel to me, but they are indicators of home for others, loved by others. A moment of solitude passes: "beautiful Cambodia, land of sugar palms, fruit, flowers, fish, stars, calls us to all to reverence our universe." Surrounded by the immense beauty of Metta Karuna Reflection Center, I allow myself to reflect on the connections I have forged with the people from this land. My mind travels to Mr. Aki Ra, the founder of the Landmine Museum in Siem Reap. Having lived most of his young life in the war, first forced to fight as a child soldier for the Khmer Rouge, then to survive, fighting alongside the North Vietnamese, Aki Ra remembers the time of violence deeply. While a solider, he was tasked with planting landmines, many of which remain buried in the present. After the war, Aki Ra sought reconciliation with his time as a child solider by dedicating his life to detonating the bombs that polluted the earth of his home. Using his knowledge of landmines, he successfully detonated over 50,000 bombs, many of which he displays within his landmine museum to educate visitors about the dangers of this technology. Aki Ra kindly guided us through his story and museum. While walking through the exhibits, he often stopped to look at a pictures of his children, whom he had adopted to ameliorate the disparities they faced due to suffering injuries from bombs. Many of his students had gone on to attend university, studying areas including medicine and law. Aki Ra's eyes gleamed with pride over his children's accomplishments. Despite having received the CNN Heroes Award and other accreditations, Aki Ra wanted to highlight his children rather than himself. He often glanced at his daughter, who worked at the storefront of the museum's store, when he felt emotional from his recount. I am inspired by Aki Ra's usage of knowledge from a traumatic time within his life to create a better future for his country. Through education and the field missions, Aki Ra and his team continue to reconcile with the lingering impacts of the Khmer Rouge's regime and the subsequent civil war. Upon departure from the museum, I was left pondering one distinct phrase: "when the war is over and the soldiers leave, the landmines remain." How do we reckon with what is left behind after war? How does a nation rebuild after a period of immense violence? How can one reconcile with oneself? Aki Ra demonstrates that in the face of the past, we can not forget, but we can live the next day differently. 

-Mimi

 

Holding a hero rat!!