* Climate - generally prevailing weather conditions of a region * Hot and Humid * Thunderstorms * Heat Lightning * Flash Floods * Monsoons

* Monsoon – Seasonal wind of Southern Asia with heavy rains * Affects rural life and agriculture * Can damage homes and buildings * Causes many injuries and death * Houses are built on stilts to keep safe

* Communist Party * Led by Pol Pot * Took control of the government in 1975 * Enabled by massive bombing by the U.S. in Vietnam War * Extreme self-sufficiency, nationalism, and xenophobia – fear of foreigners * Mass genocide – deliberate killing of a group of people * Education, wearing glasses, career * Killing Fields -“Holocaust of Cambodia”

* Elementary school turned into a concentration camp, now a museum

* Khmer Rouge lost power after a failed attack on Vietnam in 1979 * Many areas were controlled by Vietnam for many years, but it is now completely the Kingdom of Cambodia * Still deep fear and hatred of Vietnamese * Slowly recovering economy * Many people have tried to forget

* Very poor * “Real” – Cambodian Money * Has little value * Live in shacks, little clothing, malnutrition * Agrarian society – relating to land, farming

* Race/Ethnicity * Food * Religion * Music * Language * Region * Traditions * Values * Etc..

* Religion – * Primarily Buddhist * Open country = one person may have many beliefs * Family is most important * Arranged marriages * White skin is considered more beautiful

* Rice * Vegetables * Fruits * Thai Food * Duck and duck eggs * Beef and fish * Some English is spoken in big cities * Primary language - Khmer * Chum Reap Suor - Hello * Sok Sabei Teh – How are you? * Akhun – Thank you

* City * Dirty * Crowded * Houses over lakes of sewage * Busy with commerce and traffic * Villages * Quiet * Less garbage * Only speak Khmer * Few businesses, no traffic * Smells better

* Capital city * Motos and Moto Taxis * Dirt Roads * Responsible for what’s in front of you * Police can be easily bribed

* Largest Hindu temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world * “City of Temples” * Built around 12 th century

* Each face is over 12 feet in height * All 4 sides (Gods are always watching)