This is for you

Dear Angkea,

Look how far you've come. 

I may not have lived the past 40 years of your life with you, but I have met the people who brought you up, grew up with you, worked with you, climbed with you... And through them, it almost feels as though I have lived those years with you. 

The other day we met another one of your awesome friends (and mentor, as you have appropriately mentioned as you briefed me in the car before we meet anyone new). It was a meeting over a simple cup of coffee for me, and smoothies for the both of you. 

After an exchange of 'how's life!' and the works, you finally told him about your new job position. Of course, he was happy for you. Elated, even.

I could tell because the one thing I noticed was this: 

He looked at you with a smile slowly forming in the corners of his mouth, and said, "Angkea, I'm so proud of you."

At that point, watching the moment you connected with your friend and mentor, I felt like I was taken back to where you started. You pushing the cart in the mail room and brightening everyone's day with your 90's moves. You working two jobs because you knew it takes hard work to climb. You going for classes after a work-shift that ended at 7am. 

You may not know this but it got me pretty emotional. It made me see better what kind of a man you are and how much your determination in life has changed mine so much. 

This feeling I get whenever I am reminded of you - gratitude, love, blessings and many more. I cannot explain further as this feeling can only be felt. It's kinda weird, but in a good way :)

There is no one else in this world like you and you deserve only good things, because you are. 

I am so proud of you, Angkea. 

Love, 

Atheena

Hi, I am Mrs Som

For a while now, this blog has been on a stand still - totally not my fault though! I have been meaning to say a thing or two here, but I've been really caught up. On top of that, I haven't found the right words to say. But I think I might have found something, so bear with me.

I recently started a job with a really prestigious brand doing Public Relations & Social Media. It pays well for a graduate in Singapore and the opportunities are great. It was meant to last until December.

Before starting the job, I was really eager to learn about PR. You see, my specialty in school was Advertising. I was good at it because I knew the ins and outs of it. But PR... Not so much. Soon, my eagerness turned into fear. And the moment it did, I felt dreadful.

I have to be honest - fear has always been my one big obstacle that holds me back from achieving whatever it is I set myself out to. I never actually realised this until a few months back when I did a procrastination quiz. Haha I know, how silly!

Within the first week, my learning curve was as steep as a vertical line. I literally had to learn on the job several skills of PR. Simple things like composing a media event email, to giving pitching calls to media individuals. You would think that the professors would teach us these things in university?? NOPE.

These things truly scared the shit out of me. But you know, thinking back to my first week, I'm quite glad for my experiences. I can still remember the day I spoke to Angkea, "But babe, what if I can't do PR? I'm scared."

What if I was chicken shit and never took the step to learn? I might never, ever in my life know how to speak to top Editors-in-Chief of publications ANYWHERE. I might never have known how a media launch actually works. I might still be the advertising snob who thinks PR is a *sai kang job nobody wants to do.

Now I CAN do those things.

Now I HAVE the skills.

Now I KNOW what PR is all about.

I'm no professional, but one thing that I do know is that the best way to know yourself is to challenge yourself. It could be a new skill, or environment. TRY IT. It may trigger your secret love for it, or it could reaffirm the fact that you're not cut out for it.

At 23, I can safely say that I have had my first challenge and I'm pretty damn proud of myself.

P.S. My challenge has taught me that I'm the latter - not cut out for it. I am currently working on exploring options in Advertising and of course, future plans for We Are The Soms :)

*Sai kang is Singlish for 'shit work'. Commonly used by Singaporeans especially to describe a job with mundane tasks. 

Let's get this shit started.

Greetings from Phnom Penh.

As most of you know I’m very proud to be an American, but I’m Khmer first and foremost. I’m very proud of what our family have been able to accomplish being first generation American. Although there were many challenges growing up poor, we never stopped trying and figuring out ways to be better than what our parents could give us. It WASN’T easy. In fact, I can write a book about this and maybe one day I will.

At present, we have a good life. My sister, who is an amazing and inspiring mom who was a product of public school and student parent, is now a great lawyer. She helps those who are especially in need – the victims. She has raised a daughter who is now starting at the University of Washington.

Most importantly, she has taken over to care and shelter for my elder parents, not in a nursing home but in the family home. It may be a bit of a generalization, but it is one of the great things for Asian parents because their children are always ready to take care of them as they age. And for what my sister has done, she has also allowed me to explore my ambitions; my desire to live abroad and explore.

I begin this blog because there have been many whom have suggested and it’s good for business, etc. But it’s my wife, Atheena, and her encouragement that sealed the deal. We live our lives just a bit different and we hope that we can inspire some of you to take a leap of faith and live your lives to your full potential.

Okay, so why am I back in Cambodia?

I think I have been here eight times but it’s been the last three that has been the most meaningful because:

(1) my parents were here at the same time for holiday and that was when I told them about my intention to marry Atheena. It was also when/where I proposed to her. During this trip she also met my sister and extended Cambodian family, ate their food, saw where/how they lived and still said ‘yes’ anyway. :) So I knew she was a keeper.

(2) The next year, we came back again to celebrate Atheena’s birthday. It was also to celebrate her completion of university life.

(3) Presently, as I’m writing this blog, it is clear to both of us that we will be moving here to start our business. It’s never been a better time to come back. It’s never been a greater time to be an entrepreneur here in Cambodia. I am inspired to contribute to teach the young generation and be a job creator. And be a life educator.

Khmer people have a stigma to shed. We are a country that is not seen in a very good light when it comes to the intellectual aspect. I can see this as I’ve been here many times. Sadly, this is fact. Our intellectuals of past empire were killed off during the Khmer Rouge. You know the story of the Khmer Rouge, and if you don’t Google or Youtube it.

My immediate goals are to be a job creator, up level the workers by making sure that they are well compensated and very well taken care of, and eventually set up our own #wearethesoms charity as well as contribute to other existing organizations. #Wearethesoms will borrow JW Marriot mantra for a bit because we believe in it too: “If you take care of your people, your people will take care of your customers and your business will take care of itself.”

I’m picking up the baton that has been passed on to me. I’m going to start a business that you will learn more about in the coming months and I’ll be looking for your support.

Let’s get this shit started.