Digital Citizen
Being a digital citizen, what does it mean?
I’ve met so many people in the past few years. It’s not that the time I’ve spent online is just for virtual reality. In a way, I think that online activities and communications have shaped the way I do live my life in the reality world.
Last July, I met two people, who visited Cambodia. Akshay, a Mumbai-based photojournalist, who was traveling to several countries and cities in Southeast Asia region, including Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, sent me an email when he was in Siem Reap, enjoying taking photographs of Tonle Sap’s Floating Villages. It happens that Akshay is an acquaintance of UK-based Global Voices Online editor Neha Viswanathan, whom I met in person twice; the first time was in London, and the last in Delhi. We then met on a street near Foreign Correspondents Club, which is not from Sisowath Quay. He’s got with him a camera bag and a digital SLR camera, Nikon D200. There, we’re also accompanied by my Phnom Penh-based friends Phatry, Geoff, and Joseph. Currently in Valencia, Spain, Akshay has posted some more pictures ‘Heart of Darkness‘ he took in Cambodia. His photographs tell a lot about Phnom Penh in the eye of a non-Phnom Penher. I have to say I really enjoy viewing them.
Later that month, Merlyna Lim, an Internet researcher and Assistant Professor from Arizona State University, made her way from Siagon to Siem Reap, and to Phnom Penh. Merlyna is originally from Indonesia. On her first evening in the Cambodian capital city, after arriving from Siem Reap by flight, we had dinner at a local restaurant for Khmer food. This time Phatry and Virak joined us; Mean Lux couldn’t make it as he was too busy with his overloaded works. We had a lot to talk. Since she’s an academic researcher, I’m not quite surprised that she’s got lots of questions relevant to what’s been happening here in Cambodia. It’s fortunate to meet people who has been in the academic world like her, probably because I want to get back to school.
from left: ThaRum, Phatry, Merlyna, and Virak. timely taken by Merlyna
In late August, Beth Kanter, a non-profit technology consultant, flew from Boston to Phnom Penh to be a guest-speaker at conference at Pannasastra University. She specializes in how to use new web tools to support nonprofit goals. We first met at Heathrow Airport in in December 2005.
A late afternoon at Foreign Correspondents Club, talking over coffee
We crossed our path as our world is not wide as the Web. David Sasaki paid his first visit to Cambodia just a day after Beth arrived. I met David in London that same year as I met Beth; then again, in Delhi. The question is where’s next? In Africa or Eastern Europe?
David Sasaki using Wi-Fi at Pannasastra University’s conference hall
Preetam is an travel lover. He’s been to many countries in Southeast Asia, enjoyed food, and learned cultures. He talks a lot about almost everything. After my trip Delhi in 2006, I stayed at his apartment room in Singapore, where he lives and works as a trainer of teacher. He teaches people to use new digital technologies. Meeting him in Phnom Penh reminded me the time he and his girlfriend accompanied me and Boris to taste to Burmese food.
Preetam Rai talking with KhmerOS founder Javier Sola
I was a bit surprised reading an email from Emily, who met Preetam in Taiwan at a Wikimania conference. Through Preetam’s invitation, Emily visited Phnom Penh the Cambodian capital.
Emily Wu
September 15th, 2007 at 23:48 pm
Maybe you’ll come to America!
September 16th, 2007 at 2:38 am
it was my pleasure to meet you and your friends! echoing Beth, yes, maybe you’ll come to America.. and I’ll make sure we have fun+academic events here when it happens :))
September 16th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I think it would be interesting to look at the origin of the term ‘digital citizen’. It was a very popular idea in 2005.
I am also wondering what the closest word is to ‘citizen’ in Khmer, my friends are not in agreement.