Privileges Transfer and The Leftover of Colonialism
Back when I had recently arrived in Phnom Penh, I struck up a conversation with, what I was hoping, a potential new friend at the birthday party of a mutual friend. She was born and raised in Cambodia but had lived in the US for a bit. Our conversation went like this: Her: So, what are you going to do in Cambodia. Me: I guess I will try to find a job. Her: Oh, do you even have any qualification? Me: What do you mean? (I was a bit confused) Her: Do you even have a degree? Did you to school? Like a formal education? Me: (I start to feel uncomfortable), ummm… I guess, yeah… Her: You know that I work with all of these people, right? (at that time we are in a bubble of white people who live in Phnom Penh) You know that I work with them, right? (she repeated herself) I have a qualification, I am qualified. I went to school in the US. I plan to get my master degree in the US. That would be easy for me. Anyway, what is your undergrad? Me: communication, but my m... (she cut me) He