The average wealth factors in the growing middle class —business owners who own their houses. Healthcare has become more accessible, especially since that thing 50 years ago... You know...the Vietnam War, genocide, and ensuing civil war. It’s still expensive for anyone who doesn’t make more than $350/ month (a living…

You know, Cambodia isn’t “wild.” There are air conditioned coffee shops, Burger Kings, Domino’s, KFCs, and most — I’d say 99% — of bathrooms are indoors.

Realistically, that’s not what happens. I have an actual example, not a hypothetical one.

Poor countries cannot rely on foreign funds to survive. This first huge example of this is when the UN stepped in and gave Cambodia billions in aid. An injection of cash creates 1) a wealth disparity, 2) government corruption 3)…

There was a great study by Georgetown University that said when consumers see something that is trendy or cute, they will be “morally flexible” so they can buy it. We make excuses like, “well, at least the factory workers have jobs” or “the company isn’t responsible for the actions of the factory owners.” I live and…

Source Ethical Fashion Forum has a directory. The site requires a membership, but the directories are free to use.

I’d really like you to explain this more. Because I disagree, and I want to make sure I don’t write a long explanation against a point you weren’t trying to make.

Check out Pants to Poverty, based in the UK. Terrible name, pretty great underwear.

Something that isn’t normally mentioned when talking about where our clothes were made is where the raw materials are sourced. You’ll notice American Apparel flaunts the “American made” part of their business, but it’s near impossible to figure out where their raw materials come from. I dug into the depths of the…

Don’t sweat it. Part of the joy of traveling while you’re young is being an unwitting asshole and regretting it later.

Well, the NGO part was just me being militant. I’d like to replace it with “work anywhere that pays you in more than room and board.”

Are you sure about this? Like, really? Because the collective mind of Sihanoukville expats could blow Lonely Planet out of the water — if we were motivated enough, which we’re not. First, enjoy yourself. And...

I just need to declare something. Not you you, rivalamoureux, but to Slate.com. Imagine I’m standing on a table with a megaphone. Ahem.

Most aren’t orphans. Their parents send them out and won’t let them return home until they make enough money. I know I’ve been saying a lot of awful things in this thread, but I’m not even exaggerating. Maybe living here for so long has just made me very matter-of-fact and desensitized.

BTW: I’m NOT saying everyone should send their kids to the school of hard knocks before putting them in the workforce. I once saw an Australian Naval Officer punch a 14-year-old girl who was being especially pushy. I’m just saying that in the current state of our town, I would take a beach kid over a college student…

To be fair, street kids who grow up and get a job are, hands down, the most valuable employees. Their spoken English is near fluent and they know how to sell stuff. Cambodians are rather shy, so getting someone to ask a customer if they want another beer is like pulling teeth. In addition, most street kids are very…

Kids will tell you they need money for baby formula for a sibling. A tourist, thinking they’re clever, will buy the formula rather than giving them money. Then, the kids take it back to the store and sell it for less than the tourist bought it for.

Dude, yes. I always tell tourists to keep their 100 riel notes to give to old beggars. When they ask why, I tell them these men and women have experienced things you and I can’t fathom (my mother might’ve ended up begging — or worse — if she hadn’t gotten to a refugee camp). You struck a chord, dude. Now I'm all…

No. Flat out, NO. I live in Sihanoukville, Cambodia and the worst thing you can do is interact with street kids. I know it’s tough, but teaching them to braid, stamping their hands, giving them money (especially) is very, very dangerous. I don’t know how to say this eloquently, but white people look the same. Being…

It’s fantastic. The headlines on my newsfeed bring me the exact same feeling of joy as when the Onion pops up. You go on and hit that “Like” button and “show in newsfeed.”

I have to add one more thing: it's only the US Navy. We live in a port town, so we've seen every country's navy come through. The Australians are thugs and hooligans, the Japanese are boring, the Koreans have the best looking women, and the U.S. Is notoriously wonderful. They have a shore patrol to make sure none of…