It's a Small World 2

In Cambodia, our world continues to constrict. The sister city relationship Long Beach has with Phnom Penh plays it out daily.

As Peter Chhun, executive director of Long Beach nonprofit Hearts without Boundaries, sits out in front of the Riverside Cafe on Sisowat Boulevard, he is met by two Long Beach compatriots. One is a former leader at the United Cambodian Community who has relocated to Phnom Penh. The other is Chay Chhon, who came to Cambodia for surgery, of all things. He too hopes to resettle in his homeland after more than 30 years in Long Beach.

Every day in different ways, Long Beach connections play themselves out. Earlier in the day, as we are hanging out by the U.S. Embassy, Chantha Bob, who is part of our group, just randomly bumped into two people with Long Beach roots. One is a patron of Sophy's Restaurant in Long Beach, where Bob works, and another is an old acquaintance. All these connections made in just a day. And so it goes.

-- Greg