After Thirty Years, I Still Can't Tell the Story
One day in 1987, I stopped at a rundown building on Lawrence Avenue in Chicago. I walked up the stairs to the office of an organization called the Cambodian Association of Illinois, and asked if they needed volunteers.
They did, and that changed my life.
There's a story about a man who visited a foreign land. Fascinated by the culture and customs, he decided to write a book. After a few weeks, he realized that there were many things he still didn't understand and he decided that he'd need a few more weeks to research. After a few more weeks, he realized that he would in fact need several more months. After several more months, he realized that he'd need several years. And after several years, he realized that he would never truly understand.
Asking "why" doesn't always give you answers. Sometimes, it only gives you deeper questions.
I'd love to tell you all about Cambodia, but I can't. After thirty years, I can tell you some stories, but I can't tell you _the_story.