2009 July | Kelsey Timmerman

A reader shares “My Journey from Cambodia as a Sweatshop Worker”

By Kelsey

The other day I got an amazing email from Sina Li, a Clothing Design student at University of Minnesota who was born in Cambodia. She read WAIW? and enjoyed it, which thrilled me. Her sister works at a garment factory and Sina almost did before coming to the United States.

I asked her to tell her story and she did so in the comments of this post, but I thought I would share them here, too. Thanks for Sharing Sina!

My journey from Cambodia as a sweatshop worker

This is for Kelsey asking me to write on his blog. Well it started when I was about 13 years old when my life was so close to no choice but to work at a sweatshop factory in Cambodia Phnom Penh. Every body is doing it in my village and I don’t see why not. I remember I asked someone who knew my sister helping me filling an application lying about my age entry to a factory a block away near my sister’s rent apartment.

Life is super/extremely hard in Cambodia I dare you to believe me. I don’t remember the exact date but it was the morning sun I ever see in many years. I thought to myself oh man this is it? Now it the chance to have my own money that I wanted those jean and purse I saw at the market. I thought having this factory in Cambodia was like a gold rush here in America. Everybody was rush to the city sending their 13 years old child to work so that they can support the family.

I don’t want to make this long because I might sad myself till my eyes swallow with tear so I am just going to finish this now. You know I was so lucky that I got to come to America right before I take my first step to that factory. But if I know better, I would of love it. Because I would have money to carry that belong to me and I can help my family too. Kelsey stated that the workers (Nari and her friends and this include my sister too) were happy because they can help their family. Sweatshop is sound so bad in America at least my friends said so. But in Cambodia, sweatshop is the only key to unlock those treasure to me, my sister and tons of other workers would soooooooo agree with me.

Well open your eyes and ask your-self, living here in America you think it tough? Ask again! Think about those who worse then you living in the third world country such as Honduras, Bangladesh, Cambodia and China! Thanks Kelsey for allowing me to tell my story and thanks tons your for open our eyes on how we as American consumer see the world.

This Writer’s Life

Why I’m running the NYC marathon and how you can help

By Kelsey

Annie gave me The Look that I’ve become all too familiar with…

You’re doing what?

I saw it after college when I moved to Key West. I saw it when I told her about my plan to go to Bangladesh because my underwear was made there.

She had just returned from a full day of work and was smartly clad in her office attire. I was still in my writer’s uniform: shorts, ratty T-shirt, and barefoot. I looked like her jobless, thirty-something, live-in mooch.

“I’ve committed to running the NYC marathon and raising $3,000…”

(insert The Look)

“…for cancer.”

The look softened.

Annie knows cancer. She works at a radiation treatment center. She takes pride in smiling at patients and their families. Annie and her co-workers become part of the patients’ daily routine.

The treated are cared for. The survivors are rejoiced.

Cancer takes its toll. Paychecks are reduced as work is missed. The hours and miles to and from treatment are added up. The emotional mileage accrues exponentially.

Annie’s aunt, both of her grandmas, and her mom are survivors.

I’ve never been there for anyone who had cancer. When Annie’s mom was diagnosed I was traveling in Australia. I remember finding out at a payphone on the beach. I know that it’s kind of selfish to focus on my own emotions here, but I felt guilty. Gloria’s support system was amazing and I wasn’t a part of it. Friends and family drove her to treatments, made meals, and were there just to talk.

When I returned from my trip she was pale, and (this is the thing I remember most) her hairless nose dripped water when she leaned over. Everything seemed to take a lot of energy, even smiling. But smile she did. There was strength in that smile - the strength from others’ smiles, wet shoulders, cancer stories, borrowed wigs, and gifted bandannas.

It’s always bugged me that I wasn’t there for her.

Every time I leave on an extended trip I think about the payphone in Australia by the beach and second-guess myself. Nothing I ever do will make up for not being there.

Still, when I was asked to run the NYC marathon for Team Continuum, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

Team Continuum helps people who are living with cancer today. They care for the immediate needs of patients. Team Continuum is not a research-based organization. For them, it’s about the care and not the cure. Though they fully support research and are grateful for it, they focus on helping today’s cancer patients and their families. They do things like give gifts to children in cancer hospitals during the holiday season and hire a nutritionist for a cancer center (Continuum Cancer Center) that did not have enough resources. The organization is about helping people that are living with the disease today, trying to help in the fight for survival and to improve life for cancer patients. To quote a letter from the NYU Cancer Institute, “the funds raised through Team Continuum for direct patient care fills in the gap for the small things that make a difference in the cancer therapy experience for patients.”

I’m a proud member of Team Continuum. I’m running 26.2 miles for Gloria, Betty, Clara, Karen, and all the others who have been touched by cancer.

Please sponsor me in support of someone you know who is battling cancer or pay tribute to a loved one you have lost. Email me the name of the person you are honoring in your donation or list it in this post after donating and I will wear their name proudly on my team shirt as I run. All donations are tax deductible. To learn more about Team Continuum and make a donation online, go to my donation page.

If you don’t feel comfortable making a contribution online, email me at Kelsey@travelin-light.com and I will mail you a donation form.

Whatever you can give, I appreciate your support.

Thanks,

Kelsey

Giving Back

The Yes Men

By Kelsey

The Yes Men setup fake corporate websites mimicking companies like Exxon and Dow Chemical. And Then they wait for an invite to speak at an event. Shennanigans follow. I can’t wait to see this movie.

Yes, it’s fraud. Yes, it’s ridiculous. But is it funny and sad at the same time? Yes!

Here’s a great sample of them dooping folks (the BBC no less!):

These guys are really good at what they do. They are much smoother than I was impersonating an underwear buyer in Bangladesh.

Yes, I can’t wait to see this movie.

Mad World

The Skill is Gone

By Kelsey

The other day I was driving through Farmland, Indiana. It was rush hour somewhere, but not in Farmland that day…or ever.

The town has a population of 1,340 plus one guy who looked a little out of place. He was doing the strut where one arm swings and the other holds the waist of his pants to keep them from falling below his knees.

“I wonder where his underwear were made,” I thought, because that’s how much of a problem I have.

I’m not against the baggy-pants look, but Farmland is the kind of place where keeping your pants up is such a priority that suspenders are often employed; fashion be damned. So it’s no surprise that my next thought was, “That boy needs a belt.”

I don’t normally wear a belt, but, inspired by the beltless Farmlander, I am today. Also, I’m training for the NYC marathon and my pants are starting to get loose.

My belt was Made in the USA — Maine to be precise. Jim Taylor’s company The Belted Cow produced the belt and the design is the work of artist Scott Earle. Only 3% of our clothes are still made in the U.S. and I always enjoy learning about how domestic companies compete. It isn’t easy. Jim sent me an email after reading “Where Am I Wearing?” explaining:

My wife and I started a small business in 2004 that works with gallery artists (not apparel designers) to create unique artwork for casual belts and accessories. We make all our products in Maine. We have to compete with a lot of companies that outsource their manufacturing to the regions you write about. It is very difficult to compete on price with these companies because their costs are much lower than ours (including freight in). For instance, my flip flops cost me 4 times what my competitor pays for his from a Chinese company.

I think people know why many products made overseas cost less to buy and why companies like Wal-Mart are doing so well. In my experience, customers do like to buy apparel made in the US and our customers like the fact that Belted Cow products are Made in Maine. However, they are not willing to pay too much of a premium for that.

Sourcing domestically has its own challenges. For apparel, it is typically more expensive (relative to overseas) and it is getting harder to find high quality factories to do your work. The domestic apparel industry just does not attract people like it used to. In my experience you are lucky to find a factory with workers like you found in Perry (NY) who have many years of experience and are committed to what they do. But who will take their place? There aren’t a lot of young applicants for sewing jobs in US factories. I have been in many domestic apparel plants and they sound similar to the ones you visited in terms of the physical plant. They do seem very different when you look at the average age of the workers and how they are treated in terms of compensation and opportunity. That is the premium you pay for when you buy a US made garment. I think it is worth it.

Only 3% of our clothes are still produced in the United States. The garment industry is gone and isn’t coming back, but there are a brave few, like Jim, who have found their niche and are holding on. Not only do they compete with highly-skilled cheap labor and cheaper materials, the declining domestic garment labor force may not be sustainable.

Cue B.B. King: The skill is gone. The skill is gone away from here. I know you done me wrong…and the skill is gone.

I think many of us associate American-made with quality (ignoring automobiles), but that might not be the case anymore.

I’m proud of my belt. I know it’s story about Jim and his wife and about Scott, the artist, who they commissioned. I’m so proud of it that I might buy another and the next time I pass through Farmland and see the fella with the baggy jeans, I’ll give it to him.

It would be worth it.

-

Let’s get the conversation started: Do you try to buy American? If so, why and how much more are you willing to pay?

Engaged Consumer

Notes to Aspiring Writers

By Kelsey

Tomorrow the Midwest Writers’ Workshop kicks-off in Muncie. It was there that I met my agent two years ago. (Here’s a recap of the 2007 conference.) This year I’ll be a junior member of the faculty. I don’t think they actually have junior members, but my duties are light.

Here’s my schedule:

Thursday: I’ll be lingering all day, attending sessions and eating cookies, but I’ll officially be schmoozing at

3:45-4:15 Social Time / Book Signings; coffee

Friday:

4:15-5:15 pm [1] Panel: Path to Print: First-time Authors” (Ingrid Cummings, Kelsey Timmerman, JD Webb, Diane Freed)

6:00-9:00 Evening Program: Pizza Party, Book Signings, Special interest tables “Buttonhole the Experts” (I’ll be hosting a table about how to land an agent.)

Saturday - I’ll be around

In honor of the conference and to help an writers out there here’s a post I wrote in 2008:

Notes to Aspiring Writers

I had a fella email me today that is trying to break into writing, specifically travel writing. I decided to paste my response here. I’ll continue to update this and use it to direct future “how the hell do I get published” queries.

I think that every writer has their own path to getting published. No book or website or email can tell you what exactly will work for you; in fact, they often distract us from what’s most important – actually writing.

My path went something like this…

At first, I traveled for traveling’s sake. To experience the freedom of the open road and all that jazz. I was a bum. It was pure. It was beautiful. And then, the writing bug bit me and now travel plays second fiddle to writing. I can no longer bum. If I’m not working on a story, or what could become a story, I’ve got to move on to one or I’ll go nuts. Damned writing anyhow. It had to go a screw with the bum gig.

I was living in Key West and wrote a column for the local weekly paper. I got paid $0. My column was titled Travelin’ Light and I give any credit of what success I’ve had writing to the obligation of writing a weekly column. I probably wrote over 100 columns and I started to place them in a couple of other papers – small ones in random places in Ohio and Illinois. During this period of time I emailed about every paper with a circulation over 50,000. I’m not kidding. It was a monumental waste of time, but it taught me a lot about marketing my work. Occasionally I submitted individual stories to newspaper travel section and got published in Raleigh, NC, and Indianapolis, IN. I met an editor of the Christian Science Monitor at a writer’s conference and landed several publications there. This led to some radio work and by far my most impressive writing clips. I planned the Where am I wearing? trip and right before I left an agent contacted me if I had thought about writing a book about the trip to which I responded, “holy crap I just crapped myself.” I’m eloquent like that. I came back from the trip with a lot clearer idea of what the book was. I went to a local writer’s conference here in Indiana and met another agent. While I was asking her questions about how to work with the original agent, she asked me what my book was. The other agent lost interest and she became my agent. A few months later she sold my book. That’s it.

Some tips:

* We need deadlines to actually make us write, no excuses. By far the most important thing is writing. From my first column until now, I’ve come a long way. Everybody knows that practice sucks so try to find yourself something that you can contribute to on a regular basis. Even if it is only your personal blog or local paper, you need something that people are going to read so you hold yourself to higher standards.

* Dave Barry on writing: “Do things not think things.” I still think I have a long way to go as a writer, but I think what success I have had is just as much a credit to doing interesting things as writing well about them. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your perspective, a good idea will sell bad writing.

* Go to writer’s conferences and make contacts. I’ve only been to a few, but all of my “breaks” (Christian Science Monitor, landing and agent) have resulted from writer’s conferences.

* Be completely indifferent to rejection. When I submit something I make sure that it’s my best work, but once it is out of my hands, I don’t expect anything to come of it. I call this being cautiously pessimistic. I have stacks of paper rejections and MB worth of email rejections.

* Don’t do it for the money. I do it because I just love writing. I’ve always had other work and still do. If I would have taken a year off to make a go at the writing thing I probably would have said screw it a long time ago. Patience is required.
Getting your book published:

Subscribe to <a href=”https://publishersmarketplace.com/ “>publisher’s marketplace</a> for their daily deals email. They report what agent sold what to what editor. Pay attention to agents that are selling stuff like yours. Visit their website to see what their submission guidelines are and submit away. I was in the process of doing this, but got lucky that agents found me before I went looking for them.

Here are some links to more bits on writing:

On editors
Exploiting aspiring writers
Getting an agent
Blogging build a writing career

This Writer’s Life

40 years later and still no “Beach House on the Moon”

By Kelsey

Beach House On The Moon - Jimmy Buffett

Today is the 40th anniversary of the moon landing and now there’s renewed talk about going to Mars. To celebrate, I thought I’d re-post a piece that I wrote when President George W. Bush began his own renewed talks about going to Mars. The idea fell to Earth like a lead balloon. With President Obama facing a universe worth of other issues, I doubt that he’s going to jump on the Mission to Mars with much gusto. Today he’ll probably pose with the Apollo 11 alumni, but not commit to much else than a smile.

It’s amazing how far we’ve come in 40 years. Before Armstrong’s giant step, the moon was just something we pointed to and marveled at. Today it’s something we point at and say, “I own that piece right there, next to the Sea of Tranquility.” Yes, even the moon is for sale.

Here’s the piece written in 2004:

“In the past 30 years, no human being has set foot on another world or ventured farther up into space than 386 miles, roughly the distance from Washington, D.C., to Boston, Massachusetts.” The voice was that of President George W. Bush launched from NASA headquarters in Houston to a satellite orbiting at thousands of miles an hour. From the satellite the signal was shot down to us earthlings. Rocking in my recliner, I stared off into the corner of the room listening to the voice of the President emerge from the ether out my radio.

Pyramid, a word association game show featuring two celebrities, was on TV and I was playing along, “Uh…uhh…kids like to play on this…boing…boing…boing…” The clues were given by the voice of Bart Simpson. A Pogostick- I screamed inside my head. The contestant echoed my thoughts and I gave myself a point.

“Today I announce a new plan to explore space and extend a human presence across our solar system.” The game was moving onto the Winner’s Circle; I sat in an entirely different circle in my recliner staring at the TV with a slice of cold pizza in my hand - the Loser’s Circle. I switched off the TV opting for George Bush over Bart Simpson; there’s a first time for everything.

“It is time for America to take the next steps.”

The last few weeks as the world logged onto the NASA website and viewed color panoramic shots of Mars, there had been rumors of manned missions to the Red Planet. It was a mind-blowing prospect- the ultimate journey, at least a three-year mission that would cover approximately 40 million miles…one-way.

I pictured a man, dressed in white, running in a vertical circle in an all white room while an all too intelligent computer plays classical music in the background. The man is interrupted by the appearance of the president of the galaxy, a creature with three arms, two heads, and one big ego that goes by the name Zaphod Beeblebrox. They hold an unusually complex and circular discussion that lasts a short time - a few years - and soon arrive on the Martian surface to find clothed apes swinging from the Statue of Liberty.

This was real science fiction.

“Using the crew exploration vehicle, we will undertake extended human missions to the moon as early as 2015, with the goal of living and working there for increasingly extended periods of time.”

Whoa! Stop the presses. Excuse me Mr. President, but I was never informed of such plans. Mars…fine, let’s go for it, but the moon?? ? No one asked me for permission.

Who am I? I just happen to be an owner of the moon, who appreciates to be kept in the know when decisions are made involving my property.

This year for Christmas my brother purchased me an acre of land on the moon for the bargain price of $35.00. The one-acre of land represents the largest thing that I own. Area G11, Quadrant Alpha, Lot Number 6/1190 located 001 squares south and 006 squares east of the extreme or 6-10 degrees north and 20-24 degrees east, is harmoniously located on the northwest portion of the Sea of Tranquility near the Crater of Argo.

Slices of the big cheese can be purchased from the self-proclaimed “Head Cheese,” Dennis Hope. In 1980, Hope found a loophole in a UN treaty that prevented governments from owning extraterrestrial property, but failed to ban ownership by individuals and corporations. Hope laid claim to the surface of the moon and the eight other planets, forming the Lunar Embassy (www.lunarembassy.com)-one-stop shopping for your extraterrestrial real estate needs.
Mr. President, as an owner of the moon, I hope that you plan to treat it with the respect with which we have treated our own planet. What are your plans for the moon?

“…the moon is home to abundant resources. Its soil contains raw materials that might be harvested and processed into rocket fuel or breathable air.”

Hold on a second sir…Maybe you were unaware of this, but I also am an owner of the mineral rights from the surface of my one-acre to a depth of three kilometers inclusively. I believe that I should be consulted or compensated for property being dug-up, thrown into a rocket, and burnt away. Maybe if I were to accompany the mission…

“Eugene Cernan, who is with us today, the last man to set foot on the lunar surface. He said this as he left: ‘We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace, and hope for all mankind.’”

“America will make those words come true.”

Mr. President, please, I do not appreciate being interrupted. If there is no place for me in your plan,s or respect of my ownership, I will be forced to take matters into my own hands. I love to travel to far off places and a trip to the moon has always been on my list of things to do; I am not beyond seeking the aide of the Russians. They have similar plans in the works and hope to revisit the moon by 2014, a year sooner than NASA. Sir I must remind you that the Russian’s can be bought. In 2015 when you visit the moon and Man Band member/Astronaut, Lance Bass, steps onto the Lunar surface, do not be surprised to see a sign driven into the ground: ‘Private Property. No Trespassing: Any violators will be prosecuted!’

“The vision I outline today is a journey, not a race.”

I respect that sir, I really do. But, please respect my rights as well. In the future I hope to develop an environmentally friendly get- away for the earthbound upon my one-acre. Beachfront on the Sea of Tranquility guarantees to be an ideal location for a dive resort. Customers will have lunar diving a few “small steps for man” away from the front door of the Beach House. There is no atmosphere, promising that customers will return home with the tan of their life. What do you think?

“Let us continue the journey. May God bless.”

I’ll pencil you and Laura in for the grand opening. It’ll be great; I’ve booked Jimmy Buffett.

Mad World

Faces behind the labels

By Kelsey

I’m haunted by garment workers. When I put on a shirt I see faces and families. Today I’m wearing a shirt Made in Honduras, which makes me think of a fella I met outside of a factory near San Pedro Sula.

This week I’d like to step out of the way and let pictures from my global quest to meet the people who made my clothes speak for themselves.

Where are you wearing today? Join the discussion on Twitter.

Engaged Consumer

I hope someone remembered to pack the baby

By Kelsey

I used to travel light…besides my cultural baggage. I’d throw a pair of underwear in my backpack and hit the road. I didn’t write the book on Travelin’ Light, but I did used to write the column on it.

But now that we have a baby in tow/in car seat/in jogging stroller/in arms, the packing list has expanded exponentially. Could someone tell me why a 17-pound baby requires 500-pounds of gear?

Annie, Harper, and I are in Michigan on vacation. It’s supposed to be a beach vacation, but sweatshirt weather has dictated otherwise. It took half the morning to pack all of our stuff into the four-door car, Pontiac (don’t get me started) G6 that we bought when Harper was on her way. We bought the car knowing that we would need more room than our two-door vehicles could provide. We have a little extra room, but need a U-haul trailer’s more of extra room.

We haven’t done much. We haven’t made it to the beach, a park, or seen many sites yet. But we did spend all day together. Harper is exploring a new laugh that sounds like she is trying to hock up something. It cracks up Annie and I, which cracks up Harper even more…well…you see where this is going.

As I type this, I’m watching Annie and Harper sleep on the couch. That’s better for the soul than most beaches, especially ones in Michigan when the highs are a chilly 65.

This is what it looks like when I used to travel (Actually I’m hiking on New Zealand’s Stewart Island with a week of supplies and rations):

This is what it looks like now (on the way to Michigan for a weekend):

This Writer’s Life

How can I have my midlife crisis if TransAm is dead?

By Kelsey

I thought I had my mid-life crisis all figured out.

In 2029 when I turn 50, I’ll start lifting weights, listen to nothing but the Goo Goo Dolls, dust off the ol’ letterman jacket, and – this is the most important party — buy a shiny new TransAm to make me feel 16 again.

But now that Pontiac is no more, how’s a fella supposed to get through his midlife crisis? Surely you don’t expect me to buy a Mustang, do you?

On my 16th birthday my parents chipped in half for the TransAm I had been pining for. Not one of those weenie ones with a V6 in it. It had eight screaming cylinders of raw American muscle. I was proud of how much gas and rubber it burnt when I dropped the hammer. It looked like the Batmobile and so that’s what I got on the license plate — BATMBLE.

I thought I was cool. One of the last times I drove it, I was picking up Annie from her dorm in college, and a girl walked by staring at the car.

“That’s right,” I thought. “Soak it up. You wish you were going to slide into the co-pilot seat as my Robin, but that seat is filled.”

When her eyes fell upon the license plate, she rolled her eyes. Rolled her eyes at the BATMBLE!

I drove the car slow – not much over the speed limit. I was like an Olympic sprinter strolling through the park – I knew I was fast, I knew that I could toast you, and you knew that I knew I could toast you, but I just puttered along confident in my speed.

The rumor around school was that I landed Annie because of the Batmobile. Never mind that most days I drove my dad’s beat up 25 year-old truck, which had a wood bed and holes in the floor panels. But on the weekends we would take the Batmobile to the movies. Some might think that growing up in the rural Midwest an hour away from a movie theater would be a bad thing. Obviously, they never had the pleasure of riding in the Batmobile.

Annie says that she didn’t start dating me because of the car. When I pressed her for why she started dating me, she rolled her eyes and said that she felt sorry for me.

Even so, I know that she enjoyed the rides in that car. I could tell that she thought I was especially cool when I popped in the CD of the Batman theme song.

How cool was I at 16? That’s coolness that I’ll never be able recover, not at 30, not at 40, and not in 2029 at 50. Especially now that Pontiac is dead.

What are your plans for your midlife crisis?

Annie, the Batmobile, and I on the way to our Prom in 1997. You wish you were this cool in high school.