Charlie Dittmeier was invited to deliver a paper at an international conference on sign language research in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 31 May 2009, speaking about the development of both Cambodian Sign Language and the Cambodian deaf community. In discussions with the staff of the Deaf Development Programme, it was decided to send also our two sign language researchers; Tashi Bradford, our sign language linguist; and Justin Smith, the project officer for the Deaf Community Development project. Further discussions led to our sending also two sign language interpreters for a follow-up workshop on the training of interpreters. The International Seminar on Sign Language Research was held at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Cambodian group at the baggage claim area in the Kuala Lumpur airport. Left to right: Justin Smith, Som Vichet, Veasna, Heang Samath, Tashi Bradford, and Chea Sokchea.

In Kuala Lumpur, we took a bus from the airport to KL Sentral, a major transportation hub in the city where someone was to meet us. The bus ride was more than one hour—and then we couldn't find the people who were to meet us.  Finally we all got to our respective destinations, however.