Sorry I haven’t updated my blog for quite a while now I have been really busy as you shall see in the following blog...!
Right, so where to start?!
On 23rd October we all headed back to Phnom Penh from Kampong Cham with all of our things ready for the last part of our ICT (In Country Training) and to do a last bit of shopping before heading off to our placements. This was really quite hectic and exhausting but we ate lots of great food (HAS to be done in PP!) before heading off to different parts on Cambodia on the Sunday.
So the plan was that Jeltje and I were going to get a truck to take us and our stuff up to MDK however the truck driver decided that he didn’t want to come into the city as he was worried about police fines or something. Anyway, he sent this big tuk tuk to get us and all our things to take us out of town where our stuff would be loaded onto the truck. VSO had arranged to hire us the entire truck, which meant no other passengers of things however when we arrived the truck already had stuff on it but never mind, this is Cambodia and really not much we could do about it. So we managed to leave about 8:30am and made amazing time until our driver decided to help tow a mini bus out of a flood. Then proceed to wait there just watching and chatting on his mobile phone for THREE HOURS. Jeltje and I asked him several times when we were leaving to which he said ‘two minutes’ after about an hour we told him we wanted to leave NOW and he just ignored us completely. At the two hour mark we rang our translator who spoke to the driver who said he was waiting for his father or something...anyway after three hours a van did turn up and a man got into our truck. No-one else was supposed to be in the truck but we were so grateful to be leaving by this point that we just went along with it. By now, after a lovely sunny afternoon, a massive storm was rolling in. Obviously this didn’t exactly improve the state of the roads. At 5pm he stopped again to eat which seriously pissed us off as he had stopped so much and could’ve eaten in the three hours we had to sit by the edge of the road in the sun!! Grrr. Anyway, by the time we left again it was 5:30 pm and it was practically dark which is obviously when you want to be travelling on the most deserted, dangerous and remote roads in Cambodia...!
The long and short of this section of the journey was that Jeltje and I were scared witless, sliding sideways down roads towards ditches and landslides. It was really way beyond being even remotely fun. Especially as we kept having to stop to tow others out. Anyway, I’m trying not to think about it!! So eventually we made it 14 hours later! Over double what it should take, even at the moment. Turns out the driver wanted to wait for his brother so he could give him a free lift. Needless to say he will not be used again. As we arrived so late on Sunday I spent the night in a hotel and moved into my house on the Monday morning.
My VA (volunteer assistant, that is my assistant, he’s not a volunteer)Tak has been completely amazing completely sorting my house out and everything is great. Now I have unpacked and moved all my things in it is really starting to feel like my home.
After doing a bit of unpacking on Monday morning we headed out of town for our first school visit. Larka school is set in a beautiful position at the top of one of the many hills in MDK. There are two classrooms in the school and it is dire need of a spruce up and a playground for the children. So lots of work for me to do there and I’ve got loads of ideas to share with the community. The main teacher there called Lavi is great, really keen to develop the school and it has come a long way in the short time that VSO have been working there.
So after the school visit we headed up to the Pegoda on the top of the biggest hill in SM where there are amazing views all around the area. We have had amazing weather since we arrived with temps about 25 during the day and clear blue sky’s which means we can do lots and certainly better than the typhoon we had last time...!
So back on the motorbikes and into town for some dinner at Meg’s place and an early night!
Yesterday we had another very productive day visiting a school in another amazing location. On the way I just couldn’t believe that this is now my office! Amazing. I have taken lots of pictures so have a look on facebook as I can’t put them all on here, sorry! The teachers here are also amazing and the school director very keen to have some help. However, his daughter is very sick so he is frequently absent from the school. The students there are also almost entirely Pulong and speak very little Khmer which makes it very hard for the teachers. This is not helped by almost no community involvement in the school. In fact many of the local people have no idea what happens in a school as they never went themselves...I feel a community open day coming on...!
On the way back we had a break on a hillside overlooking the most amazing and unspoilt country I have ever seen. Then as we were chatting I gasped very loudly which gave Meg quite a start and her immediate reaction was ‘what’s on me’?! However, I had just seen an elephant approaching! The Pulong people still use them as transport and it was carrying a range of goods and people. Very cool. My first elephant!
We had a lovely lunch at the Nature Lodge, which is down a very scary track which meant some serious bum hurtage! We also went into a bush at one point which really hurt! That is saying nothing about Tak’s driving, he’s been on a bike since the day he was born, but rather the awful state of the roads here. Nature Lodge is very swiss family Robinson with huts built into the trees and little wooden lodges for people to stay in. The food is great there too but a little pricey now that I am used to eating for less than $2 a meal!
Last night it was my turn to cook dinner for everyone so I thought ‘when in Rome’ and made curry. The only problem is that i’m not entirely sure how to make a Cambodian curry, neither is Tak. So it was generally a fun shopping in the market/cooking experiment! I let Tak cook the rice as he says barang don’t know how to do it properly and to be honest I kind of agree with him...! Anyway, it tasted great (my own curry paste too, made in my new massive stone motar and pestle!) and everyone left very happy!
So today we headed off to Pulong school which is down another bumpy muddy track so much bum/back cracking there too! However, it was well worth it as the school is amazing. It has a great playground and the school director is very involved with the community. Saying that, they still need some help and support with some aspects so I really think I can help them take their work forward.
After the school visit we went to a waterfall to go swimming. WOW. I cannot believe I live somewhere where I can go swimming in a tropical waterfall after work! It goes without saying that the waterfall was beautiful and it was great to swim in the really cool water after the trek through the jungle to get there.
So, then back to base for lunch and an afternoon meeting with the District Director of Education in MDK who is great and very supportive of VSO. We have arranged to go on a visit to the schools together so we can discuss what to work on with each school.
Anyway, at the end of my 3rd day of living here I am completely loving it. I really think there is alot of work I can do here and I can’t wait to start. I also really like my house and the fact that it is so much cooler here. At night I sleep under a quilt and actually considered wearing a jumper in bed too last night...! However, it is back to the sauna of PP tomorrow. Hopefully won’t take 14 hours this time! Tak has arranged a truck and one of his friend’s is driving so at least there won’t be a 3 hour pointless stop and it hasn’t rained for 3 days so the road will be good which will be the first time for me!
I am going to have to wrap this up now as I need to get ready for Meg’s leaving party this evening. I will really try and update early next week when I get back from water festival (I’m rowing, shopping, dancing and drinking!). I also believe that it is quite traditional...you can even watch it on-line. We will be the boat about 3 races behind!!
Love J xx
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