Well, I have been quite the busy bee of late, house hunting, motorbike riding, snake watching..
I travelled to Kampot Province last week for what VSO call Placement Visit Week. Volunteers here were dispersed to the far flung corners of this beautfiul country from Phnom Pehn to Kratie from Kampot to Ratinakiri. Each of us went to a different province to find a home, meet our employers and generally get a feel for where we will be based for the forseeable future. Apart from having a nasty cold and feeling a bit under the weather the week was really good. I have decided to live in Kampot town, it'-s a lovely chilled out French colonial style place that sits alongside the mighty Mekong River. It has opened up to tourists in the last few years as its location is good for getting to the beaches of Kep and Sannokeyville! Its also very near the mountains and paddyfields are a plenty.
The first few days was spent visiting my cluster schools. It is great to see how the previous volunteers have had such an impact. I hope I can do something no matter how small. I met with the school directors and observed some lessons- beautifully behaved children in every class, all 61 of them !!! It was incredible !Im thinking I will do a few sports days with them, they dont seem to do very much in the way of Physical Education. Activity is not encouraged...
All these schools are a few hours drive away away from Kampot town itself so I will be spending alot of time on my Moto every day ( at least 4 hours three days a week) I will probably only travel on the days in which I have my translator with me. Fluency is very far off yet....... The roads are scary as hell but I took to the roads and felt fine. Im sure I will get used to it ! I hope I have the stamina to do this. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by it all.
I also found a nice new home in the middle of the town. Its a 2 bed flat over a lovely bookstore that is run by a Khmer family. They live down stairs with their two children Pi seth and Dalin. They are both English teachers so I will be able to practise my Khmai with them. And I get to read the books for free- YAY!
I Went out in Kampot for a few drinks. Interesting little place for sure. Met a few musicians and had a little session with a few fiddles and guitars ! Alot of ex pats in this town.
I have a very good feeling about my new home in Kampot. Its really is a taste of the true Cambodia. I feel so very lucky to be here.
Im back in Kampong Cham for now, back to the daily installments of language lessons. We got off early today so I am currently sitting in The Mekong Crossing Cafe sipping on a chilled Lemon juice watching the people go bye slowly and gently....
x
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