I was definitely here in another life!!!

Hello from Kampot Province.  I'm writing this from my new home. Its really nice to finally be settled and I like my new home. It’s far more luxurious than I had I imagined- I have a flushing toilet and  shower  with hot water ! So the In- Country Training has come to an end and all volunteers have left to begin work and life in our provinces.  I am in Kampot , about 3 hours from Phnom Penh.

The last week in PP was very interesting , we were given some very interesting talks on Landmines,  Corruption, Child Protection, The Khmer Rouge and the history of this country. We also visited the British Embassy and had a meeting with the Deputy Ambassador to Cambodia and we also had a talk from an UKAID economist regarding Cambodia’s economic situation.

We had a very sobering talk from Dara our Khmai teacher about his life during Pol Pot’s regime.  It is one thing to have read about it in a book but quite another to sit in a room and listen to a grown man's voice quiver as  he recalls  how he spent nights in the jungle eating rats or centipedes and not knowing what would become of him. His admission that he only feels truly safe and happy since the year 2000 really brought it home for me.  He ended his speech by saying that he can forgive but he will never forget those years.

I spent a night out in a very remote village with a Khmai family.  It was a very modest bamboo house on stilts.  Nobody spoke a word of English but we managed with some bad Khmai and lots of hand gestures ! The food was delicious, although food wasn’t the only thing some of us were offered – some volunteers were asked to take some children away with them to keep. It was quite an unpleasant and surreal experience to have these strangers offer you their children like material possessions. 

I had my first Aerobics class Khmai style- it was hilarious ! Lots of dancing around to really bad 90's trance. Some of the ladies wore their pyjamas , one had a black pairs of leather pants on- Only in Cambodia. We danced for an hour as the sunset over the lake and mountains in front of me- not bad for 25cent !!

So it is here i find myself until August.  Kampot is the most chilled out little place I think I have ever been to.  It has now emerged as one of the most popular destinations for backpackers ( or snails as they are called locally ) and tourists. Although most of the attractions can be absorbed in a  few days most people end up staying here longer than planned. It a  sleepy little town with a big French architectural legacy, the old men speak French and the coffee and bread are Yummy !

 I travelled out to the schools to meet with the Directors and District Offices of Education.  VSO along with NEP have given each school a budget for school improvements so my job is to advise and help with those budgets.I have met my new best friend.....LIZARD- my Honda dream motorbike. I love her ! A match made in heaven ! More importantly I  have also met Bunteng my translator. We are going to notch up serious mileage on our bikes, some of my cluster schools are very very remote, almost in Vietnam !

Bunteng is a  lovely man. I think we will get on really well.  I am going to try and fundraise for some of these schools online so keep an eye out here for more details.

Thats all for now I guess.

Wishing everyone a happy, peaceful and fun Christmas.

Lizzy 
x



 

On the road



My favourite pic so far I think !