I want to preface this by saying that the opinions and views expressed in this blog are my own and not VSO.
Well a month has now passed in work and things are falling into place for me here in Kampot. I have my favourite Cafe where the woman knows that I want noodles without me asking, I go to the same lovely old lady for my vegetables in the morning and I slowly fall in love with this place a little more every day. But I am beginning to feel that the work is draining me more than I'd anticipated... And for all it's charm it is tough being here sometimes, its tough on the body and on the mind.
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| A trip to the markets of Cambodia is always a colourful and vibrant experience |
Christmas was quite a relaxed and understated affair which was welcome. I had a few offers of going to Phnom Penh for parties and boat cruises and all that jazz but the allure of lovely little Kampot with its sea side charm and its gentle ways made me decline- how unlike me to turn down party invites ! I must be getting old and sensible- I need to monitor this.....Fear not I made up for it New Years Eve and danced the night away under a moonlit sky in a very cool bar on the river) It’s important to keep a balance, I think, between living a Khmai life and keeping a sense of your self too. All work and no play etc etc. And the work can be isolating enough at times.
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| Chillin |
Christmas and New Year is not a big affair here and I quite enjoyed being away from the traditional Western Christmas for a change. Christmas Eve was spent with two KIWI backpackers, two lovely guys actually. Its nice to meet travellers and listen to their stories, reminds me of my time travelling. Things are a little different for me this time around- Oh to be a snail again, with my life on my back, a few quid in my pocket and not a care in the world...... Great days
On Christmas morning I woke up and had a leisurely breakfast by the river followed by a lazy swim. The sun was rising slowly over the mountains and the rhythm of daily life got underway as normal. As I floated on the water peering up at the blue sky I thought of home and my family and friends and of how they were and what they might be doing. I tried to imagine the cold- its funny how you forget! Clare and Joss rang from London - what a great couple. So much fun and so chilled out.
For Christmas dinner I went to Blissful Guest house where a lovely, although slightly bonkers, English ex pat served me up one of the best dinners I think I have ever had. I had a few glasses of red wine- oh my god it was heaven in a glass! After almost 3 months of no red wine- my favourite thing. This little town is full of hidden gems... I love it! But no place no matter how wonderful and beautiful is without its challenges and hidden troubles and my word is that true of Cambodia.
My work here in Kampot is in Education. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by it all and wonder where on earth I start with this job.... Cambodia as the world knows was virtually destroyed and brought to its knees during the Khmer Rouge years. The Education system had to begin from scratch. It has been developing gradually since 1979 but its severe shortage of human and material resources make it so difficult. I have done a fair few school and classroom visits now and it is hard to know where to start. I have my guidelines and deadlines from VSO as to what to do but I’m quickly realising it will take time. Time to build up trust between me and these teachers, time to get my head around the fact that many of these men and women are lucky to be alive, time to reflect on the thousands of educated people that were tortured, murdered and slaughtered in this land just because they wore glasses or could read or had a beautiful name....Many of them lack training, motivation, and resources but I’m acutely aware that these teachers earn on average 50 dollars a month. So for now my job, as I see it, is to build relationships with these teachers and to help them slowly to open up to a new way of teaching and learning. After all isn’t that what development is all about- PEOPLE. POTENTIAL.
Sometimes as one volunteer in a massive global NGO I wonder where I fit in the picture... I think I am beginning to realise now. It’s about imparting in some small way a sense of empowerment, self belief, and a will to develop. Traits that people everywhere from every background can lack at times, myself included. So these Cambodian teachers are my teachers too. Sometimes we teach what we need to learn most ourselves.
Sometimes as one volunteer in a massive global NGO I wonder where I fit in the picture... I think I am beginning to realise now. It’s about imparting in some small way a sense of empowerment, self belief, and a will to develop. Traits that people everywhere from every background can lack at times, myself included. So these Cambodian teachers are my teachers too. Sometimes we teach what we need to learn most ourselves.
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| With the teachers of Ang Sophy Primary School |
Before I sign off I want to tell you about a small little school outside Kampot known as the Remote School. It is a school for 1st grade little kids only. I visited it the other week with my translator. It’s not so much a school but a place where one teacher comes every day to teach children who cannot make it to the main school in the town. These children cannot afford nor physically get to the public school because they can’t afford the materials and bless them... they are too small to cycle there as well. Many of them are from very impoverished homes. This is a project funded by the KCF- Kampot Children’s Fund, founded by volunteers and run by volunteers and it is here I think I would like to start some fundraising. KCF does not give money directly to the families but provides them with rice, bikes, clothes, medicine etc. They will only give to the families who show a real desire to attend and learn, so these kids are eager and so beautiful they could melt the hardest of hearts with a smile.
I did not ask for money from people before I left. I absolutely hate fundraising!! Plus I wanted to wait and see if I could find something that actually meant something to me first and I have. I want to simply raise $750 for this one teacher which will pay her salary for one year. So if you would like to put a couple of quid towards this one teacher and her potential as a person in this most complex country please keep an eye on my facebook page over the next few days.
Well that’s about all for now I guess. I’m glad to hear some people are enjoying reading about my Cambodian life- I’m enjoying living it. It's tough but I'm learning every day.
Bye for now
Lizzy
xxx
