So from Raddy Taxi to a quick hand off of gear to another EGBOK volunteer in PP and breakfast some gift shopping and back to Mr. Prey's office, a familiar and happy place. I'm always greeted with a smile, this one guy has made my time here so good, he always helps with efficiency and makes me have faith when I have given up on Dara!!
So I takeemy bus to Sihanouke Ville The beach resort town of Cambodia, uneventful journey and beautiful views as we pass through the mountains. I arrive slight difficulty finding the place I had booked at probably the most remote beach of all of them, but I am well rewarded!!! Mushroom Point is AMAZING!!
Who knew for someone who hates the idea of mushrooms, after all a fungus, I never thought I'd be sleeping under one!!! This is small scale guest house with both dorm and private options, the beach is literally across a dirt track and it is the quiet beach, no one bothering you to sell you their wares, just peace and tranquility!!!
Just what the doctor ordered and because it's rainy season it is very quiet!! And the food is amazing as are the drinks, fresh fresh ingredients which means it takes a while but it is so worth it!!! Have just polished up a plate of fried noodles, ummm and will be ready for my fresh juice, fruit and eggs in the morning!!
So have been just chilling out here reading finishing up EGBOK stuff and sleeping!!! I also had the good fortune to meet up with my friend and travel agent Mr. Prey, his family and friends for lunch yesterday, how lucky I actually get fresh seafood and Khmer company which means I don't get hassled like a tourist!! What a way to finish up my time here in the country of many faces!!
OK so in 2 days from now I'll be jetting back across the world, to the UK for a day an then onto the USA and by friday I will be in Southampton, NY for a very important wedding!! Wow how luck y I am to have so many opportunities and freedoms. This 3 months has been exactly what I needed after the last year at Cornell, I slowed my life down evaluated who I was, what I wanted, and feel more confident and ready for the next stage of my life, BRING IT ON!!!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The end of orphanage life and onto Mushroom living for a weekend!!
So it's done over I have left APCA and left behind the children, Mr. Dara, the uncomfortable nature of living and I'm making my way back to the 'real' world. But I do have to question that'real' world slightly what is real for me and what is real for my students well...it's quite different, but both are just as real as each other, mine is just filled with many more choices.
So how do I feel, I have spent the last 2 days thinking about this, I thought I would feel happier maybe, more relieved that it is over the nightmare of Mr. Dara and whatever he would dream up next to make my life more difficult. I thought I would cry more when I left, but I didn't. Maybe its just doesn't feel real yet, I'm still in Cambodia and don't leave for another 2 days.
My last class was a huge anti climax sadly, I had organized several things for my students and it seems that only a couple really expressed their happiness. No maybe that is an exaggeration, but 4 students were not there so no final photo of them all with their certificate, Mr. Dara didnt even attend, he had actually been MIA for most of my last week. He would be gone all day in his Lexius somewhere and just appear briefly for a smile and nod.
Good stuff though, I paid a grad sum of $25 to the neighbor who has a tuk tuk with trailer attached to take me plus about 45 of the kids for a ride ab hour away to visit a huge pagoda and Oudong Mountain. This proved to be super exciting for all and they loved the whole afternoon, we also got super lucky with no rain. we saw monkeys and honestly the best view I have seen of Cambodia since I have been here after a 30 min hike up this hill/mountain.
Then my final day Thursday 15th Sept, there is the usually obligatory leaving party that each volunteer is expected to sort of host by buying some treats for all the kids. It usually consists of dancing to both western and Khmer music (always some Justin Beeber), food and coke for the kids and sometimes games. I have already seen these from earlier volunteers who came for shorter periods so was kind of looking forward to the good bye speeches and fun. But reality not quite the same, I was excited as most of the missing ids had returned that day and I showed them all a video I had made of them on the projector after lunch which they loved, but all of a sudden these kids get back into a small truck and are away again, smiling and waving, but where do they go??? I also notice that other children haven't returned and some others are now missing, this all concerns me a great deal. We have all read stories and campaigns to stop child trafficking and unfair child labor practices, and it's hard not to let you mind wander, where have they gone, what is their fate, it's very much more real when you are living somewhere rather than reading about it.
All of this distracts me from the amazing talents of some of my students, one in particular a 17 year old called Chau, he is by far my best student, his attendance perfect, participation amazing and last comment in class 'Katy when you come back to Cambodia I want to be serving you as the guest in a hotel or restaurant or bar somewhere' that was a magic moment!!! I have inspired someone who has potential to escape the wrath of Dara!! Success!! This same guy single-handedly set up and hosted my going away party, he drove me on the moto to market to get supplies (bread and condensed milk who knew how tasty that could be and coke!!). He stood up there as a true leader and asked the students who had thank you's to step forward, he did it all and made me so proud. I will be back for him to serve me up a cold gin and tonic somewhere and we will be having a conversation about everything in the world!!! I know teachers shouldn't have favorites but sometimes it's hard not to!!!
So Dara returns and party if over before it really began all a big let down and no music allowed no dancing, I find out the next day this is due to some Khmer festival that is happening right now, but it did not feel like that to me.
Anyway I'm up at the crack of dawn literally on Fri morning to leave at 4.30am to finish packing and be ready for my final Raddy Taxi. And then by 6.30am I'm away off and feeling very little, not sad, happy, excited nothing. I think it will take some time to reflect and I know I will look back fondly and I will be back to see some of my students with jobs, future and hope!! But for now I'm off away and onto my next journey starting with a weekend at the beach....
So how do I feel, I have spent the last 2 days thinking about this, I thought I would feel happier maybe, more relieved that it is over the nightmare of Mr. Dara and whatever he would dream up next to make my life more difficult. I thought I would cry more when I left, but I didn't. Maybe its just doesn't feel real yet, I'm still in Cambodia and don't leave for another 2 days.
My last class was a huge anti climax sadly, I had organized several things for my students and it seems that only a couple really expressed their happiness. No maybe that is an exaggeration, but 4 students were not there so no final photo of them all with their certificate, Mr. Dara didnt even attend, he had actually been MIA for most of my last week. He would be gone all day in his Lexius somewhere and just appear briefly for a smile and nod.
Good stuff though, I paid a grad sum of $25 to the neighbor who has a tuk tuk with trailer attached to take me plus about 45 of the kids for a ride ab hour away to visit a huge pagoda and Oudong Mountain. This proved to be super exciting for all and they loved the whole afternoon, we also got super lucky with no rain. we saw monkeys and honestly the best view I have seen of Cambodia since I have been here after a 30 min hike up this hill/mountain.
Then my final day Thursday 15th Sept, there is the usually obligatory leaving party that each volunteer is expected to sort of host by buying some treats for all the kids. It usually consists of dancing to both western and Khmer music (always some Justin Beeber), food and coke for the kids and sometimes games. I have already seen these from earlier volunteers who came for shorter periods so was kind of looking forward to the good bye speeches and fun. But reality not quite the same, I was excited as most of the missing ids had returned that day and I showed them all a video I had made of them on the projector after lunch which they loved, but all of a sudden these kids get back into a small truck and are away again, smiling and waving, but where do they go??? I also notice that other children haven't returned and some others are now missing, this all concerns me a great deal. We have all read stories and campaigns to stop child trafficking and unfair child labor practices, and it's hard not to let you mind wander, where have they gone, what is their fate, it's very much more real when you are living somewhere rather than reading about it.
All of this distracts me from the amazing talents of some of my students, one in particular a 17 year old called Chau, he is by far my best student, his attendance perfect, participation amazing and last comment in class 'Katy when you come back to Cambodia I want to be serving you as the guest in a hotel or restaurant or bar somewhere' that was a magic moment!!! I have inspired someone who has potential to escape the wrath of Dara!! Success!! This same guy single-handedly set up and hosted my going away party, he drove me on the moto to market to get supplies (bread and condensed milk who knew how tasty that could be and coke!!). He stood up there as a true leader and asked the students who had thank you's to step forward, he did it all and made me so proud. I will be back for him to serve me up a cold gin and tonic somewhere and we will be having a conversation about everything in the world!!! I know teachers shouldn't have favorites but sometimes it's hard not to!!!
So Dara returns and party if over before it really began all a big let down and no music allowed no dancing, I find out the next day this is due to some Khmer festival that is happening right now, but it did not feel like that to me.
Anyway I'm up at the crack of dawn literally on Fri morning to leave at 4.30am to finish packing and be ready for my final Raddy Taxi. And then by 6.30am I'm away off and feeling very little, not sad, happy, excited nothing. I think it will take some time to reflect and I know I will look back fondly and I will be back to see some of my students with jobs, future and hope!! But for now I'm off away and onto my next journey starting with a weekend at the beach....
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
and the journey continues...
so by mid afternoon I arrive back on Cambodian soil which now seems strangely familiar, the accent and language, the signs, the food and the people!!
When we pull into PP I def feel like I am back in familiar territory and relax significantly. I go and make a visit to my friend and reliable travel agent Mr. Prey. Then to my guest house and some dinner. I do a little skype and then crash out I'm exhausted!!
Next day is my regular trip, a breakfast blueberry muffin from my favorite coffee shop and pick up some cereal, then it's off to the Raddy taxi!!!
So I kind of like this experience especially after being in HCM city where I feel as a tourist you are ripped off all the time and the same is somewhat true in certain parts of PP. But taking the Raddy taxi is the way all the Khmer get from where I live and surrounding village sand houses to PP, it is Khmer standards at Khmer prices!! Which is very fair...sure you have 40 people crammed in what should be for 15, but the cost $1.25 and sometimes you get kind people offering you a taste of their fruit or bread, every body is very friendly and since I'm always the only barang (foreigner) they seem to embrace this rather than see as a chance to rip me off.
I have taken this trip many times now and I am always amazed at how you can cram in so many people and produce, things get tied, hooked and stuck on somewhere, it all fits in somehow and we speed off at 60mph or more at times. I wonder how this banged up old van always works everyday, twice a day and makes it through all the potholes, never failing!!
Well today I witness the failing part, we are literally a 9 iron from APCA and the side door which slides like a minivan just comes clean off!!! This guys is hanging onto it and nearly goes with it!! So, as though this is totally normal we stop and within 10 mins the father son duo have fixed it back on and we are off again, I was smiling so much, This is Cambodia (TIC)!!! People are so resourceful here and I really do appreciate it!!
When we pull into PP I def feel like I am back in familiar territory and relax significantly. I go and make a visit to my friend and reliable travel agent Mr. Prey. Then to my guest house and some dinner. I do a little skype and then crash out I'm exhausted!!
Next day is my regular trip, a breakfast blueberry muffin from my favorite coffee shop and pick up some cereal, then it's off to the Raddy taxi!!!
So I kind of like this experience especially after being in HCM city where I feel as a tourist you are ripped off all the time and the same is somewhat true in certain parts of PP. But taking the Raddy taxi is the way all the Khmer get from where I live and surrounding village sand houses to PP, it is Khmer standards at Khmer prices!! Which is very fair...sure you have 40 people crammed in what should be for 15, but the cost $1.25 and sometimes you get kind people offering you a taste of their fruit or bread, every body is very friendly and since I'm always the only barang (foreigner) they seem to embrace this rather than see as a chance to rip me off.
I have taken this trip many times now and I am always amazed at how you can cram in so many people and produce, things get tied, hooked and stuck on somewhere, it all fits in somehow and we speed off at 60mph or more at times. I wonder how this banged up old van always works everyday, twice a day and makes it through all the potholes, never failing!!
Well today I witness the failing part, we are literally a 9 iron from APCA and the side door which slides like a minivan just comes clean off!!! This guys is hanging onto it and nearly goes with it!! So, as though this is totally normal we stop and within 10 mins the father son duo have fixed it back on and we are off again, I was smiling so much, This is Cambodia (TIC)!!! People are so resourceful here and I really do appreciate it!!
Transport stories
So I took a weekend trip to Vietnam to see Ho Chi Minh city and also take a boat ride down the Mekong river. Overall a great weekend and chance to enjoy some luxuries, especially sunday at a spa all day chilling by the pool and Saigon River views!!
So transport, I opt for the river+bus to Ho Chi Minh city, thinking a great way to travel and I was so right, the boat trip was excellent and boarder crossing very interesting!! Next I get whisked away on a moto to catch my bus/van which shoudl only take 3 hours, no problem.....except I'm told it will take 6!!! I am now kind of annoyed and knowing I have a Mr. Kim waiting for me the other end and I will def be late, not happy. Plus phone does not work even though I set up roaming from Cambodia :(
Then about an hour or so into the journey I feel something wet on my hair, kind of like a bird pooped on it, although that would be hard as I'm in a minivan. Then I touch my head and it is wet and then the smell hits me...puke!! Urhhh the kid behind me has puked on my head, am in kind of disbelief about the whole thing. SO reach for baby wipes and do my best to clean my hair (luckily the kid can't have eaten much that day!) But the rest of the 5.5 hours I have to carry this gross smell with me and avoid touching my hair, even though I want to as I become very tired. When I eventually reach HCM its gone midnight and I'm on some random street have no idea where to go and everyone only speaks Vietnamese!! Until out of no where a little old lady speaks to me in French, it is music to my ears...I explain in my best French I can muster considering I have now been up for 20+hours (5am wake up call!) and then get ripped off anyway with a $10 cab ride!!! I pay cos all I want to do is sleep by now and eventually I get there, shower to get puke out of my hair and sleep!!!
What a day!!!
The weekend gets better and would post some pics except I think I have managed to delete them as I moved from my camera to my comp :( very sad.
Can be said I had a great weekend and relaxed, ate and drank, met with a family connection, made some new friends and def worked the sun tan!!
All in all a good change of pace and scene :)
So transport, I opt for the river+bus to Ho Chi Minh city, thinking a great way to travel and I was so right, the boat trip was excellent and boarder crossing very interesting!! Next I get whisked away on a moto to catch my bus/van which shoudl only take 3 hours, no problem.....except I'm told it will take 6!!! I am now kind of annoyed and knowing I have a Mr. Kim waiting for me the other end and I will def be late, not happy. Plus phone does not work even though I set up roaming from Cambodia :(
Then about an hour or so into the journey I feel something wet on my hair, kind of like a bird pooped on it, although that would be hard as I'm in a minivan. Then I touch my head and it is wet and then the smell hits me...puke!! Urhhh the kid behind me has puked on my head, am in kind of disbelief about the whole thing. SO reach for baby wipes and do my best to clean my hair (luckily the kid can't have eaten much that day!) But the rest of the 5.5 hours I have to carry this gross smell with me and avoid touching my hair, even though I want to as I become very tired. When I eventually reach HCM its gone midnight and I'm on some random street have no idea where to go and everyone only speaks Vietnamese!! Until out of no where a little old lady speaks to me in French, it is music to my ears...I explain in my best French I can muster considering I have now been up for 20+hours (5am wake up call!) and then get ripped off anyway with a $10 cab ride!!! I pay cos all I want to do is sleep by now and eventually I get there, shower to get puke out of my hair and sleep!!!
What a day!!!
The weekend gets better and would post some pics except I think I have managed to delete them as I moved from my camera to my comp :( very sad.
Can be said I had a great weekend and relaxed, ate and drank, met with a family connection, made some new friends and def worked the sun tan!!
All in all a good change of pace and scene :)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Siem Reap student trip-check!!!
So I made it to SR with my students and back again with no troubles, phew!!!
Prior to the trip there had been many issues with Dara the orphanage director being very uncooperative about the whole thing and I'm not really sure what he had been telling the students, but I know I wasn't being painted in the best light. The night before I left, my whole class as completely disrupted and I was at at an all time low, and extremely frustrated after putting in much hard work to arrange this three days trip, finally after being ambushed by all the staff led by Dara and in front of the students they were allowed to attend. I had to make some re arrangements, but the next day we were off with Dara's wife and the accountant from APCA.
The students were so excited to be going, I could feel their energy, this is a rare treat for them and I was so excited I had managed to get this underway. First is the 6 hour trip to SR, but I just zoned out and put my ear phones in!! When we arrived they were excited to be in a hotel, after learning so much about them, finally they were the guests. EGBOK Mission really does give these students so much exposure, the guest house we stayed in has a small pool and some computers in the lobby, as well as TV's in each room! There are clean towels for all guests and soap in the bathroom with toothbrushes, all very novel is you used to a dormitory where you sleep on the floor,so having a bed is pretty crazy stuff too!!
So thurs night we have dinner in a cute restaurant and they all get to order off a menu, all rather interesting.
Fri is the busy day...hospitality schools, lunch, hotel visit, swim in the pool, sleep, free time, dinner and smile of Angkor (think lights, dancing and gymnastics about angkor history!) the audience is filled iwth Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese tourist all snapping pictures at the show. The kids all got their pictures taken after, which was great for them, after one of them came to me and said ' I just want to cry', I reply 'why?' and he says 'it is my first time seeing this and it is so beautiful' I think that just about sums it up!! Some told me after they were scared at first with the loud music and bright lights, but then it was amazing.
My favorite part of the day was watching the boy just play in a clean swimming pool, I have always loved swimming pools myself and I remember fondly the one night a year when my family would stay in a hotel in France, we always requested a swimming pool! Seeing these teenagers just enjoy something so simple was amazing they were really free and enjoying such a luxury!!
After such a busy day everyone crashed out including me!!! Next day an early breakfast at 6am and then onto the temples. I opted out of sunrise and a 4.30 rise, which was a great since it was drizzling in the morning!! I got a guide for them all which proved to be great as he showed us the main temples and since we got back the students have commented many time show good he was! Unfortunately he explained everything in Khmer so I didn't understand a thing!! But ave had the students explain later. I had also been to the temples on my own previously so I could enjoy without having to keep an eye on everyone!!
After rushing the students through Angkor Wat it was time for a final lunch in Siem Reap and then back on the bus for the 6 hour journey to APCA!! Despite heavy rain and bad roads we made it back in pretty good time. I was exhausted afterwards and spent most of the next day sleeping and relaxing. Inf act I didn't feel 100% so just took the day to be by myself in my room so....
it wasn't until Mon that I noticed all the children well nearly all of them have gone!!!!
I mean my class is still here and about half a dozen others, but out of 90, that's about 25!! I have no idea where the others are and it's now wed night and they have not come back! One of my students told me that they have all gone to see relatives if they have them, but all of them??? This sounds rather fishy, but best not to poke my nose in where it is not wanted or needed. But I do think it's very strange.
I have used these quiet days to catch up on other work to be done and slept quite a bit after the week before that was an utter headache. I also feel a sore throat so taking it easy.
Alright next stop Ho Chi Minh City this weekend a long weekend break for me!!!
Prior to the trip there had been many issues with Dara the orphanage director being very uncooperative about the whole thing and I'm not really sure what he had been telling the students, but I know I wasn't being painted in the best light. The night before I left, my whole class as completely disrupted and I was at at an all time low, and extremely frustrated after putting in much hard work to arrange this three days trip, finally after being ambushed by all the staff led by Dara and in front of the students they were allowed to attend. I had to make some re arrangements, but the next day we were off with Dara's wife and the accountant from APCA.
The students were so excited to be going, I could feel their energy, this is a rare treat for them and I was so excited I had managed to get this underway. First is the 6 hour trip to SR, but I just zoned out and put my ear phones in!! When we arrived they were excited to be in a hotel, after learning so much about them, finally they were the guests. EGBOK Mission really does give these students so much exposure, the guest house we stayed in has a small pool and some computers in the lobby, as well as TV's in each room! There are clean towels for all guests and soap in the bathroom with toothbrushes, all very novel is you used to a dormitory where you sleep on the floor,so having a bed is pretty crazy stuff too!!
So thurs night we have dinner in a cute restaurant and they all get to order off a menu, all rather interesting.
Fri is the busy day...hospitality schools, lunch, hotel visit, swim in the pool, sleep, free time, dinner and smile of Angkor (think lights, dancing and gymnastics about angkor history!) the audience is filled iwth Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese tourist all snapping pictures at the show. The kids all got their pictures taken after, which was great for them, after one of them came to me and said ' I just want to cry', I reply 'why?' and he says 'it is my first time seeing this and it is so beautiful' I think that just about sums it up!! Some told me after they were scared at first with the loud music and bright lights, but then it was amazing.
My favorite part of the day was watching the boy just play in a clean swimming pool, I have always loved swimming pools myself and I remember fondly the one night a year when my family would stay in a hotel in France, we always requested a swimming pool! Seeing these teenagers just enjoy something so simple was amazing they were really free and enjoying such a luxury!!
After such a busy day everyone crashed out including me!!! Next day an early breakfast at 6am and then onto the temples. I opted out of sunrise and a 4.30 rise, which was a great since it was drizzling in the morning!! I got a guide for them all which proved to be great as he showed us the main temples and since we got back the students have commented many time show good he was! Unfortunately he explained everything in Khmer so I didn't understand a thing!! But ave had the students explain later. I had also been to the temples on my own previously so I could enjoy without having to keep an eye on everyone!!
After rushing the students through Angkor Wat it was time for a final lunch in Siem Reap and then back on the bus for the 6 hour journey to APCA!! Despite heavy rain and bad roads we made it back in pretty good time. I was exhausted afterwards and spent most of the next day sleeping and relaxing. Inf act I didn't feel 100% so just took the day to be by myself in my room so....
it wasn't until Mon that I noticed all the children well nearly all of them have gone!!!!
I mean my class is still here and about half a dozen others, but out of 90, that's about 25!! I have no idea where the others are and it's now wed night and they have not come back! One of my students told me that they have all gone to see relatives if they have them, but all of them??? This sounds rather fishy, but best not to poke my nose in where it is not wanted or needed. But I do think it's very strange.
I have used these quiet days to catch up on other work to be done and slept quite a bit after the week before that was an utter headache. I also feel a sore throat so taking it easy.
Alright next stop Ho Chi Minh City this weekend a long weekend break for me!!!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Ummm…the smell of Crayola Crayons
So for some reason unbeknown to me most of the children seem to have left the orphanage for the last few days, well since I got back from Siem Reap with my students. Today one of my students told me it is because they have gone to visit their families, well what they may have an old grandmother, aunt, cousin something like that. It reminds me once again that I am at an orphanage which sometimes I forget amongst the daily routine. So the children that are left behind now truly are orphans, no one in the world to care for them except here. One of the smaller boys keeps asking to play bingo, but I will not with only him, so instead I dive into the supplies I have left and pull out a coloring book and crayons, he is now sitting coloring to his heart’s content and I get to have that familiar smell of Crayola Crayons!!!
It’s funny how you can still grow up and yet some smells you never forget, I sit with this young chap for a while just watching as he colors so carefully and remind myself this is a luxury that I will not have once I return to the world of work and am busy with my life. So I sit a little longer and enjoy
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