Hi everyone,
I'm sorry I didn't update sooner but I have been quite busy between getting settled, orientation and nervous breakdowns. However now that my mental health is fairly intact I can fill you in on my goings on.
Last time I couldn't tell you the names of my host family so now I will do my best. Mr Savuth is called Dad by everyone yet I have never really called him anything during our conversations (opps). The mother likes me to call her mummy so that is how I will refer to in my writings. The son's name is Piseth and between him and our orientation program Xanthe and I have learnt a lot about corruption and land grabbing here in Cambodia. Finally the cousins name is Kort, but of course there is not much to say about her as she doesn't speak any English and thus I don't know her very well.
So after my last update Xanthe and I explored the one road we dared to cross as far as was reasonable. We found little other than petrol and car parts in this area of town yet we a western style bakery that sold New Zealand Natural Ice Cream (score). Basically we just went home and slept until dinner. Mummy is the most amazing cook but she overfeeds us terribly.
The house I am staying in is 5 storeys and my room is on the fourth. I get most of my exercise walking up and down the extremely step stairs. The are also very uneven so it is a miracle that I haven't tripped yet (hopefully never). The ground floor (or 1st) has a garage/living room, one bedroom (made with screens), a toilet/shower and the kitchen. Up one floor are two bedrooms and a toilet/shower. Then a landing, toilet/shower, bedroom and a lounge to be used by us guests. As a show of it's international popularity 'Twilight' has even found its way into the DVD collection. The the 4th floor has two bedrooms and a toilet/shower. My room is the largest guestroom with a wardrobe, standing coat rail, coffee table, set of shelves, double bed and (my favourite part) a fan, it also overlooks the guest lounge. Xanthe's room is down the hall while she is living here.
2/1/2011
Getting up on Sunday morning saw me discover that my house has no hot water. Thankfully the weather is warm enough that this is a bonus. A new volunteer arrived that morning by the name of Maddy. She is also Australian, from the Sunshine Coast, is 24 and a youth worker and has promised to look out for me. Together the three of us have had some great times and talks.
Our breakfast comprised of fresh mango and pear with some cake and jasmine tea (as it does every morning) which is delicious. Xanthe and I decided to head into the city and explore so after lunch the three of us (Maddy came too) took our first tuk tuk ride to Wat Phnom. Tuk tuks are a great way to travel around the city, they are a bit safer than moto's, more comfortable and beings open they allow the breeze to cool you down. Wat Phnom is the highest point in Phnom Penh, Wat meaning temple or pagoda. The city is named for this particular Wat which was built around the shrine of 3 wooden buddha's placed atop the hill by Lady Penh after a flood. We haven't been up into the Wat yet, we just looked around the bottom. Maddy got whistled at for standing on the grass, so funny. Around the base of the Wat is an elephant which you can ride and monkeys which live in the foliage. There were many gorgeous monkeys but I liked the little baby and the fat one's the best. The fat one reminded me of Atlanta. Having found our bearings on the map we walked (which is highly unusual here) to the Central Market, about 10 minutes away. The markets are huge and have everything from silk to electronics and jewellery to fruits and veges. While I saw many beautiful things I restrained and only bought postcards that I can send home to you lovely people. From there we went to the supermarket to stock up on necessities, I bought shampoo, conditioner and body wash while Maddy bought Coca Cola and Pringles. All being too tired to continue we returned home and called it a day.
3/1/2011
Monday was the first of our two day orientation. We (Maddy, Xanthe and I) were picked up at 7.30 by Brem (a STAR KAMPUCHEA worker)and taken to the office. In order to get to the meeting room we climbed 6 flights of stairs, so I get plenty of exercise here. Being the last group to arrive we started pretty much immediately. We played a couple of games including a cultural do's and don'ts inactment (apparently I make a good mime?!) followed by a presentation about the country. We took a short break for water and Cambodian fruit (very tasty) before getting into the possible challenges to be faced with volunteering. Around lunch time or leaders Svenja and Sebastian took us to the cellphone shop to organise SIM cards. It turns out you require a passport to get a SIM card in Cambodia, and as no one told this to Xanthe and I we were unable to get them (sob). The rest of the unfortunates or already SIM card owners had to wait outside so we got chatting. I got to know Careen (an Australian/Malaysian just out of uni) and Chris (a 36 Australian in the midst of his self termed mid-life crisis). So after spending what seemed like an eternity outside we all headed into the Russian Markets for lunch. Svenja showed us all the ropes and helped us order the most delicious sweet fried noodles and egg one could ever eat. Svenja is from Germany and is in Cambodia for one year ending August. Over lunch I got to know Robin (an American from Oregon here to teach English for three months) and Katherine (a British girl on her gap year). Katherine is the only other volunteer here under 20! After lunch I wandered around the markets with Nick (a student from NYC) and bought three scarves (I just couldn't help myself!) until we had to head back to the office. The rest of the afternoon went much along the same lines as the morning except for Maddy anouncing that she intends to move to the guest house, thus leaving me alone with the Savuth's. When orientation had finished I went with Xanthe, Maddy, Careen and Chris to a nearby internet cafe, bad idea. Having already been feeling homesick and terrified at the prospect of living alone in a home where very little English is spoken reading the messages from home saw me having an epic meltdown. Thankfully Chris and Xanthe helped me calm down and stop crying. Most of us much in need of comfort food headed to KFC for dinner (so Cambodian I know). Unlike at home the chicken had flavour and a meal was cheap so overall a very good choice. To finish off our day Xanthe, Maddy and I went home and watched Twilight as a farewell party of sorts for Maddy. After going to bed that night I had a massive breakdown. I'm talking hysterical crying at the prospect of being stuck here alone with only my own company. Eventually though I was able to sleep.
4/1/2011
Us three girls had to make our own way to the office this morning and so called a tuk tuk. Unfornately our driver lied when he said he knew the way and we got rather lost. Eventually I used my limited map reading skills and Khmer to give directions to the driver and get us to the desired location. Again the morning session of the orientation was much the same as the day before until we headed to Coffee Korner to wait for our tour bus. Sebastian took those of us without SIM cards back to the cellphone store. Whilst there I discovered that he has been here for 2 years (will be here for one more), is from Hannover Germany and has been to Disneyworld! Having my phone working took a huge weight off my chest and I was better able to enjoy the rest of the day. We drove past the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and looked around Olympic Stadium before lunch at the guest house. The food at the guest house was pretty average making me very glad for Mummy's amazing meals. During lunch Xanthe and I got to know Astrid (from Zurich, here to find her path) and Jake (Michigan born political science student from Wisconsin) and learned all about the American tax, welfare and school systems.
After lunch we walked around the base of Wat Phnom, saw the monument to Lady Penh, the National Museum, the Royal Palace and walked along the Riverside. The riverside is really nice and is lined with flags from all over the world. Apparently one can also get many illegal substances here in the form of 'happy pizza' and 'mushroom shakes'. Following that we drove past Nagaworld a huge hotel and casino. While this may not seem special it is significant as gambling is illegal in Cambodia! We also circled the Independce Monument before going back to the office. Having time to kill before our next activity Svenja showed us the best place to get ice coffee in the Russian Markets. Oh my god was she right! The ice coffee was amazing, ten times better than that at home. The mix sweetened condensed milk with an espresso shot and then pour over ice, delicious. The barista was the nicest lady, she spoke excellent English and told Xanthe and I that we were very beautiful because of our white skin and long noses, and that we should have 300 boyfriends. She gave us free refills too, score! Our final orientation activity before the Welcome Dinner was a guest speaker from Friends International, an organisation that works to get kids off the streets and end child abuse.
For the Welcome Dinner we were taken to a beer garden, a very Cambodian place to eat. Although we had the option of free beer I drank only water for fear of getting drunk for the first time and having a hangover on my first day of work. We tried many different Khmer dishes including fried corn and fish amok, all were amazing. It seemed that we left late that night because of the dark sky yet it was only 7 o'clock! As a farewell party for Xanthe her last night at the Savuth's before she goes to Kompong Speu we watched Twilight: Eclipse and ate oreo's. Despite the massive time difference I called home when I went to bed (aka 4am) to talk to Mum and Dad. Having finally heard their voices I was able to sleep far better with less anxiety about the following day.
