End of first language session




Janet cycling along the Mekong on the way to school

Well, two weeks of language training have come to an end and I have enjoyed it in a strange way. We have learnt over 200 words and can put them into basic sentences. I can order and buy items in shops and am surprised how much I have learnt!

This morning we woke to cloud and rain and although the temp was still in the 30s we decided to go for a bike ride to the local pagoda " Wat Nokor". Negotiating the traffic is still very hairy but am getting used to it - this morning we came across several motorbikes carrying loads of rattan furniture, 3 horse and carts in a row with bamboo stacked high and the usual bikes and cycles coming straight at you ready to turn at any minute. One of the women in our group has not been on a bike for 40 years and hates every minute.

Last night we all went out for a meal at a local restaurant which is run as a charity for children on the streets. It was quite expensive $10 for us both, but really good food. I had vegetarian Tom Yum Soup which comes with rice and fresh lime juice with soda to drink.

Tomorrow we are off on the mini bus on our long trek north to Rattanakiri 8-10 hours depending on the state of the road! Hope it hasn't rained too much up there. I have a time table for the week which includes several visits to schools which I am looking forward to. At least i can now introduce myself in Khmer. But best of all will be the house hunting as living out of a suitcase for the last month has not been easy. But most of all I would love a fridge as drinking water at 30C is not pleasant any more.



Party time





Wat Nokor







Dave taking a break from school





Cows with no one in charge going round the roundabout by school. An amusing distraction!







Kampong Cham

This is the third biggest town in Cambodia but we are surprised how small it really is and how sleepy. It used to be very busy but 10 years ago with the help of japanese money a huge bridge was built over the Mekong. this means that all the traffic which had to enter the town and wait for ferries now goes straight over the bridge.
Ferry across Mekong

 We have eaten in a\ different place every night and tonight felt brave enough to sample the strret food. Each day we get up about 7am and have a simple breakfast in a nearby cafe then go to the market or do some washing. At 9.30 we get together to do our language homework ( there are 8 of us ). We each do our own thing for lunch and today we had bread and bannanas by the river but had to retire inside as a monkey was threatening to grab our lunch!
Dave snacking after school
At 1pm we cycle slowly to school - yes, it really is a school! A very poor one too.tNot one item of work on the walls and no books or teaching aids at all. We have language school from 1-5pm and it is very tough going. By 5pm my brain is in pieces. On the way home we stop and watch the town coming to life as the temp. is cooling by a couple of degrees and peopleof all ages meet to exercise. The teenagers bring huge speakers and set up on the pavement by the river front joint exercise classes for all ages to join in when you fancy the music or the steps. Everthing stops at 9pm as the Cambodians go to bed from early and rise early. There are frequent power cuts and tonight we are watching the lightning from our bed as the whole town is in darkness, This is the rainy season but as yet we haven't seen too much or for too long.
The view from school

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Leaving PPenh

Well today is our last morning in PP and we are sitting in our favourite bar having breakfast. We have survived the big city and a week of induction training about being a volunteer. Yesterday we had a day off and took a tuk tuk to the Killing Fields outside the city. A very sombre experience but glad we took the time as the place is very quiet and peaceful now. However the journey was hair raising as the traffic is very heavy and no one obeys the rules of the road. The larger you are the more priority you have! And the Khymer -rich drive big 4x4 and have even more priority. Traffic lights exist but are not obeyed and if you want to turn across the traffic its OK to do this at any time when you spot a gap and go up  the wrong side until you turn.
Last night we went down to the waterfront for a meal and the whole city seemed to be out too. The place was packed and families were promanading or exercising or line dancing to music. It was so busy, people trying to sell you things or some begging or wanting to take you for a ride on a moto or tuk tuk. But we found a really nice bar with excellent vegetarian food. Dave decided he had gone off meat after seeing how it is sold in these temps!
This pm we travel by bus to Kompong Chan a small town about 120 miles north wheer no-one speaks English and we have to begin the process of living on our own. A half way step to placement. We are given bicycles (and a bucket to do our washing) and have to begin 4 hours of language training a day. However, the guest house is on the Mekong River and we are looking forward to not being in a city any more.
Lea haeay.

Arrival

We arrived on Thursday after a 20 hour flight to the heat and humidity we have never experienced before! VSO have accomodation above the office for 10 people but as there are 15 of us we are staying in a guesthouse 5 mins away by tuk-tuk.
Friday we attended the start of an induction course in the office. Sat. we went on a rickshaw tour of the city Phnom Penh - PP. So hot and sweaty all the time it is hard take it all in but Emily; we saw our first elephant in the temple. Last night we walked to the Independence Momument and watched all the teenagers dancing in the main square from 6-8pm and then went to our first eating experience on our own! The first place we tried had 3 pages of the menu devoted to various types of frog so we went to another! I think I shall be living on fried rice with either egg or vegetables.
Today is our rest day and we slept until late - even though the temp in our room has not dropped below 30C  day or night and we have no a/c. We sauntered across the road to breakfast at the Asian Star and now I am writing a blog. I feel like a back-packer, but wish I was 30 years younger too.