Placement visit week.

We were told the mini bus would pick us up at the hotel at 9.30am. At 8.15 the bus turned up!The only time I have known Cambodians to be early. We travelled very fast and soon left the traffic behind as we went north. The only obstacles being cows which wander freely and dogs. After several bush stops it was soon noon and we stopped at a local transport stop before meeting the dirt track.
The first stage of the track was good and after that........... say no more.

We arrived in Ban Lung about 3.30 and first impressions were good. We were dropped off at the eco lodge we were staying at and at 5 the local western NGOs working there came to meet us and have dinner which was good and they all seemed very friendly.
The eco lodge was interesting - very dark and full of wildlife which I did not want to think about. We could have moved but the food was good and the people running it were lovely. There was also a lot of people on the back-packing route which were interesting to meet in the evenings. One of the best things about this place is the tepm drops in the evenings by at least 5 or more degrees.
We were to visit a local primary school on Monday and were ready to be collected at 7.30am. What we didn't realise that we had to take water, fruit, biscuits, books and pens for 40 people as well as 4 people on 2 motos! It was just as well I didn't know. I managed to ride pillion with the books stuffed between me and the driver and we had a huge tin of biscuits on the floor between the drivers legs and water in the front. After about 2 kms we were on dirt tracks........phew!!

After that nothing was as bad until Friday when I attended school enrollment day at the local high school - nothing child friendly about that. Children sat in the sun, we were under shade at least but we were there for the start at 7.15am and we left at 11am after listening to non-stop speeches and no involvement from the children. The Provincial Governors speech lasted over 1 1/2 hours non-stop. Remember the temps are over 30C.

I have a large office to work in and a brilliant translator called Narin who I share with another volunteer - a Dutchman called Myrko. We work from the Ministry of Education who were not there as there is a big festival on the 6,7 and 8 October so they had not gone into work. Apparently it wasn't worth it for 2 days as school should begin on 1 Oct. It seems extra holidays in this province so remote from the capital are quite normal. school holidays in the summer are July and August- but they finished in June and not back yet. Part of this is because the area is so poor everyone has two jobs, most second jobs are in agriculture. Rubber and cashew nuts are the main crops.

We also spent ages house hunting which was really interesting. All the houses are large as all families live together. Eventually we settled for a house close to the office with a beautiful view towards Laos.
The house is owned by the Chief of Police and he lives below so we shall be safe. There is a beautiful garden and we have the top floor which has 3 bedrooms, a huge sitting/dining area, basic bathroom and even more basic kitchen but a huge verandah with dining table which clinched the deal.

We are now back to Kampong Cham for 2 more weeks language training and we need to buy bedding for the house and a few other things which we can get on the bus.