Here in Cambodia, everybody gets up early and people usually start work around 7:30/ 8:00. Because of the cool weather in the morning. Then they have a lunchbreak from 12:00 until 14:00. Usually they have lunch and afterwards a nap. This nap is ether on their workdesk with forehead on arms or on the little benches in the waiting area. Then they continue with work until 17:00.

Cambodian building style

My second meeting was with Pich Bunthoeun, who explained to me for an hour about cultural do’s and don’ts. Very useful. I learned how to fold my hands properly and how to behave in a temple with buddas. He also told me what not to do when invited to a Khmer family, wedding and funeral. A funeral lasts more then 100 days in Cambodia!

Then I met the Finance Manager Sam and she introduced me to the neverending paperwork and receipts and moneybuissness. Including Emergency dentist treatment. And I found out that Borat is a very important man in this office!

I then met Teang Kamonn who was advised to talk to me about Funding but I didn’t understand him, bless him. We both tried hard, but at the end I think we both were hungry and ready for lunch.

For lunch I had an appointment with Dr. Phil. UUUhhh. He is one of the ‘Safe Motherhood Advisors’ in PP, a retired (!) GP from the UK. Very nice and intelligent man, who wanted to tell me more about the Health Situation in Cambodia. With us came Susan, she is a ‘Maternal and Child Health Advisor’. She is from New Zealand and has the funniest accent ever. They both started last year together.
I was really keen to have some sticky coconut rice, served in a bamboo basket as Shane was so highly recommending, but so far no luck. So I had a delicous fish soup instead.

After lunch, I washed some clothes. There is a washing machine downstairs and the washing was dry so quickly.

Then at 14:00 I met my new friend. Dara. He provides language training. I have one to one sessions because I think they don’t know quite what to do with me. But they try hard and I have the feeling, slowly they open more up.

Anyway, let me cry on your shoulder,every day now for 3 hours I have to concentrate hard and learn, until Saturday. Then I will go up to Stung Treng with Seanhgor, who I met briefly today in between.
I asked Dara how I was doing at the end of the 3 sessions and he said, I’m in the top group. That was reassuring. And I even learned some Khmer. Shall I bore you? Scroll further down for more interesting stuff. Here is what I can say without looking.

I work in Stung Treng. Is:

Knyom twirlcar no Stung Treng.

She doesn’t like to eat bread but likes rice. Is:

Quot ot cholchet njam numbung tej pontai cholchet bay.

I think. Don’t look at how it’s written. It’s totally wrong written. It’s just how I speak it out. I really would like to learn it now. So I have to go through notes one more time.

What else to bore you with?
After that exiting day today, I fell asleep on my bed going through my notes. A loud knock woke me up and two volunteers I didn’t know then asked me, if I wanted to come to see a film tonight at 7 pm in Meta-house. They were taking part in organising the Phnom Penh Gay and Lesbian Pride 2009. And the film was ‘Milk’. So I said yes ( because I like the actor Sean Penn) and after having had a quick mango, I cycled to the place.

at Meta-House

Tomorrow starts the puplic holiday. I’ll get up early because I don’t want to miss the ploughing festival with the forcast from the Royal Ox.

I also will see the VSO doctor tomorrow to have a look through my vaccinations and so on. I better not mention, that I haven’t started to take my Malaria tablets yet. I just think, they have so many side effects and make you resistant at some point. Why to take them if I can get Malaria anyway and then take even more and higher doses of Antibiotics because I might be resistant already then. And here in PP is no danger of getting Malaria.
If you don’t hear anything from me for 7 to 14 days, then I’ll be very sick with Dengue fever. Every third volunteer had it so far and I’m sure, I’ll get it as well at some point. One even had Typhus. But none had ever Malaria.

If you want to send presents, then I would apprichiate Anti-Mosquito lotion/spray.
Otherwise I hope you are all well. It’s great that I can share my experiences with you.

written by  katja-horsch on May 11, 2009 from Phnom Penh, Cambodia
from the travel blog: Monday, the 11th of May
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