Mol goes to Cambodia

We are learning more Khmer every day! Today Channa taught me the days of the week. Tomorrow we will have our first official Khmer lessons as part of training, which is exciting. We are hoping that when they teach us some of the grammar, we will be able to pick things up a bit quicker. This is how my day started! Channa killed this late last night, so when I went for a shower this morning I got a bit of a shock. Its about the same size as my thumb.  But otherwise it's been a day of interesting sessions, good experiences and good food. And we didn't have to sit still in sessions for too long.  The first session this morning was on the history of Cambodia. They have been through several different regimes since the 19th Century. One, under King Sihanouk, was very good for the country, and many of the others have been incredibly harmful. The man giving the session warned us not to ask our host families about the Khmer rouge, as many people have at least one fami...

Today has been a day of learning new things. Channa is a star and she has taught me a lot of Khmer words. One very important one for me is shkai , which is the word for dog! There are lots of dogs here, but we must not go near them because they all have rabies. In fact most animals here have rabies. They aren't really pets here, they're guards. But still cute! We also began our In Country Orientation today, which included the National anthem of Cambodia, a welcome talk from some government officials, the classic Iceberg Model of culture, the differences between our cultures, and volunteering v voluntourism. To give examples of the differences in cultures, for the Khmer, standing with your hands on your hips is an inappropriate thing, crossing your fingers is incredibly offensive, and beckoning someone is likening them to a dog! We have all become very self conscious of the way we stand and point. Pointing with one finger is rude here - you have to use your whol...

There have been a few small challenges today which I feel grateful for, by which I mean that they feel like a lesser version of things to come. Today has been my first full day here. I don't think I need to say everything that's happened today, so I'll try to summarise by giving a few examples of these challenges. Heat Let's start there. It has been about 28 degrees today. It is likely to be about 5 degrees hotter in community, and more humid. I feel like today is easing me in because we didn't spend much time outside today. Most of the day was spent travelling to Kampong Chnang on a bus with air con, or inside a hotel. Plus we got to see a lot of sights on the bus! Facilities One of the things I am most nervous about is squat toilets. We stopped on the side of the main road to Kampong Chnang to wait for the second bus to catch up with our lunch, and we also went to the toilet. This one was not a squat toilet but it was the only one available...

Right now it is 12.20am, Cambodian time, and I am in my guesthouse bedroom with Olivia, one of my Srae Thmei teammates.  We made it! I am safe and ready to sleep. The 26th began with family breakfast, and then my last service at church, where I got to say goodbye to lots of friends.  Then we had lunch - Mum made my special requested meals, fajitas and then apple crumble.  Promptly after that we drove to Heathrow, where I met up with the other 38 Cambodian volunteers and a VSO representative who helped us during the pre placement stage, and who gave us some documents we needed and made sure we went to the right place. Then it was a case of dropping bags off and going through security, and then getting on the plane.  I had one last iced coffee in departures. Ice is very unsafe and unsanitary in Cambodia so it was my farewell to ice. On the plane I was blessed with a window seat, but not the ability to sleep, unfortunately. They also fed us well on the fligh...

So I tried to write this post earlier while I packed, and it deleted itself! Which means this version will probably be shorter, so I guess it's for the best. This post is just essentially a run through of what I'm taking. A lot of my supplies I got as gifts from kind people, especially my parents, who gave me a lot of it for Christmas. I plan on reviewing this post when I'm back from Cambodia to see what was really necessary and what I could have done without. Cambodia has a dress code, which means your shoulders and knees have to be covered in public, and it's very hot and humid there, which is reflected in my packing. That being said, here goes: Cases Sorry the photo is upside down - one bag for hand luggage, the other is a light suitcase (that Dad found in Liverpool for free!) which shouldn't add too much to my weight limit. Clothes T-shirts  I have 15 in total, all 100% cotton (or with linen blend) to reduce sweat. I also have 5 long sleeved...