Coming to Terms

Today we've spent time together all day. It's honestly been one of the best days so far. Now that we are all adjusting to the idea of leaving early, we're thinking about the things we're looking forward to getting home to (food, hot drinks, pets, family - just some examples).

It is hard thinking about going back. We've found out we are booked to be flying out on Friday evening and will be back early Saturday morning - Mum has agreed to pick me up, which is kind. None of us quite know what we're going to walk into. We know we'll have to keep away from a lot of the people we'd be looking forward to seeing. We have been advised to self isolate for at least two weeks on arrival into the country, because of our international travel. It's strange thinking about not seeing each other every day as well.

A lot of the good moments of today have been tinged with sadness because we know we have so little time left.

This morning we all cycled down to the rice fields for a sports day of sorts. All of the team was there, and some of them had brought host siblings along too. We started with a couple of rounds of rounders, with limited success because we had so many more Khmer that didn't know the rules, and then we did some sports day races.

Egg and spoon race, as you see, but also three legged race - which Alex and I absolutely smashed, though now I have an impressive, badge of honour of a bruise from the string we used to tie our legs - and some over and under races with cups of water.

We also played a Khmer game they call Steal the Bride, which was hilarious. It's like a more complicated version of Duck, Duck, Goose:

Then we headed off for lunch.

Unfortunately despite applying suncream twice, I am a little pinker than I would like.


We had lunch at Zaynab's and then we cycled up the hill for a coffee. (Theres two coffee shops in community, one makes bad coffee but is close, and one makes good coffee but is up a hill.)

 Lunch at Zaynab's 

Zaynab's house

 Zaynab, Tey, Alex and me at the coffee shop

 Alex and Heng

After that I finally got everyone to come and see my house. I love love love my host home and family - it's one of the hardest things about leaving is how much I love them - so I really wanted to share it with everyone else. We played a few games of Mafia by the hay stacks and relaxed until we all needed to part before curfew.

Tim got wise to the fact I was taking a photo and posed - he didn't actually kick Channa in the head

After that it was dinner:

...and then some chill time. Overall a pretty great day.

As I said though it's hard to have too much enjoyment when you know what you're enjoying is ending soon. I've found myself a bit tearful at times today. We're all trying to source souvenirs and gifts within community wherever we can and making the most of the time we have left, talking about keeping in touch when we're back, and what we're going to eat! 

Tomorrow is finishing up paper work day, and then packing. Surreal.