Home Coming

I truly apologize for the lack of entries the past three weeks. Things have been a bit chaotic wrapping up things at work in Cambodia, stopping by Korea, coming back home to San Francisco, and most of all taking my GRE and all that fun stuff applying to grad school.

 

I do promise to post things slowly within the next few weeks into the new year. But for the mean time, I am enjoying my time back home with family and friends with all the festivities. I was even home for Christmas...my first in seven years which was quite special and emotional. I would just like to give a quick shout out for a Happy Holidays and Happy New year to everyone! What an amazing year I've had for 2013!  

 

 

Is Running A Luxury?

As many of you already know, I am running the Angkor Wat Half Marathon in tomorrow. I've been training the past month and a half and I just wanted to write some thoughts down before the big race.

I've been spoiled running in the unsullied streets of Tokyo the past few years so it's certainly been a challenge to run in Siem Reap.  or one thing, you have to run very early to avoid the searing heat and av heavy traffic. The best time is to start around six o'clock, just when the sun rises so waking up at five is essential. The roads are bumpy, dusty, and muddy so watching your footsteps is vital. Also you have to keep your eye on and dodge your way around motorcyclists, cars, cyclists, and stray dogs. It's like running in an obstacle course in some ways!

Nevertheless, it's been a joy to be able to run here. I love to run as I watch the sun quietly rise over Siem Reap river.  The city slowly come to life with vendors making their way into the streets and tuktuk drivers chatting away with iced coffees in hand. 

Beautiful sunset...one of the very few times I've gone running in the afternoon since it was a cool day. Otherwise I'll be melting.

I've realized I've been running for more than half my life now. I don't run everyday but when I try to schedule in runs and races when I can and it's something that I truly enjoy. But ever since I've started running in Cambodia, I've seriously started to wonder why I run and what motivates me to run.

 Let me start out that Cambodians hardly run. They don't even walk fast; they saunter.  In a hot country like Cambodia in which people try to avoid the heat as possible, why volunteer oneself to go running and get drenched in sweat under the sun? Hence the reactions of the locals watching me run are hilarious. Motorcyclists watch me as they pass me and continue to do so after they pass me, turning their head around. Old grannies stare at me with mouths wide open as if witnessing a ridiculous antic. Young construction workers interrupt their work and look up at me as I pass by (no whistling) with quizzical looks on their faces. And to be clear, I am pretty sure it is not because of my running attire nor my appearance since I cover all my arms and legs and I run with no makeup.

But as humorous as it is, I can't stop to wonder what they think of me as they see me run.  People here eke out long work hours, usually from seven o'clock in the morning. They certainly do not have the luxury to go for a run as I do. Many are in tattered clothes and needless to say there is no money to buy shoes let alone running shoes.

It's a...bridge. But I wouldn't be surprise if it collapses any day

In developed countries, many run to lose weight or get a better body. But in a country in which a third of the children in the nation are malnourished, putting food on the table is the more important issue at stake. I can't help but think that by going running out in the streets, I am flaunting myself as a rich, self-centered, vain, complacent foreigner. And to an extent, it is true. I do run to get fit. My running shoes cost anywhere from $40~$120, an amount equivalent of a month's worth of food to an entire family here. And though I do live frugally, I do not have to worry about what and how my next meal will be served.

But at the same time, it is no doubt that exercise is important and should be incorporated in every one's daily lives. However, it is certainly true that being able to exercise and taking care of my body is a huge luxury. Many people in developed countries hold gym memberships, participate in organized sports, and enter extraneous competitions such as marathons (which are quite expensive by the way. An average marathon entry fee is about $90). People are constantly conscious of their appearance and body image whether it is through peer pressure, celebrity media, and/or cultural influences. A huge number and women in developed countries suffer from depression or eating disorders because of it. Some even go as far as going on extreme diets and going through baiatric surgery. Yet the majority of the people in this world have much more dire issues to worry about.  

I've ruminated over this issue for the past few weeks. But I've concluded that I will not make myself guilty over the fact that I am not one of them. And it will certainly not hinder me from going out to run in Cambodia. I will rather think how fortunate I am and appreciate for what I am able to do. As painful and painstaking running and training can be, how grateful that am I that I am able to take the power to exercise. How wonderful it is that I have full limbs with a healthy, injure-free body to be able to move freely in full strength. This is especially true in a country in which at least 2% of the population are disabled from a landmine accident.  For all the times I have moaned that I have to wake up early for my run or dragged myself to the gym, I now know that I will not take it for granted and go do it with gratitude.

And on the same note, while I will be sure to enjoy running my race tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Registration...dun dun dun

Class Time

Just another day at the Foreign Language School.

All are welcome to learn, including dogs.

 ....if only they were more studious



Monk Stories

I must dedicate one post solely on monks telling stories.

Growing up, I was always told to listen to the monks. They are our teachers, community leaders, erudite intellectuals. They are wise, profound, and compassionate. Whenever they tell a story, we must stop what we are doing and listen to them. As an adolescent, I loved to listen to them because they were easy to understand but had a greater deeper meaning.

For some reason, the monks that I interact with are a bit different.

They just CRACK ME (and all the other volunteers) UP!

I tried to write some of their stories down but it just doesn't do any justice. I vowed to myself that I will record it one day and post it up. 

Sometimes I seriously think that monks must carry a joke book around to entertain others. And yes laughing is a form of enlightenment so they are under the rules! 

Halloween in Cambodia

I always thought that Halloween was a uniquely American holiday for gluttonous kids (as if they need any more sugar).

Welcome to the Twenty First Century.

It was shocking enough that kids in suburban Tokyo now have trick-or-treat events in their local neighborhoods. But even more surprising are how much the adult expats celebrate it; and most expats were anything but American! Supposedly the holiday is evolving as a "dress-up-in-kinky-clothes-and-drink-and-get-away-with" day aka it's (yet) another excuse to party hard in Tokyo.

Cambodia is no exception, albeit I am pretty sure it's only celebrated in expat-rich cities such as Siem Reap. Pub Street (as usual) was infested with inebriated Western tourists, but more surprisingly local teenagers and college kids were out dressed up in costumes and dancing away to the music which was nice to see.

While I am not a fan of dressing up in costumes, it was certainly fun to overlook the street party with a great company of co-workers over a few beers!



And I must note that if ramen is the Japanese way to finish off a fun night of drinking, then it's definitely pan-fried rice noodles (kuy teuv cha) in Cambodia! Nothing beats eating hot chewy noodles out by the riverside, far away from the mayhem of Pub Street. $1 well spent :)



漬物

最近発覚したのですが・・・・

世界のどこにいても漬物がないと生きていけないようです（東北万歳！）

左から生姜の醤油漬け、きゅうりのピリ辛付け、もやしのさっぱり漬けなり♪

なにせ毎日暑いのでさっぱりした漬物を体が欲するようです (;^^)  しかも漬けるだけで簡単にできるので台所がなくても作れるのが嬉しい☆  これにお惣菜屋さんで買ってくる白米と干物をプラスした３点セットが毎日の夕食の定番。これらさえあればカンボジアでずっと暮らせそう　笑

Rain, Water, and Moon

As I've wrote before..rain here is no joke.. It's a both a blessing as well as a total disaster.  

Time to walk in the rain ahem ahem I mean sewer water...

So as you can imagine it's a great relief when the Monsoon ends. First there's the Kathina Festival  followed by the Water Festival.

Traditionally, there are boat races (similar to the dragon boat races in China) and carnivals along the Tonle Sap Lake or rivers throughout the country. But ever since the disaster accident in 2010 in Phnom Penh the country has been in mourning and no "official" celebrations have been held since.

Although, what is interesting is that there is a lot of controversy surrounding over the accident. Many activist organizations and even monks are acerbic towards and brutally excoriate the government over this issue; putatively there may have been some conspiracy act committed and that certain details of the accident were shrouded away. Cambodia's mendacious and fraudulent government (and shockingly overwhelming ex-Khmer Rouge politicians holding office including the President) has been a sore spot for the Cambodian people as well as been an big reason for the hindrance of economical growth. Many of the monks who are on Facebook use pseudonyms for the sole reason of expressing their criticism towards the government. I digressed but in any case, the Water Festival holds a dark meaning for the people here in many ways.

Nevertheless, other traditions are still intact. On the full moon (on Friday), many homes had am-bok parties in which family and friends take their wooden pestles to gather to mash sticky rice in a stone mortar to make sticky rice cake. It is then mixed with coconut and bananas and then offered to the moon with prayers. This tradition has a striking resemblance with the Moon Festival in Japan - I am not sure of the historical origins of the two but it always makes me happy each time I find similarities between the two cultures.


東南アジアの雨はすさまじいので雨季が終わるとさまざまな祭典やお祭りが行われます♪
今週末は水祭り。国中の湖や川沿いでボートレースが行われて、縁日のようにお店がズラーっと並ぶそう。ただし2010年の大惨事以来正式なお祭りは自粛されているとか？

でも各自家庭での祝賀行事は変わらず行われるそうです。生徒達との片言の英語とクメール語での会話なので詳しいことはわからないのだけど（汗）、なんとなく日本のお月見に近い行事だということが発覚。日本と同じく杵と臼で餅をついて満月の日にお供え物をするそうな。もっともカンボジア版のお餅はココナッツと一緒に頂くようです☆　カンボジアと日本、一見縁がなさそうでも実際は細かい所でいろいろと共通点もあって、なんとなく嬉しく感じます　（＊＾＾＊）

At Dusk

Despite the fact that the dust and the gas emission will probably kill my lungs, for the vibrance and energy that I feel from the rush hour here is quite something. There's something oddly soothing watching women driving one handed with big bags of groceries in the other and small children clinging on their parents or other siblings for dear life on the back of a motorcycle. It's certainly much better than the overly congested trains in Tokyo full of of inebriated, crass, tepid people squished in together like a can of sardines.

夕暮れ時のシェムリアップ。通勤ラッシュは場所を問わず苦手だけど、エネルギーと活気で道が溢れていてなんとなく落ち着くというか懐かしく感じるというか不思議な感覚。さてさて、市場に立ち寄って野菜を買わねば。

Preah Vihear

As expected, Cambodia has won over the dispute with Thailand over the land and property of the Preah Vihar Temple. It's a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site full of glory of the old Khmer Empire, yet the dispute with Thailand been going on for over half a century with frequent clashes resulting in shootouts. The most recent was in 2011 in which there were casualties on both artilleries guarding the borderline.

Since then International Court of Justice bas been reviewing the case and yesterday the Cambodia was grated soverighnty over the area and for Thai forces to withrdaw from the area.

I'm glad the case has been settled peacefully as it has been in the back of the minds of people for many decades. Since the court did not specify on the details on the borders, hopefully both governments can amicably talk things out  Although,  I am a bit worried about the the hot headed Thai Nationalists who were quite unhappy about it and adding heat to the recent protests occuring in Bangkok.

Land disputes go beyond politics and are much more historical and cultural rooted so I do not want to go into too much detail about it - but what is usually overlooked by these international issues is the local people.

The province of Preah Vihear is one of the least infrastructure developed areas in the country. Though it is merely 150km away from Siem Reap, it takes about six hours to get there on a mostly bumpy unpleasant road. The region is vastly agricultural and the population is scattered around the region. Only about half of the population is literate and many speak their tribal languges in addition to Khmer.

Some of our nuns and monks set out early this morning to deliver stationary, supplies, and most importantly goods for the Kathina Festival for their local Wat.

I wish them a safe trip and a big hats off to my monks who constantly tirelessly work to help others in addition to their monk duties, studies, and work!

1962年以来ずっとプレア・ビヒア寺院（UNESCO）において国境紛争が続いていたカンボジアとタイ。昨日やっと国際司法裁判での判決でカンボジアに正式に主権が渡されたと同時にタイ兵の撤去も命じました (*^o^*) この件に関してはカンボジアを応援していたので嬉しい限り。

ただ裁判で判決が渡されたとはいえ、国境問題は政治以上に歴史問題も大いに関わってくるのでかなりややこしいのだけれどこの50年間で両国合わせて多数が犠牲となったので今後は平和に向けて双方で話し合いを進めていけるといいんだけどね~...

ただこういう国際問題で影になってしまうのが地元の人達。プレア・ビヒア地方はカンボジア内で最もインフラ開発が遅れている場所。過疎地区なので人口はまばらで読み書きができない人も多く、貧困に困ってる人も多数。ここのエリアのお寺は雨季の終わりを示す迦絺那法要（僧達に年に一度新着の衣を贈呈する儀式）を開催する費用がないので、うちのお坊さん・尼さん達がお金を出し合い、物資を届けに今そっちに向かっています☆ シェムリアップ市からはわずか150kmなんだけど、何せ道路が整ってないので悪路の中6時間ほどかかるそう 汗。

それにしてもうちのお坊さん達は自分たちの仕事や勉強でも十分忙しいのに忙しい合間を縫って奉仕活動をする姿には頭が上がりませんっっ！

英語教師



日本にいる家族や友達から「ブログがほとんど英語で読めないんですけどー！！」という苦情（？）が殺到したので少し弁解を・・・・　汗汗

ぶっちゃけ

この２－３ヶ月間英語とカンボジア語での生活なので日本語を忘れかけています　涙

言葉は毎日使ってないとすぐ忘れちゃうのが欠点なもので・・・というわけで日本語の勉強のためにも少しずつ日本語での書き込みも増やしていきますね☆　m(_ _)m

今回は「カンボジアのNGOで働いているのはわかってるんだけど一体何をしてんの？」という質問を多くいただいたので少しばかりお答えしたいと思います♪

勤務先はLife and Hope Associationという所で、地元のお寺が経営しているNGOです。なので上司は全てお坊さん。国連やJICAはもちろんイギリスやアメリカに本部があるNGO団体とも違い、本当に地元に密着した奉仕活動を行っています。

カンボジア社会はお寺がコミニュティーの中心なのでそういう意味では地元住民からの信頼は厚いのですがお坊さんたちは後にも先にも「お坊さん」という職業が最優先であり、またビジネス経営者というわけでもNGO運営の経験があるわけでもないのでをそういう意味ではかなーりみんなで四苦八苦しています　笑。

でもカンボジアに来て仕事をするからにはこの団体しかない！と思ったのは創設者、ソムニエングさんの記事を新聞で読んたのがきっかけ☆ というのはソムニエングさんは貧困の村で生まれ育ち、高校に進学するお金がないため仏門に入り、なんと奨学金でハーバード大学院までを卒業したすごいお方。なのに卒業後は自分が創設したNGOに戻り、カンボジアに一日でも多く社会貢献をしたいという思いを記事の中で熱く語っていたことにあたしは感動し、

これだー！舞い上がり、そのまま彼に直接メール。彼の気前の良さもあり、運よくこちらで採用していただくようになりました。

創設者の熱いビジョンにより、他のお坊さん達やスタッフもその思いはしっかり受け継いでいて、苦労は多いものの結束力はどこのNGOにも負けていません☆

さてそんな経緯でここであたしがどんな仕事をしているのかというと・・・・

うーん難しい　汗

というのもお互いを助け合って運営しているのでその週、その日、その瞬間によって大いに異なります　笑。建物のペンキ塗り作業から近くの村の学校への物資配布までなんでもこなします。

今現在取り組んでいるのは英語指導とカリキュラム作成。

うちの団体では裁縫技術学校も経営していて、ここでは４０～５０人ほどの女の子達 が１０ヶ月間、仕立て屋になるための裁縫技術を無償で学ぶことができます☆　

今は１日２時間、ここで女の子達に英語を教えています。英語のレベルは全員バラバラなのでそれぞれのレベルに合わせて、あたしも片言のクメール語（カンボジア語）で毎日一意奮闘して教えています　 汗。

カンボジアはアパレル生産が盛んで世界中のブランドの工場があるのでビジネスの上で英語は必須。ここに通ってる女の子達は貧困の村出身者が多く、少しでも多くのことを学校で学んで将来に役立て欲しいのが団体としての願い。そのためにも裁縫技術だけではなくて英語、ビジネス経営学や家庭科、道徳、保健体育などの知識も身に着けてもらいたいので現在みんなでカリキュラムを練り直し中！

教師としての経験がもともとゼロなので当初はかなり不安でしたが、 カンボジアはみんな勤勉、勉強熱心な上に覚える意欲がとても強いので教師のあたしとしてはとても教えやすいです。（＊＾＾＊）かなり金八先生顔負けの熱血教師になってます　笑



学校の出資者はあのパークハイアットホテルです♪　真ん中の男の子は裁縫学校の教師の息子さん

英語教師は私ともう一人の教師と２人３脚でやってたのですが帰国することになってしまったのでこの２週間はあたし一人で奮闘してます　涙

Surviving with a Daily $5 food budget

Now that I'm unemployed and in Cambodia, my daily budget is $25 per day (big difference from my $130+ daily expenses in Tokyo!). This includes all my expenses minus my plane tickets: lodging, transportation, food, cell phone, utilities, language classes, laundry, outings, health insurance, and visa fees. Hence my daily food budget needs to equate to under $5.

But is it possible to survive with such a budget in Cambodia?

Let's lay out the basics here:

Be forewarned that if you have food restrictions, eat in "American" portions (I got used to eating Japanese portions so quite small) or prefer eating Western food, your food bill will be slightly higher than mine. Also of course, eating at restaurants will bring up the budget as well. As for me I prefer to eat mostly at local food stands or cook in my room.

And fortunately I am not picky about food. The only thing I cannot live without is rice but luckily it so happens to be Cambodia's staple meal (whew!). As with all mothers, my mom was very worried about me adjusting to local food here but I actually love it. Frankly I think Cambodian food has been under appreciated, hidden in the shadows of neighboring Thai and Vietnamese food. While I adore both cuisines, I find Thai food too spicy and Vietnamese food too herb-y to eat daily. Cambodian food is a moderate version of the two so I don't mind eating it everyday at all. In fact, I've never really had food cravings for Western or Japanese food yet so it's been keeipng me happy.

Breakfast

Since I stated running regularly in the mornings, I eat mostly eat in my room for a healthy carb rich breakfast.

30g of muesli  $0.40  2 small bananas $0.15 milk $0.27  1/2 dragonfruit  $0.20 coffee $0.02  = $1.04

Btw, I bought ground local Cambodian coffee at the Old market and I filter it every morning with an Asian style coffee filter. There's a slightly nutty chocolate aroma to it and I absolutely love it. Many people perfer Vietnamese style coffee but it's a bit over roasted and the bitterness is too strong for me. I strongly recommend it if you like mild yet strongly caffeinated coffee.

Sometimes eat out at the stands sitting on the side of the streets. Cambodians start their days early to avoid the scorching heat. By 6 am, the streets are bustling for rush hour. I love watching kids bike to school in their crisp white and navy uniforms and office ladies riding off in their scooters with their tin lunch boxes tucked to their side. 

Cambodian style jok with fried donut $1.25 (5,000 riel)

Lunch time

Since I'm always running around doing errands, I usually grab noodles or Cambodian sandwich (nohmpang pate)  ($0.5)

Cambodian style baguette with marinated vegetables, hot sauce, fish sauce, sliced pork, and ham 2,000 riel ($0.50)

Short rice noodles fried with egg on top 4,000 riel ($1)

Cold rice noodles with sliced boiled pork and fried spring rolls & fresh spring rolls 6,000 riel ($1.50) 

  

Snack

It's so hot during the day, I usually crave for something cold and sweet. The ice coffees here are great because it has strong Cambodian concentrate coffee with condensed milk and ice. It instantly wakes you up and the taste is absolutely addictive ($0.50). Or if I feel I can stuff a little bit more after my meal, I'll have one of the coconut milk desserts ($0.16~0.25/plastic pouch or bowl). My favorite so far is the one with banana and taro. I'll put up a post solely on desserts in a future post!

Dinner

I grew up in a lower working immigrant class family in the US so my family seldomly dined out. Plus we always perferred mom's homemade Japanese dishes over heavily greased steaks and oil drenched french fries. I still never really go out to eat, even in Tokyo when I worked 12 hours and came home around 8 every night. Cooking is my way of relaxing after a long day of work. Here, I usually do my groceries few times a week at the Old Market.

The ladies at the market know me and they always manage to snuggle a few extra pieces of chili or green onions for me! A kilo of assorted vegetables is about $1.

 I usually end up making pickles with them - kindly be reminded my ancestors are from Tohoku part of Japan who are great pickle lovers. Needless to say, I always need to have my share of pickles no matter where I am in the world.

Pickled cucumbers and baby carrots

 I don't have a kitchen but I do have a mini fridge and an electric kettle. I also brought a dinner knife, a plastic plate, tupperware, and utensils from the States, plus I bought a few other kitchenware at the Old Market. This turns my desk area into a makeshift kitchen. Along with my vegetables, I also buy rice and dried fish on the street and it's amazing what you can whip up.

Green beans $0.1, Cambodian Chinese sausage $0.25, rice $0.25, homemade pickles $0.2, mango $0.40 = $1.20

Rice $0.25, green bean salad $0.25, dried fish $0.5, baby carrots $0.15, fruits $0.20 = $1.35

Rice $0.25, vegetables $0.30, kidney beans $0.6, tapioca dessert $0.16 = $1.31

You'll notice that some of the foods that I make don't entirely come from the market. I buy my "Western" food products at supermarkets which are largely for the expats. There are two big ones in Siem Reap: Lucky Mart and Angkor Market.

Lucky Mart

Angkor Market

They have quite a selection, everything from wine, cheese, oreos, to Japanese condiments.

All in all, my daily food cost is about $3-4. Throw in an extra dollar for those occasional splurges (a few of those nice cold draft Angkor beers each for $0.50 for happy hour? I'm in!) and I'm right under budget. 

The other day, a monk I were chatting about food in Cambodia. He asked me if the food was good here and apologized that it was not to the quality of developed nations. I told him it was the total opposite. I'm eating cheaply and healthy unlike the terrible eating habits in US with ample fast-food and junk food ubiquitously available. Those simply do not exist here and even for the few that are, it's a luxury. And that's good. The Cambodian version of fast food here is a lady carrying and selling baskets of freshly cut pineapples and mangoes or a $0.50 Cambodian sandwich sold on a roadside food stand. And I love it. Nothing can beat cheap good healthy food. 

I went astray a bit but in conclusion, yes I can survive on $5/day with no problem. But do put in mind that I am dining like a king in local standards. An average Cambodian worker in Siem Reap makes about $5,000 annually at best. Compare this with where I came from. I had to pay $28 for a cheap decent size watermelon. Eating out for lunch in posh Roppongi area cost me $17 on average. And get this: a fake chipotle's burrito for $11.50. That's Tokyo for you. While the prices were worth what I paid for the amazing food quality in Tokyo, I'm glad I'm out of that world!

"Good Deeds"

 

After talking about the experience from my previous post to people, a few have told me "Great job. Now don't you feel good that you did a such a good and generous deed for these poor people?"

 

I am happy and glad that the children now have new stationary for the new term. But it is a tremendous overstatement to say that I did a life changing deed for these children. Me nor my other fellow volunteers and monks think there is anything we should be particularly proud or be boasting about.  

 

This is not say I am denying the work that we've done; I am very glad that I did it. But it's nothing more different than all the other things I do daily at LHA. It's part of my job. And most importantly it's part of my duty as an ordinary human in civil society--when in need, people help each other out.

 

Yet others do not see it that way. What bothers me most about DCVs (developed country volunteers) coming to Cambodia is that they have an extremely conciliatory and lording attitude when doing these sort of "charitable" work. They bring boxes of food, clothing, and books from their home countries to distribute in Cambodia. They claim themselves (ostensibly) as doing humanitarian deeds and hail themselves as "saviors" in a brazen manner that is jarringly disturbing. They even update their Facebooks as such. Even worse they post pictures along with it --heads hung high with their smug smiles and hugging children they barely even know.

 Do not get me wrong, it certainly is praise worthy that these people fly thousands of miles to these distribute goods. But the reality is that it does not significantly impact the local people at all. They are merely putting temporary band aids on wounds that will certainly open up again. It will not change the fact that they are still socioeconomically disadvantaged and living in vulnerable conditions. 

The true definition of good deeds and humanitarian relief is bringing about change. Rather than giving out things for free, we really need to be advising the community on how to become sustainable. We need to teach them how to create businesses and help them with community planning. Needless to say this is excruciatingly hard work that requires diligence, perseverance, and leadership. But it will make an everlasting impact and a big difference in peoples lives. Only then can you say that you have done a "good deed".  

Yet the attitudes of some volunteers has made me irate and it's been ruminating in my head. It's been a been a real struggle for me to sort out my emotions though once it is, I would like to write about more in further detail. But one thing I am sure is that the ignorant actions of some will not deflect me nor ebb my passion for what I am here in Cambodia for: true compassion and striving for a better and sustainable society. 

 

In any case, thank goodness I work with an amazing group of volunteers and monks. The day had been amazing with a lot of laughter and smiles all around. And though very briefly, it's always nice to mingle with communities outside of Siem Reap. There is still yet so much to see and learn about in this beautiful country.

 

 

 

Mini "business trip"

For monks, weekends to not exist. Every day is a life of dedication, compassion and helping those in need. Last week neighboring temple Wat Bo has invited our monks in a joint effort to distribute school supplies to a village school outside of Siem Reap. Us volunteers were invited to tag along.

 

It's always an adventure going on organized mini mission trips outside Siem Reap. First of all, you need to understand that that this is the Cambodian version of a "bus":

 

 

Yep. 

The Western buses are only for tour buses and long distance intercity buses (e.g. Phnom Penh - Siem Reap). Though luckily, we all couldn't fit so all the foreign volunteers managed to get a van (with AC!) instead.

 

Let me also remind you that these trips are often organized by monks, who usually don't have the best set of organizational-oriented minds! We met up at 6:30am and it wasn't until 8:45am that we were finally on our way to the provinces to deliver stationary to the local village school. But despite the wait and enduring the bumpy roads to get there, the bucolic scenery of the countryside were  absolutely beautiful.

 

 

 

After a trundling hour ride, we arrived in the village school in which all 400 children were standing in the heat, waiting for our arrival despite being a Saturday.

 

Royal treatment greetings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The thing with Asian countries is that we like to make things real formal when it comes to donation distributions. The monks had a comlete agenda of speeches ready as the kids awaited in agony... but nevertheless I can see their excitement in their eyes.  

 

 

21st Century Tech savvy monks

The older students giving their thanks on behalf of the students

 

Organizting the stationary to pass out!

Hold up your new notebooks and pens!

Taking a break and taking a shot with the monks

 

 

The monks here sure like to take their pictures, they caught me in this one!

 

Successful trip. Distributed all the goods to 390 children

 

And of course, the best part for us is (free) lunch!

 

Gotta wait till all the monks finish eating, even the little ones!

And finally...chow time!