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Hi from a very grey and stormy Sunday morning. I woke to my curtains blowing across the room and the feeling of wetness over my bare legs, the strong wind was blowing the raining in, which is something that rarely happens. Usually the rain comes straight down, so windows don't need to be closed. Although the rain has now stopped it looks threatening. However, it is a relief as yesterday was so hot and humid it was difficult to cope with - 4 showers didn't ease the discomfort and Friday night I found it virtually impossible to sleep!
It has been a busy few days, settling in, hiring a bike, visiting Grace House, and generally reaquainting myself with places and people. At Grace House they treat the time after Pchum Benh as the beginning of their new academic year, so most of the children have moved up a class and 45 new 4 year olds have started in the Chicks and Bees class. So my class will be completely new to me - 50 new names to learn will be a challenge, as will ascertaining their ability to learn and their understanding of English. A challenge that hopefully I'm up for. I will be working with Pheyrom for the third time, so that will be good as she is so supportive and helpful and is very keen to learn from me too.
I cannot believe how many people recognise me and want to say hello, shake hands or give me a welcome back hug. The tuk drivers are so happy when they see someone returning and want to talk even though they probably know I am highly unlikely to use their service, but I was reassured when I met two that I know who work at night - I may be looking for them at some point.
Yesterday was the big cycle ride of the week, I had already offered my services as ride leader the day before when someone had written on their Facebook site that they needed a leader. On my way there I bumped into a Volunter I knew two years ago who is back teaching at an International school, so we will meet for dinner one evening to catch up. As I walked into the cycling shop a Kymer guy ran up to me and hugged me - someone I met in the first year I was here and because of me he came to train as an electrician, with Alan, at Grace House a year later. Since qualifying he went back to Kompong Thom and has worked for Donna at her project - one I visited the first year I was here. Then to my amazement she walked in with a group of Tasmanian volunteers who are visiting and volunteering at her project. They had come to S R for the weekend to view the temples and experience a very different part of Cambodia. All this before 8 am!
Only four of us for the ride, none of whom I'd met before - N Z, US, Aus and me, some of the regulors were away for the weekend, others had moved on, so hopefully I'll catch up with some next week. It was a great ride at a fair speed through the back lanes and villages to Tonle Sap, round Phnom Krom and back via Wat Atwea, the guys did cycle to the top, but Jacqui and I stayed at the bottom - last year I went half way and then stopped - perhaps I'll try again towards the end of my stay when I might be a bit fitter. Whilst we were waiting children appeared and started playing with the bells on our bikes and the pedals and enjoyed posing whist we took their photos. When a guy appeared selling ice lollies she bought the 3 who'd been with us one, immediately about another 10 children appeared and the guy continued to give them out. She refused to pay for more, so he collected them in and put them back in to the ice box - dripping and already licked! When we got back 3 and half hours later I was orange, covered from top to toe in a layer of sweat and red dust. On the same ride, same weekend last year we had had to cycle through a bit of the Tonle Sap, this year it is much further back and everywhere so dry. Perhaps today is the beginning of the rains for this year - Khymer staff at G H believe I bring the rain. The shortage of rain must be so worrying for so many, not least the rice farmers who struggle as it is.
There is building work happening in many places - some houses, even more hotels and international schools - there is a shortage of tourists at the moment, so many who depend on them have no income. I'm not sure who will be able to afford the fees of the all the International schools here - most teachers are untrained - the main requisite is that one speaks English as a first language. Although I can see slight changes in the town here, once you are away from it nothing has changed. Road surfaces very poor and driving dangerous. Apparently t is taking about 9 hrs to get to Phnom Penh from here by bus at the moment because of the road's poor condition. The riches are still limited to a very tiny few and most of those are Korean. There are now far too many hotels for the visitors, so there isn't more employment created and the season is short, although now is a reasonable time the bulk only come between Nov and Feb/March when the temps become too high for most to cope with.
Politically, I think things are a bit quieter, the opposition have now taken their seats in government, but the majority are unhappy with their government.
Must now go and do my washing, buy some food and then go out and about on my bike before coming back and making sure that I'm organised for the week.
Enjoy the resr of your weekend, take care and love to all, J
- comments
Doreen Glad you are settled, enjoyed reading your latest entry. All well here, take care and stay safe xx
Meryl So many friends and old acquaintances, a second home. Enjoy your week. X
Heather Glad you are back in the groove! You seem to settle back so quickly, almost as if you had never been away. Here the temperature dropped by almost 10 degrees, and although a glorious day already feeling colder at 5p.m. on Sunday. Ice in the horse field at the bottom of the valley this morning! Will print your blog and send it to Shawbury for them now, but have missed the evening post so it won't arrive until Tuesday, sadly. Take care and enjoy
Sheila Hi Jenny, Managed to find your blog. Ang is here and we have been reading your now blog. Hope the thunderstorm has passed. Ang & Norm have been pruning trees this afternoon, it has been nice & sunny very different from the rain this morning. Sounds like you are having a lovely time meeting a lot of old friends & you have settled in. Thanks for the email, I will have a lovely holiday & print all blogs when I Get back. Will speak soon Angie & Sheila xxx
Heather Sorry to hear you are still unwell. Could it be simply the change in temperature and weather do you think or something from a plane journey? Hope it soon goes anyway and you can enjoy yourself. Spectacular evening/overnight storms and showers here but sunny at the moment. Roger's new computer is at last performing well and he is pleased…..so am I because I should not need to spend so much time at Bluewater waiting for experts now. Took your advice and am now on a very cheap tarrif for the mobile. Such a patient young man and the one in the next booth was a Kohn! What are the chances of that! All in all I was treated like a queen on the strength of a name. Ric collected your car easily yesterday and drove off happily. He said they were hoping to get a car of their own next year, so it may be the last changeover…..who knows. Stan and Belle both well, although neither like being splashed by cars and jostle behind me for protection. I do not matter it seems! Get well soon and look forward to more of your news