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Hi all,
Today has been the most emotional one since my arrival, by Friday the local roads were more or less clear of flood water and so we expected all to be well for school today, although we did know the homes would still be flooded and there to be poor attendance. However, the rains started again and by Sun lunchtime the river was rising and by last night all the roads were knee deep in water again, and it is fast catching up here too now. The truck duely arrived and we set off through deep water and over non existent roads. The sight at GH brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes as there were about 100 people queuing in the hope that they would be given rice today. Fortunately, Raffles Hotel in Siem Reap donated 1000kg last week, se we were able to give 120 families 25kg of rice each today. Again, they had to thumb print to prove that they had had an allowance. We imagine that this is now going to continue for many months as much of the rice crop has been devastated and so in Jan/Feb there will be nothing to harvest. Many families are losing what income they may earn as they cannot travel to fish, sell etc and no tuks are needed even if they can make it through flooded roads. Of course, most have broken down due to the water in the engine or fuel. No state schools around here have opened and their teachers will not be paid, fortunately GH staff are. As there was some food in our local market we stayed at GH for lunch, which enabled three people to be paid and a few market sellers to get some money. The money has to circulate if at all possible.
Driving out to GH is heart rending looking at the conditions people are living in, and this is now their fifth week. They are so resilient and good natured and always seem to have a smile on their face. When they are given their rice their faces beam and and with their hands to gether they say their thank yous.
We have spent a very lazy weekend watching the rugby, and as the vols represent Wales, New Zealand, Aust, England and Uruguay (so she supported Argentina) it created a lively atmosphere here and in the bars in town. I am now supporting Wales. Last night was Lindsey's leaving meal, she is now off to travel through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia for a month on an Intrepid tour - hopefully all will go well for her, but it will be good to meet here again in a few weeks when she returns here.
Considering all the flood water we have had, we had no water here for 24 hrs at the weekend, I think it was the flood water that had caused the problems - the repair to the water pump consisted of a cut up bicycle tyre and a chunk of wood cut from a broom handle to act as a plug, so it anyone's guess as to how long that will last.
This morning when I got up and looked through my bedroom window a guy from next door was giving one of the young boys (about 6-7yrs) a shower and hairwash, they were standing in mud up to their knees in mud and he was using a plastic saucepan to pour water over him from an old oil drum. The shower was unnecessary as the local state school was closed, the ones out to GH haven't opened as yet.
On Friday afternoon I visited ABC"s and Rice for the first time this year, the progress is astounding, instead of 5 bamboo hutswith earth floors they now have the classrooms like the ones we have at GH and they have tremendous plans to develop a farm which will both feed the children offer employment to some locals and train locals in animal husbandry and the growing of crops - all in a sustainable way. They are hoping for a gov loan to help them develop it, but I'm sure that is highly unlikely.
From being mainly British vols it is now becoming mainly Australians - however, they are all very pleasant. We have a young Uruguayan girl who is very in your face and noisy but she is growing on me - she is certainly enjoying the nightlife Siem Reap has to offer.
No plans for tomorrow - water depth will dictate - will we need a truck into town or will it be safe to wade through - can we face all the interesting things in the water? I am really missing riding my bike, I hope therewill be an opportunity again before I leave.
Bedtime now. Enjoy the rest of your day, take care, love to all J x
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