Hey Everyone,
So, after 6 days or so,I finally got access to a computer. I hope to check my e-mail and post an entry every 4-6 days, but who knows. Anyway, things here are amazing...I have having such an unbelievable experience. I have met some great people and I can't wait to see what is in store next.
My days are typically as follows: I usually wake up at around 6:30 and mess around until breakfast at 7:15. Recently, at around 9, I travel with members of the home care team and make rounds throughout the local community. On Thursday we traveled roughly 10 km to distribute bowls and welfare to HIV infected families in the community. I initially thought that I was in the middle of nowhere when I first got here, but then we penetrated deeper into the rural area. Most of these families have never seen a White person before...ever. Some kids stare and touch me, while others take one look at me and run away crying (not very good for my self-esteem). However, most people are very accepting and more than happy to extend hospitality. On Friday, we visited a support group meeting about an hour away. While I don't understand anything that was discussed, I did witness an authentic demonstration on how to properly put a condom on a wooden penis. I don't really know what is in store for me next week.
We usually eat lunch around 11:30, then veg out for a bit. There is a lot of downtime here. I have been here for almost a week and am halfway through my third book (a new personal record). I do much of my teachings in the afternoon. Everyday from 2-3, I teach the local monks English. Monks represent a sector of the community that is typically neglected when it comes to education. This being said, they really really want to learn English. For my first couple of lessons, I had a class of about 7-9 students...not too shabby. However, I think many of them find the language very tough and give up. I only had 3 ambitious monks show up for class on Friday.
I have also been teaching English to many of the older kids. They are quite good with the language and are very eager to learn. I also find myself teaching them how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc. I don't thing many young volunteers come through here, so they really enjoy hanging out with me, playing sports, listening to my ipod, etc. It doesn't even cross mymind that many of them are HIV positive. The younger kids enjoy hanging with me too (and by hanging I mean hanging all over me). They like when I toss and twirl them around.
The food here is still great, even though I am starting to grow tired of eating rice at every meal. I am really really craving some chocolate, which is obsolete here (I ran out of my oreo stash the second day here). Regardless, the food is great and I am not loosing any weight. It has been very hot here the past couple of days, but I have gotten used to constantly sweating. Sleeping at night is a bit more difficult, but I am getting the hang of it. The other volunteers here are great and I love spending time with them (we spend a lot of time together).
If anything, my experience here has taught me not too take things so seriously. There really is not a need to check the internet every hour and watch tv 6 hours a day like I usually do (or so it seems). It is nice not to worry about facebook, and I am really enjoying reading.
Anyway, thats it for now, but I willpost pics when I visit Phnom Penh in abuot a week.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
I finally Made It
So I finally made it to the village in one piece. I am stationed in a very small community about and hour and a half away from Phnom Penh. Wot Opot, the name of this community, only has about 2000 residents. The bulk of the village rests around the periphery of a gorgeous wot (Buddhist temple) in the center of town.
The program that I am volunteering with is unbelievable. Wot Opot used to serve as and HIV/AIDS hospice for very ill children. Children would be sent here if orphaned for being HIV positive or if their parents were HIV positive and passed. At one point, only a few years ago, two or three children would die a week. This used be be an extremely somber setting. However, since ARVs have become avaliable for essentially all infected persons (about 2 years ago), the community has changed from one of dispair to one of hope. Today, there are roughly 60 kids, ages ranging from about 3-18, living at Wot Opot. About half of the kids are HIV positive while the other half are negative, yet have no family support. Wayne, the man in charge of running Wat Opot, has done a phenomoal job in protecting these kids, giving them food, shelter, clothing, and most importantly, a life. What most people don't realize is that ARV's can potentially add 40 years to an infected life. I look at pictures from the community a few years ago, and I see decrepid children on the verge of death. Today, all of the kids look perfectly healthy. Aside from taking a multitude of drugs every morning and every evening, these kids lead normal lives. They go to school, they play with one another, they strive to be accepted as normal kids.
When I first pulled into the village, I was scared. It is not every day that I am dealing with dozens of people infected with HIV. I was nervous when the kids first started holding my hand and jumping all over me. However, this tension soon passed. All of the kids take ARV medications, and fortunately, the drugs dilute the virus in the bloodstream and make it very difficult to infect others, even if exoposed. Furthermore, HIV is not transmitted by holding hands, hugging, sweating, kissing, etc., only through blood semen, breast milk, and vaginal secretions.
There are 3 other volunteers here besides myself. Two older women are from New Zealand and are teaching the kids arts and crafts. The third girl is 25 and was born here. She has pretty much taken me under her wing, helping me to organize activites to do with the kids. She and I also have a good bit in common. I plan on getting involved with several projects while here. First and foremost, I plan on teaching English to the kids, some of the staff, and monks (tomorrow I plan on holding a 2 hour English class with 9 monks next door). I am also repsonisble for instructing some of the older kids how to use microsoft office programs. The older kids speak some English, but profiency from the younger ones remains minimal. I also plan on improving my Khmer while here. I also met with the head of the medical team today, and I plan on shadowing the staff as they make rounds throughout the village (even though consultations will be conducted in Khmer). Finally, I want to spend time playing sports with the kids. I just introduced them to (American) football, but I also want to take them fishing (there are enormous cat fish here).
My living arrangments can't be any more basic. We only have electricity from 7-9 pm, so sleeping with a fan is not an option. I sleep in a bed outside, surrounded by a mesquito net. We have no hot water (sometimes no running water) and it gets very hot around here. I must admit that it is difficult o sleep at night without a bed sheet. I am fortunate that the food here is fantastic. While meals are vegetarian, they are delicious. Lots of rice, pasta, fruits, and veggies. Every meal, the entire volunteer crew gathers and enjoys a relaxing meal. There is a lot of down time here, so I have been reading a good bit. We get up very very early (6:30 am), so but 9 pm I am ready for bed. I am looking forward to everything while here and can't wait to help change the community.
My computer is about to die, so I got to go. Ill try to make a post every 3 or 4 days.
The program that I am volunteering with is unbelievable. Wot Opot used to serve as and HIV/AIDS hospice for very ill children. Children would be sent here if orphaned for being HIV positive or if their parents were HIV positive and passed. At one point, only a few years ago, two or three children would die a week. This used be be an extremely somber setting. However, since ARVs have become avaliable for essentially all infected persons (about 2 years ago), the community has changed from one of dispair to one of hope. Today, there are roughly 60 kids, ages ranging from about 3-18, living at Wot Opot. About half of the kids are HIV positive while the other half are negative, yet have no family support. Wayne, the man in charge of running Wat Opot, has done a phenomoal job in protecting these kids, giving them food, shelter, clothing, and most importantly, a life. What most people don't realize is that ARV's can potentially add 40 years to an infected life. I look at pictures from the community a few years ago, and I see decrepid children on the verge of death. Today, all of the kids look perfectly healthy. Aside from taking a multitude of drugs every morning and every evening, these kids lead normal lives. They go to school, they play with one another, they strive to be accepted as normal kids.
When I first pulled into the village, I was scared. It is not every day that I am dealing with dozens of people infected with HIV. I was nervous when the kids first started holding my hand and jumping all over me. However, this tension soon passed. All of the kids take ARV medications, and fortunately, the drugs dilute the virus in the bloodstream and make it very difficult to infect others, even if exoposed. Furthermore, HIV is not transmitted by holding hands, hugging, sweating, kissing, etc., only through blood semen, breast milk, and vaginal secretions.
There are 3 other volunteers here besides myself. Two older women are from New Zealand and are teaching the kids arts and crafts. The third girl is 25 and was born here. She has pretty much taken me under her wing, helping me to organize activites to do with the kids. She and I also have a good bit in common. I plan on getting involved with several projects while here. First and foremost, I plan on teaching English to the kids, some of the staff, and monks (tomorrow I plan on holding a 2 hour English class with 9 monks next door). I am also repsonisble for instructing some of the older kids how to use microsoft office programs. The older kids speak some English, but profiency from the younger ones remains minimal. I also plan on improving my Khmer while here. I also met with the head of the medical team today, and I plan on shadowing the staff as they make rounds throughout the village (even though consultations will be conducted in Khmer). Finally, I want to spend time playing sports with the kids. I just introduced them to (American) football, but I also want to take them fishing (there are enormous cat fish here).
My living arrangments can't be any more basic. We only have electricity from 7-9 pm, so sleeping with a fan is not an option. I sleep in a bed outside, surrounded by a mesquito net. We have no hot water (sometimes no running water) and it gets very hot around here. I must admit that it is difficult o sleep at night without a bed sheet. I am fortunate that the food here is fantastic. While meals are vegetarian, they are delicious. Lots of rice, pasta, fruits, and veggies. Every meal, the entire volunteer crew gathers and enjoys a relaxing meal. There is a lot of down time here, so I have been reading a good bit. We get up very very early (6:30 am), so but 9 pm I am ready for bed. I am looking forward to everything while here and can't wait to help change the community.
My computer is about to die, so I got to go. Ill try to make a post every 3 or 4 days.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Final Days Before I head to Wot Opot
My Khmer is gradually getting better and better. I can now reject tuk tuk drivers in their native tongue when they flock me searching for service. On Thursday, Susan and I met up with Arn, a close friend of Susan's. Living in a remote village about an hour outside of town, Arn has an incredible story. The Khmer Rouge took power when he was about 10 years old, and he only managed to survive through his impressive flute playing. After seeing friends and family die at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, he fled to the jungle, where he took refuge for an extended period of time. He survived through basic means: creating his own shelter and catching his own food (he spoke about catching monkeys, heating them up by sitting on them, then eating them). He was then found by an American, who proceeded to ädopt"him and took him to the US. Arn spent 20 years in the states, went to boarding school then Brown, and toured around the country telling his story. He even spoke at Emory in 1983, and Jimmy Carter wrote him a recommendation letter for college. Today, Arn lives in Cambodia, yet travels to the USA every few months to speak. Aside from telling his story, he writes his own music, breakdances, and creates his own music videos. He is now becoming very popular in Cambodia, and his "lady friend,"who also happens to be a famous singer, is now recognized by everyone across the country. I bought a CD of theirs ($2), so feel free to listen when I return to the states.
Yesterday, we we visited Oudong, about 2 hours outside of Phnom Penh. Oudong served as Cambodia's capitol until the mid 19th century, and today houses several temples built in the 16th and 17th centuries. With monuments placed on top of a giant hill, two young boys served as our tour guides. Aside from the intricute designs on the buildings, ornate Buddhas reside within every one. Another cool part of Oudong is the number of monkeys that have habituated themselves with humans...seeing the monkeys up close made me question whether I should have gotten that rabies shot. Regardless, after the tour we had lunch in the village. We had chicken soup (with LITERALLY every part of the chiken in the soup), morning glory (asparagus-like vegetable), rice, and a giant, non-gutted fish. I am still adjusting to this new diet, so it will only be a matter of time before I leave a traditional meal completely full. I showed our young tour guides my ipod, and soon had a giant following hovering over my mp3 player.
There are a few strange things that I have noticed about the culture here. First, the young men here have very trendy hairdos. Susan and I joke about how metro these styles are...these guys just look rediculous. It looks like a mix between AC Slater and the hairdo of a short-haired black woman. Second, many of the women wear pajamas in public. Im talking full pajamas with pajama bottoms, a button down top, and rediculous designs. We laugh at them too. Finally, more traditional women cannot be seen in public with men (like one man and one woman) unless they are dating. Kunthea, my female Khmer teacher, told Susan before I got here that she would not be able to take me around the city because it would be inappropriate. Very traditional.
Anyway, thats all for now. There is a casino here and I have already lost a little money. This is why I will never be able to live in a city with a casino (cough cough Brenton). Also, I just read that the Braves traded Kotchman for Adam LaRoche. Frank Wren should be fired and the Braves are going to miss the playoffs yet again.
Yesterday, we we visited Oudong, about 2 hours outside of Phnom Penh. Oudong served as Cambodia's capitol until the mid 19th century, and today houses several temples built in the 16th and 17th centuries. With monuments placed on top of a giant hill, two young boys served as our tour guides. Aside from the intricute designs on the buildings, ornate Buddhas reside within every one. Another cool part of Oudong is the number of monkeys that have habituated themselves with humans...seeing the monkeys up close made me question whether I should have gotten that rabies shot. Regardless, after the tour we had lunch in the village. We had chicken soup (with LITERALLY every part of the chiken in the soup), morning glory (asparagus-like vegetable), rice, and a giant, non-gutted fish. I am still adjusting to this new diet, so it will only be a matter of time before I leave a traditional meal completely full. I showed our young tour guides my ipod, and soon had a giant following hovering over my mp3 player.
There are a few strange things that I have noticed about the culture here. First, the young men here have very trendy hairdos. Susan and I joke about how metro these styles are...these guys just look rediculous. It looks like a mix between AC Slater and the hairdo of a short-haired black woman. Second, many of the women wear pajamas in public. Im talking full pajamas with pajama bottoms, a button down top, and rediculous designs. We laugh at them too. Finally, more traditional women cannot be seen in public with men (like one man and one woman) unless they are dating. Kunthea, my female Khmer teacher, told Susan before I got here that she would not be able to take me around the city because it would be inappropriate. Very traditional.
Anyway, thats all for now. There is a casino here and I have already lost a little money. This is why I will never be able to live in a city with a casino (cough cough Brenton). Also, I just read that the Braves traded Kotchman for Adam LaRoche. Frank Wren should be fired and the Braves are going to miss the playoffs yet again.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The City of Smells Cont.
I came of with this title for a reason: there are infinite smells throughout the city. No matter where we travel, there is always some bizarre stench closeby. The best examples of this can be found in the local markets. Susan and I went recently went to a local neighborhood marker, where vendors sell anything (and I literally mean anything). Cambodians don't let anything go to waste, so virtually every part of the animal is consumed. Market vendors sell live and dried out fish from the Mekong, frogs, tarantulas, intenstines, smelly fruits, spices, etc etc etc. I, for whatever reason, can't seem to get away from a lingering fishy smell. The other day, I accidently put fish juice on my rice when I though it was vinegar...I almost threw up on the spot. One of the funniest things I have seen has been the infamous chicken moto, where a chicken vendor transports hundreds of dead and alive chicken on his tiny moto (pics to come later).
Over the past three days, I have been taken daily Khmer lessons. I am actually picking up the language rather quickly. I know basic greetings, how to count to about 90,000, family members, foods, and general questions. Cambodians are very grateful when they see you trying to communicate in their native tongue. At the same time, they enjoy practicing their English with foreigners.
Susan has been great in arranging meetings with executive directors of various NGOs in town. The non-government agencies are instrumental in providing appropriate relief to strenghen healthcare and the economy of Cambodia. Yesterday, we met with the executive director of KHANA (Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance), and organization intended to provide support to everyone in Cambodia suffering from HIV/AIDS and to promote safe practices. They are doing a fantastic job, because nearly 95% of all infected persons (in the ENTIRE country) either receive ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) or are in ART (anti-retroviral therapy). The biggest problem here is not providing the support, but encouraging people to practice safe behaviors. People here are educated on HIV/AIDS, but are still reluctant to wear condoms or practice appropriate safe behaviors.
We also visited the director of The Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, an organization aimed to help improve mental health issues of Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge has left lasting psychosical issues among most people here, so it is important to recognize underlying factors and help improve. The head doctor of the program believes that people suffer from Basabat, or a defeated mentality. This is a bit different from PTSD, so different measures need to be taken in helping people. Other NGOs include Resource Revenue Transparency and Tinytoons. RRT is intended to make all oil/mining revenues and budgeting transparent so the money accumulated does not go to waste. It is better to invest this money long term as it will help the economy in the long run. Tinytunes is an organization taking streets kids from the streets and putting them in a safer, more fun environment. Here, kids can learn to breakdance, play sports, work with a dj turntable, and take English classes. This is a very unique organization that has received a great deal of grant money over the past 4 years.
Yesterday, Susan and I visited the Russian market, where you can essentially buy anything. I bought a knock off North Face Backpack, one of those heavy duty ones, for only $12 (they retail for about $80). You can get bootleg DVDs for $2 (including recent films such as The Hangover), bootleg POLOs from $6 (and they look legit), moto parts, crafts, food, etc.
Ill try to post some pics either tonight or tomorrow. I have been really busy so I havent had time to do so.
Over the past three days, I have been taken daily Khmer lessons. I am actually picking up the language rather quickly. I know basic greetings, how to count to about 90,000, family members, foods, and general questions. Cambodians are very grateful when they see you trying to communicate in their native tongue. At the same time, they enjoy practicing their English with foreigners.
Susan has been great in arranging meetings with executive directors of various NGOs in town. The non-government agencies are instrumental in providing appropriate relief to strenghen healthcare and the economy of Cambodia. Yesterday, we met with the executive director of KHANA (Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance), and organization intended to provide support to everyone in Cambodia suffering from HIV/AIDS and to promote safe practices. They are doing a fantastic job, because nearly 95% of all infected persons (in the ENTIRE country) either receive ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) or are in ART (anti-retroviral therapy). The biggest problem here is not providing the support, but encouraging people to practice safe behaviors. People here are educated on HIV/AIDS, but are still reluctant to wear condoms or practice appropriate safe behaviors.
We also visited the director of The Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, an organization aimed to help improve mental health issues of Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge has left lasting psychosical issues among most people here, so it is important to recognize underlying factors and help improve. The head doctor of the program believes that people suffer from Basabat, or a defeated mentality. This is a bit different from PTSD, so different measures need to be taken in helping people. Other NGOs include Resource Revenue Transparency and Tinytoons. RRT is intended to make all oil/mining revenues and budgeting transparent so the money accumulated does not go to waste. It is better to invest this money long term as it will help the economy in the long run. Tinytunes is an organization taking streets kids from the streets and putting them in a safer, more fun environment. Here, kids can learn to breakdance, play sports, work with a dj turntable, and take English classes. This is a very unique organization that has received a great deal of grant money over the past 4 years.
Yesterday, Susan and I visited the Russian market, where you can essentially buy anything. I bought a knock off North Face Backpack, one of those heavy duty ones, for only $12 (they retail for about $80). You can get bootleg DVDs for $2 (including recent films such as The Hangover), bootleg POLOs from $6 (and they look legit), moto parts, crafts, food, etc.
Ill try to post some pics either tonight or tomorrow. I have been really busy so I havent had time to do so.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The City of Smells
Yeserday, Susan and I got the unique oppurtunity to observe members of the Khmer Rouge on trial at the Phnom Penh courthouse an hour outside of town. (I wan't to apologize in advance if my grammar is poor, my keyboard is especially shitty...very frustrating). When I realized that long pants were required for entry (I was clearly wearing shorts), the secuirty guard denied me access. As I was walking away, another judicial security officer officed to rent me a pair of jeans for $2. This was cleary a scam. It is ironic to think that such things happen at the natioal judicial headquarters....hah. Anyway, the man being tried is named Duch, the former head of Tuol Sleng Prison. It is fascinating to see history in the making before my very eyes. While the trial, headed by the UN, has already lasted for months, there is no end in immediate sight. Duch is the first of four Khmer Rouge members being tried.
The drive back to town allowed me to see a slew of brothels along the edge of the road. Disguised as "massage parlors," you can get special treatment for 5000 riel, or a hefty $1.25. Recent statistics indicate that about 1/3 of active prostitutes have HIV/AIDs...a staggering number. I know where to not find a girlfriend. Most of the girls are young teenagers which is particularly disturbing.
After a quck bite to eat at a Western style sandwhich shop (I was so hungry I ordered 2 meals), Susan and I visited the nearest prison in the outer province bordering Phnom Penh. In visiting with members of an NGO promoting human rights, we gave food and toiletries to the female inmates. The prison conditions are horrfic (straight out of locked up abroad). It is very sad because four of the women are taking care of young children during their sentences, one of which has a second on the way. Living quarters for all prisoners are miserable, especially for men. 48 men reside in cells that are intended to sleep 12 people. The food they eat is minimal and infested with flies, bathrooms are both scarce and unsanitary, and cells are scorching hot. Watching Locked Up Abroad has taught be never to smuggle drugs from a foreign country...these guys looked rough.
I wanted to write a bit more, but this keyboard is killing me. Ill get back to everyone tomorrow.
chum reep leer,
Matt
The drive back to town allowed me to see a slew of brothels along the edge of the road. Disguised as "massage parlors," you can get special treatment for 5000 riel, or a hefty $1.25. Recent statistics indicate that about 1/3 of active prostitutes have HIV/AIDs...a staggering number. I know where to not find a girlfriend. Most of the girls are young teenagers which is particularly disturbing.
After a quck bite to eat at a Western style sandwhich shop (I was so hungry I ordered 2 meals), Susan and I visited the nearest prison in the outer province bordering Phnom Penh. In visiting with members of an NGO promoting human rights, we gave food and toiletries to the female inmates. The prison conditions are horrfic (straight out of locked up abroad). It is very sad because four of the women are taking care of young children during their sentences, one of which has a second on the way. Living quarters for all prisoners are miserable, especially for men. 48 men reside in cells that are intended to sleep 12 people. The food they eat is minimal and infested with flies, bathrooms are both scarce and unsanitary, and cells are scorching hot. Watching Locked Up Abroad has taught be never to smuggle drugs from a foreign country...these guys looked rough.
I wanted to write a bit more, but this keyboard is killing me. Ill get back to everyone tomorrow.
chum reep leer,
Matt
Monday, July 27, 2009
A Somber Day
For those of you who don't know, a horrific genocide took place here from 1975-1979. The Khmer Rouge, a revoltionary extremist regime under Pol Pot, took power and began killing all oppressors. In the 4 year span, nearly 1/3 of Camdodia (roughly 1.7 million people) was killed off. Early Sunday morning, Susan and I visited the Tuol Sleng geocide mesuem located at the former prison camp. In 1975, The Khmer Rouge took over a local high school and turned it into a prison. In the camp, men, women, and children were shackled, lased, electricuted, then shipped away to killing fields (that is of course if they had already survived). It is pretty outrageous to think that this type of genocide took place only 30 years ago. Everybody that we talk to seems to be affected by this time period as all families were torn apart. In the exhibit, there are still blood stains on the floors and torture tools are on display. After a quick bite to eat, Susan and I took a tuk tuk to the nearby kiling fields. Only a few kilometers away, prisoners were taken to the fields blindfolded and told that they were to be "re-educated." However, thousands and thousands of innocent Cambodians were killed and thrown into mass graves. Today, the fields serve as a memorial, whith thousands of skulls and bones on display. There are still bones bits and clothing shards along the walking path of the fields....very very sad. To make matters worse, small children continued to approach us begging for money. While it may seem tempting to support these kids, the money that they raise goes straight to a controlling boss (much like Slumdog Millionaire). It is better to give these kids food or water.
After resting at the pool for a bit, a former student of Susan's and a new friend of mine, Cchivleng, called me and invited me to go dancing. While clubbing at 5:30 pm seemed a bit strange, I decided to go anyway for the experience. When she and I pulled up to the location, I saw thousands of people dancing along the periphery of the futball stadium....by dancing, I mean doing aerobics. Thoughts of mandatory Zumba and step aerobic classes at Emory continued to race through my mind. Regardless, I decided to take part anyway. The first parts of the dance were easy, but after a while I was falling far behind. 3 little girls tried to teach me, but I was useless. It is funny, because at one point they played Lou Bega's "Mambo Number 5," but the dancing did not follow the instructions of the lyrics. I was probably the only person in the stadium to notice this.
After dinner with Cchevling at a traditional Cambodian restaraunt (I had pad thai and fried ice cream), I decided it was time to call home. I was able to make a 20 minute phone call to the states for only $1.00. Internet access is only 50 cents/ hour. Other prices are very very inexpensive...cigarette cartons for a quarter (Fouty wuold be in trouble), motorcycles for $400 dollars, nice tvs for $60, etc. etc.
Thats all for today, but I am still a bit behind with entries. Ill try to post some pics at some point.
After resting at the pool for a bit, a former student of Susan's and a new friend of mine, Cchivleng, called me and invited me to go dancing. While clubbing at 5:30 pm seemed a bit strange, I decided to go anyway for the experience. When she and I pulled up to the location, I saw thousands of people dancing along the periphery of the futball stadium....by dancing, I mean doing aerobics. Thoughts of mandatory Zumba and step aerobic classes at Emory continued to race through my mind. Regardless, I decided to take part anyway. The first parts of the dance were easy, but after a while I was falling far behind. 3 little girls tried to teach me, but I was useless. It is funny, because at one point they played Lou Bega's "Mambo Number 5," but the dancing did not follow the instructions of the lyrics. I was probably the only person in the stadium to notice this.
After dinner with Cchevling at a traditional Cambodian restaraunt (I had pad thai and fried ice cream), I decided it was time to call home. I was able to make a 20 minute phone call to the states for only $1.00. Internet access is only 50 cents/ hour. Other prices are very very inexpensive...cigarette cartons for a quarter (Fouty wuold be in trouble), motorcycles for $400 dollars, nice tvs for $60, etc. etc.
Thats all for today, but I am still a bit behind with entries. Ill try to post some pics at some point.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Day 1 in Phnom Penh (7/25/09)
I have so much to write about from my first day here to bare with me.
I was planing to meet Susan for breakfast at 9:00 am to go over the basics of the program. Not able to sleep (I must have Shane syndrome), I woke up at 6:30 in time to watch the beginning of the Yankees game on ESPN (thank god I got my baseball fix). I met Susan at a neighboring outdoor pool area/restaurant for a quick bite to eat. This place looks like it is straight out of Malibu, CA. There are lavish pools with trendy sunbathing beds along the edges...pretty crazy. I had a small salad to eat, then we decided to walk around town for a bit. It is so incredibly hot here. While temperatures range in the mid to upper 80s, the sun just beats on you. I was sweating within seconds of walking outside. Walking around town I noticed 2 things very quickly: The people here are extremely friendly, and everything here is incredibly cheap. Everyone wants to stop and share a few words with you, greeting you in traditional Cambodian fashion (hands palm to palm at your chin and a slight bow). The people here look like a mix between Mexicans and Indians. It is very easy to differentiate between Cambodians and others from Asia. Walking along the streets from shop to shop, everything is so so cheap. Conveniently, the American dollar is the most widely accepted form of currency. A typical meal is around $4.
Phnom Penh is a bustling city, with moto bikes everywhere. I don't understand how the traffic system here works because there are no traffic lights and minimal stop signs. People on the bikes roam freely, swerving as they please, sometimes in the opposite direction of traffic. The taxi cab here is called the tuk tuk, which is essentially an open air carriage pulled by a moto. A typical fare is a couple of bucks.
Cambodia has a very rich, yet disturbing history. From 1975-1979, the country was run by the Khmer Rouge, an extremist group aimed at destroying all traditions by destroying landmarks and killing any opposition (including intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, etc.). Families were torn apart during this period, but the country is slowly, but surely, recovering. There are NGOs everywhere helping to improve Cambodia. Walking down major streets, there are orpahned children begging for money or food, many of whom have lost limbs from nearby landmines (there are still thousands of them in the countryside). Many NGOs are set up to help get these kids off the streets. We ate lunch at a pace called Friends, which takes orphaned kids off the streets and gives them vocational training at the restaurant. The service was great, and we had a delicious traditional meal...chicken curry with white rice and a salad.
We spent much the of the afternoon walking around the city. We visited the King's Royal Palace which was spectacular. While waiting in line to enter, a bunch of Americans and video cameras ran through the crowd towards the palace. While everyone was baffled, I had to explain that they were filming an episode of the American tv program the Amazing Race. While Susan and I were getting tickets, one of the teams cut us to request their money back (they were apparently at the wrong place). To kill time before our 5:00 dinner, we both got traditional Khmer massages for a staggering $12. For 1 hour, this lady put me in the most ridiculous positions for massage every muscle in my body. It was like my high school wrestling days being put in body locks and full nelsons. Regardless, I feel great.
We had dinner at a traditional Cambodian place with a friend of Susan's, where were ate pork with white rice, sour beef soup, and banana salad (lunch was more appetizing...not gonna lie). To cap off the evening, we saw an Khmer dance performance at the Sovanna Phum arts center. The men wore giant masks and pretended to be both monkeys and warriors. I had no idea what was going on, but it was still entertaining. After the show is was 8:30 I was ready for bed. I crashed immediately when getting home.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but I had too much to write about (plus I know Mom is thrilled to know that I am surviving).
I was planing to meet Susan for breakfast at 9:00 am to go over the basics of the program. Not able to sleep (I must have Shane syndrome), I woke up at 6:30 in time to watch the beginning of the Yankees game on ESPN (thank god I got my baseball fix). I met Susan at a neighboring outdoor pool area/restaurant for a quick bite to eat. This place looks like it is straight out of Malibu, CA. There are lavish pools with trendy sunbathing beds along the edges...pretty crazy. I had a small salad to eat, then we decided to walk around town for a bit. It is so incredibly hot here. While temperatures range in the mid to upper 80s, the sun just beats on you. I was sweating within seconds of walking outside. Walking around town I noticed 2 things very quickly: The people here are extremely friendly, and everything here is incredibly cheap. Everyone wants to stop and share a few words with you, greeting you in traditional Cambodian fashion (hands palm to palm at your chin and a slight bow). The people here look like a mix between Mexicans and Indians. It is very easy to differentiate between Cambodians and others from Asia. Walking along the streets from shop to shop, everything is so so cheap. Conveniently, the American dollar is the most widely accepted form of currency. A typical meal is around $4.
Phnom Penh is a bustling city, with moto bikes everywhere. I don't understand how the traffic system here works because there are no traffic lights and minimal stop signs. People on the bikes roam freely, swerving as they please, sometimes in the opposite direction of traffic. The taxi cab here is called the tuk tuk, which is essentially an open air carriage pulled by a moto. A typical fare is a couple of bucks.
Cambodia has a very rich, yet disturbing history. From 1975-1979, the country was run by the Khmer Rouge, an extremist group aimed at destroying all traditions by destroying landmarks and killing any opposition (including intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, etc.). Families were torn apart during this period, but the country is slowly, but surely, recovering. There are NGOs everywhere helping to improve Cambodia. Walking down major streets, there are orpahned children begging for money or food, many of whom have lost limbs from nearby landmines (there are still thousands of them in the countryside). Many NGOs are set up to help get these kids off the streets. We ate lunch at a pace called Friends, which takes orphaned kids off the streets and gives them vocational training at the restaurant. The service was great, and we had a delicious traditional meal...chicken curry with white rice and a salad.
We spent much the of the afternoon walking around the city. We visited the King's Royal Palace which was spectacular. While waiting in line to enter, a bunch of Americans and video cameras ran through the crowd towards the palace. While everyone was baffled, I had to explain that they were filming an episode of the American tv program the Amazing Race. While Susan and I were getting tickets, one of the teams cut us to request their money back (they were apparently at the wrong place). To kill time before our 5:00 dinner, we both got traditional Khmer massages for a staggering $12. For 1 hour, this lady put me in the most ridiculous positions for massage every muscle in my body. It was like my high school wrestling days being put in body locks and full nelsons. Regardless, I feel great.
We had dinner at a traditional Cambodian place with a friend of Susan's, where were ate pork with white rice, sour beef soup, and banana salad (lunch was more appetizing...not gonna lie). To cap off the evening, we saw an Khmer dance performance at the Sovanna Phum arts center. The men wore giant masks and pretended to be both monkeys and warriors. I had no idea what was going on, but it was still entertaining. After the show is was 8:30 I was ready for bed. I crashed immediately when getting home.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but I had too much to write about (plus I know Mom is thrilled to know that I am surviving).
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