2 weeks into Hope agency

We are two weeks into our seven week volunteering experience and we have already had so many fun and humbling experiences.

Week one

In our first week we eased ourselves in slowly, apart from our usual teaching and chores we didn’t do much else.

When we first arrived at Hope Agency, along the bumpy road, we wondered what we were doing there. We were in rural Cambodia, with the next market 40 minutes away. We’d gone from hot showers with water easily accessible to cold water only, with it running out every so often, and beds with mattresses and air con, to wooden beds, no air con and mosquito nets. However, 2 weeks in and I wouldn’t change it. After visiting local families in the village I’m incredibly grateful for what we have at Hope School as it’s luxury in comparison.

In our free time we spent at the local shop having a few beers and socialising. We spent our first weekend at the school, visiting Takeo market, eating pizza and having a movie night.

Week two

Week two was a very busy week consisting of football, foodbank visits, markets, lessons, swimming, de-nitting and a full weekend trip to Kampot.

Lessons this week reinforced the reason why we are here teaching English, how can you not smile when the children are learning and enjoying lessons.

On Tuesday night, straight after dinner, we got into a TukTuk and headed to the local football pitch to meet the children from the orphanage. By the time we got there we had one of the many thunderstorms we have in Cambodia, however, we put the rain aside and played, the children loved it, as much as we did seeing the smiles on their faces.

Wednesday morning we volunteered to deliver food packages to the the local people in our food package program. This experience made me realise how much I have and what matters in life. We have clean water, can afford food and a suitable place to live, yet as a 1st world country this never seems to be enough. Despite the conditions these families were living in they were rich with life.

One family that we visited were surrounded by flood water so the only accessible way to get to their house was to walk through the muddy flood water. A normal experience for them, yet surreal to us.

Their house consisted of tin walls and a mud floor, clearly not suitable for a country that rains a lot. Their bed was a pile of bricks which they put blankets on to sleep.

We also visited one of our translators parents, despite them not having much, his father cut down some coconuts for us all to enjoy and drink.

On Thursday, myself and other volunteers began to wash and de-nit our children’s hair. This was an essential task and many of the children were incredibly itchy and their heads were full!

On Friday it was Fun Friday, we took some of the children swimming. The water was green but the smiles were infectious.

Weekend in Kampot

On Friday night we got on the bus to go to Kampot. When we arrived we flaked on our nice comfy beds (we were so exited we had mattresses and aircon). We then went out to get some food, we had such a treat, it made a chance from Khmer food and I finally could have Diet Coke!

The next day we met up with our friend Antoine who we met in Phnom Penh on our first week. We hired a TukTuk and went to some caves. The scenery was incredible and the company was lovely.

We even saw some monkeys!

The next day we woke up early and decided to hire some motorbikes (having never ridden one before if was an experience). We went to Kep Beach and Kep National park (a 54km round trip).

We drove to Kep National Park and went off roading which was definitely interesting! However we were rewarded with some incredible views which photos don’t do justice! To the summit, we needed to do a little hiking, which in 33 degree heat with 80% humidity was pretty!

We then spent a little while at the beach and got more yummy food.

On our return to Kampot we then went for a sunset and firefly cruise.

We then then returned our motorbikes and had our final meal before a long needed sleep.

So far we have spend 1 month in South East Asia and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Until next time!