A positive week after last weeks calamities (which involved illness and those pesky little bugs that left me looking like a dot to dot drawing).

We started the week after a nice relaxing weekend which involved a massage, food and topping up the tan. Monday saw us getting a bottom bunk 😁 and was followed by lessons. Still a lovely welcome when the children shout ‘hello teacher’ and ‘teacher Jess’.

Tuesday arrived and I volunteered to go to the new school during our chore time in the morning to finish off the building work. This involved us shovelling and moving sand to fill in a big hole behind one of the buildings. The new school in in Ang Tasom which is one of our local towns where we go to the market. The school has 20 children signed up so far!

On our return we were served with Khmer food for breakfast which was interesting but tasty. Not something that you’d usually chose as a breakfast item!

The rest of my Tuesday I spent in my lessons and with two lovely boys- Kong Kia who was Cerebral Palsy and Ravi who has Autism, they visit the school in the week and they come from the local orphanage in Takeo who we visit and teach. They are both so happy and equally made me so happy.

We then later dropped Ravi and Kong Kia back to the orphanage and picked up some of the other orphanage children to go to football. Another activity that I simply could not wipe the smile off my face!

Roll on Thursday a busy day with great lessons and great fun but also sad times as I realised that this would be my last lessons with my Leaping Leopards. They are such an adorable class with lots of potential and great characters. I shall miss teaching them but onto new ventures. With the new school opening on Monday I had been asked to go and teach there from 4:30 onwards so I’m looking forward to the challenge and am excited to be part of the new school!

Thursday night was 70s and 80s night for quiz night (reckon I could of been a Hippie in a former life!)

Friday fun day!!! It definitely was a fun day, we had a pamper session in my younger classes and played games in my older classes. (The children definitely like taking selfies on the phone 😂)

On to our weekend adventures, we came to Kampot again this weekend but have been spending our time exploring on the motorbikes (after searching for ages for someone that would let us have one without out passports).

We took the motorbikes to Bokor Mountain, a place with incredible views smells and windy roads.

Pictures definitely don’t do this place justice! As we got to the waterfall we managed to bump into some of the other volunteers we work with which was pure coincidence!

As it stated to get dark we headed back down the mountain. However, around half way down Tash’s bike conked out (ran out of fuel after a faulty fuel gauge oops). Lucky she managed to coast it all the way down for around 15km before it eventually stopped about 2km from the nearest petrol station. We managed with the headlights from my bike not to crash!

Today we have spent at Teuk Chhou Rapids. A lovely relaxing place, but as we are now out of the rainy season and the government have installed an hydroelectric dam at the top there wasn’t as much water.

We are going to have a Sunday dinner with our other friends at Bohemiaz, where they are staying in Kampot. So until next time…

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!

One week into our trip and what can I say, a journey that is going to enlighten my senses and widen my views, values and beliefs.

This week we have being sightseeing, learning, drinking and laughing- what more can you ask for.

We have visited the Tuol Sleng genocide museum (an old school which fell to a barbaric regime) and the Killing Fields which was equally as shocking. Everywhere you look there are impressions in the earth which show the countless amounts of mass graves. A worthwhile but harrowing experience.

We have now navigated our way through Cambodia’s traffic. Step one: how to cross a road; walk into the traffic and they will stop for you (a totally strange and scary experience, but one of which is now becoming the norm).

Throughout our nights here we have joined with a great group of people and have shared many laughs.

Yesterday saw us visiting the Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace; a beautiful place. The impressive structures and designs where another worthwhile visit.

Finally we ended the night with a sunset river cruise (in which the sun sadly disappeared behind cloud) however, it was still truly great experience. This was made better with a good Indian and Rickshaw ride home for a much needed shower, after a very hot day!

We have made it; Phnom Penh, a busy place with lots to take in.

So far we have experienced driving in a Tuk Tuk along a flooded road (hello rainy season), Cambodian driving (so many motorbikes that didn’t get squashed) and $1 beer.

So far, so good.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton