Let me explain. On arriving in Cambodia I joined a group of 7 other volunteers who arrived to work on the livelihoods and health programmes with VSO. Ever since that day we have been living side by side with each other both in the VSO programme office in Phnom Penh and the VSO house in Kampong Cham which is three hours from Phnom Penh. The only time we have had apart is when we have visited our placements for 4 days, and when one of goes off to spend the weekend by the coast or Siem Reap. Hence, at times it has been like living in the BB house! These 6 people have become my surrogate family here in Cambodia and we will provide a great support network for each other whilst we are here over the next 2 years. I have attached some photos of the family for your interest!
So what else has been happening? Well, last weekend I took myself to Siem Reap to run in the Angkor Wat half marathon. I entered the race a couple months when I was at home, as I was worried about getting my regular endorphin fix! I registered on Friday night and pitched up at Angkor Wat at 5.30 am the next day only to discover that the ½ marathon was on the Sunday morning! The police thought it was hilarious……. Bless!
The next morning I caught my tuk tuk back up to the start. It was really busy was there was a series of races including ½ marathon, 10K, 5km and 3km….. something for everyone. I set off, and led until 18km….and then I blew. For the last 3 km I could all but keep going. I committed the cardinal sin of racing. I let the occasion go to my head and completely abandoned my original race plan. I ended up 4th woman and have a nasty blister on my left foot just to keep me reminded of my stupidity. But hey, it happens to the best of us including the greats such a Lance Armstrong and Haile Salassi, so I’m not on my own on this one. Racing aside, I got to run round one of the most amazing and mind blowing historical sites in the world…. a real privilege, and it somewhere that I will be returning to spend days exploring the ancient complex and temples. Siem Reap is quite a nice town too with nice places to eat out, shops etc. but it is full of Berang ( the term is used widely to describe all people with white skin but actually means French!)
On Monday it was back to basics and there is no where to hide from Dara our Khmer teacher. It is amazing, but we are all so worried about being left behind that we catch up on notes if we miss a class and do homework religiously every night……. If only I had worked so hard at University!
This weekend we go on a “home stay” meaning, we stay with a local family and have experience of local family life in the community, how people live, cook and sleep. Should be interesting and I will let you know how we get on!
So what else has been happening? Well, last weekend I took myself to Siem Reap to run in the Angkor Wat half marathon. I entered the race a couple months when I was at home, as I was worried about getting my regular endorphin fix! I registered on Friday night and pitched up at Angkor Wat at 5.30 am the next day only to discover that the ½ marathon was on the Sunday morning! The police thought it was hilarious……. Bless!
The next morning I caught my tuk tuk back up to the start. It was really busy was there was a series of races including ½ marathon, 10K, 5km and 3km….. something for everyone. I set off, and led until 18km….and then I blew. For the last 3 km I could all but keep going. I committed the cardinal sin of racing. I let the occasion go to my head and completely abandoned my original race plan. I ended up 4th woman and have a nasty blister on my left foot just to keep me reminded of my stupidity. But hey, it happens to the best of us including the greats such a Lance Armstrong and Haile Salassi, so I’m not on my own on this one. Racing aside, I got to run round one of the most amazing and mind blowing historical sites in the world…. a real privilege, and it somewhere that I will be returning to spend days exploring the ancient complex and temples. Siem Reap is quite a nice town too with nice places to eat out, shops etc. but it is full of Berang ( the term is used widely to describe all people with white skin but actually means French!)
On Monday it was back to basics and there is no where to hide from Dara our Khmer teacher. It is amazing, but we are all so worried about being left behind that we catch up on notes if we miss a class and do homework religiously every night……. If only I had worked so hard at University!
This weekend we go on a “home stay” meaning, we stay with a local family and have experience of local family life in the community, how people live, cook and sleep. Should be interesting and I will let you know how we get on!
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