Monday 20 December 2010

BGGS Team C Update # 4 from Cambodia

A final update from BGGS TeAM C in Cambodia

 
Sorsedai (Hello),
We are back in Siem Reap after building, painting, decorating, bricklaying, moving dirt, playing games and brushing up on our Khmer skills at My Grandfather’s House in Kralahn (our community project). Here is the wrap-up of our last week.
Day 11
After a slow start to the day and an in-depth Ketut meeting we created a plan for our remaining time in-country. We concluded that the majority of the group wanted to go to a cooking class, so we split into two and those who wanted to go did, those who didn’t got to explore the city at their own will. The day was pretty relaxed, and the cooking class started at 1pm and included an early dinner. The cooking class was an amazing and fun filled experience, starting with a tour of the local market filled with local produce and leading to the teaching kitchen of the restaurant, The Paper Tiger. We were allowed to select one entree and one main to make individually and the staff made our dessert of sticky mango rice and banana tapioca. All of us chose to make traditional Khmer foods ranging from the national dish of Fish or Chicken Amok to cool refreshing mango salads and fresh rice paper rolls. The lessons were very fun and casual and our teachers were lovely and patient with our sometimes questionable cooking skills. Not only did we learn how to create the perfect mixture of spices for our dishes, but we were also taught food presentation skills, including how to make little bowls out of banana leaves and how to cut a tomato into a flower. The whole experience was incredibly interesting and educating whilst being a very different experience to the other activities that we have done in the country. The highlight of the cooking adventure was definitely the meal at the end where we were able to fully enjoy our afternoon’s worth of hard work. Unfortunately none of us could finish our entrees, mains and desserts, but we were all more than happy to take the leftovers back to the hotel for some late night snacking. Again, we ended the day at the night markets (this time the real deal!). We’re all pretty close to having bought all our Christmas presents, although there will definitely be a lot more bargaining, buying and spending to be done at the markets – we’re all getting so good.
Day 12
After a lazy start to the day (we all had to have had breakfast by our team meeting at 8:30), we had another Ketut meeting regarding the day’s shopping for the project. We wrote a list of books, posters, presents, etc and split into two groups – one was going to the markets to find suitable presents for the homestay, the other went on a treasure hunt to find various things for the school. After about 20 minutes the homestay group decided that it would be more appreciated if we bought fruit from the markets as a present on the last day, instead completing other jobs (such as – booking a place for Katie’s 18th Birthday Dinner and accommodation for the last few nights). When we met back at the Guesthouse the other group had many treasures – a very successful shopping trip. We did a last minute check that we had everything then met Jo and Thom in the lobby at 12 for our Khmer language lesson.
Some words we learnt (and may use when we get home for a bit):
Sorsedai : hello
Leehigh : goodbye
Sooksabye? : How are you ?
Chemor aye? : What’s your name?
Kinyem chemor .... : My name is ...
Morbeeprotaynah? : What country do you come from?
We had a lovely lunch at the Guesthouse before heading off on the hour’s drive to Kra Lahn. We arrived at our homestay houses (joined by a bamboo ladder) at 2:30pm and had a quick look around before heading 3km down the road to the school. Koon (the Grandson of My Grandfather’s House) took us on a tour of the school, explaining what needed to be done. We saw what the other groups had done in the library (it looked great!). One side was “under the sea” and the other was “the jungle”. We couldn’t wait to see what our “space” would look like! A few of us played volleyball with the locals before it was time to go back to the house. The vans weren’t there to take us home. Instead, 6 ox-drawn carriages awaited us. It was definitely an experience! The roads were so bumpy but we got to see Kralahn from a different perspective (It took over an hour to travel 3 kilometres). When we finally got home, we had some chill time, leaving for the local restaurant at 6:40. It was very nice – a few courses, and a vast variety of dishes. We came home, had a quick team discussion about the work to be done tomorrow, and then went to bed (under mosquito nets, on the floor). We’ll see how that goes in the morning.
Day 13
This morning we woke to the sounds of Khmer music and roosters . . . again. We had brekky at 7:20 – baguettes, jam, cream cheese, butter, eggs and rice porridge – before leaving for the school at 7:40. We started at full speed. We dug a trench across the courtyard for new plumbing to be put in, we started to level dirt at the back of the school, we began designing our part of the library, and Marty became a brick-layer extraordinaire. As the kids began to arrive there were a lot of curious smiles and waves (minimal language was shared), and as the sun beat down there was a lot of sweat as the hard work continued. By 11:30, we were so glad that we were leaving for lunch! We got back in the vans, and drove home. Lunch was delicious – another hot selection of Khmer goodness. We’re really liking this tradition that after you eat, you sleep for a good hour before starting any form of work again. While some slept, others played cards or read. At 2 it was time to reapply sunscreen and RID and head back to the school. Continuing on with the jobs from this morning, we worked really hard; finishing the trench and making a decent start on the others. Everyone worked really well together –if someone was tired and needed a break from hoeing dirt, someone would quickly take over. Our break was decorating the upstairs library or playing ball games with the always energetic, happy kids. The afternoon went really quickly and we finished the day with a game of volleyball and tunnel ball. We had a sarong shower party as we each were given a colourful sarong to shower in the outside shower area (big, clay pots and scoops). Dinner and bed couldn’t come quick enough. We were all exhausted from the physicality of today’s work.
Day 14
Day 2 at Kralahn started with the sound of roosters and music. Surprised? This time some of the music was instigated by Ketut; a quick rendition of Happy Birthday for Mr Martineau. After breakfast, one van took a majority of the group to the school while a group of 4 went to the local markets to buy supplies (paintbrushes, water-based paint, balloons and a Mickey Mouse party hat). We met back at the school around 9 o’clock. Again, a solid effort had been made on all the little jobs Kunn (the boss man) had allocated us. At times it was confusing as to what he wanted us to do because we kept completing our jobs so quickly. Nevertheless, we always found something today. With a similar set up to the day before, we went home for lunch at 11.30 and returned to the school at 2. By this stage in our stay we had all made some cute friends who liked to follow us around, throw balls at us or some kind kids helped us carry buckets of water or dirt. For dinner, we had arranged with our project co-ordinators, Jo and Thom, to go out to the local restaurant and have cakes brought from Siem Reap. A few girls left early in order to decorate our table with balloons in order to make the night a special one for Marty. The night was lovely, and Marty looked smashing in his Mickey Mouse party hat. What a way to spend a birthday! Very full, we came home and again did a variety of things (slept, wrote in journals, cards, etc).
Day 15
Today was our last full day of project work. We knew we had to get stuck in from word go. However, after a slow start, we finally knew what had to be done. Working hard out in the heat yet again we knew today would be our last chance to give back to our new friends at My Grandfather’s House. We had a bit of team mis-communication which did present some complications. But, in true Grammar style we overcame them and “kept calm and carried on” (our team motto). Later in the afternoon, some girls were given the opportunity to venture through Kunn’s rice fields at the back of the school property. We got to see how the local’s really lived. One house, in which a family of 4 lived, had no walls and barely a floor that slopped into a river. It really gave us an insight into this community and as cliché as it sounds, made us rethink and appreciate our very comfortable lifestyles we do lead in Australia. At the end of the day, purely exhausted, we knew that we had achieved a lot within ourselves and for our new friends.  Our night was spent packing and enjoying our final dinner at our homestay with the people who had made our last few days so much fun – Part, Tee, Yum, Kunn, Mumma Kunn, and the drivers.
Day 16
Day 16 of our trip and we now have another 18 year old in the group! Today was Katie’s “coming-of-age” birthday, and one the she will never forget! She woke to a beautifully in-tune version of Happy Birthday as well as a Ketut-signed card and the princess tiara that Sarah had stowed in her pack. Today was her day to be a princess. Breakfast was as per normal and we were all at the school at 8 ready to prepare for our big celebration at lunch time. We quickly finished the remaining jobs (particularly the library). We laid bricks, flattened dirt, learnt to write in Khmer script (with Part’s guidance), and played a bit more with the few kids that were there. By the time heaps of kids got there, our games were organised and we had a brief presentation of educational goodies to the Director of the school. Then, it was time to party! We showed Jo and Thom all the extraordinary things we’d accomplished over the last few days, and we were very proud to do so. As we lined the kids up in the courtyard to play a variety of games (under & over, tunnel ball) tables and a stereo system were set up for our party. It all happened so quickly; the games, the serving of the food (with the entire chicken inside – claws included, whole), and the dancing. We had the most amazing time! The icing on the cake came during the presentations when the Director announced that with some of BGGS funds the school had managed to purchase a generator which will make a huge difference to the kids and schools life. It was at this time that the group decided we were going to put some money towards the living conditions of the particular family we had seen in the rice fields. We know that our money will not be wasted as it is in good hands and we will be receiving photos of the house as soon as it is complete. As we said our goodbyes (some quite teary), we were driven back to Siem Reap, to our pre-booked accommodation at Popular Guesthouse. We had a quick debrief / team meeting before Emma and Sarah took Katie to her birthday present –an hour long traditional Khmer massage. It was definitely an experience! While this had taken place the rest of the team had set up balloons and organised a cake for Katie’s celebration. It was the most amazing dinner, with a huge selection of Western food and the cake (which read Happy 18th Katie ) was to die for! Again, being in Siem Reap the night ended at the Markets with many things purchased (not much had changed!).
Day 17
After a massive few days, we decided that it would be a good chance for a sleep in. We met for breakfast in the lobby at 8 then left to eat at a place called The Blue Pumpkin (where the cake was bought, and recommended in The Lonely Planet: Cambodia). It was amazing with a huge selection of pastries, eggs, fruits, and juices. We then had free time til 12.30 at which time we again met in the lobby ready to go to the Floating Village on the Tonle Sap Lake. It was definitely a worthwhile experience. After a 30 minute minivan ride, we got on a boat and begun our journey past poverty-stricken houses and communities. It made us rethink the kind of country we live in compared to the daily pollution and poverty these people experience. We briefly stopped at a docking station where we saw caged catfish and crocodiles (which really didn’t look that well looked after). We saw the view of the houses and the people in boats and children in small tubs begging tourists for money. Many used the tactic of wrapping a large python around a small child’s neck and saying, “photo, one dollar!” It was very confronting. As the tour only lasted about 2 hours, we had a few hours to kill. We decided to start packing.
For the remainder of the afternoon we are going to see a charity traditional dance performance held by the Children’s orphanage before having our last Khmer dinner and a final market run. Sunday  is our last day in Cambodia. So, we have decided that we are going to go back to the temples before going to have tea at Kunn’s “Jasmine Lodge” Guesthouse in Siem Reap (we really miss the people from our project) and boarding our flight to Bangkok then home.
Parents- just a quick reminder that we arrive at the Brisbane International airport from Bangkok on flight TG 473 at 12:05pm (midday). We would love love love to see you there J
Message from Gaz (Ms McGarry) – it will take us a while to clear Customs and Immigration so don’t be too panicked about being at the airport right at 12:05pm.
All our love, and see you soon!
Team Ketut xxxxxxxx

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