How can one describe the feelings that come to the forth on this trip. My third time here with students and you are always reminded of the suffering this country has endured. Each year our students amaze us with their ability to embrace the people and the tasks set. This years group is no exception.
We have been able to incorporate some night time activities in Phnom Pehn this year for the first time and they have been a great success. Students have also had some down time to enjoy some retail therapy at the markets and I think most have enjoyed a massage somewhere along the way.
Today we go for a walking tour of Phnom Pehn before meeting together at the Forgein Corrospondents Club for a farewell dinner tonight. Tomorrow we visit the Australian Embassy where we will meet the Australian Ambassador and some other Australians who work for NGO's in Cambodia. Then after lunch it will be off to the airport for the Victorian group to fly out about 6pm.
I think all are looking forward to seeing family and friends. Until we get back
Cheers Ger
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Phnom Penh is alive!! and how??!!
Wow, it doesn't seem like it was 2 days ago that we gave you an update, but it is. We have all been very busy in this loud, vibrant, bustling, city. By the end of Tuesday, all members of the teams had been to the Killing Fields, S21 Genocide Museum and listened to an insightful talk from Janne at Tabitha. To say it was emotional is an understatement. I think we all have a better understanding of the torment this country has seen.
Some people described these two places as "sad", "very harsh" and "terrible". In Corey's words, "it's wrong!!". Every team member understood the imnportance of the visit. We were emotionally drained by the end of the day and most people felt that "clearing the jungle" for the day had been easier!! It is impossible to come away from these and not be touched. A few of us had the extreme honour of meeting a survivor of S21. He has written a book about his tale and told us that he survived because he was able to paint. He was called to paint Pol Pot and if his painting was judged as being a good likeness, he was allowed to live (unlike the many 'painters' that had tried and been killed).
All members walked through the Killing Fields site showing amazing respect and at times they chose to walk in isolation in quiet reflection of what they were seeing and hearing. Incredible!!!
On a cheerier note, our night program has been great. Each night a group of us attends either a movie night, a river cruise, a street kids cafe or a Khmere cooking class. We have just discovered that we are awesome cooks (according to Heng, our teacher). One of the most challenging parts of the night program has been negotiating the narrow, rickety, wobbly, but we were guaranteed, safe, foot bridges to get from the shore to the boat. We think it was about 50m long and it sure was good to get to the boat!!!
Some of us have now eaten red ants and tarantulas!!!!! The ants were mixed with beef, so they were wasy to eat. The tarantulas on the other hand, were interesting. They were crisp, tasty and hairy!! That's the legs!!! Then there was the body!!!! Some tried to convince themselves that they were eating a chop......but it didn't work. Josh did his best but had to try a different attack. Shannon just threw the whole lot in and chewed it....well done.
Another day in Cambodia.
Shaz ('Ron' - but I will explain later) and Fiona ('Boss' - will explain that one later too!)
Some people described these two places as "sad", "very harsh" and "terrible". In Corey's words, "it's wrong!!". Every team member understood the imnportance of the visit. We were emotionally drained by the end of the day and most people felt that "clearing the jungle" for the day had been easier!! It is impossible to come away from these and not be touched. A few of us had the extreme honour of meeting a survivor of S21. He has written a book about his tale and told us that he survived because he was able to paint. He was called to paint Pol Pot and if his painting was judged as being a good likeness, he was allowed to live (unlike the many 'painters' that had tried and been killed).
All members walked through the Killing Fields site showing amazing respect and at times they chose to walk in isolation in quiet reflection of what they were seeing and hearing. Incredible!!!
On a cheerier note, our night program has been great. Each night a group of us attends either a movie night, a river cruise, a street kids cafe or a Khmere cooking class. We have just discovered that we are awesome cooks (according to Heng, our teacher). One of the most challenging parts of the night program has been negotiating the narrow, rickety, wobbly, but we were guaranteed, safe, foot bridges to get from the shore to the boat. We think it was about 50m long and it sure was good to get to the boat!!!
Some of us have now eaten red ants and tarantulas!!!!! The ants were mixed with beef, so they were wasy to eat. The tarantulas on the other hand, were interesting. They were crisp, tasty and hairy!! That's the legs!!! Then there was the body!!!! Some tried to convince themselves that they were eating a chop......but it didn't work. Josh did his best but had to try a different attack. Shannon just threw the whole lot in and chewed it....well done.
Another day in Cambodia.
Shaz ('Ron' - but I will explain later) and Fiona ('Boss' - will explain that one later too!)
Monday, December 5, 2011
Day One (sort of) in Phnom Penh.
Hi everyone; today was an emotional day for Group A who went to the Killing Fields and the S21 prison: I'm not looking forward to it tomorrow, but my first full day in Phnom Penh was a good one. Group B spent the morning at a PSE school, and then visited HQ of the Tabitha Foundation which was a confronting experience: the afternoon was spent at the Central Markets, where many of us spent over a hundred dollars, me included. Tonight half of Group B is off to the Kids Street Cafe, where they serve spiders and ants-we'll see if anyone is game enough to try Crispy Tarantula! Points to Josh from Darwin, who last night downed one full spider out of an attempted two. I feel sorry for the person who has to scrape the other one off the grass.
Tomorrow will be an emotional experience, to say the least-maybe by the end of it our eyes will be a little more open.
Jess
Tomorrow will be an emotional experience, to say the least-maybe by the end of it our eyes will be a little more open.
Jess
An interesting eye opener!
Today was the most intense day so far. We were able to gain a depth understanding of the history of Cambodia. We visited the Killing Fields and S-21.
The Killing Field's experience for me was upsetting, the thought of mass grave sites and people being subject to cruelty and death haunts me. I believe that noone is worthy of this harm. Whilst S-21, which was a high school that was turned into a prison during the Khmer Rouge Era. It was very confronting as many documentations were available for the public to view, and many of the rooms are still the same as it was in the 1970's.
Although it was a confronting and upsetting experience it was also good as we learnt so much and it makes me think about the pain and suffering that also occurred in the history in other countries, Australia included.
My highlight of the day was meeting one of the survivors of the prison, whom was a painter. I brought his book, got a picture with him and also got a kiss on the cheek. The most inspiring thing about meeting him was the smile on his face, he had been through so much and he still had a smile on his face and was happy.
Melinda :) Jabiru
The Killing Field's experience for me was upsetting, the thought of mass grave sites and people being subject to cruelty and death haunts me. I believe that noone is worthy of this harm. Whilst S-21, which was a high school that was turned into a prison during the Khmer Rouge Era. It was very confronting as many documentations were available for the public to view, and many of the rooms are still the same as it was in the 1970's.
Although it was a confronting and upsetting experience it was also good as we learnt so much and it makes me think about the pain and suffering that also occurred in the history in other countries, Australia included.
My highlight of the day was meeting one of the survivors of the prison, whom was a painter. I brought his book, got a picture with him and also got a kiss on the cheek. The most inspiring thing about meeting him was the smile on his face, he had been through so much and he still had a smile on his face and was happy.
Melinda :) Jabiru
Saturday, December 3, 2011
:)
Hello beautiful Australians (from Emma),
Wow! This week has been one amazing, eye-opening experience! We have seen sights we could never imagine, heard stories that have made us smile yet also made us cry and made memories that will last a life time! Tomorrow we're off to Phnom Penh on a boat for 6 hours to again explore the many wonders of Cambodia! We don't yet know the full details of what this next week will entail, but we do know that we will be fortunate enough to help those who need it the most.
Missing everyone back home, and can't wait to share all the stories we have to tell! :)
Lots of love,
Shay, Emma, Shan and Holly :) xx
Wow! This week has been one amazing, eye-opening experience! We have seen sights we could never imagine, heard stories that have made us smile yet also made us cry and made memories that will last a life time! Tomorrow we're off to Phnom Penh on a boat for 6 hours to again explore the many wonders of Cambodia! We don't yet know the full details of what this next week will entail, but we do know that we will be fortunate enough to help those who need it the most.
Missing everyone back home, and can't wait to share all the stories we have to tell! :)
Lots of love,
Shay, Emma, Shan and Holly :) xx
What an amazing job by all
Well here we are a week down, project at Children's Development Villiage (CDV) completed..WHAT AN AMAZING EFFORT by all. Everyone worked extremely hard in trying conditions to get the job done. We are so proud of the students and leaders and the way they tackled the tasks. Today we visited Angkor Wat and the other temples. Each year there is more restoration work completed, with new areas to explore.
Tomorrow we go by boat to Phnom Pehn which will bring new challanges and experiences. The week will go very fast.
Ger
Tomorrow we go by boat to Phnom Pehn which will bring new challanges and experiences. The week will go very fast.
Ger
Friday, December 2, 2011
Pride!!!
OMG!!! How proud are we of this whole team???? When we all came together yesterday at the end of the project at the site of the new Agricultural School and reflected on what we had achieved, there was exhiliration all round. To think that in 4 days we had cleared the entire area and erected as many of the fence posts as had been supplied. To see what 45 people achieved together is incredible. (We will try to upload a few photos when connections allow.)
We as leaders hope our teams understand the power of working together on a common goal. It is never a case of "who did what", but more about what we, as one unit, did. Everyone put in and assisted to the best of their abilities and that is all that we can ask.
Job well done to everyone and to all back home, be proud of what your student, friend, colleague has achieved. They deserve it!!!!
Shaz :)
We as leaders hope our teams understand the power of working together on a common goal. It is never a case of "who did what", but more about what we, as one unit, did. Everyone put in and assisted to the best of their abilities and that is all that we can ask.
Job well done to everyone and to all back home, be proud of what your student, friend, colleague has achieved. They deserve it!!!!
Shaz :)
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