I know you have all been waiting to find out what I will actually being doing here, since right now everyone thinks I am on vacation ;) I wrap up language school in two weeks, there is nothing left for them to teach me. JUST KIDDING (I will continue to study a couple of hours/week with a tutor)!
Starting on Aug. 4, 2014, I will be working at the Deaf Development Project (described here in a previous blog). The day-to-day tasks are still being determined, but you will know when I do :) There will probably be some communications work, as that is some of my background. Starting in August, I will be learning another language - Khmer Sign Language. Let's hope all those years of American Sign Language pay-off. I am very excited for this next step, as I do enjoy working - contrary to popular belief. It will be nice to have that structure in my life again (almost 1-year since I left my last job at the American Wind Energy Association).
So, although you now know I will not be working at any of these fine places, I wanted to share with you a couple more locations where my groupmates are working and give you a bit more insight into Cambodian life...
A few years back, in a poor shantytown type area of Phnom Penh, there was a huge fire destroying the homes of many. Luckily, there was a plot of land a long way outside the city all ready, even with individual plots drawn-out, to which these folks could move. A huge casino was built on the location of their previous home, conveniently timed accidental fire, mind you. Two of my groupmates work in this resettlement area. They provide scholarships for the children to study, academic support, trainings for people going to work overseas (in hopes of keeping them from ending up in a trafficked situation), support to the elderly that have no family, support to a women's co-op, among other things. This visit, for me, was eye opening for three reasons. One, it makes you question when NGOs step in so a government doesn't have to help its own people. For example, because this fire was 'an accident' all these NGOs rushed into help relocate people, build homes, provide food, help with education, etc. This area didn't have 'roads' (did I mention it is in a swamp area, so rainy season, it floods... remember, sanitation ie toilets are rare here...) until an NGO helped install them.
Two, the contrast of those with money and those without was fairly clear. Unlike in the USA where we like to separate such things with roads or train tracks, here, in some areas, the contrast is your next door neighbors.
Three, I saw "Special Meat" Grilling for the first time...
Seedling of Hope is another one of the Maryknoll Cambodia projects. This one works with those suffering from HIV/AIDS or because of HIV/AIDS. They provide support to children who have lost their parents, small loans to those trying to make it, and medical support. Thanks to many of the new HIV drugs available, this organization is no longer about hospice type care, it is now about helping those with HIV/AIDS to get the medical treatment they need and to be re-integrated into mainstream society. One thing which particularly impressed me is the focus of Seedlings to get children re-integrated with family. In Cambodia, there is a huge 'orphanage issue.' People send their kids to orphanages because they cannot afford to raise them. Certain exploitation can arise as these places draw in foreigners, who go figure, give lots of money to 'poor orphans.' Some of these locations even coach their kids on what to say to white people. In an environment, where this kind of set-up is the norm, Seedlings does the opposite as they try to find the extended family of children who have lost parents to AIDS and then they provide the support to re-integrate them (if a positive situation is available) - recognizing, from a psycho-social perspective, being a part of a family unit holds some importance. Again, great to be associated with an organization which shares my values!
Now, as a reward for finishing this incredibly long post (note, this is why I should not go two months without blogging), I give you more photos from my time in the village.
My kitty cat (can't remember the name our French visitors gave her, may be Calais). She liked to sleep in my moto helmet, I think she felt safe :)
With about 1/3 of the youth from the parish. So excited to return next month and run English Camp for some of these folks!
Yet another reason I should not be left alone with children ;) This was the kids' favorite pictures to re-look at. Probably because is is not 'proper'
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