The last month

Elena Arellano-Templer
Aug 5, 2018
15 min read

I am currently writing this blog from the comfort of my grandmas home in Eailing, London. I am sat on a fairly expensive antique wooden chair with a patterned cream pillow. I am typing on my mums acer touchscreen lap top which is placed on a full lengthen table covered in a light pink table cloth breathing in the smell of the bright pink flowers and L,Ocitan hand cream. The sun is beaming through the side door brightening the whole room and warming my skin ever so slightly. It has been 2 days and 1 and a half hours since I landed in the motherland. I am going to go into detail about what the transition has been like from Cambodia to England but first I need to write about the what has occurred in the last month.

The start of the month was much like the whole of June, full of routine and not going out very much. Maryam and I did attempt a trip to the beach but due to lack of money we decided to walk there on the road which was now mud. On the way we were picked up by some friendly Chinese. They spoke no English and we spoke no Chinese but some how we managed to direct them to the beach and now I think that “Yo Yo” most likely means beach or swim in Chinese. Once we were there they decided to join us and of course being unable to say, “no” in Chinese led to us reluctantly letting them sit on our beach matt. The only way that we managed to get rid of them was to signal to them that even though it was now heavily pouring with rain we were going to stay exactly where we were. They soon gave up and drove off. Then we depressingly went to get a drink and waited for the sun to come out of which it never did … and that was our last day at the beach in Cambodia.

The next weekend was Maryam’s and my international day! As part of project Trust each partnership must plan and perform an international day. If you type into the internet you get a massive long list of all the international days that occur during the year. The international day must be relevant to your project or area. Cambodia, like many third world countries and several first world countries, has a huge plastic problem. The average camdodian uses 27,000 plastic bags a year compared to the average german who uses 7. The issue is due to a lack of alternatives, education and government intervention. This overuse of plastic has led to a huge waste problem which is exacerbated by a lack of recycling bins or bins in general. Piles of plastic waste are dotted everywhere in Cambodia. Plastic is drowning the natural environment and flowing into the sea. You cannot go swimming in the sea without swimming into some sort of plastic. It is quite unbelievable. Therefore, we decided on world ocean day for our international day. We wanted to spread awareness of the affects of plastic without shedding blame onto the people we were going to be performing it to. It is not Khmer people’s fault or idiocy that this problem has occurred. It is the government’s fault and the blame globalisation.

International day preparation -

First we, with the help of Brother Luis, drew a massive wave and a surfer on a big cloth sheet and painted it. As I explained in my previous blog we went to the beach to collect as much plastic as possible. Then we went to a café and planned out how the day will pan out. That week we performed it to the boarders who would be helping us out and Br Mony who would be translating for us. Ready.

On Sunday’s children from the villages around Sihanoukville come to have extra English, Chinese and Khmer lessons. This week the 60 children would be learning about the effects of plastic from us. Once they had all arrived we started by showing them an exciting video of coral reefs and fishes which many were completely in awe about. Then we asked them to get in groups and discuss what they knew about the ocean. Most of the answers were about the colour of the sea, the fact that fish lived there and that it was wet. (Very cute). Then we told them a few facts and photos telling them how important the ocean is and how it directly affects us humans. After that we played the octopus game which is essentially bull dog but with octopuses instead. I had a very intense standoff with a 5-year-old. After some fun they regrouped and we got them to watch a cartoon about plastic

and the oceans. Maryam and I watched it several times and it scared us so you can imagine the look on the faces of the children. After we asked them a series of questions to check their understanding of the film which they did very well. Then we played some more games such as plastic bottle volley ball and plastic bottle basketball. Which went down very well. Finally we got them to draw pictures of fishes and stick them onto the wave along with bits of the gathered plastic. At the end we asked them if they thought it was good or bad that the fish in their creation were swimming with plastic or not? Of which they replied no. Then we showed them how they could reduce their use of plastic and let them run around. A very, very successful international day.

The next weekend was our second to last weekend in Sihanoukville soooo, we decided to do our last bits of shopping. I can safely say I now have enough clothes to last me through uni so I won’t be needing to use my first student loan grant to pay for a new wardrobe.

The next week I frantically worked to write up a meeting plan for Friday. As I had been team leader of the Phnom Penh administration and had been doing tasks that no one else in the team had been doing, I needed to write instructions up and explain to the rest of the team in Phnom Penh what they needed to do once I had left. There was another administration meeting on the same day as well so on the Thursday 5 of us girls bundled into Father Eugene’s car and drove up there. I had insisted that I sat on the seat in the boot but Father Eugene said that, “It would be fine, that we could all fit”. I regretted listening to him for the whole of the journey as my I was squished crookedly for 5 hrs between sokkheng and Phakdedy. Once we had arrived I joined the teachers for dinner (which is unusual from me as I always eat with the community). The teacher’s food is very different from the community food and I must admit I did struggle to eat it all as it was mainly bones fat and rice. BUT food is food. The next day we proceeded with the meeting. It went very well with all the team listening attentively. After it finished sokkheng clung to me the whole day realising that I wouldn’t be around to help for much longer feeling a little reblish chanmey, Sokkeheng and I decided to leave the compound and go to AON mall which is a new mall that has opened up near Don Bosco. With non of us planning to buy anything we bought a Café amazon drink and wondered around in Awe. Come to think of it, it was no different from a large mall in London but having not seen such modern buildings for 7 months it was quite overwhelming.

The last weekend of Sihanoukville Katie and Kaylen from Kep came to visit us. On that day we had already planned to do a last tour of Sihanoukville going to all of our favourite places. I also needed to take lots of photos of the casinos which I will use to write my community report later on. So we got onto motor bikes and raced around to as many casinos as possible. The girls stroke the perfect poses to represent our feelings towards the casinos and I got exactly what I needed. After we headed off to independence beach (which is one of the furthest beaches away from Don Bosco.) We had been told at the beginning that it was famous for “Ban Chaou” which is essentially a huge pancake with pork, onions and bean sprouts inside. They give you a sort of nutty sauce and a chilli saurce along with lettuce leaves and cucumber. The way you eat it is by tearing off some of the pancake, wrapping it around a lettuce leaf and dunking it into the sauces before stuffing it all in your mouth. Maryam and I shared a beef one and I almost died from a full stomach. Then we all went back to Don Bosco to eat a second dinner which basically finished me off, before watching the football at the hotel.

The next day Maryam and I had arranged to go to the waterfalls with Sokkheng and Chanmey. We hired a motorbike and I drove but just before we got there, there was a 100m stretch of road which was complete mud and I'm talking 10 inches of mud at some points. This is a very difficult and a pretty dangerous ride because it’s really slippery and if the mud has slightly dried and you drive into it, it turns your wheel dramatically causing you to fall off. Therefore, I was very scared. I went through a mental “bear hunt” moment – can’t go over it, can’t go under it so I will have to go through it. Half way through the bike did drop. We managed to pick it back up again but we had to abandon the use of flip flops and semi walk / drive. It was very worth it once we were there though. Due to the rainy season the water was high enough to swim. The whole challenge was to try to swim up the river against the current before letting yourself go and floating down it. This sounds much easier than I have made it out. Getting up the river was almost impossible at times and you couldn’t hold onto any branches because they all had sharp spikes. It was as if they did it on purpose to make the challenge more rewarding. Because I have the body mass of a woodlouse I was easily carried back and had to start again. It was only with the help of some Khmer boys that we made it anywhere. Then we had a feast of rice and fish before heading back.

The last week of Don Bosco was the most emotional, fun and packed week. On the Tuesday night we went out with the guest house team, Paul and Brother Chester (who were the bosses). Brother Chester is a Vietnamese Brother, extremely good looking and absolutely hilarious. The first thing he said to Paul that evening was that he wanted to get, “Completely fucked”. With that knowledge quickly spreading we all joined him. Cambodia has very few clubs because it is not the done thing there because it would mean close contact between females and males and most cannot drink alcohol. Therefore, the thing to do is Karaoke at a chain called, “KTV”. You and your friends hire a private room and sing Karaoke really loudly and dance really stupidly. It’s a smashing time if I’m honest. SO, that is exactly what we did. Then Chester drove us back to Don Bosco.

The next day was the day of speeches. Father Eugene was going to be going to Thailand on Thursday and would not be back until after we had left so we had all decided to have our goodbye meal and speeches on the Wednesday. The Vietnamese brothers would be leaving the day after us so they also had prepared speeches. We let them go first and then I went second,

“When I first arrived in Cambodia I was absolutely terrified. So much so that I barely slept on the first night. I had just left college and quite frankly had never been away from my friends or family for more than two weeks. Therefore, once I landed in this weird and wonderful country I basically thought to myself ‘what the hell have I done?’. For the first month I looked at my phone calander everyday counting how down how long I had left until I could see my family again. What I had not realised yet was that this community would become my family. With Brother Roberto and Father Eugene almost always around, it has felt like I had two dads and the rest of the community have become like brothers and sisters to me. Everyday, you never fail to make me laugh and feel as though I am part of something greater. The only expectation that I came with is that I would be teaching English. (Long pause) That expectation quickly faded as I was introduced to the children Fund. It has been the most confusing and frustrating job but one that is unbelievably rewarding. So, I would like to personally thank Brother Roberto for trusting me to help carry out his mission of improving the lives of hundreds of children. I feel truly honoured. Father Eugene. You are hands down the funniest priest I have ever met. So thank you for laughing with me, always being light hearted and encouraging me, Paul and Maryam to carry out our stupid ideas like helping me to get Paul to eat a whole Chilli. Br Mony, all I can say is that you are a legend. You have made my life here easy breezy and your commitment to the students is endlessly inspiring. Br Martin, thank you so much for teasing Maryam it has been wonderfully entertaining and thank you for this top (point to top I am wearing). Vietnamese brothers, it has been short but sweet and I am very lucky to have met you all. And finally Paul and Maryam, (que embarrassing tearing up) and high pitched “what the hell I think I’m gonna cry”. Compose myself.) What can I say, I could not have done this without you both. You have become two of my most favourite people. Thank you for putting up with my criticism and my bad moods. You have made this adventure truly worthwhile and I love you.”

Afterwards, Father Eugene gave us a speech and said, “We have had many volunteers here at Don Bosco over the years but I would like to say that you have been something special”. That line honestly broke me. After a series of photos and videos we said our goodbyes.

That evening we had goodbye drinks with Sokkheng at our favourite beach bar. On the way back we drove into Don Bosco as Sokkheng needed to leave her motor bike there. Paul was about to take off to go back to the guest house when Sokkeng almost yelled at him to stop and wait for her as she was scared. She is 23 years old and I still question to myself what she was scared of.

The next evening, we spent packing as our room was extremely lived in and it was a good two day job.

The next few days at work I worked my butt off to finish all the Christmas letters for the sponsors in Italian and English as well as frantically trying to pack up a very lived in room. On the Friday Maryam and I gave away half of our clothes to Chanmey and Sokkheng. Sokkheng gave me a bag and Chanmey gave me a traditional Khmer scarf. Then I said goodbye to the team at 4:30pm when the office shuts. However, Maryam and I stayed until 11:30pm doing the Christmas letters. When we had completed them. Br Roberto gave a little cheer. Then we packed up the rest of our stuff and cleaned.

The next day we had planned to travel to Kampot with Paul and have a relaxing day there. However, we were told by Br Mony that the teachers and students would be going to the waterfall in Kampot for a water festival. He invited us and we said yes. Honestly that was one of the best decisions we ever made. The journey usually takes 1 hr and a half but this journey took 6. We were all squished in the back of the van with the teachers and our massive suitcases and due to the weather, we made three very long stops. The first was for a wee break at the Mechanic teachers house. The second was at the secretary teachers house for coco nuts and the third was at the boarding teachers house for lunch. Each stop was really interesting to see how all the teachers lived.

Their houses were beautiful filled with fruit, vegetables and chickens running around. The lunch stop was right by the sea. We all gathered round on his balcony and ate lots of rice and sea food. (Which did result in three days of stomach pain).

Once lunch was over we trundled on to the water falls. There is one area which is a naturally made swimming pool with a smallish waterfall which creates a current in the pool. There is a place where you can jump off from the rocks and get carried around back to the start. None of the girls were daring to do it despite my encouragement so to show them that it was fine I jumped off the rocks myself. Then Maryam Paul and I practiced water acrobatics which entailed me trying to stand on Paul's shoulders, Maryam trying to do a backflip off a rope (one of the funniest things I have seen) and Brother Big splashing us all. After lots of dancing, splashing, photos, jumping and swimming the whole team decided to make the trek up to the BIG waterfall. This is where it all went sideways. The waterfall was extremely strong this time and it actually hurt to stand or sit underneath it. But it being so strong meant that if you sat just in-front of it, it would carry you down the flat rock floor like a slide. After watching it carry Brother Big and Paul down Maryam and I decided to have a go. Some of the students were at the end ready to catch people because if you didn’t stop before the railing you would be taken underneath it, down a drop and onto some sharp rocks. A.K.A death or serious injury. Maryam and I both easily went down and were caught by Paul and the students. AHA but then Maryam shouted to me that her trousers and pants were coming down saying, “oh no its happening again”. Brother Big and Paul burst out into hysterical laughter as the water was pulling her bottoms down. Being her partner, I knew it was up to me to save her embarrassment and try to pull them back up again! But because I had two hands on pulling her trousers up I was suddenly taken by the current under the railing. I managed to catch hold of the railing but my whole body was being pushed down towards the rocks and my hands were slipping. Soon all attention was taken away from Maryam to me. Paul managed to grab my waist and pulled me up. In all honesty I thought that was the end of my life. With the shock of it all Brother Big, Paul, Maraym and I burst into relieved laughter. Then we took some final photos and said our goodbyes before Br Mony took us to our hotel.

All the people I have met at Don Bosco will be in my heart and memories forever. I was blessed with a wonderful and loving Khmer family.

The next day Maryam and I travelled to Kep, had another motorbike ride through scary mud to the countryside, chilled on hammocks by a big lake and watched the sunset. Then we met up with Tom from Kep don Bosco and the girls for dinner. Maryam and I went back to Tom’s room where we had a couple of drinks, listened to him play guitar and had a natter before bed. The next day we said goodbye to Tom and then left with the two girls for Phnom Penh. We spent two days sight seeing before going to Don Bosco Phnom Penh for dinner which was really nice because I got to say goodbye to the community there. Then we got on the plane and that was that.

The transition. I was told before I left for Cambodia that I would receive culture shock once I was back in England. Due to being so used to life in Cambodia. I wouldn’t say that I experienced culture shock because well I have lived in England for my whole life. I know the way things are and how people behave so if I’m completely honest I slipped back in very easily. The only things that I noticed was the ability to walk on grass without being scared of snakes, the ability to wash your toothbrush even in the bathroom sink and the fact that it was so quiet and that people actually get annoyed if you are being loud here. The one thing I would say I have slightly struggled with (although I did before) is the comparison of people’s problems here to the problems in Cambodia. The things that some people find difficult here are so minute to the things that people find difficult in Cambodia that it sort of feels like we are living in a fake world. We are so sheltered from life in other countries that whether or not you have the right sandals for your outfit is a huge deal! At times I feel as though I am part of the Truman show. However, if I didn’t continue with life here and enjoy the things that this country enables me to enjoy then I would simply live miserably. There are things that can and need to be done but it takes time. I am not educated enough to do anything right now all I can do is focus on increasing my awareness and being a good person here.

I must say I have felt relief being back home. This project Trust journey has taken up 3 years of energy and I am glad that I have done it. I did that and I’m proud to have done it but now it is time to start a new chapter of my life.