A week has passed

Hello all,

This time I wish I had a lot to tell you, but what can I say, nothing very spectacular about relaxing on the beach all day!!! Of course it is very enjoyable, and my suntan is coming along very nicely. However, as a week has passed, I do want to give you a little update, even with a few pictures. With only one purpose will they be put on the website, to make you all very jealous of the sun. Of course not all of you are suffering from extreme cold weather. To be honest, its getting pretty hot here allready, and you have to stay out of the sun for most of the day.

So what was on the agenda for the last week? Meeting Dr sophal, going out for dinner twice with him, his collegues and his family. Going to the openair cinema to watch 'the Killing Fields' together with Marcel (Swiss guy at my guesthouse). Going to the English school, looking for interpreters and meeting them.

Ahh the dinners: Yes Dr Sophal is spoiling me a lot, first he took me out for dinner with a collegue and some other people. All men, i was the young girl accopanying them. Two men came from Antwerp, Belgium, so I was able to speak a few words of Dutch. It was nice, because the dinner table was filled with wonderful discussions about all sorts of things, mainly Khmer Culture. The second time I went out with his family, his wife, his sister, his two daughters and his son-in-law. Unfortunately half way through the desert it started to rain, so we had to run inside, and dinner was cut short.
Friday, Dr Sophal and Mr Rath took me to the english school, where we met with the manager, and we talked about the possibility of female students helping me out with my research. There are enough qualified male interpreters, but very little girls. Fortunately, the manager found me two girls who can help me out (that is today). Unfortunately time is really pressed, because they work through the night, and sleep in the morning, and then help me in the afternoons. It is going to be busy, but lets hope it will go just fine. I cannot be picky, I am glad I found someone.
What else did I do, ahh yes, hang around on the beach, mostly with Marcel, and mostly in the afternoon. Mainly because it would be too hot otherwise. Last week I had a terrible sunburn, so I am peeling now!!! terrible!!!I know!!! Marcel is very popular with all the girls on the beach, mostly because he takes a massage every day. Marcel and I also took the motodup to Victory Hill to go and see the movie the killing fields. I had never seen it, but it sure was very impressive. When I went to bed I was thinking about it, and when I woke up also. Some of the images where so graphic, and the ideas so horrible. I cannot even begin to understand how people come up with the ideas of doing such horrors to one another.

Everyday I am still surprised by the people here, they are so friendly, and open. It is easy to just go up and talk to them. Yesterday there were some men playing football and playing volleyball in the sea. A lot of them were wearing a tshirt with a red ribbon on it. So i thought it might have something to do with HIV/AIDS, so I went up to them, and asked them what they were doing. They told me that they were all highschool teachers, who were following workshops here, and at the end of the day they came to the beach to relax.
One of the most impressive feelings I get there, is the feeling that people enjoy and appreciate life. I am not sure if that is because I am feeling relaxed and at home here. I was so nervous before I left. Not sure what to expect, maybe a bit scared of feeling lonely. But I have not. It is easy to make contact, there a lot of young people travelling alone. The family at the guesthouse is very nice, and they teach me a little bit of Khmer, but mostly laugh with me when I use the wrong words.
One thing I cannot get used to is seeing all the older (40+) men with young khmer women. A lot of the men at the guesthouse also have some young girl hiding in their rooms. But so far I have only seen 18+, and not yet children. But still it is pretty confronting to see it all.

Well this is all for now. I hope you enjoyed the little update. Next time I will let you know now the first interviews went, and any other exciting adventures I might have. I really should go out and do some more sightseeing.

Miss you all!!

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