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Published: August 23rd 2007
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Chum Reap Sua! (Hello),
You might think I have nothing to do but write travel blog entries, but actually the last entry was written in July when we first arrived in Cambodia and I had to re-publish it only a couple of weeks ago due to the travelblog server meltdown. We are actually very busy! I am writing this at a wireless internet cafe (didn't have one of those three years ago when I came here!) in between sending some emails to services here re the workshops we are doing soon, and going to dinner with some colleagues! I am watching some very dark clouds rolling in - am so glad I am not on a moto (motorbike taxi) right now. Jacina and I got caught one day in a torrential downpour that just hit very suddenly - not a pleasant experience when you are trying to balance on the back of a moto...
So what have we been up to since being in Phnom Penh? We have been getting to know the local services and NGOs (non-government organisations) what they do etc and also learning lots of other things. We have created some workshops which we will present in September
and October. We are currently writing the content of these workshops and we are both finding that we are struggling with the humidy and heat and therefore our brains aren't as clear as we are used to! At present we are conducting four main workshops: Introduction to Play Therapy, Introduction to Sandplay & Symbolwork, Creative Resources for Counselling, and Practical Counselling Skills. We have had an overwhelming response to these workshops with three of them completely full, so we are planning to repeat the workshops in October. We are also providing individual training for some of the local services, plus we have been asked to travel 2 hours outside Phnom Penh in October to conduct some workshops in the provinces. There is such a need here for training, and it was like this when I first came here in 2004. We are enjoying being busy again after having the whole week off last week due to a mystery virus. On one of these nights I went to the local international medical clinic to be tested for Malaria - just in case the fever and joint/muscle pains were the signs of something nasty! After paying $141 later - felt a bit
silly when it wasn't anything dangerous - just a virus! Oh well, better to be safe than sorry. Dengue Fever has hit this area (like most of SE Asia) pretty badly, so we are watching those pesky little mosquitoes very closely. We have worked out that these mozzies are like spies - they bite you without getting seen which makes you doubt your sense that you've actually been bitten - very sneaky...
Jacina and I live in the MTI team house which has four floors and six rooms. Currently there are 4 other workers who live there with us: Michelle (teacher from Australia), Audrey (Singapore), Lorianne (social worker from US), and Christina (social worker from Singapore). We all seem to get along well which is a real blessing...
Jacina and I have been attending a church called ICA which is quite a big one - but very enjoyable to attend. We plan to attend a Khmer church (Cambodian) soon, but want to wait until we have a better grasp of the language..
We have been having some Khmer language lessons with a very funny Khmer/Singaporean young man called Dtong. So far we have had two lessons and will plan to see him twice a week for the next two months.
I don't have as many photos on this entry as last time - but will hopefully have more next time I write.
Jacina and I went to a fantastic NGO during the week called Riverkids Foundation. They provide support and intervention to the poor families and children of the local river slum area. We visited this river area and met the adorable children. We were treated to some kindergarten children singing some songs to us that they had learnt about washing themselves and caring for their bodies. They were so adorable! They have learnt how to count in English to 5 and how to say their ABC's to the letter E. Riverkids Foundation also try to work with the parents of these children helping them to develop more of an emotional connection with them, rather than just neglecting them and letting them do whatever unsupervised. We are meeting with these parents next week and we are excited about the opportunities we will have to work with the riverkids staff and train them in parent-child relationship techniques which they in turn can use to train the parents.
Well, I could go on and on but will be late for dinner so must go. Hopefully I won't have rice tonight!!
Love you all, thanks for your prayers and support. It is really needed here!!
Kirsten. xxxoooxxx
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Lisa H
non-member comment
Great update!
Hey K, so good to hear how things are going for you, it all sounds fantastic (apart from you being sick last week!) Hope all your preparations continue to go well in spite of the humidity. Praying for your protection and for you to hear God very clearly. Love Lise xx