Stung Treng 3, the weekend

Today is Saturday.

Hor went to Phnom Penh yesterday morning to attend to a meeting in the afternoon in the office there and he’ll be back on Sunday evening.

So I had a day with Channa in the RTC office. In the mornig I tried to write a report for Kadoorie about the Workshop.

I also gave Channa something to read from the office, now I know where stuff is after giving it a good clean yesterday.

ST view

In the afternoon I talked Channa through the whole purpose of me beeing there and deep inside I felt slightly sad. Because I can give people advise on teaching methods and I can make suggestions. But at the end of the day I have the feeling, it will not change. My little self will not make a difference in the position I’m in now. Because even when the student nurses have learned a lot in the RTC, beeing on the ward in the RH will influence motivation and quality.

At 16:00 we had a meeting with the director of the RTC and he still makes a very nice impression to me. So does the vize director. He invited all staff I’ll work closley with and I had to introduce myself and then they did. With most of them I sit very closely. And most of the time they ignore me. But in that meeting they purred the nicest words ever over me.
I prepared some questions and Channa did a good job in translating.

After work I wanted to meet with Delia in the Mekon Blue café, but then she said there was no connection today.
Instead we cycled to her house and had a chat. I met there Stinky, Kathys cat. Delia has her now and she is really cute. I can have her, Delia said when she goes. I’m looking forward to that. I think a pet can really make a difference.

Delia asked me if I wanted to have a cleaning lady, she and Helen have one. I need to be careful what I say now, because in England I was so against having a cleaner at home and fought many fights.

road in ST

But here it is different. I would probably have one, to support them. That is usually the only money they earn, also because they are women. And it is handy. Because I also will have somebody to ask how things are done here. Washing isn’t the problem, I think I know now how to do it by hand here, but what about how to clean the floor here when there is no bucket or mob. All these little things. Also it would be good to have somebody to look after the house once I’m away. I haven’t agreed to anything yet, will still think about it.

ST wildlife

This mornig, it rained really heavely. We had 2 thunderstorm yesterday, and the streets are quite muddy. Fortunately I got a plastic bag like raincoat in PP before I came here. Delia, Helen and me had breakfast together in the market, noodels with chilli and then Helen and me visited Joelle, who looks much better but still feels wiped out. I think I mentioned that she was diagnosed last week with malaria.

I want a cat! They were at Joelles house.

After seeing Joelle, we wondered over the small market, apparently it is cheaper there. It was an amazing experience.Lots of fresh veg and fruit I’ve never seen before. Also they sold little ducklings there and exotic fish.

want any bananas, or ducklings?

little duckling, wonder what to do with them?

At lunchtime Kahn came and he gave us first a lesson in Khmei and then Helen taught him about tendons and ligaments. She is just amazing. Today I thought how lucky I am to be with her, livingwise. Although she is 65, she is so fit and bright and so wise. She starts to struggle with her memory and sometimes I hear storys twice, but I don’t mind. She is also a great cook. Yesterday she made Jackfruit jam, today she made Spagetti sauce with beef, she makes a real effort. So I’m not as thin as I thought I would be at this stage. She keeps me chubby.

at the market

I will make my famous Thai curry tonight for me, Helen and Delia. Vegetarien though. Delia is a veggi, and I just can’t bear the thought of buying meat from the market. Maybe one day…

what a green view

I hope so much to find a way to connect Lappitoppi to something so that I can download pictures and things.

me, the washing machine

Generally I feel better. Don’t know why. I think I had a very stressful first week. But I got my first postcard from my beloved sister and that cheered me up so much.

Tomorrow I hope I’ll have a lazy day with no plans. I hope everybody is well over there. You can e-mail me too!

Just a few impressions of my new house!

my house to be

view from my new house

coconut palmes at the front

I have hair!

the Mekong river with bridge to Laos

Stung Treng 3, the weekend

City, Zimbabwe