Monday, November 25, 2013

Ordinary life of volunteering

We traveled by Tuktuk to the place where we would stay for 3 weeks. 20 min far away from the bigger city Siem Reap, surrounded by green rice fields, cows, chickens, Palm trees, fluffy clouds and blue sky, we arrived at a simple Cambodian house. A dog and a little naked boy welcomed us. We got a small room with a thin mattress and checked the “toilet” and bucket shower. We were really excited about living 3 weeks without running water and a proper toilet. In the evening we met all the other volunteers and got explained how life works here.
The next day was our first day of working at school. Jeff started a project, building a football-pitch for the kids and I tried out the teaching. The kids are unbelievable cute and willing to learn. I am proud to be part of this school and their lives, also if it is only for 3 weeks. After work we went home and enjoyed the dinner that Radys wife cooked for us. And once again Cambodian kitchen is delicious.
In the weekends we had off and could do some sightseeing in the area or go out with the people from school and Radys house. We visited Angkor Wat, I was waiting for this already the whole Asia trip. We went there for sunrise, we were a bit to early so we had time to eat a pancake. Having a pancake at 5 in the morning and watching the sunrise over one of the most beautiful and inspiring monuments is just fantastic. We wandered the entire day between temples and ancient ruins. Words just can not describe how beautiful and mysterious this was.
One day we decided to go to a temple which belongs to the Angkor area but you don’t have to buy a ticket for it. It is on a hill in the middle of the jungle, more then 600 steps lead to it. At the bottom of the hill we met a tourist policeman. He wouldn’t to let us pass if we don’t pay 1$pp. Really nothing is for free in Cambodia. After reaching the top exhausted and sweaty, we were blown away by the view. You could see hundreds of km far, sun was settling and the moon was already out, big and bright. On the top were the ruins aflame. Just wonderful.
3 weeks passed by so fast. And it was so sad to leave Radys house and the school. We will miss our new friends. Thanks to all the volunteers, it was a really great time with you.

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