From the monthly archives: September 2007

This is Cambodian frog!

On September 30 2007 · 2 Comments · In Cambodia, Diary

Last night I ended up eating frog courtesy of a man with things growing between his teeth.

We’d been out for the night with Julien, a previous occupant of Siem Reap back for a visit, and ended up in X Bar, a place where time seems to become irrelevant and Ranjit maintains the utmost decorum [...]

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t’Internet and a freaked out gecko

On September 26 2007 · 5 Comments · In Cambodia, Diary

I am now reading the news ($9.11 for Rudy? What was he thinking?), checking email and blogging from the comfort of home, on just about the worst value Internet connection ever. Think everything is cheaper in Cambodia? Not likely. I have a 256k broadband (ha ha) connection, which is costing me $89 per month. $89 for the luxury [...]

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In the staff room

On September 20 2007 · Leave a Comment · In Cambodia, Diary

David (another teacher at the Sangkheum Centre) and myself sat in the quiet of my classroom today reading papers and drinking coffee. Superb. We have a staff room. Well, we have a staff room until the kids turn up for their lessons or Voth, the Grand Matriarch of the Sangkheum Centre, wants to come in [...]

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Normal life

On September 18 2007 · Leave a Comment · In Cambodia, Diary

It’s incredible how virtually any situation can become normal after a little while, even if it started off feeling very strange.

My normal day starts at around 7, waking up to the sound of the family below scuttling about in the front garden and washing. For washing they use, like most Khmers, a large iron [...]

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Make do

On September 11 2007 · Leave a Comment · In Cambodia, Diary

Sometimes it’s all about doing your best with limited resources.

Today I spent a short while explaining the scientific reason for summer and winter to my class, using two footballs. One kid was holding a football and standing still, I was running round him in circles, spinning my football at the same time. They said [...]
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You want tuk tuk tomorrow?

On September 6 2007 · Leave a Comment · In Cambodia, Diary

The tuk tuk driver is an optimistic creature, you’ve got to give him that. Walk out of any bar or cafe, or down the street, or out of your house, even just stand up or look like you’re going anywhere in the next ten minutes, and he is there, asking if you’d like a tuk [...]

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