2 months in Cambodia - unexpected, unbelievable (already) experience, and it feels like I am here for at least half of a year. So many things have happened so far, so many thoughts and emotions have passed through my head.
Hello! My name is Elena and I'm here in Cambodia, ready to tell about my volunteering experience with the SCOOP Foundation and SCAO so far. I know how it is important to have a picture about your possible volunteering overseas, so if you are reading this, you should know, that you can contact me by comments and ask whatever you would like to know!
There are things that I would like to share in my Blog with all future volunteers. And I have decided to start with a talk about our village (approximately 20 km north from Phnom Penh).
Som Roung village is located in a very quite rural area. There are a few little shops around, a place with ice-coffee (the most popular drink after fruit smoothies) and one beautiful Pagoda. If you want to meet locals and to see how 90% of Cambodians live, that is the right place.You cannot visit only Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and say that you have seen Cambodia. There are a lot of things that you would like or dislike, but that won't leave you without any emotions.
What I like the most about Som Roung? People, of course. I can say the same thing about Cambodia in general. Friendly, smiley people, who are living very modest life, but appreciate every little moment of it. You cannot walk along a street without giving a smile in return or saying "hello". Children in the village are always ready to play with you, sing and dance, or just take your hand and make you laugh =) They are adorable, and there is no way you won't fell in love with all of them!
Life is not easy here, but you will begin to enjoy little moments of happiness as well as Khmer people. Like a new kind of chocolate in the small shop in front of the school. Or the beautiful sunset after a rainy day, a lift to the school from a villager after coming back from Phnom Penh, a little person running to jump on you and call their friends to greet a "Cha" (="teacher").
There are nice places around the village which you can visit by taking a school bike. A nice market is only 20 minutes riding, but there are also little markets with fresh fruits and vegetables in the village.
Here we are - happy with our wonderful balloons =) What do you need else to have the highest point of your day?! ;)
Hello! My name is Elena and I'm here in Cambodia, ready to tell about my volunteering experience with the SCOOP Foundation and SCAO so far. I know how it is important to have a picture about your possible volunteering overseas, so if you are reading this, you should know, that you can contact me by comments and ask whatever you would like to know!
There are things that I would like to share in my Blog with all future volunteers. And I have decided to start with a talk about our village (approximately 20 km north from Phnom Penh).
Som Roung village is located in a very quite rural area. There are a few little shops around, a place with ice-coffee (the most popular drink after fruit smoothies) and one beautiful Pagoda. If you want to meet locals and to see how 90% of Cambodians live, that is the right place.You cannot visit only Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and say that you have seen Cambodia. There are a lot of things that you would like or dislike, but that won't leave you without any emotions.
What I like the most about Som Roung? People, of course. I can say the same thing about Cambodia in general. Friendly, smiley people, who are living very modest life, but appreciate every little moment of it. You cannot walk along a street without giving a smile in return or saying "hello". Children in the village are always ready to play with you, sing and dance, or just take your hand and make you laugh =) They are adorable, and there is no way you won't fell in love with all of them!
Life is not easy here, but you will begin to enjoy little moments of happiness as well as Khmer people. Like a new kind of chocolate in the small shop in front of the school. Or the beautiful sunset after a rainy day, a lift to the school from a villager after coming back from Phnom Penh, a little person running to jump on you and call their friends to greet a "Cha" (="teacher").
There are nice places around the village which you can visit by taking a school bike. A nice market is only 20 minutes riding, but there are also little markets with fresh fruits and vegetables in the village.
Here we are - happy with our wonderful balloons =) What do you need else to have the highest point of your day?! ;)
