I know, I know, it's a bit weird choice for the 2nd post.
But what can be so invisibly important as food? Especially, if you get used to one kind of meal, and then you have to change it completely... Not easy challenge for someone.
As it says on SCOOP and SCAO websites, 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) are included in accommodation costs. Our wonderful housekeeper Sovandred and his even more wonderful wife Daa are the ones who are cooking for volunteers. You would never try so many options of traditional Khmer food, and this is one of the most amazing parts of living and volunteering in Som Roung. How can you be involved in this kind of authentic Khmer life else? There is no way, and, believe me, mostly of expats keep living their Western type of life. There are no good or bad things about it, I just think, if you decided to live in another country, do it - do LIVE it.
Also I have to say it is not easy to eat rice every day, especially in the beginning you don't understand this kind of breakfast. But this is part of being a human - you are getting used to it. You start to like fried cucumbers and tomatoes. Your favorite meal becomes fried pineapple with onions (who knew that it's THAT delicious?!). And, of course, the best curry ever - the Khmer curry from Daa. You are full, but you can't stop to eat it!
Anyway, if you feel tired of Khmer cousin, you always can have a dinner on the weekend in Phnom Penh where is various of restaurants with food from all over the world. And it's usually very cheap competing with European prices (3$-6$ for a meal depends on a place).
There are supermarkets where you also can find different types of Western food, but, for example, good Italian cheese will cost money.
Anyway, if you are modest enough with your food taste, you won't be suffering for sure.
You can also live in Phnom Penh and come to the village every morning, but I think it would worth it only for people who are staying for a long period (more then 1-2 months). The village is very nice, and you always can take Friday off so you have time to travel around.
Thanks for reading!
Best,
Elena.
But what can be so invisibly important as food? Especially, if you get used to one kind of meal, and then you have to change it completely... Not easy challenge for someone.
Food.
I am not fastidious person, I can it almost everything. I used to be very picky, but then realised that the best food is the new food.As it says on SCOOP and SCAO websites, 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) are included in accommodation costs. Our wonderful housekeeper Sovandred and his even more wonderful wife Daa are the ones who are cooking for volunteers. You would never try so many options of traditional Khmer food, and this is one of the most amazing parts of living and volunteering in Som Roung. How can you be involved in this kind of authentic Khmer life else? There is no way, and, believe me, mostly of expats keep living their Western type of life. There are no good or bad things about it, I just think, if you decided to live in another country, do it - do LIVE it.
Also I have to say it is not easy to eat rice every day, especially in the beginning you don't understand this kind of breakfast. But this is part of being a human - you are getting used to it. You start to like fried cucumbers and tomatoes. Your favorite meal becomes fried pineapple with onions (who knew that it's THAT delicious?!). And, of course, the best curry ever - the Khmer curry from Daa. You are full, but you can't stop to eat it!
Anyway, if you feel tired of Khmer cousin, you always can have a dinner on the weekend in Phnom Penh where is various of restaurants with food from all over the world. And it's usually very cheap competing with European prices (3$-6$ for a meal depends on a place).
There are supermarkets where you also can find different types of Western food, but, for example, good Italian cheese will cost money.
Anyway, if you are modest enough with your food taste, you won't be suffering for sure.
Accommodation.
As you know, at SCAO II volunteers are living inside school building. There are big double beds and a shelf for each volunteer, so furniture is quite basic. You can have 1 roommate max and if there are not many people, even your own bedroom, but three bathrooms are shared between everyone.
The building is new and nice, we have a rooftop where you can see starts at night (if you're lucky).You can also live in Phnom Penh and come to the village every morning, but I think it would worth it only for people who are staying for a long period (more then 1-2 months). The village is very nice, and you always can take Friday off so you have time to travel around.
Thanks for reading!
Best,
Elena.
