Welcome to my Saturday morning.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Noodles and Toothpaste
Things are coming together. I feel as if I am getting better acquainted with everything – the local staff here, what their jobs are and how that effects the job I do, as well as IRD’s involvement and activity in the field. I have been to two events in the past couple of days that have helped to provide me with a more firm understanding of how things work in Kampong Chhnang (there, I said it!)
On Tuesday morning, we attended a ceremony for those in the village that have successfully learned and implemented the strategies for increased nutrition taught by IRD. Various leaders in the community spoke, including village chiefs, program directors, and even a monk. The women (and some men!) that served as models to other in the community were given gifts for their leadership. And everyone got toothpaste! Deep appreciation to IRD was apparent as they thanked the organization over and over for its continued involvement and aid. As I looked out into the crowd of Cambodians, I was pleased to notice many of the children eating the fortified noodles that IRD helps to distribute. Mothers were also breastfeeding – another goal IRD set for children until 6 months of age. IRD seeks to not only change the habits of locals for improved health, but also seeks to prepare them to continue the project after IRD’s grant has run out. The hope is to reach a point of sustainability, that is, figuring out ways that Cambodians can continue what IRD has begun. Noodles and toothpaste are good signs.
This morning, we served as representatives for IRD at a community council meeting. While we were hardly adequate representatives considering we do not speak a word of Khmer, it was still very interesting and revealing to at least see how IRD is involved in local politics. With one of the IRD staff of the CS project relaying what was being discussed, we learned that the council was deliberating on school and education as well as how to best support disabled landmine victims. 7 villages were represented at the monthly gathering, with their representatives responsible for bringing information back to their own communities. And while most of the people present were indeed older men, there were a handful of women with opinions and voices with which to express them. I was very impressed at the lengths IRD goes to remain connected and relevant to the locals, as well as the lengths that the villages go to collectively take care of their community. The reciprocal relationship that I witnessed this morning between IRD and the villages of Kampong Chhnang was energizing and hopeful.
What was also energizing was the game of badminton that I played with some of the local staff. What I thought were parking spaces actually transform into a tennis court when the power goes out and no work can be done. They all flee outside to play games, eat jackfruit (a yellow fleshy fruit that taste like honeydew mellon), and relax on the bamboo swing. I undoubtedly provided some laughs and entertainment, seeing as how my badminton skills are severely lacking. But it felt good to be active, to laugh, and to begin the often hard task of forming relationships.
On Tuesday morning, we attended a ceremony for those in the village that have successfully learned and implemented the strategies for increased nutrition taught by IRD. Various leaders in the community spoke, including village chiefs, program directors, and even a monk. The women (and some men!) that served as models to other in the community were given gifts for their leadership. And everyone got toothpaste! Deep appreciation to IRD was apparent as they thanked the organization over and over for its continued involvement and aid. As I looked out into the crowd of Cambodians, I was pleased to notice many of the children eating the fortified noodles that IRD helps to distribute. Mothers were also breastfeeding – another goal IRD set for children until 6 months of age. IRD seeks to not only change the habits of locals for improved health, but also seeks to prepare them to continue the project after IRD’s grant has run out. The hope is to reach a point of sustainability, that is, figuring out ways that Cambodians can continue what IRD has begun. Noodles and toothpaste are good signs.
This morning, we served as representatives for IRD at a community council meeting. While we were hardly adequate representatives considering we do not speak a word of Khmer, it was still very interesting and revealing to at least see how IRD is involved in local politics. With one of the IRD staff of the CS project relaying what was being discussed, we learned that the council was deliberating on school and education as well as how to best support disabled landmine victims. 7 villages were represented at the monthly gathering, with their representatives responsible for bringing information back to their own communities. And while most of the people present were indeed older men, there were a handful of women with opinions and voices with which to express them. I was very impressed at the lengths IRD goes to remain connected and relevant to the locals, as well as the lengths that the villages go to collectively take care of their community. The reciprocal relationship that I witnessed this morning between IRD and the villages of Kampong Chhnang was energizing and hopeful.
What was also energizing was the game of badminton that I played with some of the local staff. What I thought were parking spaces actually transform into a tennis court when the power goes out and no work can be done. They all flee outside to play games, eat jackfruit (a yellow fleshy fruit that taste like honeydew mellon), and relax on the bamboo swing. I undoubtedly provided some laughs and entertainment, seeing as how my badminton skills are severely lacking. But it felt good to be active, to laugh, and to begin the often hard task of forming relationships.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Here
I wrote this in the Toronto airport while waiting to board my 15 hour flight. Now I’m safely in Cambodia, have had a good night’s rest, and had my first of many more mangoes.
“What’s the first thing I do when I fly into Toronto? Buy a pair of socks for 9 dollars. Despite the rather enticing pink stripes and fuzzy softness, I believe I just committed a sin. I’m going to Cambodia to help people acquire adequate nutrition and hygiene, and yet I’m buying socks, excuse me, ONE PAIR OF SOCKS, for 9 dollars. They will keep my feet warm for a 15 hour flight, but seriously? Oh Canada.
Aside from having to see what 3:30 am looks like and being grumpy over the 9 dollar pair of socks, I’d say I’m still incredibly excited about getting to Cambodia. It’s been a long time coming – a time filled with studying for finals and too many errands to Target – but I am almost there. I am almost about to forget what temperatures below 85 degrees feels like; I am almost about to forget what beef and cheese and bacon placed together between a bun tastes like; I am almost about to forget what talking to loved ones on a regular basis sounds like. There will be some sacrifices (with the most major one clearly being that there are not bacon cheeseburgers in Asia), but they are worth foregoing for a couple months. I’m excited to discover the feelings, tastes, and sounds that define life in Cambodia. “
Now that I’m here, the heat is oppressively hot. It’s 8 am and I’m sweating as if I am in a sauna. I definitely won’t be getting any burgers, only noodles and rice - my first Pad Thai last night was excellent. And surprisingly, communication so far with those back home has been remarkably easy and available. Thank the Lord for cell phones and skype. My sunscreen and bugspray experience this morning was less than pleasant, but it is definitely necessary. I avoided malaria in Kenya, now to keep it at bay here.
My partner in crime, Brekke, and I are about to head off to our first staff meeting and then out into the capital for groceries. This afternoon we will make the trek out into the field where will be stationed in a sleepy little town whose name I am still trying to pronounce correctly. I have a feeling the frustration I am experiencing with the language will not go away quickly. But I’ll keep trying! Stay tuned for how our first day went!
“What’s the first thing I do when I fly into Toronto? Buy a pair of socks for 9 dollars. Despite the rather enticing pink stripes and fuzzy softness, I believe I just committed a sin. I’m going to Cambodia to help people acquire adequate nutrition and hygiene, and yet I’m buying socks, excuse me, ONE PAIR OF SOCKS, for 9 dollars. They will keep my feet warm for a 15 hour flight, but seriously? Oh Canada.
Aside from having to see what 3:30 am looks like and being grumpy over the 9 dollar pair of socks, I’d say I’m still incredibly excited about getting to Cambodia. It’s been a long time coming – a time filled with studying for finals and too many errands to Target – but I am almost there. I am almost about to forget what temperatures below 85 degrees feels like; I am almost about to forget what beef and cheese and bacon placed together between a bun tastes like; I am almost about to forget what talking to loved ones on a regular basis sounds like. There will be some sacrifices (with the most major one clearly being that there are not bacon cheeseburgers in Asia), but they are worth foregoing for a couple months. I’m excited to discover the feelings, tastes, and sounds that define life in Cambodia. “
Now that I’m here, the heat is oppressively hot. It’s 8 am and I’m sweating as if I am in a sauna. I definitely won’t be getting any burgers, only noodles and rice - my first Pad Thai last night was excellent. And surprisingly, communication so far with those back home has been remarkably easy and available. Thank the Lord for cell phones and skype. My sunscreen and bugspray experience this morning was less than pleasant, but it is definitely necessary. I avoided malaria in Kenya, now to keep it at bay here.
My partner in crime, Brekke, and I are about to head off to our first staff meeting and then out into the capital for groceries. This afternoon we will make the trek out into the field where will be stationed in a sleepy little town whose name I am still trying to pronounce correctly. I have a feeling the frustration I am experiencing with the language will not go away quickly. But I’ll keep trying! Stay tuned for how our first day went!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Teaching Them to Fish
I'm going again. It's been too long since I've gone. Kenya in 2007. Greece in 2008. 2010? Cambodia.
To be honest, I have had little desire to ever travel to Asia. I'm sure that is because my perception of Asia has been tarnished by the neon sign populated streets of Tokyo, the oddly decorated karaoke bars in Beijing, and the factories branding teddy bears and wind up jewelry boxes with “Made in China” stickers. In my narrow mind, that seemed to be all there was to Asia. But Cambodia challenges me with its lush mountains and sleepy villages on stilts – an image thankfully different from those over produced by my minds eye. Cambodia presents me with a new kind of Asia – one that is actually alluring.
Even more alluring than the geography of Cambodia is what I will be doing there. And the job description is the real selling point. Working with the International Relief and Development Fund, I will be partnering in their efforts to improve the lives and build the livelihoods of the world's most deprived. IRD strives to reduce the needs of the worlds most vulnerable groups by providing them with the necessary resources to increase their self-sufficiency. While IRD was only founded in 1998, they have projects in over 40 countries and provides 500 million annually in humanitarian aid. The specialize in community stabilization, governance, health, and sustainable food and agriculture systems.
In Cambodia, specifically, IRD focuses on increasing and maintaining health and creating sustainable food options. They have implemented the Child Survival Program which seeks to reduce infant mortality and morbidity rates. To eliminate malnutrition of these children, IRD pairs mothers of healthy children with mothers of unhealthy children in order to provide peer-to-peer training on proper feeding techniques. They also have begun marketing nutritionally fortified foods, oral rehydration techniques, and soap. This program officially ends in September after a four year run. Thus, my responsibility is to now analyze the effects of this program in the community. By conducting interviews, writing briefs, and producing proposals for new projects, my job this summer is to see if the project was implemented well and brought about positive change within the community.
I am excited to see what I find and excited to see how I will be challenged. Since IRD is not religiously affiliated, it will be interesting to see how my religious convictions intersect with the people I meet and the work that I do. With that considered, check out this article on IRD in TIME aptly titled “Teaching Them to Fish.” This is what I hope to do.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1840577,00.html
To be honest, I have had little desire to ever travel to Asia. I'm sure that is because my perception of Asia has been tarnished by the neon sign populated streets of Tokyo, the oddly decorated karaoke bars in Beijing, and the factories branding teddy bears and wind up jewelry boxes with “Made in China” stickers. In my narrow mind, that seemed to be all there was to Asia. But Cambodia challenges me with its lush mountains and sleepy villages on stilts – an image thankfully different from those over produced by my minds eye. Cambodia presents me with a new kind of Asia – one that is actually alluring.
Even more alluring than the geography of Cambodia is what I will be doing there. And the job description is the real selling point. Working with the International Relief and Development Fund, I will be partnering in their efforts to improve the lives and build the livelihoods of the world's most deprived. IRD strives to reduce the needs of the worlds most vulnerable groups by providing them with the necessary resources to increase their self-sufficiency. While IRD was only founded in 1998, they have projects in over 40 countries and provides 500 million annually in humanitarian aid. The specialize in community stabilization, governance, health, and sustainable food and agriculture systems.
In Cambodia, specifically, IRD focuses on increasing and maintaining health and creating sustainable food options. They have implemented the Child Survival Program which seeks to reduce infant mortality and morbidity rates. To eliminate malnutrition of these children, IRD pairs mothers of healthy children with mothers of unhealthy children in order to provide peer-to-peer training on proper feeding techniques. They also have begun marketing nutritionally fortified foods, oral rehydration techniques, and soap. This program officially ends in September after a four year run. Thus, my responsibility is to now analyze the effects of this program in the community. By conducting interviews, writing briefs, and producing proposals for new projects, my job this summer is to see if the project was implemented well and brought about positive change within the community.
I am excited to see what I find and excited to see how I will be challenged. Since IRD is not religiously affiliated, it will be interesting to see how my religious convictions intersect with the people I meet and the work that I do. With that considered, check out this article on IRD in TIME aptly titled “Teaching Them to Fish.” This is what I hope to do.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1840577,00.html
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