A constellation of this and that

- and here and there …

Cows and buffaloes are cooling off in the lake – they stop briefly to scrutinize us as we walk pass before they return to there personal activity.  Children echo ’Hello’ and wait for a response from us. They cover their mouths with loud sounds of laughter turning to their comrades for confirmation after we echo ‘Hello’ back.   Everyday, after work Kevin and I will go on our usual walk on the saffron dirt road not far from where we live. 

November was filled with a constellation of this and that and here and there …  Open Day Ceremony, working in the field, cassava harvesting, yes- the return of the dust, the Water Festival, and welcoming a new visitor.

Open Day Ceremony, the first day of school was held, (after the school enrollment campaign) in every corner of Mondolkiri Province.   At the POE complex in Sen Monorom town the Governor of Mondolkiri delivered a speech.   He also announced that only 80 out of 195 students in the province had passed after two attempts at the grade 12 national examinations. 

My VA and I visited several schools in the villages to follow-up with the school enrollment campaign, to find out if more students have enrolled, to observe classes and to co-teach.  I’m still in ‘awe’ with the students’ behavior in class.  They are eager to learn; they clap when someone ‘bravely’ gives an answer and giggle shyly when they are asked to participate as a class -to make a circle and to hold hands.  

On the way to and from our visit in the villages cassava harvesting has began.  The farmers are digging out cassava from the fields, weigh them, filled them in baskets and haul them on trucks to deliver them to various sites for peeling and drying before shipment.  Some roads are already lined with fresh cut up cassava.

The Cambodian Water Festival marked the reversal of the Tonlé Sap.  The 3-day festival takes place once a year, in November on the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk to celebrate the end of the rainy season and the reversal of the flow of the Tonlé Sap.   School is closed and most people go on holiday.  The biggest attraction took place in Phnom Penh with boat racing along the Tonlé Sap.

Yes the dust is back! Alas, we have quickly transitioned to strong winds and dust.   There was not time to enjoy the warm dry weather before getting cold.  The landscape has rapidly changed from semi-tropical green lush vegetation to dry red fields with bush fires all around us. 

We now have a new visitor amongst our midst.  We’re not sure if we’ve adopted him or he’s adopted us!  Every evening our new visitor flies in our house without a care in the world and hangs upside down on the kitchen light to groom himself.  Our little friend, this grey little bat has decided to make our home his home and every night he settles in quietly on the light until morning.  

More later ...