The First Week in Cambodia

Hello Everyone!!!

We had just spent the first week in Big Hole village and it was incredible! and working on the construction site is very very hard. At the moment we have Kent, Kelly B, Grace, Toly, Chea and myself. In the back of our hut we have a pig we call Boganvillia because she is like the flower and she is also a bit of a bogan. She is pink and fat and hopefully we can take her for a walk and stuff. There are always cows and ducks and chickens everywhere. My favourite chicken is a mother chicken who I have named Pamela. Pamela has 9 chicks two of which are very distinct and we have called them JaRule and Eminem. JaRule is tougher and always picks on Eminem.

The teachers have been very helpful to us and dealing with the local police has been very interesting.

Every morning we wake up at 5.30am and cook breakfast and then ride our bikes or walk to work. The fresh air and the stars has been invigorating.

Wish i had photos of Jarule, Pamela and Eminem but cant upload anything yet.

The volunteers are getting along really well. No major fights just minor skirmishes. Kelly eats a lot and doesn't really walk much. Grace almost hurt a child and herself while moving a mountain of dirt. Toly talks better Khmer than me, whatever! I am just myself, enjoying village life and the people and everything around me. It is very nice to be away from all this technology.

We have game going on called Cambodia's biggest loser, like the weight loss tv show.

Here are the Pre-Cambodia weights along with weight after one week! As you can see By the weight loss I obviously work the hardest!

Kent: 96 to 95kg
Grace: 63 to 63kg
Kelly: 70 to 69kg
Toly: 62 to 61kg
Koky: 65 to 62kg

So far I am winning which is the way it should be. Going vegetarian and working hard on a construction site really does burn fat.

Meet more kids!

curious kids wonder what is happening on the inside and the outside.




Some girls in class waiting patiently for their teacher.

Meet the Big Hole kids

Some of the kids watching me cautiously as I look around the school grounds.

The first weekend

Okay so this post will be in point form because I don't want to forget anything and also I dont want to write a boring essay.

* I went to Big Hole Village and met two of the teachers and all the kids. The children are extremely shy, but i have been told that they will open up quite fast. By the end of my visit they were slowly talking and interacting with me, Cha and the builders. I cant wait for the volunteers to meet them.

* The volunteers hut is well...a real hut. Definitely not 5-star or 1 star for that matter. Ive been told that the holes in the floor means nothing. Even big foreigners wont fall through.

* There is currently a grasshopper problem at night. Not sure how the volunteers are going to handle being attacked by grasshoppers while trying to cook and eat at night.

* Ive been told that there are scorpions and snakes. Scorpions live underground so you shouldn't go barefoot.

* There is a village witch doctor that can deal with snake bites and stuff. There is also a "hospital" 20km away.

* The volunteers will have access to 3 bikes to use.

* The toilets are NOT built yet!!!

* We have a personal driver yippee!!!

* There are ducks and 1 pig living in the volunteers back yard.

* We are told not to eat them.

* Cooking area is still not sorted.

* Bizarrely, a traveling troupe of tranvesites spotted us in the local market and followed us to the village. They wanted to perform their "act"and party in the village. Thats how they make their money. Crazy!!!

* Today, i was actually working as a salesman driving to rural markets to help a friend. My product to sell, Tampons. Yes its true. I sold 24 tampons!?!

* I have been bitten by lots of mosquitoes and other insects. My ankles are swollen.

* I met my cousins today too ;)

* Thats all for now. Sorry no photos. Internet here is so slow :(

A wild boar under our house

The villagers have reported that they have had to chase away a wild boar and her piglets from under the volunteer's hut. She wanted to make it her home! This is a picture of where the volunteers will be staying while living and working in the village. In the foreground is the well they will use to shower, wash clothes, dishes and everything else. No electricity, hot water or luxuries in this village. I hope they can cope!

The Last charity event of the year!!!

To make BabyTree Projects work we rely heavily on our beautiful volunteers who are busy all year round organising fundraising events and spreading the word about us. We just had 'The Croquet Classic' event on 6th of December organised by Lucy and Josh. It was a marvelous summer day in Melbourne and if you haven't played croquet before I recommend you try it its a lot of fun! Thank you to all who came and special thanks to Mama and Papa Berry who donated $200!!! These are some photos from the event. Become a fan on Facebook for more pictures and events. Just type in Baby Tree Projects in the search field to find us ;)

Letter from Big Hole Village

This is the letter from Big Hole Village requesting help from BabyTree Projects in English and Khmer. It is written by the village chief and has been translated by Cha, our volunteer in Cambodia. Click on image for larger picture.