3. My first experiences with Choice Cambodia Organization

After so many adventures, I can finally see light in this dark tunnel where I got lost.

My arrival at Choice Cambodia Organization

« Let it go, Let it go ! »

I lived a whole month in quarantine, including 2 strict weeks at the Cambodiana hotel, and two more quiet weeks in the accommodation provided by Choice Cambodia Organization. When I arrived at the NGO, I saw the offices, kinder garden school, primary school, the school kitchen, the lodgings of some Cambodian staff, their common kitchen, my own kitchen separate from the theirs, the little house in front of the river which serves as an office for my internship tutor, and finally, his magnificent traditional boat. Rather than working in the NGO offices, he prefers to work in front of the river. Look at this magnificent view, I fully understand his choice. So I followed him, and I absolutely do not regret it. It's magical working in this kind of environment!

My first "humanitarian" visit

« Learn to be thankful for what you have, some don't even have a quarter of what you have »

In order to help me better understand the people that Choice Cambodia Organization helps, my tutor took me to visit villages. I quickly realized that they were "mini-slums", on a one-lane dirt road. Some families only had a tablecloth on the ground and a tarpaulin on their heads as their habitat. Other households had built their homes with trunks of fine wood (not planks of wood, but trunks of fine wood). Those who can afford it use thin sheets of metal as the roof of their habitat. The better-off have their walls made of bricks and their roofs of sheet metal.

Most of the houses do not have showers or toilets. Each family has a kind of a huge gourd made of stone, where they recycle rainwater. These stone containers are placed outside the house, near the road. People generally shower near the road, men in underwear and women in very thin sari, in order to respect the privacy of their neighbor.

It was a very enriching first experience, I felt grateful for the home I had and the comfort we enjoy with my family. Make no mistake it was not sad, people weren't sad or bitter, but rather happy and eager to welcome me.

Action = reaction

After that, I promised myself to integrate into our village. I have Polynesian and Chinese origin. As a result, I have caramel brown skin and slanted eyes. I dress in light and simple clothes, do not wear any makeup, but some jewelry because Cambodian women like to wear it on a daily basis. And with my physique, I look like a 100% Cambodian!

It is a complete success! Guess who is Polynesian and who is Cambodian!