Samaki

Back at the beginning of the year - four of our trainees graduated from Smile Restaurant and BSDA gave them a loan to open up their own Khmer restaurant called Samaki which means Solidarity. With a little help they found a place, decorated, designed a menu and then we threw them a big opening party which was great - lots of people, food, dancing and excitement.

Teapy one of the graduates constructing the kitchen.

The Aspara Dancing kids from BSDA came down and dance at the opening ceremony for everyone - these are just some pics of the great kids back stage between dances.

Narong the chef and trainer at Smile Restaurant with her husband.

Romdul one of the graduates and Sreyarath our Finance Officer

Thida our translator and Chhany our Finance Director

Pedro and Ven. Sok Vannra

Ali and Rose getting the food in - very tasty food it was.

Panha - our Program Manager and Kimsrean one of the guys that works on our Health team - lovely guys.

Me and Sokhoeun who is the Project Co-ordinator for the MKK project. I work the most with him, Ven. Vandong Thorn and Panha.

So many people came to the opening it was brilliant for the kids.

Sinon the Sewing teacher and I

The fantastic Peacock costumes

Kimsrean, Seng and Chhany

The boys of the office.... Kimsrean, Seng, Saran, Chhany and Pheara

Lida - one of the Weaving students and Pheakadey the cooking teacher.

Queenie

As you know Queenie had a little accident at Xenia's party but after a little time of recuperation and a little 205Glue she is back on form and only has a few crack around the edges - hey but don't we all!!

So adventures with Queenie will continue - her next trip is next week when we are going on a Staff Retreat/Workshop for 4 days to Koh Kong....

Again a big thank you to the wonderful Charlie & Barny who gave me Queenie the night before I left for Cambodia - she has provide much enjoyment for many people - they all seem to love her when they meet her.

Office treats

Every so often people bring treats into the office - the first thing you hear of this is someone shouting 'food' and then a load of noise of chairs scraping the floor as everyone rushes up from their desks to see what things are on offer..... cakes, fruit, dried meat, insects and many strange and wonderful things - this week it was fruit/vegetable - not sure which. they looked a bit like turnips or a root vegetable and you peeled their thin skin and ate it - cross between a radish with no hotness and an apple/pear - very strange but really tasty and surprisingly refreshing....

Office tasks......

Simon and I spent 3 hours earlier this week changing the ink cartridge on one of the printers this week in the office - or should I rephrase that - refilling the ink cartridge! Below were the items that we were given to do this task..... I'd like to point out that it was not an induction test for the international volunteers that they had devised, but a necessity as no one else knew how to do it in the office, now we didn't claim to know but we gave it a try......

I have to admit that the whole process did take longer than expected as while we cleaning the toner cartridge out 2 very tiny tiny pieces of the cartridge fell into the bin below!! Now you might not think that is too much of a problem but this bin is home to the largest cockroaches in Kampong Cham and a fair few other unsightly insects as well.....
But we were successful in the end - we were waiting for a thank you but all we got is ' There are 2 more cartridges to refill' - as you can imagine we declined and said that we thought it would be more sustainable if one of the other office workers learnt how to do it so that when we left they could carry on printing!!

Xenia's leaving party

The lovely Xenia left us in February to move to a different project in Siem Reap, unfortunately the placement here wasn't working out - but she has now found her place in Siem Reap and is really enjoying it all.
So as alway - any excuse for a party - Klaus provide the '100 Riel House' as the venue and a very good evening was had by all.
A few of us decided that we would dress up in traditional costumes..... so below you have Cookie in one of her lovely Sari's, Xenia in her Durnel an me in my traditional Khmer Sampot....

Basti in his Lederhosen...

Me and Queenie - Queenie obviously came out for the party as she has been away with Xenia a few times on our travels - so it seemed fit that Queenie made an appearance...

Cookie

Xenia

Xenia and Klaus's 2 girls that she has been teaching for the last 6 months.

Klaus & Xenia

Klaus & Tvie

Klaus trying to remember what it was like to have long hair - back in the day....

Queenie has made another german friend - Frauke

Simon who has been working for 6 weeks with KAPE - trying not to look interested in Queenie - he loved her really (not)

Then there was an accident and poor Queenie took the brunt of it.......................................................

Unhappy Jane with a broken Queenie........ Queenie's story will hopefully continue another day, I will keep you posted of her recovery.

Ali and Xenia

At one point the party was very Khmer style as all the men where in the '100 Riel house' and the women were at another table...but we soon sorted that out.

Xenia & I

Klaus and his ladies.

Introducing DJ Magique - we even had our own DJ from London fly in especially for the party - actually this is Simon our new volunteer at BSDA (who apparently also claims to be a DJ back in the UK..)

Jeltje - Dutch VSO volunteer with Kape and Xenia who managed to stay in costume all night - have to say Cookie and I lasted a few hours and then changed into our jeans.

Dari, Frank and Bhuna made it as well after closing Lazys - so here is Dari, Xenia, Ali & Cookie.

Antonio - Italian MSF worker and Dari

Some of the girls of KC - Ali, Cookie, Jeltje, Xenia, Dari, Leatitia and me

You can never refuse you local publican a seat on your knee...

DJ Magique doing some aeriel DJing..... A good night was had by all.

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