Five days traveling and I am looking forward to getting back to Pailin for a rest. However I have to say I have really enjoyed the last few days. Kratie has been especially good. It is a delightful town that is attractive, has dolphins, a lovely waterfront and great wine!! What more could a girl want?

We are here to attend the NEP meeting about the ESWG (glass of wine, when I get back, for the first person who works out what the letters stand for!!) Yesterday was made up of people talking about different aspects of ESWGs. Today we visited schools and cross examined school directors about leadership and management.

You cannot compare English schools with Cambodian- I know this fact, I tell it to myself almost every day, it is obvious to everyone - so why oh why do I keep doing it!!

The schools we went to were good schools for Cambodia, there were clean toilets, play equipment in the outdoor area, libraries, classrooms that had enough tables and teachers in every classroom. The children all seemed well cared for and happy to be at school.

Sounds like England, yes, however:

Both libraries had the number of books that would be in most reading corners of primary schools in England - most of the books had not been read.

The classrooms had no resources that were visible and no cupboards to keep things in - one director said they had the money but didn't know what to spend it on.

The meeting took place outside with us all sitting on the ground - having taken our shoes off first.

The pre-school classroom had no practical equipment - in fact all I could see were desks and chairs.

The children were all playing on the play equipment outside with no supervision and were perfectly safe.

There was a very deep, fast flowing Mekong 20 yards away and there was no fence, gate or obstacle to stop the children from running into the river (surprise surprise they don't)

The list could go on but as I said and will keep saying to myself - you cannot compare schools in Cambodia and England.

Those of you who know where Kratie is will be saying - "dolphins the girl is mad!" However a few people will know about the fresh water dolphins found in a couple of places up the Mekong. I am proud to say I have seen them, they do exist and it was lovely.

Spent the evening with Marja in a lovely restaurant run by an Australian drinking wine and eating Pizza. Perfect.