A typical training day in Cambodia

5.30am – get up

6.00am – set off on the back of Marc with a box full of papers, computer and still enough room for me

6.15am – breakfast- sadly in a café that was on the wrong road so had to turn back

6.45am – 7.45 – the journey to Krong Pisei - 45km of muddy road, lorries, hills, lakes and Cambodia

7.45am – arrive at a primary school in the middle of nowhere to find:

1 - no electricity

2 -68 people – budgeted for 60

3 - no snack – Bunthorn went to little stall near road – they organized snacks and water for 70 – just like that!!

4 - dark sky – means no-one can see papers as there were no lights

5 - holes in the wall that were too low down to let extra light in

6 - wet season means that the grass around the building is actually a lake

Does the training do ahead? – yes

Does anyone complain? – no

At one time it was so dark that they were using their phones to read and sign paper

The rain then started – tin roof – now no-one could hear or see easily. It was a proper Cambodian thunderstorm, raining tigers and elephants . We still carried on - when I say we I actually mean they!!

Good news the electricity came on as it stopped raining and the skies lightened!! So they could have shown the slides for session 3 but I think they had had enough of SDPs so used the projector to illustrate issues in the district (connected to planning) and share resources available online instead. The DOE took control of the meeting and deviated slightly from the plan!! Can’t say I blame them.

Was I sure that I knew what was going on – no – did POE and DOE have control yes – was new format introduced- yes. Did all SD understand- yes I think they did. Another successful day

I have to say that some of the people at that meeting were there and got no money, as we had said we would pay for one person from each school. We only gave those that we did pay 3$ each, which will fill their motto with petrol. Usually they would get 5$ for food and petrol money linked to the distance they had travelled but the POE wants everyone to have this training, so he persuaded the DOEs to have it without the usual DSA.

I am lucky all the other EMAs say that can’t happen in their province!!

The other thing I should say is that due to my nagging (could be a coincidence) that getting everyone to sign attendance and payment lists is often difficult when there are lots of people, VSO have produced one sheet that covers both. Hurrah- I may not have to use any of my personal money for this training.