MVU stories: Life on the farm – 28 February
Posted by John Humphreys on March 4, 2006
Life is good out on the MVU farm. The other volunteers (Ross, Nathan, Dave, Jen, Charlene, Ning) are good company – and we entertain ourselves with occasional games of cricket, soccer, badminton, basketball and going running.
After class I often head down to the MVU shop for a coke with some of my better students. Occasionally, we head into the nearby village of Cho for dukulok (fruit shake). We swap stories about culture, they teach me some Khmer words and sometimes we sing a few songs in the karaoke room.
I’ve been doing quite a bit of reading, as well as learning Chinese, Khmer, Morse code, the Greek alphabet and doing a bit of my PhD. I’m trying to learn one Chinese and one Khmer word each day… but my Khmer is improving faster because I’m surrounded by it.
I’m also having more time to listen to music. I’ve now got a good collection of different music on my computer – over 10 gig! My latest “discovery” is Ben Lee. Nice. I’ve also been listening to GreenDay, Moulin Rouge soundtrack, Khmer songs and Crowded House.
The view from my class is surreal. The plains are half-flooded and there are often either buffalo or local Khmers wading through the waters. The sunsets are beautiful and the stars are always out in force in the night sky.
Last weekend Keasar arranged a “boy’s night out” on a blanket in the middle of the soccer field. We ate fried pork & beef, drank beer and talked about s’ray sa-aat (pretty girls). Ah – the simple life.
