It is official - Battambang

This morning I had a lovely phone conversation with Dararoth, the executive director of the Khmer foundation in Phnom Penh and Dorcus Moo, the SE Asia representative for AJWS in New York. I will be working in Battambang with the Peaceful Children's Home II and travelling to work in the Peaceful Children's Home I in the Kein Svay District near Phnom Penh, and working in the foundation headquarters in Phnom Penh.

My work with the foundation will center around evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the two homes, including areas of childcare, nutrition, and education. I will also be planning for future training of the staff and developing those trainings. And, that said, if I have more time during my four month stay, I could also function as the communications officer, working to facilitate and welcome volunteers, develop websites, etc. All in my free time.

I am quite excited, a bit overwhelmed, and feeling inadequate to meet all these expectation. I know I will learn a great deal and am hopeful that I can provide some beneficial supports to this agency and these children.

A potential assignment

I think we have good news.  There seems to be some suggestion from AJWS that I will be placed in Battambang Cambodia, this is in the northwest of the country and will be working for the Khmer Foundation.  Tomorrow morning there will be a conference call between AJWS, their representative of the Khmer foundation and I to clarify expectations.

Went to REI today and got the 100% DEET!! along with a money belt and a lumbar pillow for the plane trip.  Also codified reservations for our room at the Tung Trang Hotel in Hanoi.

Things all seems to be moving in the right direction.

Getting Ready

Rich, my worthy spouse and I are planning to depart on the 17th of January and that is less than 3 weeks from now.  Though AJWS has not yet indicated where I will be placed, I know we will be somewhere in Cambodia.  Maybe we will be lucky enough to know before we leave. 

Our plans are to arrive in Hanoi late on the evening of the 19th and spend the next three and one half weeks working our way from Hanoi to Chiang Mai, Thailand where I have orientation for five days before moving on the Phnom Penh and from there to where ever I am placed.