Hi everyone,

Today’s Phnom Penh correspondent is Phuong- a rising junior at Amherst College, MA. It is about midnight in this part of the world and yet none of our members is in bed yet, we apologise for this bad behaviour.

Phnom Penh cools down today, but for our project, things are just heating up- in a good way. The Circle Painting Project has reached a new stage, with the Cambodian mentees playing a crucial role and stepping up for their ownership. Slowly but creatively, our group and our mentees fill up the main areas in the canvas. Along the way we learn to work together and acquire a sense of collaboration which is more refreshing than the cool morning air.

Some of our mentees acquire other things- a greater feeling of confidence, amazing non-verbal channels of communication, among other things. The workshop on marketing goes extremely well, with the students being divided into sub-groups and given the task of making a poster for their concert. Small groups allow smoother communication and better yet, an understanding among the students that they actually own the project.

In the afternoon, we start our sessions on concert preparation. Again, our mentees do not fail to surprise us. We had our doubts and concerns on various notes- from their lack of confidence, contrasting cultural approaches, linguistic barriers to the existing social divisions underlying the students’ level of acceptance and responses. As the day ends, which is now, it seems to me that many of those concerns are still there, but we are much more positive about the result of our work, seeing so much progress being made in just one day.

Leng leaves us for the Singapore, which is an event of mixed emotions. It is always sad to part with such a great friend, though we will never part with the inspirations that he generates by virtue of being himself. Trent and Kevin give an outrageously funny and moving send-off duet, which balances our emotions a little but Leng, we will see you again someday!!!

Dinner is spent at the foot court of Phnom Penh’s first mall. Figuring out what food to get when you have two hundred delicious choices is a big big puzzle and also a fun exercise. The desserts- fruity and fresh- make our day even brighter. I have a shaky relationship with my bubble tea, having consumed a full portion of vietnamese sweet soup (che`) and fruit shake. The relationship does not end as happily as Will would like, for he keeps bringing it up, but hey, I am happy!!!

A couple of things I learn today

  • Step back
  • A Khmer dance
  • “Saat”, “Chlaat”, and “Pleu”, which mean pretty, smart, and silly
  • Visna is really really smart
  • Parting is such sweet sorrow
  • Say “Wow” and feel like it too