It amazes me to think that I have been in Cambodia for just over a month. There has been many changes over this time; Steve and Lynn have left for Australia, while and Mikki and Tamar have left for more travelling adventures in Vietnam and South Africa. It was a real blessing have them all living at the BEC when I arrived, as it made the transition into life and routine of the BEC so much easier for me. I have a very very poor grasp of even basic Khmer language (people have said to me ‘Jess why do you hate my language?’), and I speak too fast in English for many of the locals (I am attempting to remember to speak slower, but not always successfully), so to have a few native speakers for the first few weeks was very reassuring. (I have picked up a few Khmer basics, enough to know how to say hello, how are you, I am fine, thanks and to also know when Daniel or Saroun are telling each other or others they are bad workers, or they don’t like each other’s faces, which by all accounts is pretty standard Khmer jesting and which is always highly entertaining at meal times.) Their smiley faces are already missed around the BEC, but we have the happy arrival of Brendan (from Australia) who is also commonly referred to by many Khmer dormers as ‘Bebop.’ I have yet to hear an explanation for this nickname selection, but it seems to be a nickname that has truly stuck.
Also recently Danny and Vitou have moved house, and along with Loy live in a lovely apartment that is just one street away from the BEC. From the third floor of the BEC you can see their bright blue balcony (the second one down from the top), and Steve has already tested the acoustics, and it is possible to yell a conversation to them from the BEC balcony, much the amusement and confusion of our local neighbours. It is lovely to have them living so close as it makes it just that bit easier for visits, and spending time together outside of ‘work’ hours.
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