But of course this this note to self isn't a product of any of my own decisions. I mean, I would never decide to go out by myself on my bike in a waning rainstorm to find a place I had only been to once when it was nighttime. I would never get lost because of that decision and end up biking around the streets of the city like an idiotic white boy while getting sopping wet. And I would never miraculously find my way to an area that I recognize and thereby finding myself unlost. Never.
Okay. Perhaps I did find myself on a slightly damp and unexpected scenic journey throughout Phnom Penh today. The saddest part is I forgot to take pictures to document my adventure; my bad. But I did ride past a pretty botanical garden type thing! That was fun.
So I'm sure by now that most of you have been wondering how everything is shaping up with my internship and possibly even thinking I've just been on a two week long vacation. The latter thought is partly true, but do know that things have been happening for sure. Trust me. There's definitely a story and it's ridiculous.
A week ago Monday, six other interns and I showed up to RACHA eager to find out what projects we would be working on for the summer.
PLOT TWIST! They were actually not expecting us to come in at all that day and bumbled and fumbled at trying to find things to tell us to temporarily satisfy our curiosity. They failed miserably. So we scheduled a time to come in the following Monday since the rest of the week was occupied with Cambodian holidays. We dutifully show up the next Monday (this past one), hoping once again that we could settle all confusion and start working asap.
PLOT TWIST! RACHA was a complete failure and literally had nothing for us to do for them despite the fact they had been telling our student facilitator since January that they did. The word 'frustration' barely described the feelings most of us felt after that meeting as we realized we had to NGO hunt like mad. We hit dead end after dead end.
PLOT TWIST! After a few conversations with Dan (our student facilitator, I've mentioned him a ton so just learn the name) I decided deviate from public health and visit a human rights NGO another intern was already going to work for called NGO CEDAW. They specialize in women's rights but they're also a host NGO for a collection of a host of other human rights NGO's here in Cambodia. A member of their group that focuses on youth empowerment called Cambodia Youth Network (CYN) expressed great need for an intern. I thought I'd volunteer.
PLOT TWIST! Instead of showing up to NGO CEDAW to meet the leader for CYN, I showed up to learn that the CYN leader was sick and in the hospital. I got to know some of the amazing people at NGO CEDAW and then was instructed to come back the next day at 9 am.
PLOT TWIST! He decided to show up at 3:30 instead and I learned that it would take me forty minutes or so to ride my bike everyday to work. To make a long story short (too late I fear) a logistical nightmare ensued. And so I decided to just stay at NGO CEDAW instead of working for CYN and assist them in English teaching classes that they specifically asked us interns to do for them.
PLOT TWIST! I went into work this morning and found out that NGO CEDAW realized CYN's great need and arranged for me to be taken by tuk tuk everyday to CYN and then back again to teach English classes for them. This blog post is still already incredibly long so I'll fill you in on details later, but Imma have a busy summer you guys!
Sorry for the long drawn out story. It's seriously been a crazy ride and I have a feeling it's only gonna get more exciting. Thanks for sticking with me. I have my first day (at least I think I am) at CYN tomorrow and I'll really get to see just what I've gotten myself into. But here's your update. C'est la vie in Cambodia.
Until next time.
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