LANGUAGE
Khmer is the official language. French is also spoken, but English is fast becoming popular with the younger generation.
CUSTOMS
Permission should be sought before taking pictures of people, particularly monks.
Avoid touching someone on the head as it is considered the most sacred part of a person's body.
Women should wear modest clothing, preferably a long skirt or loose-fitting trousers.
When visiting religious sites, shoes should be removed, and shorts not worn.
A traditional greeting in Cambodia is a bow, bringing together the hands at chest level (similar to hand position for prayer). With foreigners Cambodians sometimes convert to the handshake. The simple rule is to respond with the same greeting you were given.
Developing a personal relationship in Cambodia is important before any business can be discussed, which includes talking with local construction workers on the site, especially the supervisor. Never cause a Khmer to 'lose face', but use tact and an indirect approach to business.
On introductions, the most senior in the group will be introduced first, and visitors are advised to do likewise so that the hosts understand the hierarchy of the group; the highest-ranking person on both sides should greet each other first and perform the introductions. For example, the team leader(s) will introduce the team to the local workers, starting with the older team members. A bow, with hands together, is appropriate response when introduced.
In Cambodia people are addressed with the honorific title 'Lok' for a man and 'Lok Srey' for a woman followed with the first name or both the first and surname.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
More on Health & Safety
HEALTH
Malaria and dengue fever are common in Cambodia. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all areas. Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, is prevalent especially in the heavily populated areas. Insect protection measures should be taken throughout the day.
There have been outbreaks of bird flu with four deaths in Cambodia, and although the risk of contracting the disease is slight, travellers should avoid contact with domestic, wild and caged birds and ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked.
Main water supply is not suitable for drinking but bottled water is widely available.
Avoid uncooked meat, unpeeled fruit, salads and food sold by street vendors, and don't drink beverages with ice.
Medical facilities are poor, except for a few expensive private clinics in Phnom Penh. Treatment must be paid for with cash and health insurance is essential.
SAFETY
Cambodia remains one of the most heavily land-mined countries in the world. Visitors should travel with a local guide and never stray off the main paths. It is not advisable to travel anywhere at night.
Caution should be taken in the capital, Phnom Penh, especially at night, as street crime is a problem, and there have been several incidents involving foreigners walking in the streets as well as around popular tourist nightspots in Phnom Penh. After dark there is also a risk of violent crime in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Visitors should be aware that bag snatching is becoming an increasing problem on tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis and while walking in the main towns.
Malaria and dengue fever are common in Cambodia. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all areas. Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, is prevalent especially in the heavily populated areas. Insect protection measures should be taken throughout the day.
There have been outbreaks of bird flu with four deaths in Cambodia, and although the risk of contracting the disease is slight, travellers should avoid contact with domestic, wild and caged birds and ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked.
Main water supply is not suitable for drinking but bottled water is widely available.
Avoid uncooked meat, unpeeled fruit, salads and food sold by street vendors, and don't drink beverages with ice.
Medical facilities are poor, except for a few expensive private clinics in Phnom Penh. Treatment must be paid for with cash and health insurance is essential.
SAFETY
Cambodia remains one of the most heavily land-mined countries in the world. Visitors should travel with a local guide and never stray off the main paths. It is not advisable to travel anywhere at night.
Caution should be taken in the capital, Phnom Penh, especially at night, as street crime is a problem, and there have been several incidents involving foreigners walking in the streets as well as around popular tourist nightspots in Phnom Penh. After dark there is also a risk of violent crime in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Visitors should be aware that bag snatching is becoming an increasing problem on tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis and while walking in the main towns.
Electricity, Money, Climate
ELECTRICITY
220 volts, 50Hz. Travellers should be aware that power cuts are frequent and, outside the capital, electricity is generally only available in the evenings.
MONEY
Riel (KHR) is the official currency and is divided into 100 sen. Foreign currency is difficult to exchange with the exception of US Dollars. Most transactions require cash. US dollars and Thai Baht are accepted, although smaller transactions are usually done in riel. A torn US dollar note renders it useless. (make sure all the US cash you bring is in good condition - no writing, not torn)
Credit cards are only accepted in a limited number of tourist-orientated hotels and restaurants in Phnom Penh and larger towns. There are a few ATMs in Phnom Penh, but they shouldn't be relied upon as a source of money; travellers cheques in US dollars or sterling can be cashed at a limited number of banks and larger hotels, though travellers cheques are not recommended due to limited acceptance.
TIPPING
Tipping for food in restaurants, for scheduled transport and for scheduled activities is covered in your fees. What is not covered is when you go out for a meal on your own, personal services in the hotel, an personal activity you schedule on R&R, etc.
Tips are not expected, but are welcomed for personal services, as salaries in the country are very low.
CLIMATE
Cambodia's climate can generally be described as tropical with seasonal monsoons. There are two distinct seasons, the rainy and dry. Temperatures during the rainy season, between June and October, average 81-95°F (27-35°C). The dry season is characterised by cool months, November to February, with temperatures averaging 63-81°F (17-27°C) and hot months, from March till May, which sees temperature range between 84-100°F (29-38°C).
220 volts, 50Hz. Travellers should be aware that power cuts are frequent and, outside the capital, electricity is generally only available in the evenings.
MONEY
Riel (KHR) is the official currency and is divided into 100 sen. Foreign currency is difficult to exchange with the exception of US Dollars. Most transactions require cash. US dollars and Thai Baht are accepted, although smaller transactions are usually done in riel. A torn US dollar note renders it useless. (make sure all the US cash you bring is in good condition - no writing, not torn)
Credit cards are only accepted in a limited number of tourist-orientated hotels and restaurants in Phnom Penh and larger towns. There are a few ATMs in Phnom Penh, but they shouldn't be relied upon as a source of money; travellers cheques in US dollars or sterling can be cashed at a limited number of banks and larger hotels, though travellers cheques are not recommended due to limited acceptance.
TIPPING
Tipping for food in restaurants, for scheduled transport and for scheduled activities is covered in your fees. What is not covered is when you go out for a meal on your own, personal services in the hotel, an personal activity you schedule on R&R, etc.
Tips are not expected, but are welcomed for personal services, as salaries in the country are very low.
CLIMATE
Cambodia's climate can generally be described as tropical with seasonal monsoons. There are two distinct seasons, the rainy and dry. Temperatures during the rainy season, between June and October, average 81-95°F (27-35°C). The dry season is characterised by cool months, November to February, with temperatures averaging 63-81°F (17-27°C) and hot months, from March till May, which sees temperature range between 84-100°F (29-38°C).
Friday, June 19, 2009
Cambodian (Khmer) Foods
Khmer food of Cambodia includes tropical fruits, rice, noodles and various soups.
Khmer cuisine is noted for the use of prahok, a type of fermented fish paste, in many dishes as a distinctive flavouring. When prahok is not used, it is likely to be kapǐ instead, a kind of fermented shrimp paste. Coconut milk is the main ingredient of many Khmer curries and desserts. Many rice varieties are available in Cambodia, including aromatic rice and glutinous or sticky rice. The latter is used more in desserts with fruits like durian. Almost every meal includes a bowl of rice.
Cambodian cuisine also uses fish sauce widely in soups, stir-fried cuisine, and as dipping sauces. Curry dishes, known as kari shows the ties between Indian and Cambodian cuisine. The many variations of rice noodles show the influences from Chinese cuisine. Rice noodle soup, known simply as Kuyteav, is a popular dish brought to Cambodia by its Chinese settlers. Also, Banh Chiao is the Khmer version of the Vietnamese Bánh xèo.
Typically, Cambodians eat their meals with at least three or four separate dishes. Each individual dish will be either sweet, sour, salty or bitter. Chilli is usually left up to the individual to add themselves. In this way Cambodians ensure that they get a bit of every flavour to satisfy their palates.
Cambodian History, Government and Politics - and a Map!
Early History
The first evidence of an advanced civilization in present day Cambodia are artificial circular earthworks estimated to be from the
After a long series of wars with neighbouring kingdoms, Angkor was sacked by the Thai and abandoned in 1432 because of ecological failure and infrastructure breakdown.[16][17] After Angkor was abandoned, the buildings were swallowed up by jungle creating a myth of a hidden lost civilization. The court moved the capital to Lovek where the kingdom sought to regain its glory through maritime trade. The attempt was short-lived, however, as continued wars with the Thai and Vietnamese resulted in the loss of more territory and Lovek was conquered in 1594. During the next three centuries, the Khmer kingdom alternated as a vassal state of the Thai and Vietnamese kings, with short-lived periods of relative independence between.
Modernity and French Indochina
In 1863, King Norodom, who had been installed by Thailand, sought the protection of France from the Thai and Vietnamese, after tensions grew between them. In 1867, the Thai king signed a treaty with France, renouncing suzerainty over Cambodia in exchange for the control of Battambang and Siem Reap provinces which officially became part of Thailand. The provinces were ceded back to Cambodia by a border treaty between France and Thailand in 1906.
Cambodia continued as a protectorate of France from 1863 to 1953, administered as part of the colony of French Indochina, though occupied by the Japanese empire from 1941 to 1945. Cambodia gained independence from France on November 9, 1953. It became a constitutional monarchy under King Norodom Sihanouk. When French Indochina was given independence, Cambodia lost official control over the Mekong Delta as it was awarded to Vietnam.
Independence and Cold War
In 1955, Sihanouk abdicated in favour of his father in order to be elected Prime Minister. Upon his father's death in 1960, Sihanouk again became head of state, taking the title of Prince. As the Vietnam War progressed, Sihanouk adopted an official policy of neutrality in the Cold War. However, Cambodians began to take sides, and he was ousted in 1970 by a military coup led by Prime Minister General Lon Nol and Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak, while on a trip abroad. From Beijing, Sihanouk realigned himself with the communist Khmer Rouge rebels who had been slowly gaining territory in the remote mountain regions and urged his followers to help in overthrowing the pro-United States government of Lon Nol, hastening the onset of civil war.
Between 1969 and 1973, U.S. forces bombed and briefly invaded Cambodia in an effort to disrupt the Viet Cong and Khmer Rouge. Some two million Cambodians were made refugees by the war and fled to Phnom Penh. Estimates of the number of Cambodians killed during the bombing campaigns vary widely, as do views of the effects of the bombing. The US Seventh Air Force argued that the bombing prevented the fall of Phnom Penh in 1973 by killing 16,000 of 25,500 Khmer Rouge fighters besieging the city. However, journalist William Shawcross and Cambodia specialists Milton Osborne, David P. Chandler and Ben Kiernan argued that the bombing drove peasants to join the Khmer Rouge. Cambodia specialist Craig Etcheson argued that the Khmer Rouge "would have won anyway", even without US intervention driving recruitment.
As the war ended, a draft US AID report observed that the country faced famine in 1975, with 75% of its draft animals destroyed, and that rice planting for the next harvest would have to be done "by the hard labour of seriously malnourished people". The report predicted that
"without large-scale external food and equipment assistance there will be widespread starvation between now and next February ... Slave labour and starvation rations for half the nation's people (probably heaviest among those who supported the republic) will be a cruel necessity for this year, and general deprivation and suffering will stretch over the next two or three years before Cambodia can get back to rice self-sufficiency".
The Khmer Rouge reached Phnom Penh and took power in 1975. The regime, led by Pol Pot, changed the official name of the country to Democratic Kampuchea, and was heavily influenced and backed by China. They immediately evacuated the cities and sent the entire population on forced marches to rural work projects. They attempted to rebuild the country's agriculture on the model of the 11th century, discarded Western medicine, and destroyed temples, libraries, and anything considered Western. Over a million Cambodians, out of a total population of 8 million, died from executions, overwork, starvation and disease.
Estimates as to how many people were killed by the Khmer Rouge regime range from approximately one to three million. This era gave rise to the term Killing Fields, and the prison Tuol Sleng became as notorious as Auschwitz in the history of mass killing. Hundreds of thousands fled across the border into neighbouring Thailand. The regime disproportionately targeted ethnic minority groups. The Cham Muslims suffered serious purges with as much as half of their population exterminated. In the late 1960s, an estimated 425,000 ethnic Chinese lived in Cambodia, but by 1984, as a result of Khmer Rouge genocide and emigration, only about 61,400 Chinese remained in the country. The professions, such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers, were also targeted. According to Robert D. Kaplan, "eyeglasses were as deadly as the yellow star" as they were seen as a sign of intellectualism.
In November 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia to stop Khmer Rouge incursions across the border and the genocide in Cambodia. Violent occupation and warfare between the Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge holdouts continued throughout the 1980s. Peace efforts began in Paris in 1989, culminating two years later in October 1991 in a comprehensive peace settlement. The United Nations was given a mandate to enforce a ceasefire, and deal with refugees and disarmament.
In recent years, reconstruction efforts have progressed and some political stability under the form of a Constitutional Monarchy, multipartide, and democratic (1993). However, Cambodia's natural resources, particularly its valuable timber, are still being exploited by interests from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, while Khmer Rouge were still active in some areas, often supporting illegal timber operations until 1999. At that time, travel by land and river was still precarious.
The stability established following the conflict was shaken in 1997 by a coup d'état, but has otherwise remained in place. Cambodia has been aided by a number of more developed nations like Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, the United States and Great Britain. Cambodia is moving past its war torn history and focusing on national reconstruction. In recent years, the country has seen double digit economic growth, and seeks foreign business investment to modernize the nation and eliminate poverty. Especially since Thailand is in political chaos, Cambodia is a regional alternative for business investments.
Politics and Government
The politics of Cambodia formally take place, according to the nation's constitution of 1993, in the framework of a constitutional monarchy operated as a parliamentary representative democracy. The Prime Minister of Cambodia is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system, while the king is the head of state. The Prime Minister is appointed by the King, on the advice and with the approval of the National Assembly; the Prime Minister and his or her ministerial appointees exercise executive power in government. Legislative power is vested in both the executive and the two chambers of parliament, the National Assembly of Cambodia and the Senate.
On October 14, 2004, King
In 2006, Transparency International's rating of corrupt countries rated Cambodia as 151st of 163 countries of their Corruption Perceptions Index.
Huge issues that plague contemporary Cambodia include human trafficking, deforestation and forced evictions
The Economy of Cambodia
The economy of Cambodia has seen rapid progress in the last decade. Per capita income, although rapidly increasing, is low compared with most neighbouring countries. The main domestic activity on which most rural households depend is agriculture and its related sub-sectors. Manufacturing output is varied but is not very extensive and is mostly conducted on a small-scale and informal basis. The service sector is heavily concentrated in trading activities and catering-related services. Reuters has reported that oil and natural gas reserves have been found off-shore. Production of oil could potentially have a great effect on the future of the economy.
During 1995, the government implemented firm stabilization policies under difficult circumstances. Overall, macroeconomic performance was good. Growth in 1995 was estimated at 7% because of improved agricultural production (
After four years of solid macroeconomic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought. But in 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and growth resumed at 4%. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Recurring political instability and corruption within government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors. So long as political stability lasts, the Cambodian economy is likely to grow at a respectable pace.
Meet the Team!
This space is for the biographies and pictures of each team member. These will be posted as they are received. Enjoy meeting each other!!
Members: Bob Bell, Leslie Bell, Jessica Burns, Britt Cosgrove, Ricky Crawford, Stan Duda, Weezie Duda, Erica Duke, Natalie Hawwa, Kathy King, Patty North, Jessical Pilarczyk, Marshall Royer, Vicky Royer, Robbie Serwetz, Skye Sturm, William Svoboda, Suzanne Weinert, Jim White, and Martha Shortlidge White.
Stan Duda – I live in Vermont with my wife Weezie and have two grown children, Matt and Alyssa who both live in the Baltimore/Washington D.C area. We are still t
rying to understand how two children raised in a rural town in Vermont consisting of 800 people have adapted so well to the big city life. Either we have two secure and independent children or they are tired of hanging out with us. We recently moved back to Vermont after having to relocate for employment for 3 years in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
I have spent the past 35 years involved in the construction business and used that knowledge when Weezie and I did a Habitat trip in El Salvador and later in Honduras. My most recent Habitat trip was this May on a test build to Chiang Mai, Thailand as prep for the Carter Hope project. This was my first time in this part of the world and my first build with team leaders Ma and Pa Bell. I enjoyed the country and my time with Bob and Leslie so much that my wife and I decided to join the upcoming build to Cambodia. I am looking forward to connecting with some of the test build team who will be on this trip also.
For those of you who have not been on a team with Bob and Leslie, a few tips I picked up along the way are to give any leftover food to Bob and feed Leslie plenty of ice cream. I have been a fire chief, zoning administrator, youth group leader, college trustee, father, and super husband. I enjoy music, mountain and road biking, racquetball, a good beer, seeing the Red Sox win, laughing with friends and most recently cooking Thai meals learned most recently while in Thailand.
Louise (Weezie) Duda – Though born a Jersey girl, I’ve lived in Vermont since 1969, most of that with my hu
sband Stan and our family on a small horse farm in Shrewsbury, Vermont. Now partially retired after teaching middle school for 26 years, I am passionate ( Stan would say fanatic) about teaching riding and training horses, and feel fortunate that I have been able to follow my dream to do so. Although I enjoyed a few years relocation to the White Mountains in nearby New Hampshire, I am happy to be home in Vermont again. I never could feel comfortable with “Live Free or Die” on my NH license plate and love waking up to Vermont Public Radio again!
This will be my fifth Habitat trip after fantastic trips to Florida, El Salvador, Honduras, and Brazil. My very first team leader was none other than Bob Bell in 2003, so I guess I’d have to admit he was partially responsible spreading the addictive “habititis “to me. I have really enjoyed getting the chance to immerse myself in other cultures, working with local communities to build their homes, and see the world without feeling so much like a “tourista”. When not riding or traveling with Habitat, this empty nester enjoys the outdoors – be it shoveling waist deep snow like this morning so I can shove that wheelbarrow to the manure pile, or gardening and enjoying the hiking or cross country skiing that is right out our door. I enjoy hanging out informally with friends – thus the photo of me at our Cambodian dinner fundraiser – fashionably dressed with apron from cooking, and boots and jacket from running around outside lighting sky lanterns from Stan’s Thailand trip for everyone. After retiring from teaching, I have taken on several different part time jobs – several related to horses of course, but 2 years with Americorps doing PR projects with Neighborworks of Western Vermont and presently leading activity programs in a nursing home. I am apprehensive about having to sit still on this long flight to Cambodia, but look forward to breaking my stereotypes about Asia!
Marshall & Vicky Royer: Don't know that we will be the oldest team members, but suffice it to say, we do have a "few" more years of experience than a lot of you! We have participated in 4 Global Village builds previously, 3 in Alaska and 1 in New Zealand. This however, will be our first experience in a non-English speaking country. We are parents to a boy and girl, all grown up now, and we have a 5 year old granddaughter. Marshall is semi-retired and Vicky still works in the office in our business, a machine shop. In our spare time Marshall enjoys fishing, hunting, and wood carving. Vicky enjoys reading, counted cross stitch and puzzles. And, of c
ourse, we both love spending time with our granddaughter Dylan. We are very excited about about this new adventure and look forward to meeting all of you.
Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Pilarczyk and although my hometown is To
ronto, Canada, I rarely spend much time there. I am finishing up the last year and a half of my doctorate degree in earth sciences. Most of my research involves tsunami prediction, which gives me the opportunity to travel to many beautiful coastlines around the world including Central and South America, and the Arabian Peninsula. Although my one and only hobby right now is finishing up my dissertation, normally (i.e. when I’m leading a more balanced life!), I like to be outside as much as possible; hiking, SCUBA diving, camping, traveling, etc. This will be my first Habitat for Humanity experience and I am so excited to meet and build with all of you!
Hi Team!My name is Natalie Hawwa, and I was raised in Gates Mills, Ohio and currently live in Manhattan. I have spent the past 4 years working as a photo editor for Self Magazine, but am getting ready to move to Beirut, Lebanon to pursue a graduate degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. My hobbies include reading, running and dancing, hanging out with my friends and family and baking! I am beyond excited for Habitat trip, especially because I will be sharing the experience with my best friend of 22 years, Britt Cosgrove. I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and bonding over our build!!
Kathy King - I am a retired High School history teacher who survived 32+ years of teaching in the Seattle area where I was born and raised. I love the Northwest and enjoy
most of the outdoor activities here: hiking, camping, sailing, kayaking, biking, birding, etc. But I also love 'to travel, having taken student groups on 16 trips, mostly to Europe, then continuing personal travel to fascinating places aaround the world. Over the past 8 years I continually gravitated to New Zealand where I now spend most of my winters. That's where I first discovered the Global Village program and afterwards convinced my friend Patty to join me on a build in Bangalore, India. She then signed us up for another build in Katete, Zambia...definitely cases of "Habititus" ensued. I look forward to my first visit to Cambodia and embarking on another wonderful and challenging cultural adventure with all of you.The photo is at a cooking class in Udaipur, India....making chapatis.
Hello everyone! I'm Skye Sturm and I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. I graduated from the University of
Colorado -Boulder with an Architecture degree in May, and moved back to Fairbanks for a job and an adventure. I love the winter here and am excited to experience it in my tiny backwoods cabin with no running water. When I am not busy with my job, I love to design and build furniture that works in a tiny space like mine. My other interests include exploring Alaska (and the world!), historic preservation, hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, cycling, dancing, reading, and learning about cultures and languages. I love doing things with my hands and especially love being outside while working hard, so I can't wait for our Cambodian experience. I've known Bob and Leslie since I was very young and I am definitely looking forward to seeing them again and to meeting everyone on the team!
Hi all – I’m Britt Cosgrove. I was born and raised in Hunting Valley, OH (a suburb of Cleveland), went to college in Vermont and now live in Manhattan. I previously w
orked in fashion PR and after four years decided to go back to school for fashion design. This build is my graduation present upon my completion of school in December. I went on my first Habitat build last summer to Malawi. This trip I will be traveling with my best friend of 22 years, Natalie Hawwa. I can’t wait to get dirty in Cambodia building a home and exploring the country!
Hello! My name is Jessica Burns, a Colorado native and recent Habitat enthusiast. Just over a year ago I went with Leslie and Bob through Habitat to Mozambique...what can I say, now I'm hooked! In terms of trying to sum myself in a paragraph, well...here it goes. Since graduatin
g with a mostly useless but highly informative and interesting in Zoology in 2008, I went back to school a second time to obtain my certification as an EMT - a profession that requires nothing more than a high school education and results in a pronounced pay cut. But what can I say is that I feel more on course than I have in ages. Hypothetically speaking, should the seas part on my command, and pigs grow wings to fly; I will be granted access into a doctorate program in medicine and one day will become a doctor. In the mean time, I spend most of my time working on an ambulance during the week, teaching emergency medicine during the evenings, working at an emergency animal hospital on the weekends and providing pet sitting services on the side. What remaining time I'm afforded is spent with with my beautiful Husky Hailey and my fantastically supportive and tolerant boyfriend Luke. This is what occasionally fills the rest of my life: bowling, roommates, hiking, dog parks, sunsets, running, snowboarding, classical piano, climbing, camping, traveling, friends, concerts, expensive ethnic dinners, movies, and bbqing. So, that pretty much sums me up in a nut shell...at least for right now. I absolutely cannot wait to see Bob and Leslie again in a new and exciting place, and to meet everyone else on board!
I'm Patty North, and I
live in Seattle Washington. For 30+ years I taught in a high school alternative program that served a very diverse population. Never a dull moment! Now I'm retired for the second time. (The first try didn't take.) Married, no kids, one dog that needs therapy. Interests include bicycling, hiking, bird-watching, traveling, sports, reading and volunteering. I'm a veteran of two previous Global Village trips; to India in November, 08 and Zambia in May, 09. I love the cultural immersion, teamwork and hands-on nature of these Global Village builds, so I'm definitely a candidate for "habititis."
Bob and Leslie - pictured in 2008 in Cambodia on a personal trip. It was on that trip was we decided we needed to bring a GV team to this beautiful country.
We currently live in Oregon, after returning from 2+ years assigned in Asia Pacific for Habitat for Humanity, developing the GV program in 14 countries. Prior to that we volunteered at HFHI in Georgia in the GV department. Before being infected with Habititis, we lived for 30 some years in the most beautiful place in the world, Alaska. We taught school in Homer - Bob in a Russian Old Believer village, and Leslie in 8th grade at the Middle School in town. Very opposite experiences that were unique to compare when we got home at night. Our three sons spent most of their school years in Homer. Prior to Homer we lived in Fairbanks for 13 years. Bob is originally from Michigan, Leslie from Florida. Both of us left our families and home states when we were about 18 for Fairbanks, Alaska, although we didn't meet each other there for 10 years!! Two sons, Lars & Anders, and one daughter-in-law, Leslie, and our new granddaughter, Iris Peace, all live within a block of us, which is a blessing. Middle son, Matt, and wife, Nicole, live on the Big Island of Hawaii, which is a great place to visit! We have a great passion for Habitat, especially the Global Village mission. We look forward to meeting new people, renewing old friendships, learning and sharing about a new culture, and working side-by-side with people that have amazing stories and life lessons to teach us all. We look forward to working with each of you!
Members: Bob Bell, Leslie Bell, Jessica Burns, Britt Cosgrove, Ricky Crawford, Stan Duda, Weezie Duda, Erica Duke, Natalie Hawwa, Kathy King, Patty North, Jessical Pilarczyk, Marshall Royer, Vicky Royer, Robbie Serwetz, Skye Sturm, William Svoboda, Suzanne Weinert, Jim White, and Martha Shortlidge White.
Stan Duda – I live in Vermont with my wife Weezie and have two grown children, Matt and Alyssa who both live in the Baltimore/Washington D.C area. We are still t
rying to understand how two children raised in a rural town in Vermont consisting of 800 people have adapted so well to the big city life. Either we have two secure and independent children or they are tired of hanging out with us. We recently moved back to Vermont after having to relocate for employment for 3 years in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
I have spent the past 35 years involved in the construction business and used that knowledge when Weezie and I did a Habitat trip in El Salvador and later in Honduras. My most recent Habitat trip was this May on a test build to Chiang Mai, Thailand as prep for the Carter Hope project. This was my first time in this part of the world and my first build with team leaders Ma and Pa Bell. I enjoyed the country and my time with Bob and Leslie so much that my wife and I decided to join the upcoming build to Cambodia. I am looking forward to connecting with some of the test build team who will be on this trip also.
For those of you who have not been on a team with Bob and Leslie, a few tips I picked up along the way are to give any leftover food to Bob and feed Leslie plenty of ice cream. I have been a fire chief, zoning administrator, youth group leader, college trustee, father, and super husband. I enjoy music, mountain and road biking, racquetball, a good beer, seeing the Red Sox win, laughing with friends and most recently cooking Thai meals learned most recently while in Thailand.
Louise (Weezie) Duda – Though born a Jersey girl, I’ve lived in Vermont since 1969, most of that with my hu
sband Stan and our family on a small horse farm in Shrewsbury, Vermont. Now partially retired after teaching middle school for 26 years, I am passionate ( Stan would say fanatic) about teaching riding and training horses, and feel fortunate that I have been able to follow my dream to do so. Although I enjoyed a few years relocation to the White Mountains in nearby New Hampshire, I am happy to be home in Vermont again. I never could feel comfortable with “Live Free or Die” on my NH license plate and love waking up to Vermont Public Radio again!
This will be my fifth Habitat trip after fantastic trips to Florida, El Salvador, Honduras, and Brazil. My very first team leader was none other than Bob Bell in 2003, so I guess I’d have to admit he was partially responsible spreading the addictive “habititis “to me. I have really enjoyed getting the chance to immerse myself in other cultures, working with local communities to build their homes, and see the world without feeling so much like a “tourista”. When not riding or traveling with Habitat, this empty nester enjoys the outdoors – be it shoveling waist deep snow like this morning so I can shove that wheelbarrow to the manure pile, or gardening and enjoying the hiking or cross country skiing that is right out our door. I enjoy hanging out informally with friends – thus the photo of me at our Cambodian dinner fundraiser – fashionably dressed with apron from cooking, and boots and jacket from running around outside lighting sky lanterns from Stan’s Thailand trip for everyone. After retiring from teaching, I have taken on several different part time jobs – several related to horses of course, but 2 years with Americorps doing PR projects with Neighborworks of Western Vermont and presently leading activity programs in a nursing home. I am apprehensive about having to sit still on this long flight to Cambodia, but look forward to breaking my stereotypes about Asia!
Marshall & Vicky Royer: Don't know that we will be the oldest team members, but suffice it to say, we do have a "few" more years of experience than a lot of you! We have participated in 4 Global Village builds previously, 3 in Alaska and 1 in New Zealand. This however, will be our first experience in a non-English speaking country. We are parents to a boy and girl, all grown up now, and we have a 5 year old granddaughter. Marshall is semi-retired and Vicky still works in the office in our business, a machine shop. In our spare time Marshall enjoys fishing, hunting, and wood carving. Vicky enjoys reading, counted cross stitch and puzzles. And, of c
ourse, we both love spending time with our granddaughter Dylan. We are very excited about about this new adventure and look forward to meeting all of you.
Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Pilarczyk and although my hometown is To
ronto, Canada, I rarely spend much time there. I am finishing up the last year and a half of my doctorate degree in earth sciences. Most of my research involves tsunami prediction, which gives me the opportunity to travel to many beautiful coastlines around the world including Central and South America, and the Arabian Peninsula. Although my one and only hobby right now is finishing up my dissertation, normally (i.e. when I’m leading a more balanced life!), I like to be outside as much as possible; hiking, SCUBA diving, camping, traveling, etc. This will be my first Habitat for Humanity experience and I am so excited to meet and build with all of you!
Hi Team!My name is Natalie Hawwa, and I was raised in Gates Mills, Ohio and currently live in Manhattan. I have spent the past 4 years working as a photo editor for Self Magazine, but am getting ready to move to Beirut, Lebanon to pursue a graduate degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. My hobbies include reading, running and dancing, hanging out with my friends and family and baking! I am beyond excited for Habitat trip, especially because I will be sharing the experience with my best friend of 22 years, Britt Cosgrove. I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and bonding over our build!!
Kathy King - I am a retired High School history teacher who survived 32+ years of teaching in the Seattle area where I was born and raised. I love the Northwest and enjoy
most of the outdoor activities here: hiking, camping, sailing, kayaking, biking, birding, etc. But I also love 'to travel, having taken student groups on 16 trips, mostly to Europe, then continuing personal travel to fascinating places aaround the world. Over the past 8 years I continually gravitated to New Zealand where I now spend most of my winters. That's where I first discovered the Global Village program and afterwards convinced my friend Patty to join me on a build in Bangalore, India. She then signed us up for another build in Katete, Zambia...definitely cases of "Habititus" ensued. I look forward to my first visit to Cambodia and embarking on another wonderful and challenging cultural adventure with all of you.The photo is at a cooking class in Udaipur, India....making chapatis.
Hello everyone! I'm Skye Sturm and I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. I graduated from the University of
Colorado -Boulder with an Architecture degree in May, and moved back to Fairbanks for a job and an adventure. I love the winter here and am excited to experience it in my tiny backwoods cabin with no running water. When I am not busy with my job, I love to design and build furniture that works in a tiny space like mine. My other interests include exploring Alaska (and the world!), historic preservation, hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, cycling, dancing, reading, and learning about cultures and languages. I love doing things with my hands and especially love being outside while working hard, so I can't wait for our Cambodian experience. I've known Bob and Leslie since I was very young and I am definitely looking forward to seeing them again and to meeting everyone on the team!
Hi all – I’m Britt Cosgrove. I was born and raised in Hunting Valley, OH (a suburb of Cleveland), went to college in Vermont and now live in Manhattan. I previously w
orked in fashion PR and after four years decided to go back to school for fashion design. This build is my graduation present upon my completion of school in December. I went on my first Habitat build last summer to Malawi. This trip I will be traveling with my best friend of 22 years, Natalie Hawwa. I can’t wait to get dirty in Cambodia building a home and exploring the country!
Hello! My name is Jessica Burns, a Colorado native and recent Habitat enthusiast. Just over a year ago I went with Leslie and Bob through Habitat to Mozambique...what can I say, now I'm hooked! In terms of trying to sum myself in a paragraph, well...here it goes. Since graduatin
g with a mostly useless but highly informative and interesting in Zoology in 2008, I went back to school a second time to obtain my certification as an EMT - a profession that requires nothing more than a high school education and results in a pronounced pay cut. But what can I say is that I feel more on course than I have in ages. Hypothetically speaking, should the seas part on my command, and pigs grow wings to fly; I will be granted access into a doctorate program in medicine and one day will become a doctor. In the mean time, I spend most of my time working on an ambulance during the week, teaching emergency medicine during the evenings, working at an emergency animal hospital on the weekends and providing pet sitting services on the side. What remaining time I'm afforded is spent with with my beautiful Husky Hailey and my fantastically supportive and tolerant boyfriend Luke. This is what occasionally fills the rest of my life: bowling, roommates, hiking, dog parks, sunsets, running, snowboarding, classical piano, climbing, camping, traveling, friends, concerts, expensive ethnic dinners, movies, and bbqing. So, that pretty much sums me up in a nut shell...at least for right now. I absolutely cannot wait to see Bob and Leslie again in a new and exciting place, and to meet everyone else on board!
I'm Patty North, and I
live in Seattle Washington. For 30+ years I taught in a high school alternative program that served a very diverse population. Never a dull moment! Now I'm retired for the second time. (The first try didn't take.) Married, no kids, one dog that needs therapy. Interests include bicycling, hiking, bird-watching, traveling, sports, reading and volunteering. I'm a veteran of two previous Global Village trips; to India in November, 08 and Zambia in May, 09. I love the cultural immersion, teamwork and hands-on nature of these Global Village builds, so I'm definitely a candidate for "habititis."
Bob and Leslie - pictured in 2008 in Cambodia on a personal trip. It was on that trip was we decided we needed to bring a GV team to this beautiful country.
We currently live in Oregon, after returning from 2+ years assigned in Asia Pacific for Habitat for Humanity, developing the GV program in 14 countries. Prior to that we volunteered at HFHI in Georgia in the GV department. Before being infected with Habititis, we lived for 30 some years in the most beautiful place in the world, Alaska. We taught school in Homer - Bob in a Russian Old Believer village, and Leslie in 8th grade at the Middle School in town. Very opposite experiences that were unique to compare when we got home at night. Our three sons spent most of their school years in Homer. Prior to Homer we lived in Fairbanks for 13 years. Bob is originally from Michigan, Leslie from Florida. Both of us left our families and home states when we were about 18 for Fairbanks, Alaska, although we didn't meet each other there for 10 years!! Two sons, Lars & Anders, and one daughter-in-law, Leslie, and our new granddaughter, Iris Peace, all live within a block of us, which is a blessing. Middle son, Matt, and wife, Nicole, live on the Big Island of Hawaii, which is a great place to visit! We have a great passion for Habitat, especially the Global Village mission. We look forward to meeting new people, renewing old friendships, learning and sharing about a new culture, and working side-by-side with people that have amazing stories and life lessons to teach us all. We look forward to working with each of you!
What to Pack and How to Pack It
WHAT TO PACK & HOW TO PACK IT
IN GENERAL: While Phnom Penh, the capital, is an international city with tourists from around the world, the citizens are relatively conservative in dress. They "tolerate" the liberal dress of visitors, but I always hope that we GV folks are more than "tolerated" - I would hope that we could be embraced and accepted and dress accordingly. In the more rural areas where we will be working, “conservative” is definitely the word to heed when packing. You will need mostly work clothes. Your other activities are casual, but, again, conservative. You may want something a little nicer than work clothes for “R&R” activities. The beach area accepts the attire of whatever their international visitors wear.
Be prepared for cool to warm temps, and dry. Average weather has been shown anywhere from 20 to 32 degrees Celsius (low 70's to high 90's F - try to get use to Celsius and other metric measures!) during the Habitat building and recreation time. To change Celsius to Fahrenheit just multiply the Celsius temperature times 2 (precisely it is 1.8) and add 32. To change Fahrenheit to Celsius just subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and divide by one half (precisely it is .56).
HOW MUCH CAN I TAKE? Depends on your airline. It is changing all the time as to weights and costs. It also makes a difference if you are flying straight to Cambodia or coming from another country within Asia, such as Vietnam or Thailand. Often times it is then limited to 20 kilos (44#). Also, if you are doing any extra travel by van or bus, you will want to limit your bags as well. The buses aren’t equipped to carry the amount of luggage that is allowed on international flights. If you are flying straight home, you may be allowed more weight and therefore you can bring along a roll-up duffle in your one bag and use it as your second bag for your souvenirs!
WHAT KIND OF LUGGAGE SHOULD I USE? We find there is less wear and tear on soft duffels or backpacks, instead of hard suitcases or packs with rigid frames. I know we all like our “wheels” on luggage, but it is possible to have wheels on soft duffels, even some backpacks. Check out your Salvation Army or Goodwill for used luggage if you don’t want to buy something new just for this trip. Also, Joe’s (formerly GI Joe’s) and other sports/outdoor stores have heavy-duty cloth duffels for under $25. We find that the kind of international travel we’ll be doing is kind of hard on luggage, so leave your really nice luggage at home for this trip.
HOW SAFE WILL MY LUGGAGE BE?
Anyplace where poverty is a big issue there is more likely to be a baggage pilferage problem, particularly affecting travelers changing airlines and those flying on smaller airlines. We suggest securing your luggage with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved locks, and/or use an airport plastic wrapping service, and avoid placing electronics, jewelry, cameras or other valuables in checked luggage. Also, avoid using the outside pockets on your duffles unless you intend to put a lock on all of those zippers as well. Make an inventory of items in checked baggage to aid in claims processing if theft does occur.
KEEP IN MIND TO:
KEEP IT APPROPRIATE! We are told to dress “conservatively”. At the worksite, females should wear pants so that knees aren't showing. Males can wear long shorts. Males and females should not have bare or slightly covered shoulders (like tank tops). The same goes for when we are in town and on tours. Women should wear a skirt, or bring along a sarong to wrap around your shorts for special situations, such as entering a temple.
KEEP IT LIGHT! You may find jeans and t-shirts to be hot and uncomfortable. Consider wearing lightweight pants and short-sleeved cotton shirts and blouses for work during the day. If you don’t have any, consider “scrubs”, those lightweight cotton pants/tops worn by your dental hygienists, nurses, doctors. They are looser than you may usually like, but that helps keep you cool. They usually have an elastic waist, which you may find more comfortable also. You can buy them at uniform stores, but they are also often available at Salvation Army or Goodwill or Value Village. If possible, get them with pockets. If you want to spend more money there is lightweight clothing available in travel stores and magazines.
KEEP IT SAFE! We will be in a malarial area (have you talked to your doc about meds and other immunizations yet?). Malaria is caused by mosquitoes that bite between dusk and dawn. Therefore you are going to want to wear long sleeved pants and long-sleeved shirts if mosquitos are present and we are out and about. Tough call when it's warm! So bring something that is also lightweight. If you are wearing sandals in the evenings, wear a lightweight sock with them too.
Dengue fever is also a possibility, which is caused by a mosquito that bites during the day. (Insects have us covered 24/7!!) Wearing long sleeves and long pants during the day are probably not going to work for you in the heat, so you will want to wear some kind of repellent. There is no medication that can be taken to prevent Dengue Fever. But trust me, you don't want to get it. It's also called "break bone fever" because it feels like every bone in your body is broken!
As well as protecting against mosquitoes, wear what is necessary to protect yourself from the sun: hat, bandana, etc.
KEEP IT MINIMAL! You only need 2-3 changes of work clothes for the whole time you are in the village. There is laundry service at the hotel for NO cost!! Of, if you prefer, you can rinse out your own at night. That’s a good reason to keep things lightweight - they dry faster to turn around and wear the next day. Don’t count on laundry opportunities while you are traveling or during “R&R” - wash out at night, or bring enough to change - or just don’t change!
SPECIFIC ITEMS FOR THE WORKSITE
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes (tennis shoes are OK)
- Shorts, pants as described above
- Blouses, shirts as described above
- Work gloves - you could be working with cement as well as wood
- Hat or bandanna - sunburn is a reality and a danger. Some people prefer a broad-rimmed hat, such as a straw hat, to protect the neck.
- Water bottle (bottled water will be available, but you may find it easier to keep track of yours if you pour it into your own unique bottle)
- Day pack/small bag - It will be very helpful if you have a small, simple day pack or bag to put your valuables - camera, documents, etc. - when you are at the worksite.
- We cannot guarantee security for these items if they are left at the hotel, even in their safe. We won’t know for sure until we get there, so just count on keeping these items with you at all times. You may want to wear a passport carrier around your waist or neck for documents, cash, etc, but put them in a zip-lock bag to keep them from soaking up your sweat!
OTHER STUFF YOU WILL NEED when not at the worksite:
- Comfortable/casual walking shoes for travel & R&R - tennis shoes or sandals
- Shower shoes, if you are squeamish about hotel showers - flip flops are OK, but you can also wear your sandals if they are waterproof and that would cut down on an extra shoe to pack.
- Pants/shorts as described above
- Shirts/blouses as described above
- Light-weight jacket or sweater for evenings
- Skirt/dress/sarong - for females when touring certain places (but remember, not for evening because of exposed legs and arms) and no shoulders or knees showing
- Socks - lightweight - enough to wear between washings
- Underwear
- Sleepwear - it gets cool at night and/or there may be air conditioning
OTHER ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:
- Flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor
- Passport, visa photo, e-visa (if you applied online)
- Spending money - for whatever you need for traveling. It is recommended to have $100 cash while in Cambodia for souvenirs, gifts, etc. You can change US dollars to Cambodian Riel at the airport or once you get to town. Credit cards and traveler's cheques are accepted in some places (we find that American Express credit card is the least accepted), but the every day common vendor is going to need cash. We have even found that traveler's cheques are often times not even accepted at the banks to exchange money.
- Insect repellent - DEET level of 30 or higher is suggested
- Sunscreen or lotion
- More patience
- TP Kit (zip-lock bag with hand sanitizer & toilet paper for a couple of trips to the latrine)
- Toiletries
- Laundry bag (mesh, or old pillowcase) - please put your name on the outside of the bag/pillowcase
- Alarm clock
- Throw in an extra dose of “sense of humor”
- Prescription medication, contact lens supplies (could be very dusty) and any other personal needs, including feminine hygiene supplies
- An extra dose of “flexibility”
- More and more patience
- Flashlight, extra batteries
- LED headlamp - a lot handier than a flashlight - in case the electricity goes out at night when you are still wanting to read. These lamps come on a strap for around your head, or there is the kind that snaps onto the bill of a baseball cap
- Waterless antibacterial wash when water is not available (towlettes not recommended because of disposal problem)
- Personal first aid supplies for cuts, blisters, diarrhea ( we will also have a Team First Aid kit, but it helps for you to have your own available in your pocket at the worksite
- Electrical adapters and converters, depending on what you are bringing (see note at bottom for more info)
- What the heck - a little more won’t hurt - add even more flexibility, patience, sense of humor
- Snack foods - This is something you don’t need to pack ahead of time, but may want to consider buying once you arrive. it may happen that you don’t care for all the local foods, and find yourself hungry. It wouldn’t be acceptable to bring your own food to a meal prepared by our hosts, but you could have something back at your own room. You have to keep in mind bugs and heat. Bring some extra zip-lock bags to store the food you purchase.
TOOLS to bring and donate if you can:
- trowels
- hammers (no wooden handles)
- metric tape measures
- levels - 2 foot
- speed squares
- gloves (for handling cement)
- dust mask (for sifting sand, handling cement)
Keep in mind weight and that they have to be in checked baggage. Tools left with the Habitat affiliate will be greatly appreciated, but you can bring along your own to take back with you if you would prefer.
ORPHANAGE/SCHOOL SUPPLIES
We will be visiting an orphanage and/or a local school. Teams in the past have found that these facilities are usually greatly lacking in supplies and wished they had brought some with them. If you care to do this, the items that have been suggested are:
- crayons
- pencils
- pencil sharpeners
- erasers
- pens
- plain paper tablets
- lined paper tablets
- game balls
Remember to keep in mind cultural differences and perspectives which is why it is best to not bring western-style coloring books, or have pencils decorated with western characters.
Some team members that are associated with schools or teacher friends have been able to involve classrooms in the donations - children love to help other children. Then the team member has gone back to those classrooms to show them pictures of the children they helped.
I have not been given any information about clothing needs at the orphanage, or the ages of the children. If/when I do, I will let you know.
OPTIONAL STUFF (consider value, weight, and security):
- Binoculars
- Back support - the work is all manual
- Extra prescription glasses
- Journal, paper, pencil or pen
- Book(s)
- Bible/meditation material
- Games, cards to use at night with just team members (some may not be appropriate to be used with community members)
- Games to play with children at the worksite - frisbees, jump ropes, finger puppets (do not give these to children directly - even simple gifts are not allowed. The kids can use them with you, but they must give them back when you are done playing with the kids each time. Then we will give them to the school to use for all the children when we leave)
- Laundry soap- in case you want to wash something out at night on your own - but we suggest just using your shampoo or other multi-purpose soap (such as Bonner's or Campsuds) to cut down on number of different products you need
- Bathing suit
- A few photos of family and home to share with team and host (remember, pictures of who we are, not what we have - like boats, houses, cars, etc)
- Camera, batteries, extra memory
- Battery charger (dual voltage)
- Sunglasses
- Pocketknife (not in your hand-carry!)
- Small musical instrument - recorder, harmonica
- Ear plugs (you could have a snorer in your room)
STUFF NOT ALLOWED
- llegal drugs
- Firearms, firecrackers
- Bad sense of humor
- Inflexibility
- Short tempers or intolerance
TIPS ON HOW TO PACK IT
- Read again the info at the top as to the kind of luggage to use.
- Your carry-on should have a little of everything, to get you through a few days of waiting for your luggage to catch up with you. You wouldn’t be the first team member that this has happened to.
- For those of you having a tough time with the baggage limit, remember that they don’t weigh YOU! Wear as much weight as you can on the airplane to keep your bags lighter - wear your heaviest shoes, and possibly several layers of clothes. You can take some of those layers off and cram them in your carry-on after you go through the inspection of your carry-on.
- Make sure you can padlock your bag to help insure against theft enroute. Do not put items in unlocked outside pockets.
- Use a combination padlock instead of a key. Read the note at the beginning again about the safety of your luggage - there isn’t any. So really, leave the expensive stuff you don’t need (like jewelry) at home - there will be little to no opportunity to wear it anyway.
- Other valuables (cameras, binocs, etc) should be in your hand-carry.
- Pack leaky items (shampoo, lotions) in zip lock bags - and tighten the cap right before you put them in. Pack most of that in your checked baggage. Read up on the current allowances for liquids in your carry-on.
- Be sure your bag(s) are well labeled with your name and contact info (maybe a friend or family) - it doesn’t do any good for them to try and contact you at home about a found bag since you won’t be at home!
- Simplify your toiletries - if shampoo will work as your body soap, and even laundering your clothes, that will cut down on number of bottles.
- Dr Bonner’s soap - you can wash EVERYTHING, including your teeth, body, hair, laundry, dishes, your roommate …whatever! It’s biodegradable, “green”, plus the bottle is fun to read! Get it in “trial size” and there will be enough for you and a friend. One team member recommends “mint” as it leaves behind a nice tingle, and is best flavor for tooth-brushing. I think it tastes pretty bad no matter what, so I go for “lavender”. REI (outdoor equipment store) and natural food stores carry it.
- A former team member recommended adding some mouth wash (she likes mint for this too) to a spray bottle of water, and using that to “spritz yourself” - it feels tingly, makes you smell better, doesn’t attract mosquitoes like perfumed sprays do, and actually kills some germs!
- Roll-up style space bags are great for compacting clothing items….no vacuum necessary. Hair dryers can be cumbersome. If you can share with others while on R&R, that will help cut down on your weight and space (us girls can chat about that on our own).
Electrical adapters and converters:
Adapters - Cambodia uses two different kind of adapters. One has three FLAT pins; two pins are horizontal, the third pin is vertical. It may be labeled WA-7. Another kind has only two round pins (no ground), and may be labeled WA-9. By the way, the same are used in Vietnam.
Converters - A converter is not the same thing as an adapter. The adapter just makes it so that your plug can fit into their socket. The converter changes the voltage. Often times your appliance, such as a hair dryer, is dual voltage (it's able to change voltage from 120 to 240 and therefore doesn't need a converter). If your appliance doesn’t have that kind of switch right on it, then you need a converter as well to accommodate the wattage of your appliance. Those who try to use an appliance without the converter will be providing exciting entertainment for the rest of us at the cost of your blown-up appliance.
Special note on using a charger and a converter together. Don't. Our experience, as well as others', has been that those two together tend to burn up and melt!!! It's a lot safer to get a battery charger that has dual voltage. Bob got his at REI. You can get it online if you don't have an REI store. If you take lots of pictures you are likely to have a camera that uses rechargeable batteries and you're going to want to have a dual voltage charger.
Converters come in different capacities (wattage). A hair dryer usually takes a pretty big converter so check that out. Converters and adapters can be purchased at a travel store or online (Amazon.com). Target, Joe’s (formerly GI Joe’s) and REI carry them. I have been told that Lowe’s does as well. Check department stores that carry luggage. For the most part, it's just a lot easier to have dual voltage appliances and skip the converter all together.
Adapters and converters are often NOT available in the country you are visiting.
Accommodations, Meals, Transport, & Communication
Our accommodations will be at a standard hotel in Phnom Penh, 2-3 persons/room, with bathroom in each room. The rooms will have AC or a fan.
Breakfast will be taken at the same hotel. Lunch and snacks are provided at the worksite. For dinner, we will go as a team to a local restaurant in Phnom Penh.
We will be transported by van or bus to and from the worksite each day, as well as our cultural activities on the weekend. There are also small tuk-tuks (a tricycle cart for 2-3 people pulled by a small motorbike) that can be used for restaurants and shopping.
The team leader will have an emergency cell phone. The number for that will be distributed closer to departure time, along with other emergency numbers for your family members to use. There are a few "internet cafes" in town that can be used for communications, although they may be limited and slow.
Breakfast will be taken at the same hotel. Lunch and snacks are provided at the worksite. For dinner, we will go as a team to a local restaurant in Phnom Penh.
We will be transported by van or bus to and from the worksite each day, as well as our cultural activities on the weekend. There are also small tuk-tuks (a tricycle cart for 2-3 people pulled by a small motorbike) that can be used for restaurants and shopping.
The team leader will have an emergency cell phone. The number for that will be distributed closer to departure time, along with other emergency numbers for your family members to use. There are a few "internet cafes" in town that can be used for communications, although they may be limited and slow.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Beach! An Optional R&R Event
We do now have confirmed reservations for January 13, 14, 15 in Sihanoukvi
lle, "Snooky" as it's known by the locals, a beach community located on the Gulf of Thailand, about 3 to 4 hours south of Phnom Penh.
It is basically for enjoyment, relaxation, and an opportunity to experience the Khmer culture and foods in a pleasant atmosphere.
Besides relaxing and dining, there are possibilities of snorkeling, scuba, day trips touring around town, walking tours, dirt bike tours, bike and motorized bike rentals, massages, fishing, sailing, learnin
g to cook, volunteering time at Help the Cambodian Children, miniature golf, and more. As time gets closer, those of you who want to do some of these activities can chatter amongst yourself to see if there are like-minded people who want to do the same things in case there are minimum numbers required.
lle, "Snooky" as it's known by the locals, a beach community located on the Gulf of Thailand, about 3 to 4 hours south of Phnom Penh. 
It is basically for enjoyment, relaxation, and an opportunity to experience the Khmer culture and foods in a pleasant atmosphere.
Besides relaxing and dining, there are possibilities of snorkeling, scuba, day trips touring around town, walking tours, dirt bike tours, bike and motorized bike rentals, massages, fishing, sailing, learnin
g to cook, volunteering time at Help the Cambodian Children, miniature golf, and more. As time gets closer, those of you who want to do some of these activities can chatter amongst yourself to see if there are like-minded people who want to do the same things in case there are minimum numbers required. The following are links that were sent to you in an email if you want to investigate the opportunities in advance:
Dirt Bike adventures - http://www.sihanoukville-cambodia.com/sihanoukville-businesses/new5/stray-dog.html
Things to do around Sihanoukville - http://www.sihanoukville-cambodia.com/about-sihanoukville/activities.html
http://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/sihanoukville/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Sihanoukville\
http://www.visit-mekong.com/cambodia/sihanoukville/activities.htm
http://www.sihanoukville-hotels.org/tours
http://www.canbypublications.com/sihanoukville-cambodia/sihanoukville-recreation.htm
Dirt Bike adventures - http://www.sihanoukville-cambodia.com/sihanoukville-businesses/new5/stray-dog.html
Things to do around Sihanoukville - http://www.sihanoukville-cambodia.com/about-sihanoukville/activities.html
http://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/sihanoukville/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Sihanoukville\
http://www.visit-mekong.com/cambodia/sihanoukville/activities.htm
http://www.sihanoukville-hotels.org/tours
http://www.canbypublications.com/sihanoukville-cambodia/sihanoukville-recreation.htm
We will leave by private van/bus on the morning of January 13, and come back to Phnom Penh airport on Jan
uary 16. The cost is estimated to be about $12/person, and you will pay for that at the time. It is possible for you to come back a day earlier if needed, but you may still end up having to pay for the night that you don't use since you'll be sharing a room, and a private taxi back will cost approximately $40.
Participants will pay for the fixed cost of the accommodations in advance. Details will be sent to you in an email. You will pay these costs in advance, directly to your team leader, not through Habitat, and therefore there will be no tax deductible receipts for the funds submitted. Other costs encountered such as meals and activities will be paid by the participant at the time, unless advance booking is required.
It will be necessary to determine if you are going to participate in this optional R&R event and/or other activities before you buy your return airline ticket. It is also possible to consider doing some of your own side-trips, such as Angkor Wat, before having to be in Phnom Penh on January 3.
Some participants may want to do this trip to Sihanoukville and/or visit Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, other parts of Cambodia, and/or neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. If you want to do this, the team leaders will give some suggestions/tips, but all planning needs to be done by the participant.
uary 16. The cost is estimated to be about $12/person, and you will pay for that at the time. It is possible for you to come back a day earlier if needed, but you may still end up having to pay for the night that you don't use since you'll be sharing a room, and a private taxi back will cost approximately $40.Participants will pay for the fixed cost of the accommodations in advance. Details will be sent to you in an email. You will pay these costs in advance, directly to your team leader, not through Habitat, and therefore there will be no tax deductible receipts for the funds submitted. Other costs encountered such as meals and activities will be paid by the participant at the time, unless advance booking is required.
It will be necessary to determine if you are going to participate in this optional R&R event and/or other activities before you buy your return airline ticket. It is also possible to consider doing some of your own side-trips, such as Angkor Wat, before having to be in Phnom Penh on January 3.
Some participants may want to do this trip to Sihanoukville and/or visit Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, other parts of Cambodia, and/or neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. If you want to do this, the team leaders will give some suggestions/tips, but all planning needs to be done by the participant.
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