Society for Malaria Control in Cambodia

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." 

~ J.R.R. Tolkien

I finally got my volunteer placement figured out and I absolutely love it!  I came here thinking I was going to be working on a women’s rights project but it wasn’t quite what I had in mind.  The people who work there are wonderful and so is  the work they do for the women (and men) of Cambodia, but most of their projects were located outside of Phnom Penh.  This meant that I wouldn’t get to be working directly with people.  I was mostly going to be doing paperwork.  I was ok with that because I enjoy that sort of thing, but I really wanted to work more with people and more with health issues.  

 I am now placed at the Society for Malaria Control in Cambodia (SMCC).  I love it!  It’s totally public health, which I was in desperate need of.  I had forgotten how much I love public health because I have been so focused on social work (which I also love!).  I am learning so much!  It’s been great!

There are two projects that SMCC is working on:

Malaria Project:  SMCC uses a “Bundling Approach Implementation Strategy” to make sure treated bed nets are distributed to at risk areas.  Bed nets are imported from Thailand to wholesalers in the markets in Phnom Penh where they are sold or traded.  The Bundling Approach leverages the existing market for bed nets and encourages insecticide treatment before the point of sale.  Basically, treatment kits are bundled with bed nets to be treated before they are sold. 

Water Jars used to keep water when piped water is unavailable. 

Dengue Fever Project:  SMCC distributed fish to families in “at risk” areas to eat mosquito larvae in places where there is standing water around their house and in their water jars.  As the fish reproduce, offspring are given to neighbors until all or most of the village residents have fish reducing the amount of mosquito larvae.  Another intervention introduced to families in at risk areas is using a cover for their water jars and tanks when piped water is unavailable.  These interventions are encouraged and introduced through educating the communities about the relationship between mosquitoes and illness.

Probably my favorite part about this placement is the director.  He is very passionate and excited about his work.  He is also very excited to have me there!  He speaks pretty good English, but sometimes we struggle to understand each other.  He is excited to show me his work and also teach me about the Cambodia culture.  The other day he brought me a treat that he called, “Cambodian dessert.”  It was fried bananas and these potato muffin things.  They were SO GOOD!  

Then he took me on a field trip to visit some of the program participants and he introduced me to insects…I would ask about something and he would pull over and buy it from the street vendors!  He got me a whole bag of crickets…I tried one, while he eagerly watched.  I started to put the bag away and he said, “Why you no eat more?  It no good?  Eat more, eat more!”  So…I ate more.  He showed me how to pull the heads and legs off.  They were actually really good!  It was just hard to get passed the fact that I was eating giant insects.  I think if they were smaller…like the size of grasshoppers, I would enjoy them more.  Then came the moment he asked me to try the tarantula…I slowly took it out of the bag…and took pictures of it.  He started laughing and I said I needed evidence because no one would ever believe that I ate one!  I pulled the leg off and put it in my mouth; chewing very quickly…it was also pretty good.  I just couldn’t bring myself to eat anymore though.  I was relieved when another person I work with showed up.  I gave it to him and he was very excited!  He ate the first half in one bite!  And smiled the whole time he chewed it!  Then he ate the second half and went on his way.  

 The meeting with the program participants was about an hour or so out of town.  It was located in a classroom next to a beautiful pagoda (temple).  When we arrived, all the girls ran up to the truck.  I got out and they all started to talk to me.  I couldn’t understand a word they were saying, so I just smiled and said hello.  My director asked if I knew what they were saying, and I said I didn’t.  He said they think I’m very beautiful.  I thought it was so sweet!  Then he told me to go in and sit down.  I went in and most of the people were already sitting in desks.  So I sat down at a desk as well.  They all started laughing and were looking at me.  I didn’t know what was so funny…so I continued to smile…Finally the director came in and laughed and said, “Why you sit in desk?  You sit here in front!”  He pointed at some chairs in the front of the room. As I moved to the front, a girl said something (the girl in front wearing pink with the big smile). 

The director said she wanted me to sit in front so they could see my face better!  Then she asked if she could take me home!  They were so sweet and welcoming.  He told them about how I ate a spider leg and they all laughed hysterically!  It was a wonderful experience!  All the way home…I continued to say, “I can’t believe I’m in Cambodia!”  I’m so happy here!

I Can’t Believe I’m Here…

An Introduction

I have been here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia now for a little over two weeks.  It has taken me a long time to process the fact that I am actually here.  This is my first international traveling experience as an adult.  Nothing could really prepare me for this, although I tried.  I read books and articles about Cambodia and was surprised and somewhat saddened at the amount of misinformation I received.  The “preparation process” was overwhelming and I found myself focusing on preparing more for a spiritual and emotional adventure more than gathering material necessities to make my stay here more comfortable.  I suppose by the time my plane was ascending from the Albuquerque airport, my final thought was to have an open heart and mind to the adventure I was embarking on.

Goodbye Albuquerque!

The events that lead up to my decision to travel were subconsciously expected, but denied until the abrupt moment they manifested into my reality.  To make a long story short, I suddenly needed a break from my interrupted routine to rediscover my purpose, dreams, and intentions.  I started to understand the meaning of “following your heart.”  I began to look for reasons to get away and began to pray for guidance and a clear path.  That’s when I started to think of Cambodia…

I have to admit, I knew pretty much nothing about Cambodia.  I didn’t even know where it was located in the world.  The little I did know was that it had a violent past, which seems to be common among most people I talked with before leaving for my trip.  As embarrassing as it is to admit, I was (and still am, although I’m making progress) very naive, critical, and uninformed.  I started to read about other people’s experiences with traveling in Cambodia on forums and blogs.  Based on what I read, I imagined many things that turned out to be completely false (thankfully).  I imagined myself being overwhelmed and uncomfortable with the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of Phnom Penh.  I imagined a less developed city.  I imagined unfriendly people.  I imagined modest but more rugged style.  I imagined violence.  I worried about the food.  I worried about getting lost or kidnapped….a lot of crazy things, that I now feel confident calling crazy.  I’ve come to think people are more eager to write about and share negative experiences than positive. 

Hello Phnom Penh!

 I actually felt at home here within the first day I arrived!  As we drove from the airport to the guest house I’m staying in, all I could think was, “I can’t believe I’m actually here!”  This is probably the most common thing I’ve said to myself while I’ve been here…I find myself saying it both silently and out loud several times a day (it feels like maybe one hundred times or so!) 

 

Another thing I thought about right away was how attractive and beautiful the people are here.  It may not so much be their appearance, although their dark skin, hair, and eyes are some of the most striking I’ve ever seen, as much as it is their attitudes and mannerisms.  It is a very relaxed and friendly culture here.  People’s smiles stand out here like your favorite flower in a big bouquet; they are comforting, beautiful, and I can’t help but be grateful for them because they make smile back.  My smiles here come easy and I feel like they could last a whole lifetime.  I’ve always valued the strength of a smile, but have never experienced them like this.  

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” ~ Mother Teresa

I have never blogged before and am a bit nervous about sharing…but also excited to share my experiences so that people can have an honest perspective of Cambodia…something I wish I had before I came;  Although I am very grateful to be pleasantly surprised and have my expectations challenged.  It’s so much more meaningful and memorable!  My love and thoughts are with you all, until next time…