Day 10: Taylor Swift, Fa, Coconut Juice, Meeting with Trade Union Rep

Days are going by fast! Today started as usual-Khmer language and culture lesson. After, I continued to work on the HIV teaching manual we will be using once we start our classes. I also created some writing exercises related to the HIV material for the students so they can practice their English writing skills.

For lunch I headed back to the VIP Mini Mart for some Fa (Vietnamese broth and noodles). Taylor Swift music videos were on once again and on repeat! By the time I leave here I think I may know her songs better than she does! Hahaha! During lunch I was reading one of the local newspapers. There was an article about same sex marriages. Like the US, they are not legal here in Cambodia yet. It was interesting though because there was a side story on a female couple that was able to marry recently. It was ok for the females to marry each other because they both had children from previous relationships with men. The reason the government gave for not allowing male same sex marriage is that male marriage cannot create children. Interesting. I have seen several children that are in orphanages and could use parents. Lack of children is not a problem here. Oh the morals.... I did see an ad for Cambodian PRIDE which surprised me a little. Made me glad there are some progressive movements happening here in terms of  equality for same sex couples!

I walked back to the apartment and continued the work on the teaching manual. In the late afternoon we met with a woman who works for the Trade Union. She is a rep for the factory workers and provides them education. We met with her to discuss the possibility of doing our HIV education with the factory workers as they have little education and access to information. I learned that factory workers here make only $55/month! I was shocked! They work Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm, sometimes overtime with no pay.  Just last week the factory workers went on strike demanding higher wages. They were asking for at least $95/month. My in country coordinator told me that is just not realistic (for the factory workers to get that much a salary increase) and they most likely will not get it. So pretty much they make $3/day. How does anyone live off of that, let alone support a family? Astounding! We may be able to do some short classes on the basics of HIV and maybe general health. Those classes may start in mid October. Our meeting was at the Khmer Kitchen because it is easy to get to. I ordered coconut juice and it came in an actual coconut! They just cut an opening for a straw! I got a picture of course! It was good!

That evening Molly, Kate, and I went walking around for a bit, checking out the local clothing stores. Then we headed to dinner at an Indian Restaurant. Eating at a restaurant here is so different from home. They give you as much time as you like. You have to ask to order & ask for the check. Not like at home where people are trying to turn tables to make more money. It is nice here! Much more relaxed in that aspect.

Matt called as we were leaving the restaurant! It was really nice to hear his voice! The women here who see his picture always say how handsome he is! So fit and good lucking! I'm proud! They say if something happens to me they will go to the US and "take care of him." Haha! It was a really nice way to end my day! Now if only I could sleep....