GRIFFITH GLEANINGS FEBRUARY 2018

This was our third consecutive Christmas in Cambodia, even though we have only been living here continuously for a little over a year. Our main recollection of the first Christmas was that the only Global Interaction worker in the country that December (Catherine) worked a normal work day (Christmas is not celebrated as a public holiday here in Cambodia). After we relocated to Cambodia later that year our second Christmas was more eventful falling on a Sunday and we shared it with new friends from a Khmer church gathered on a lake shore. Our own family felt a long way away in Australia, but our memories were still fresh with the experience of having an early Christmas celebration with our children (admittedly we had to Skype one in from Europe for the occasion!). But this Christmas was very special indeed as we had all of our children together with us in Cambodia (one child only just made it late in the day due to the challenges of last minute flight changes enroute). We enjoyed having the family see where we live near Siem Reap and the opportunity to share with them some of the Khmer culture and people that we have come to love. It was very sad to say goodbye to each one again. We will certainly look forward to Christmas 2019 when we will be back on Australian soil again. You might need to remind us how Australians celebrate it by then!

Recently Rob and Deb shared one of the smaller Buddhist festivals with Deb’s new language nurturer (Bon Meak Bochea). Deb’s new nurturer is closer in age to Rob and Deb and lives in the same village. Part of this festival involves very elaborate floral decorations. Sometimes when our Khmer nurturers are introducing us to culture they are also learning with us. An example of this was when Deb was learning the art of folding lotus flower petals sitting on a mat with a group of ladies. This was also the first time her nurturer had experienced it. Learning side-by-side with our nurturers can sometimes be more about relationship building than learning a new skill.
One of the changes for us in 2018 is more involvement in our community. Deb is now stretching her learning of Khmer language and culture by volunteering as midwife and nurse one day a week at the local village health clinic. Which has required her to register for both in Cambodia and go through governmental acceptance processes. The activity has also made possible Deb extending her visa by 12 months. Deb is enjoying broadening and deepening relationships within our local village, but she is also finding it a great way to gain cultural and professional relationship insights in this role. Rob is still investigating opportunities in agriculture and is extending his visa 3 months at a time until something is in place with an organisation recognised officially with the government.