As we are living in the Rule of Law country like Cambodia, we have to respect the law just as many others do. Today, we had to go to the place (I don’t know what it’s called) to learn how to ride motorbike correctly (and get the license). It is located at the outskirt of Phnom Penh.

I and Dorm girls who do not have the driving license got up early to reach the place before 8am. We had to be trained for about 150 minutes by 2 lecturers. Then, we had to fill in the forms and submit it to the officers. We did it, and many people did it too. Some people did not know what to do and ask us what to do and what to do next. After the training course, we had to WAIT till about 3pm to take the paper exam and riding motorbike exam for the officers to see, to make sure that we are able to ride motorbike. Of course, we were checked, the health, I meant, whether we are healthy enough to ride motorbike. It took us 1 day, and I had to ask for permission from my universities, either or other girls.

We had lunch altogether at the place. We had prepared food and packed it with us.

Well, today I learned a lot. In the paper exam section, I saw some people enclosed some money with their papers and submitted it to the officers. In the Health Checked section, I saw the officers just stamped, stamped, and stamped on many papers stated that we are healthy enough to ride motorbike, without checking or asking any question to us… and,…  I could not let this nice view pass by, I took a video of the section for 30 second eventually…

It was the New 2010 Year day!!! Happy New Year!!!

Friends sent me messages wish me good luck, healthy, happy, more beautiful… just as what I wished them, too. That is what we generally do when there is an occasion like this.

Today, I got a job at Southeast Asia Television (SEATV), one-day job. I had to be a protocol staff in a big concert of SEATV for the New Year Day. There were the many celebrated singers and the most famous male star in Cambodia invited for the concert. They were Sokunkanha, Cola, Preap Sovath, and some other famous stars.

Actually, because I was a member of UCSS, then the school needed students to help in the concert, and UCSS was the first to go. The concert was really awesome!

Many students who helped in the concert and I got paid for the one-day job by we were invited for having things to eat at Lucky Burger at Sovanna Supermarket on 03 Jan 2010, yet we were allowed to have things in total amount $2 each.

The University of Cambodia Student Senate has established for 3 years (= 3 mandates). The UCSS the third mandate had achieved many projects which were beneficial to the UC students, the University of Cambodia and the society, and now they reached their end date. The University of Cambodia then held an election for the UCSS the fourth mandate.

There were 15 candidates in the election, and I was one of them. I remembered, there were only 3 female candidates including me in the candidate list. Candidates must submit their CV (in Khmer) one week before the Election Day. The election was held at the Conference Center of the University of Cambodia under the presidency of H.E. Samrang Kimsan. Each candidate was given 3minute to promote her/himself in front of the voters (students and lecturers of UC).

I was ready for self-promotion, yet, I did not speak accordingly of what I prepared. I felt like saying something naturally is easier, still well prepared is still needed.

The result of the election released in the same day, just after all candidates had presented themselves and got voted.

I was elected to be the UCSS Treasurer. Actually, I am a LAW and IR student, “That’s ok” I said to myself, “I would learn one more skill”.

The International Client Counseling Competition workshop was held on 11 December 2009 at Sunway Hotel from 8am till 5 pm. There were students and lecturers of Law participated in the workshop. They were the representatives of various universities in Cambodia (in Phnom Penh) such as Royal University of Law and Economic, University of Cambodia, Cambodia Mekong University, Build Bright University, and Panhasastra University. This workshop would help students in building more their capacity in the skill of counseling, with clients in giving solutions and legal advices.

Some of my LAW-friends and I were there since we passed the first step in this competition; therefore, we were invited for the workshop.

Anyway, we all failed in next steps of the competition. It gave us experiences with such a kind of competition, and also each of us got a certificate from USAID, certified that we were trained in the counseling skill.

That was the day of ” Vital Voice” at the US ambassador’s resident in Cambodia. All Harpswell students were invited. It started from 6:30 pm and finished at 8:30 pm.

There were many great people there such as Ms.Carol Rodly, Ms. Mour Sokhour, Ms. Mam Somaly, Ms. Pheakdey, etc. They were invited and were very kind to share their experiences to us such as education, life and works. For example, to the people I talked with like Ms.Pheakdey, she is a person working at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh in charge of Scholarships. She came from a poor family after Pol Pot regime. She fought bravely with her life and she is now her. She is an interesting person. Through her poor up to now, she enjoys her job to provide younger Cambodian generation opportunity study abroad, to get knowledges to develop their country. I appreciate her kindness. Another people I met, for example, a girl from Somaly Mam foundation, told me her sadness things when she was in whorehouse.  It was really sad to hear those things, but she is now recovered and she is willing to help other girls who are having such a condition like her before.

Everyone is living in the same society, but different life and experience. It is god that we could meet and share idea with everybody around us and get to know people. It was a great opportunity for us to joined in “Vital Voice”. I am thankful to Ms.Carol Rodly for giving us this chance and I wish her dream become true soon, and I believe We Can Do It!

Do you know what ECCC is? That is Extraordinary Chambers of the Court in Cambodia. Do you know what ECCC is working with? And what and what?

I have been interested in ECCC. It is the court dealing with Khmer Rough’s Senior Leaders. It is hurt to know that everyone knows Cambodia because of Khmer Rough, but not because of Angkor Wat. Anyway, we have to deal with it.

I have joined in 3 workshops or seminars about ECCC. It was held in RULE the first time I joined. I also had a meeting with Mr. Yu, director of Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-CAM) about Khmer Rough Court. The last workshop I joined for ECCC was held in IFL.

There were 2 really good speakers in the workshop, Mr. Long Panhavoth and Mr. Reach Sambath. Mr. Mei, was 48 years old when he was in Khmer Rough Regime. He is a victim in the regime and now he is 78 years old. He was also be in the workshop. I did not have a chance to take a photo with him. However I took picture with the two speakers.

They provided good knowledge about ECCC. We had a short break for refreshment.

Students and monks asked many questions to the two speakers and they could answer flexibly. After this, we were given a paper to comment the workshop. Everything went on well. Anyway, I commented for the workshop should held in provinces because province people do not familiar with ECCC though.

We got a book, a pencil, and a shirt for joining the workshop. The white T-shirt is so so big!

Here it is;

Since it is so big, I think I gonna give it to my father in province so that he will have a new shirt and wear it in provinces.

After our returning from our holiday, we had to study hard and things just going on and on. There was a charity concert( to help older artists in Cambodia)  in Chaktomok theater, Bosbapanh Concert.

Harpswell got an invitation for two people to join this concert. Anna and Savry accepted to go as VIP for the concert. The price was ranged from $5 to $20. It was fit with the concert. Bosbapanh has a good voice and she could sing in many languages. How can I know she has a good voice? I was also in the concert as a volunteer one. Other Harpswell girls were also volunteer in the charity concert such as Limheang, Engseang, Sokeang and Senglam. We met mamy people there, included Ms. Veasna, our Harpswell board director.

It was the second time I went to Angdoung Hospital for blood donation. It has always been a bit nervous before the thing start. However, it became simple and be safe just after 1hour blood donation. The nurse brought me to refreshment room, to drink water or drinks, to eat eggs and bread and banana, etc. I got only 2 bananas and one bottle of water. The nurse in the refreshment room, gave a big plastic bag with things to eat in it and a big white shirt of Angdoung Hospital for blood donation.

In the first donation I have posted  in this blog, I encouraged people to donate blood, and in this time, I still encourage people to donate blood. It won’t have any problem. Doctor tests you first whether you can donate. He won’t just take your blood. The day I went to donate, there were 3 university students went to donate too.

We were allowed to have a holiday for this occasion. Everyone in dorm left for home. I did have a good time with my family. I helped my mum to serve in her small business house, selling Chinese Noodles. During my days at home, I noticed that my lovely Penda lost his weight…

As we had talked, Anna and Savada would come to my hometown( Banteay MeanChey Province) and stay with me somedays. They also planned to visit Pailen. I joined them to visit Pailen. We met some of Savada’s old friends and went to Phnom Kiev, Phnom Yard, and waterfall. However, we spent only one night in Pailen. Then, Savada left us to visit her mum, and Anna stayed in my house.

Mealea and I brought Anna to visit Panha’s house and we had lunch there. We thought of somewhere with fresh air and quiet to talk, but we were … Funny! After that we went to a park we called Soun Sne Jon Bot ( Countryside Love Park)

Sept 21, 2009 was my sister, Reaksmey’s birthday. Savada came back and joined us on the day. Anna learnt how to make bumping. We had a nice party, joining by my friends, her students.

Pchum Ben is an important traditional ceremony in Cambodia. It is celebrated in September every year. The aim of the ceremony is to offer the food to their ancestors. To reach the food to their ancestor, they have to go to pagoda and ask monks to pray for that.

Since we are living in Phnom Penh, we cannot go and pray in our hometown. We decided to do it in Phnom Penh, and we chose Wat Botom Pagoda to go. We cooked and bought some flower to the pagoda. Anna, was our resident during the time, and she also went to the pagoda with us. She learnt everything here. Here are some pictures of us at the pagoda