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One of the greatest things about the dorm is that you have all thefreedom to structure your own program and create your own schedule. You have all the resources that the dorm can offer and most importantly, you have 33 enthusiastic girls ready to listen and learn. Their energy and enthusiasm is indescribable and it made everyday at the dorm worthwhile and unforgettable. I put together some information that I would have wanted to have before moving into the dorm and during my first few days of figuring things out. I hope you find the information below useful.
The dorm:
33 girls, Vanna the manager, and Polly the assistant manager. 9 rooms of 4 beds each, 3 kitchens, 2 living rooms with TVs and computers (and internet), an office, 3 sets bathrooms, each with around 3 showers andthree sit-down toilets (no squats here).
Here is a picture of the dorm...my soon to be home for 7 weeks!
Directions to the dorm:
Off Monivong and St. 508, south of the intersection of Monivong and Mao Tse Tung. If you continue on Monivong south of the intersection of Mao Tse Tung, you will pass The Rock (Karaoke building) and RULE(Royal University of Law and Economics) on your left. As Monivong begins to curve, you will see a taller building labeled QB Cube on theright side of the street, the cross street right before this buildingis St 508. Turn right onto 508. Make your first left onto a small, but paved street. You will pass one half bump, one big bump and after arecycling center on your right and a furniture polishing place on yourleft, you will see the cream colored gates of the dormitory on your right. Ring the doorbell and a guard will let you in.
At the dorm:
As part of staying at the dormitory you get a lower bunk bed, sheets, blanket, a pillow and a towel as well as a desk, chair, a laundry basket, and three amazing roommates. The girls take turns preparing all meals and you are welcome to share in all of them! For example, I had some breakfasts, skipped most lunches as the dormitory was too far for me to return to just for lunch and almost always made it for dinner. I got used to eating on the floor and having rice for every meal quickly. Pork dominates dishes during the week as it is easy tocook, fish dishes are usually on weekends as the girls have more time,and beef and chicken are rare. There is also internet and once is awhile the connection is even good enough to skype. You will probablybe in touch with Alan Lightman throughout your stay. You can use this channel to report on any problems at the dorm and enact changes. For example, I found out that the girls were taking turns bringing 50kg bags of rice from their homes every year since the dorm’s food stipend was not enough to buy rice as well as the meals. I reported on this to Alan and within two days he allotted the dorm money for rice. This instance was particularly rewarding.
Technicalities:
There is one white board in the dorm and it is the third floor. Thereis no LCD projector. The announcement board is in the third floor kitchen and you can pin any announcement up here. Most of the girls look at it occasionally, but word of mouth is an even more effective reminder. Internet connection becomes very, very slow when it rains and that usually happened in the evenings when I tried to download something for class that I would hold later that evening. Printers for the girls at times don’t have ink, but there is always a working printer in the office. Paper is provided by the girls, but since I never bought any, I kept borrowing from different people. Extra water bottles and toilet paper are in the closet on the ground floor. The closet is open during day hours and closed afterwards, but someone always has a key. The washing machine is on the bottom floor behind the kitchen and it’s often busy. Most of the cooking for the dorm is done in the ground floor kitchen and the food is then distributed among the three floors.
Dress:
The girls always cover their shoulders and the shortest skirts I have seen them wear were just above the knee, but even that was rare. I never saw any of them wear a shirt that showed cleavage. I tried to dress in a similar fashion, but dress is obviously up to you.
Teaching:
In teaching, I split the girls by their level of English – beginning, intermediate and advanced. There are ~12 advanced, ~17 intermediate,and 4 beginning students.
Schedule:
Breakfast is usually between 6 and 8, lunch between 11 and 12:30, and dinner is usually between 7 and 8. You can eat any time, but that’s when most girls are at the dorm and eating the meal. I found that by 8pm most girls were already home, had dinner, and were not yet sleepy. Starting a lesson at 9pm for a big group meant a class filled with yawns. By 10pm the dorm is quiet and most are getting ready for bed if they are not already there. Below is the girls’ class schedule as I figured out, but classes at school and at the dorm get cancelled and rescheduled all the time.
Monday night: Not sure
Tuesday night: Advanced students have English class
Wednesday night: Intermediate students have English class
Thursday night: Advanced students have English class
Friday night: All are free
Saturday: Like any weekday in terms of classes at the university
Sunday: Beginning and intermediate students have English class 8-11am. Intermediate students have class with Vanna 3-5pm
Fieldtrips:
The girls seem to really like fieldtrips. Not everyone can make it every time, but those who go seem very excited. I got them to go tothe Olympic stadium and an art gallery opening at Meta House. My information on things to do in Phnom Penh such as art openings camefrom places like expatadvisory.com, Asia Life magazine, and Meta Housemonthly schedule publications. If you end up arranging one, one of the girls can take leadership on finding out how many will go and arranging tuk-tuks. The dorm will cover transportation costs.
Group picture of the girls at the dorm.
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Although this information won't be that useful for just regular tourists or other visitors/expats in Cambodia, I am sure it will be invaluable for my trip! I can't wait to start creating some of my own sample schedules!!
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