The last day in the office.

So today it is Friday and my last official day in the office.  I will need to meet up with Jon sometime on Monday to go over my report and findings but hopefully that will be over a nice cup of coffee somewhere.  Jon is off somewhere…. either Bangkok or Phenom Phen but I can’t remember where, although I think he did tell me…at least twice.  It’s the heat, it addles the brain.

Yesterday was a busy day, hard at it all day doing catch up, and even working through my lunch, which is not easy when you are melting with the heat.  The assignment has gone a bit like my first one in Zambia, I spent most of the first week wondering what I was doing, and thinking I wasn’t really making a difference or doing anything constructive, and then suddenly it all starts to fall in to place.  I had my last reviews with Chantha, covering the payment of staff salaries and inventory control yesterday and then it is all down to finishing my report and getting it to Jon to read ahead of our meeting.   I feel disappointed that I haven’t been as hands on as I was in Zambia, but I realise now that it is more down to time.  I did spend a little longer there and of course I didn’t have three days in the wilderness with no electricity, although having said that there were quite a few days in Zambia when we had no electricity!   

I am now definitely at the stage where I have identified what improvements we could make here at TLC and had I been here a little longer would have started getting to it!  I feel sad in a way that I can’t, as I know Chantha is keen to make improvements.  I think she knows herself some of the things that need to change but, probably due in part to the culture, does not feel empowered to do them. Especially if there is resistance from other members of staff.   In particular she recognises that she is not using QuickBook to its full potential.  But we all know what it is like when you get a new system in, it takes ages to get the hang of it and that is with support from others around you.  Unfortunately, as I have never used the system, I would have to put myself through the idiots guide to QuickBook first before I could be any real help to her, and we are all out of time on that front!

Today did not start brilliantly, slightly dodgy tum again, although not to the extreme bacterial infection sort of upset.  However, after my walk here from the hotel I did need to make a major dash for the facilities.  Only to find there was no water……!!!  Argh!!  Too much information already I know, but these are important issues out here!!  I did contemplate going back to the hotel, but decided to tough it out after Sarkhem assured me he was going to fix it and it would be back on soon.  He did try to explain to me what he had to do, but I think something got lost in the translation, so I smiled sweetly and put my trust in him.  Which was well placed as it was back on by about 10 am.  So normal flushing service was resumed!  Hurrah!!

Tonight I think some of the team are coming out with me for a little farewell party.  Chantha is organising it. There are some ‘local’ bars and restaurants close by which are more Cambodian type prices, so we are going somewhere with good but cheap food.  Not sure what I will drink though, as I am not a fan of beer, but I don’t think the place we will end up in will be serving chilled Chablis by the glass!!  Doubtless my dodgy tum may have something to say about it tomorrow, but what the heck, I have a day off and very nice facilities at the hotel thank you very much!!!  J

I am truly wishing I had brought some Scottish style gifts with me from home.  I did think about it but had so much else to organise in such a short space of time that I didn’t get round to it.  Chantha told me yesterday she has a gift for me….so how embarrassed do I feel.? I will of course stand them a few rounds of drinks tonight, or even pick up the tab for the food if it is not too expensive.  But why did I not buy those silly tartan teddies and see you jimmy quality tammies!!!!!  The would have loved them....wouldn't they?