Peam Village and more IT problems

This morning up early to ride my bike to JWOC, the NGO that received the money from the awards that were won in Hollywood by our film. The money is to be spent bring water and education to an entire village. I brought Steve with me, who is a photographer that has a new Cannon 7D that takes HD video to see if he can stand in for Lyman. Today the students conducted a survey of the present practices of the villagers regarding the source of their water, the reliability of it ( does open pit well go dry in the dry season and/or get polluted by the wet season run off).

I met the Village Chief who was not as dynamic as others we have met. He seemed to understand the need to test and filter but when asked whether he regularly boils his water, his response was not all of the time, as often is not convenient to do so. Peam village is really 4 sub villages and they are planning to put in twelve wells. I am interested in how JWOC works with the Village Chief. It seems that in this instance JWOC is assessing the needs of the village and is determining where the wells are to go. The determination has been made that this is a poor village so that the Villager is paying 5000 riel for a well or $1.25. The money shall go into a Village Fund.

I thought that the Villagers would be excited to meet and greet me as I think they were told that it was through us the funds are available to pay for the will; but I did not feel the sense of gratitude that I had experienced last year. Perhaps because they have yet to see any wells and their attitude I think will change radically when they see the water flow. Although one does realize that Cambodian manners are quite formal and are not generally very expressive or emotional.

Having difficulty again with my wifi connection and could not talk with Lyman and Lauren on skype as we try to put a story book together for the next film and determine whether we have enough material to continue on. So biked back to my apartment, took a swim in the rooftop pool and then spend 3 hours with the IT technician that came over on a Sunday afternoon!! Now it sis working but for how long... hopefully long enough to have call with Belmont.
Then I had dinner at the night market which is sort of a take out deal for the locals. Dinner cost me about $1.75 and was good. It was an adventure biking there in the dark and eating Pro Lok and fried fish and a rice dessert.
So my life here is certainly varied. From the night market eating , to doing this blog and watching Roddick v. Gonsalves in the Australian OPen, such great tennis. Another day of being by myself, sort of.