Free Angkor Passes

Sunday started slow. The warm air and light slipping through the curtains. I stayed home, the hum of the washing machine in the background, catching up on laundry and finally putting words to paper, or rather keyboard: blogging, trying to piece together everything that had happened lately, catching up as I'm still trying to do, LOL. Meanwhile, Kiki headed out to Ground Zero for yoga, chasing a different kind of quiet.

By the time she came back, she had a story about a new friend: Maria.

We met her a bit later at Brownie Temple, tucked away from the noise, where smoothie bowls come out cold and colorful, almost too pretty to eat. Like eating healthy ice cream for adults.

Maria was in the middle of a world trip, an open-ended journey that could go anywhere. She had planned to leave Siem Reap already, but something made her stay. She hadn’t quite figured out why yet. During her travels, she worked as a social media manager for local businesses, slipping in and out of places, leaving little digital footprints behind.

After lunch, we got back on our brand-new bikes, already covered in Temple Dirt, but not yet dusty enough, so we rode out again. The road to Ta Prohm Temple never gets old. Red dust under the tires, tall trees arching overhead, the occasional tourist van rushing past. We stopped just before the temple, where hammocks hang lazily between wooden posts. Coconut in hand, feet off the ground, we called my parents. A quiet end to a quiet Sunday.

Monday snapped us back into rhythm.

We walked into school and immediately noticed the difference. Freshly cut grass, little pieces of art hanging in the trees, weeds pulled from between the gravel paths. The students and caregivers had done some gardening over the weekend.

Our weekly team meeting followed. The exchange students joined for the first time, sitting in, observing, still finding their place. It was short, not much to report, so everyone could continue their day.

From there, the day filled itself quickly. A caregiver meeting about daily routines and student well-being. Another meeting about the Learning Centre on Kulen Mountain, plans slowly becoming something real. Momentum building, even if everything still required ten steps when one should’ve been enough.

Later, I sat in on the exchange students’ first classes. Watching from the back of the room, seeing them step into something new. Things are falling into place, moving in the right direction.

The next day, we met up with Sreimom.

She had just come back from India, still glowing from the experience. Snow for the first time, she kept smiling when she talked about it, like she hadn’t quite come down from that moment yet. We filled her in on everything that had happened while she was gone. Her reaction said it all: surprised at how much had changed in such a short time.

Back at school, reality hit again. No electricity. No warning. Someone somewhere was fixing cables, we assumed. That’s Cambodia sometimes. You adapt, or you waste energy being frustrated. I usually land somewhere in the middle.

We kept going. Finished the slides for the Sydney fundraiser. I reviewed more PBL work, tweaking, adjusting. Then I stood at the front gate, looking at that old sign. Faded, worn, not matching what we’re building anymore. I took it down. Time for something new.

The following day came with small wins and small frustrations. Often at the same time.

We reconfirmed the catering system with Madame Café. Everyone was happy, even the exchange students liked the sometimes very local food, which felt like a victory on its own.

After a Kun Khmer training session, sweaty, exhausting. We picked up our passports. Visas sorted. Work permits in hand.

Then came the bank.

At ABA Bank, what we thought would be a quick task turned into confusion. Opening a simple account somehow became… complicated. Papers, stamps, structures. Things we either didn’t have yet or didn’t know we needed. It felt like hitting an invisible wall. The frustrating part was that everyone was giving us a different explanation, as if no one knew the procedure. Navigating a system is one thing, but how do you navigate a non-existent one?

Still, we ended the day on a win: Angkor passes secured. Free access to the temples. A small reminder of why this place is so special.

Dinner was interrupted by a call. Not enough food at school.

Or so we thought.

After a few minutes of unraveling the situation, it turned out there was enough food, just not the kind the students felt like eating. Relief, mixed with a bit of exhaustion.

Afterwards, we leaned into the next day already. Rented a dirt bike. Kulen Mountain again.

And just before bed, a message from Meas, one of our mountain teachers:
“Can you bring the letter tomorrow?”

Of course.

Luckily, we had it at home. One less thing to worry about.

We packed everything, finally turned off the lights, and collapsed into bed, knowing tomorrow would start early again.