Bonding experiences - food!



Presenting the Strategy



Up at first light to polish my presentation.  At 10am I presented my communications strategy, the results of one month’s work, to the CARE management team and other relevant staff.  I’ve been here long enough to be consciously incompetent when it comes to really understanding the development sector and how things work in Cambodia so I was quite apprehensive.  But I do know communications so keep reminding myself of that.  It must be interesting to be a Consultant where you work across many varied businesses and don’t really develop intimate knowledge of any.  Knowing telco, marketing and sponsorship as well as I do, this assignment has really pushed me outside my comfort zone and I’ve enjoyed that.

The end of my presentation is acknowledged with flattering words from Stav – and cake (chocolate mousse cake with a passionfruit topping – delicious!) Food must be the world’s most prevalent bonding experience.  Cake is not traditional in Khmer cuisine, but my Khmer colleagues have embraced this sweet treat.  Seyda told me her 20 year old uni student brother and his friends regularly have bake – offs! 

Every meeting deserves cake!

The bonding experience of a meal shared continues over lunch.  A small group of us enjoy, hummous, tabouleh, kibbeh, eggplant, and feta cheese lady fingers at a swish Lebanese restaurant, Le Cedre.  Over lunch Jan tells the story of a shared meal last weekend.  A Dutchman, Jan prepared a Eurpoean goulash for his local friends.  They were so convinced they would not like it they arrived prepared with backup supplies of familiar food.  At the end of the meal no goulash was left!



My dinner was solo.  A Khmer chicken curry at the local next door.  Jusr delicious.  Khmer curries are vey runny – amost like a soup.  This traditional dish is a yellow curry thanks to the tumeric, and spiced with a lovely combination of aromatic herbs including star anise making it quite different to Thai curries.  Its also not too spicy.  I love it and will be seeking out recipes. 

Arriving back to Wonderland I find my hotel staff clambering out of a small car.  Its some small boxy Russian vehicle.  They look like a Guinness book of records attempt in progress as they all climb out!

They’ve been out to buy ice-creams that they share with the guards.  It’s a jolly yummy bonding experience.

Thank goodness I have my local version of the Magnum in my freezer.  Fall asleep dreaming of Mum’s baked dinners – it’s got to be lamb!

Sweet!