Today I received some photographs from the trip of the DDP staff to a floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. Click here to view the added photos from the last day of the staff retreat.
REAL Cambodian Fast Food
Earlier I showed a picture of the first drive-thru lane at a modern hamburger fast food place in Phnom Penh. Actually drive-thru lanes have been a part of Phnom Penh life for a long time as this photo shows.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
On the day after Thanksgiving, the Maryknoll team was invited to the Sokha Hotel for their Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the beginning of the hotel’s holiday season. We were invited because one of our former students is now working at the hotel.
The program began with some Christmas carols sung by the children in blue shirts, from a children’s organization that had its roots in Maryknoll fifteen years ago. The Christmas tree was set up in the main lobby of the hotel which is quite impressive because of its size.
Other music was provided by a professional tenor and then the songs sung by the choir above, most of whom are Filipino choir members from the English Catholic community.
DDP Annual Staff Meeting–Day 4
I had to miss most of Day 4 with the group because I had to return early in the morning to Phnom Penh to be home for a special occasion this evening. I was only able to get a few photos before I left in the morning and will depend on some other staff to supplement those with pictures they took during the day while I was in the van coming home. Here are my pictures from the morning before our departure and the others will come as soon as I get them. Click here and then click on Friday for the first batch.
DDP Annual Staff Meeting–Day 3
Today was the last full day of the annual staff meeting and it was definitely a full day. In the morning we talked about what it means to be a deaf-centered organization and how to achieve that, and then in the afternoon we talked about personal goals and a goal for DDP. Click here to see the photos and text I could not add last night.
DDP Annual Staff Meeting–Day 2
Today, the first full day of the annual staff meeting, we focused on budgeting and management’s response to a survey of staff concerns. That was in the morning and then in the afternoon we focused more on team building. Click here.
DDP Annual Staff Meeting–Day 1
Today about 70 of our 85 staff journeyed from Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham and Kampot Provinces to the Metta Karuna Center in Siem Reap for an annual staff meeting. We will be here four days. Click here to see the activity of this first day.
Another First for Cambodia!
“Progress” keeps occurring in Cambodia—if that’s what it is. Now we have a Carl’s Jr hamburger place. I think they are a California chain. We still don’t have McDonald’s but Carl’s Jr joins Burger King in the burger wars. What makes Carl’s Jr different is that it has Cambodia’s first drive-through lane. Notice the order station in front of the man and the pick up point at the right. I have never seen a car go through the lane yet and have been wondering if they will serve the much more numerous motorcycles.
Ordination in Kampong Cham Province
On Saturday, 19 November 2016, Seminarian Sae Sat was ordained a priest for the Kampong Cham diocese at the parish church in Kampong Cham City. Here Fr. Mark Lopez (R) helps Bishop Kike Figaredo untangle the cross that bishops wear as a sign of their office. Click here.
What do they do and how do they do it?
This is an unusual shop near my house in Phnom Penh. A huge sign advertises all kinds of meat and fish and some fowl, but there’s basically no store. There’s just an open area with a small refrigerated display case and a desk–and room to park a couple motorcycles. What do they sell and how do they do it? Do they have a catalog or list that people select meats from? And does this shop deliver the order? Or do people come back and pick up their selections? I have no idea.