Football in Russia 2

This trip was a package of new experiences for the Cambodian deaf football team. Some of them had played a game in Thailand or Vietnam but none had taken part in an international competition.
They had their share of injuries, too. In addition to this broken hand, the goalkeeper messed up his knee and is coming home in a leg brace.
Meeting deaf people from all over the world was new and exciting also.
Even the travel between the football grounds and the hotel exposed them to a city very different from Phnom Penh.
Finally it was time for the closing ceremony on the last night.

Shoes for sale

Everything worn by human beings gets sold on the streets of Phnom Penh, from hair ribbons and hats to used shoes. There is quite a market in used shoes here. This wagon pulled by a motorcycle has quite an impressive assortment. For me the shoe wagon raises two questions: [1] How do you shop for shoes when the wagon comes around? Do you pick a style (boots or sport shoes or hard soles) and then sort through that category looking for the right size?, and, [2] How does a market for used shoes exist? I tend to wear my shoes till they are not good for me or anyone else.

Football in Russia 1

This week a deaf sports competition is going on in Ufa, Russia, and a football team from Cambodia is participating. It is the first time a Cambodian deaf team has been in a major international competition. It is significant also because the deaf people themselves organized their application to play. It is not a DDP-sponsored activity. Three of the DDP staff went along as interpreters and support staff.

Here is the Cambodian football team at the airport in Phnom Penh, getting ready for departure.
Here is the team 30+ hours later in Ufa in central Russia, taking advantage of a practice day.
Seven countries sent football teams to compete. Countries sent other teams to compete in a variety of other sports also but Cambodia’s first-time participation was limited to football.
Cambodia’s first game was against Russia and Cambodia lost 0-22. Teams from other countries were older and much more experienced and had played internationally before. The Cambodia team was definitely not at the same level. From our management point-of-view, though, the main objective was to give a different experience to Cambodian deaf people and to enable them to make friendships with deaf people from other countries. Here two Russian players pose with a Cambodian play after Cambodia’s loss.
Then it was time for a strategy session, to discuss the loss to Russia and prepare tactics for the next game with Vietnam.

[To be continued]

Boncafé, helping again

10 days after offering a training program to deaf people on how to make and serve coffee in a business, the good people of Boncafé came back to DDP to donate 15 boxes of Oatside, an oatmilk that is especially suited for use in coffee. Never heard of oatmilk? I never had but it’s for real! Thank you, Boncafé!

Cambodian Election 3

There were no surprises in the vote totals in the national election two days ago. With the government banning the only real opposition party, the Cambodian People’s Party had a landslide victory. What may be a minor surprise is that they managed to lost 5 seats in the legislature, only getting 120.

And surprising initially but now probably confirmed by the constant repetition and lack of denial is the probability that Hun Sen, the current prime minister, will resign in four or five weeks to be replaced by his son Hun Manet. I suspect we will hear shortly some official or semi-official voices lauding the imminent transition.

Cambodian Election 2

It was certainly not a common occurrence but this ballot box was delivered by an elephant in on northern rural Cambodian province. The national elections were held Sunday, 23 July.

As was expected, since the ruling Cambodian People’s Party had the main opposition party banned, the CPP took 120 of the 125 seats in the legislature. Here is how the BBC reported the election:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-66283745