Lesson One "In the Now"

The business of travel creates such excitement for those stepping out of their comfort. Some travel for business, some to reunite with family, for me, I travel to experience culture. I embrace the global community and I will forever be the global student.

The destination this round? Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. For some reason people more often than not, forget about the journey despite the simple formula - getting from point a to point b requires a medium. I was so excited in planning the destinations that I missed my first flight out of Calgary. Quite silly. So what happens when one misses their flight? First off, if there's a will there is always a way. I had not time to beat my head about my mistake. There was an express business flight to Salt Lake City in which I was told, may be able to catch a Los Angeles flight - and it had to arrive before 1pm. I gambled. I booked the flight to Salt Lake and then booked a flight online from Salt Lake to L.A. One thing to note - booking flights online does not guarantee a seat. It will be what it is.

Problem number two. In my haste, I left my journal with details of my journey and my paper ticket out of Los Angeles and onward. My nerves were breaking. In Salt Lake, during my run to wait in line for open seating, I called my beautiful mom to help me out and do some leg work in Calgary. She did just that. I got on the flight to L.A. Now, when you land in L.A. there are two terminals; one for domestic and one for international. So, I booked it out of the building and asked for the quickest way...the A bus. Right, there are about a dozen buses that pass by each 10 seconds. I almost jumped in front of this A bus to flag it down and she let me on. At the next terminal I jumped off and started running to the second floor and to Singapore Air counter. Whew, made it. Lee, the lady at the counter knew who I was and got me on my way. I was escorted to my gate and issued a new ticket and told to not lose this one.

The experience was the first lesson of my journey - stay in the now. Otherwise, by focusing on the destination so attentively, I could easily trip over or fall into the cracks under my feet. Like glacier hiking, there is a definite reason for taking baby steps.

RainWater Cambodia Information

If you could give up one restaurant meal a year for 10 years and in return give a family fresh water, would you? It costs approximately $150US to build a rainwater harvesting system in Cambodia and gives families safe water. How would this change life?

Why Rainwater? What About Water Wells?
Groundwater all over Cambodia is naturally contaminated with arsenic; arsenic causes cancer, respiratory disease, slows cognitive abilities, hearing loss to children, etc. The wells that have been developed by NGOs from around the world are now unsafe to the people. Because of their desperation for water, the local people still use the contaminated wells and in some places the nearest water well access is 10 km. Since watershed planning takes 5-10 years, there is a need for immediate solutions to polluted water - rainwater is one.

What does this organization do?
Rainwater Cambodia is a grass root organization and addresses the problem that only 74% of rural families have access to safe drinking water and that 92% lack access to sanitation. Rainwater harvesting is the most feasible method to provide Cambodians with clean water. Farmers are hit the hardest with the impacts of drought - similar situations are occurring here in Alberta. In Cambodia, hundreds have been forced to work in the city, barely making enough money to feed themselves and their children. The significance of only $150US offers a drastic difference in the lives of many Cambodians.

What They Need?
One of the obstacles for RainWater Cambodia is the funding. They require the construction of a large enough rooftop (10m square zinc sheeting), 20 concrete rings, a flush system and enough hands to eliminate labor costs. The materials cost about $130US and another $50US if the family needs a larger roof - the cost may vary 35% between provinces. If the town was dry for a full year, a single harvest tank will hold enough clean water (5000L) for a household of five people and the tank would sustain them for the full year. Here, in Canada, we domestically use on average 350L per person per day – wasting most of our water in showers/baths (34%), toilets (30%), and Laundry (24%) using only 15% for cleaning and kitchen use. United Nations states that the average water consumption required for drinking and sanitation is about 20-40L per person per day.

My Involvement?
I am funding my way to Cambodia to work with rainwater harvesting and learn about their water (pH and Dissolved Oxygen). Our deteriorating fresh water is caused by industry, agriculture and over consumption. Our first step in change is to educate one another by ways of conservation and innovation of new ways like rainwater harvesting and irrigation.
Since the only effective method of change is by regenerating watershed systems by increasing the partnership between land and water, the research and education needs to start now. The change is long term and so patience and individual efforts are required. In Alberta, there are hundreds of NGOs, governing bodies, and private sectors dedicating time and funding to implement these changes. In Cambodia, NGOs seem to be on their own, however, with the unity of people from around the world, we can create positive change together.