Songkimleang’s Blog

              My alarm clock rang at 4h30, i knew myself that it was the first day of August and also the departure day for my study tour to Vietnam that I have been chosen by a french test…. I woke up immediately and got into the bathroom. I was ready to leave home at about 5h30. I was sitting on a motordub and saying goodbye to my mum, the only person standing outside the house and waving the hands to me. At the time, my dad and all my siblings are still enjoy their sleeps……

              After a 5 minute drive, i arrived at the Mailinh Bus station near Olympic stadium. There were already some students and teachers waiting there. I jumped off the motor and said hello to all of them. The thing is we still couldn’t see one another’s face clearly. Maybe some had black eyes i guessed. Standing, chatting, and waiting for others were the only things we could do.

               At 6, the bus is ready for us, and all of us jumped onto the bus. I was sitting in the middle of the bus with one unfamiliar guy—Chamnap from RULE. We didn’t have much talk. cuz what we can only do was sleeping. The bus was flying, superb fast….. we then got to Neak Leurng Ferry… Most students got off the bus and tried to find WC i think. While the bus was heading down the ferry, we realized that 2 people were missed. Therefore, we had to wait at the East side for the next ferry, waiting for them to take the next ferry. Woww….. I was a little bit…dont know what to say. After that 10 min wait, we were flying again on the bus. We finally got to the border at nearly 9h….. but we had to eat breakfast first before get to the border pass. When we arrive at the khmer side border, we were all very happy…. taking photographs especially my school group—UHS ( we actually call USS in french). It was very easy at khmer side. Next we got to the VN side. we had to move down all our stuffs down and carry them for checking….. so difficult. While waiting for the others, i saw some students  started to take out their mask to wear, so i did too. I can say that this was my first time that i wear mask. It was so irritating. The problem came out only after 2 students were passed. My friend was stopped by the VN police. I was shocked and felt strange. Why??? I kept asking myself. Luckily i was allowed to pass without problem. I rapidly ran on to the bus. More and more students were coming too. Finally, 3 students was not allowed to cross the border, i kept asking other students why why?? The answer is that they had fever. Oh my got!! we all turned upset………. They said their temperature were over 38 degrees and need further checking. They had to be sent to the hospital, i shouted” WHAT?” At last, they couldn’t go with us. We had lost 3 friends for our first day journey.  Later i was told that at first 4 people was caught but after taking Paracetamol, one teacher was allowed to pass because her temperature had decreased. All of us had nothing to do with this except continue our journey heading to HCMV. The second problem came up no later that 10 minutes, our bus’s aircon was broken. It was noon you know. Everyone was in a steam bus. We can’t even open the windows cuz there was no window. We can only seat and enjoy our free steam. All of our energy was out of stock. Everyone seemed exhausted including me as well. The bus also couldnt stop along the road cuz it’s illegal. At 1h30, we finally arrived our place, AUF ( Argence Universitaire de la Francophone)…… We had to carry our stuffs for another 5 minute walk. At AUF, everyone seemed a bit happy. We drank all their water hahah…….. and they put another big one for us…. Then it’s time for us to get present: head, t-shirt, money for food. Then we had lunch and walking around HCMV. 3 hours walk,,,,, i never experienced. but i did experience that day. We had a great time, taking photos together happily. We finally arrived AUF at 6 under the soft rain. I was the first person who take shower….. very lucky…….. after the preferable shower, we went to eat Pho ….. At 8h30, we got on the sleeping bus…. waiting for the journey to Nha Trang. I was so happy when i saw the bus with nice and comfortable tiny beds and cold air-con. hhahah…… finally i could sleep……