TEFL Locations in Cambodia - About Cambodia
Banking, General Facts, Language, Medical Insurance, People & Culture, Qualifications, Sending Money Home, Things to bring, Things to do
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There are banks in all provincial capitals in the country, including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kampot and Battambang. Banks offer the usual banking services such as cash advances on credits cards, international currency exchange, telegraphic transfers, cash travelers checks. ANZ Royal Banks, Canadia and SBC Banks offer ATMs with international access. Most banks are open from 8am to 3pm or 4pm, Monday through Friday. Some are open Saturday mornings until 11:30. ATMs are available 24 hours. Below is a list of some of the major banks in the capital, Phnom Penh.
Banks in Phnom Penh
Acleda Bank, Western Union, #61, Monivong, Phnom Penh,Tel:
(855)(0)23-998777, www.acledabank.com.kh
ANZ Royal Bank , #100, Sihanouk, Phnom Penh, Tel:(855)(0)23-726900
#361-363,
Cambodia Asia Bank (CAB), Western Union. 24 hour services at Naga branch,
Naga World Hotel, Phnom Penh, Tel:+(855)(0)23-210900 , www.cab.com.kh
Cambodian Commercial Bank (CCB), Credit cards accepted/Exchange booth
open 7 days, #130, Monivong Road, near the Central Market (Psah Thmei), Phnom
Penh, Tel:+(855)(0)23-426208 , Fax:+(855)(0)23-426116 , CCBPP@online.com.kh,
www.ccb-cambodia.com
Cambodia Public Bank (Campu), #23, Street 114, Phnom Penh, Tel:
+(855)(0)23-214111 Cambodia Mekong Bank Public Limited (MekongBank), Credit
cards accepted, #6, Monivong, Phnom Penh,
Canadia Bank Plc. Full range of banking services, including: MoneyGram,
Traveller Cheque, Foreign Exchange, International Credit Cards & ATM Service,
No. 265-269, Ang Duong St., Phnom Penh, Tel: +(855)(0)23-215285 (9 Lines) Fax:
+(855) (0)23-427 064, Telex: CANADIA KA36188, SWIFT Code: CADI KH PP, E-mail:
canadia@canadiabank.com.kh
Web-site: www.canadiabank.com
Foreign Trade Bank (FTB), Credit cards accepted, #3, Street 114, Phnom
Penh, Tel: +(855)(0)23-724466
Singapore Banking Corporation (SBC), Western Union, #68, Street 214,
Phnom Penh, Tel:+(855)(0)23-214466
www.sbc-bank.com
Union Commercial Bank (UCB), Credit cards accepted, #61, Street 130,
Phnom Penh, Tel: +(855)(0)23-724931
Cambodian Commercial Bank, #26 Monivong Street, Tel:+(855)(0)(23)426145
Local mains voltage is 220 AC, bring a converter for any 110-volt equipment. Power blackouts or power surges are not uncommon. Use a surge guard for sensitive electronic equipment. Email and internet connections are widely available in Cambodia. International (tri-band) cell phones can be used in Cambodia. Internet cafes in Phnom Penh are quite cheap. You are advised that normal precautions against robbery should be taken while in Cambodia. Late at night, it can be dangerous for foreigners to go out walking in the main cities. Use taxis or motorbikes in the evening. The country does not have a high crime rate but often tourists are targeted because they carry money and cameras. In the past tourists have been victims of crime because of the political climate. So, although you may be living in Cambodia for long term and not appear like a tourist, always be on the careful side.
Cambodia's official language is Cambodian or Khmer. This language belongs to the Mon-Khmer (Austro-Asiatic) language family, which can be sometimes confusing and difficult for Westerners to learn. Other languages spoken are Vietnamese and South Chinese dialects. Sanskrit and Pali, especially in the royal and religious arenas, through the vehicles of Hinduism and Buddhism, have considerably influenced Khmer. It is also the earliest recorded and earliest written language of the Mon-Khmer family, predating Mon and by a significant margin Vietnamese. As a result of geographic proximity, the Khmer language has affected, and also been affected by, Thai, Lao, Vietnamese and Cham, all of which are languages in peninsular Southeast Asia. Khmer has its own script, an abugida known in Khmer as Aksar Khmer. Khmer differs from neighbouring languages such as Thai, Lao and Vietnamese in that it is not a tonal language. All the dialects of Khmer are mutually intelligible. Battambang is spoken in northern Cambodia, Northern Khmer or Khmer Surin spoken by ethnic Khmer native to Northeast Thailand, Khmer Krom, or Southern Khmer spoken by the indigenous Khmer population of the Mekong Delta and Cardamom Kher, an archaic form spoken by a small population in the Cardamom Mountains of western Cambodia.
Most teaching contracts come with some form of medical insurance. If your contract does not offer basic medical coverage, then make sure you get one of your own. Do not visit Cambodia without medical insurance. Hospitals are extremely basked in the provinces and even in Phnom Penh, the facilities are generally not up to the standards you may be accustomed to. Anyone who has a serious injury or illness while in Cambodia may require emergency evacuation to Bangkok. With an insurance policy costing no more than the equivalent of a bottle of beer a day, this evacuation is free. Without an insurance policy, it will cost between US$10,000 and US$20,000. This may somewhat be more than an average traveller's budget. Do not gamble with your health in Cambodia or you may end up another statistic! Also check whether the medical coverage, regardless of whether it is offered in the teaching contract or not, is on a pay first, claim later basis. If this is the case, then keep all the documents relating to any medical treatment. It is equally important, in the case of Cambodia, to check that the medical coverage includes the cost of emergency evacuation.
Most of the people who live in Cambodia are ethnic Cambodian, averaging between
90-95% of the total population making Cambodia the most homogenous country in
South-East Asia. Vietnamese make up the largest minority group with about 5% of
the population and Chinese make up another 1%. With one of the highest
population growth rates in Asia (2.5% per year), Cambodia had a population of a
little over 11 million in 1998. Due to the Khmer Rouge rule during which
residents were evicted from the cities, most of the population lives in rural
areas, with only about a tenth living in urban areas.
Religion in Cambodia is predominantly Buddhism with 95% of the population being
Theravada Buddhist. Most of the remaining population adheres to Islam,
Christianity, Animism and Hinduism. Islam is the religion of a majority of the
Cham or known as Khmer Islam and Malay minorities in Cambodia. Cambodia's
official language is Cambodian, or Khmer. This language belongs to the Mon-Khmer
(Austro-Asiatic) language family and is relatively confusing and difficult for
Westerners to manage. French had been the second most popular language until the
1990s, when English made an introduction. Vietnamese and South Chinese dialects
are other languages spoken.
Hindu cosmology has had a great influence in the culture of Cambodia which in
turn has had a rich and varied history dating back many centuries. Cambodian
Buddhism appears an easy going faith and tolerates ancestor and territorial
spirit worship, which is widely practiced in the country. Most important
Cambodian ceremonies which include weddings, funerals and coming of age have
both Buddhist and animist elements. Cambodia is rich in arts and architecture
and this date from the Angkor period. All the surviving monuments are built of
stone or brick, and all are religious buildings. During the Angkor period,
architecture and its decoration were governed by a series of mystical and
religious beliefs. Traditional Cambodian arts and crafts include textiles,
non-textile weaving, stone carving and kite-making. Cambodia has experienced a
recent artistic revival due to increased support from governments, NGOs, and
foreign tourists. Cambodian music has undergone a great deal of westernization.
The Cambodian pinpeat ensemble is traditionally heard on feast days in the
pagodas. It is also a court ensemble used to accompany classical dance for
ritual occasions or theatrical events. Cambodian Dance can be divided into three
main categories: classical dance, folk dances, and vernacular dances.
Khmer cuisine is similar to that of its Southeast Asian neighbours although it
is relatively unknown to the outside world. Cambodian cuisine also uses fish
sauce widely in soups, stir-fried cuisine, and as dippings. Beef noodle soup
known simply as Kuyteav is a popular dish brought to Cambodia by its Chinese
settlers. In Cambodia there is regular aromatic rice and glutinous or sticky
rice. The latter is used more in dessert dishes with fruits such as durian.
Almost every meal is eaten with a bowl of rice. Typically, Cambodians eat their
meals with at least three or four separate dishes. Each individual dish will
usually be one of sweet, sour, salty or bitter. Chili is usually left up to the
individual to add individually. In this way Cambodians ensure that they get a
bit of every flavor to satisfy their palates.
There are a number of places you can go to should you want to remit money from Cambodia. Because money laundering is prevalent in Cambodia, you should head to a licensed agent to send your money home. Below is a list of some places you can go to remit money.
You can also remit through other services such as Moneygram or ikobo. MoneyGram is a global leader in worldwide money transfer services, working closely with specially chosen agents in 157,000 locations across 180 countries and territories. They provide a secure way to send money to your loved ones overseas. Ikobo provides an online money transfer service wherein you can transfer money to your loved ones overseas through a Visa or MasterCard Debit or Credit card. Once you send the money home, your loved ones will receive an iKobo Visa Prepaid card and the money is instantaneously deposited once the transaction is completed. The iKobo card is sent out via regular or express mail depending upon the option chosen by the sender.
Valuables: When travelling to Cambodia for a semi-long period, it is best to travel as light as possible if you have sufficient funds. Make copies of your passport, including the visa. Carry these around once you have found a safe deposit box to put your valuable documents. Bring small notes and good quality US dollars and convert to Reils. Traveller cheques can also be converted to Reils in the larger cities. However, to be on the safer side, do not solely rely on them. If you have a mobile phone and want to stay connected, bring along your instrument. A Cambodian sim card costs $20 to purchase. Some networks, especially UK ones lock their handsets to their network but in Cambodia it is very cheap and easy to unlock these handsets. You may or may not want to bring along your notebook depending on whether the school or your accommodation provides you will a computer.
Clothes, shoes: You must dress properly and according to Khmer standards. This means that women should keep their shoulders covered in classroom situations and not wear shorts, unless they cover your knees. You should be proper and clean. Formal shoes may be required for men in the classrooms. So along with your casual, do carry a pair of formal shoes. Travel light where clothes are concerned because there is plenty of nice, cheap clothing to buy in Cambodia. You will want empty space in you bags for the many things that you are likely to purchase here! Don't bring any heavy clothing, as you will only be wearing the lightest things you have.
General: Don't forget your camera. Film is easy to find or if yours is a digital camera, don't forget the charger along with a travel adaptor. Burning memory cards to CD is not hard even in the smaller cities. So you don't have to worry about this. Do carry along a good travel guide as it will help you greatly when you are looking to find tourist attraction or good eateries for instance. Along with that, do carry your own vitamin or food supplements especially if you are unsure if the ones you consume are available in Cambodia. Bring along your own towels although not too many. If you want to go trekking on your own during your spare time, you should bring your own sleeping bag. You do not need to buy a mosquito net because accommodations provided by most schools will come with the nets.
Medicine: Carry your medication in their original bottles to help avoid security questions and bring along the generic names of your medications since brand names can vary. If you have any questionable drugs or particularly large supplies, you might want to bring a letter from your doctor stating you have a legal right to use these drugs. If you are travelling outside the United States, check to see what you can take with you. Something legal here might be illegal elsewhere. It could get dumped, or you could get dumped in jail. Nonetheless, pretty much anything can be bought from the bigger cities in Cambodia like Phnom Penh, including clothes and antiseptic and anti-diarrhea medicine.
Angkor Wat
There are few places on earth to match the splendour of Angkor Wat. The temple
is the largest religious buildings ever constructed and is truly one of the
wonders of the world. This prime tourist attraction site, the Angkor Wat, is the
epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. The temple was was
built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and
capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to
have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation.
Diving
There are islands off the coast of Cambodia that present diving enthusiasts
great diving experiences. Divers will be fascinated by the wide array of hard
and soft corals, reef fishes and other macro-life. Most of the dive sites are
fringe reef dives, best explored from a boat. The islands around Sihanoukville
are in three groups: Kampong Som, Ream and Royal Groups. The Kampong group is
said to have very good beaches and diving. The best island is K. Rong Samloem
which can take up to 2 1/2 hours to get to. You can see a beautiful heart shaped
bay as you approach this island. From November to February it is better to visit
the sheltered Ream group of islands as the wind is too strong around the Kampong
group. They are about 1 and half hours away.
Visit the Royal Palace
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh was constructed over a century ago to serve as
the residence of the King of Cambodia, his family and foreign dignitaries, as a
venue for the performance of court ceremony and ritual and as a symbol of the
Kingdom. Till this day, it serves as the Cambodian home of King Norodom Sihamoni
and former King Norodom Sihanouk. The Royal Palace complex and attached 'Silver
Pagoda' compound consist of several buildings, structures and gardens
overlooking a riverfront park. Inside the Palace grounds, street sounds are
silenced by the high walls and the various Royal buildings sit like ornate
islands rising from the tranquil, manicured tropical gardens. Except for the
area of the actual Royal residence, the Khemarin Palace, most of the Palace
grounds and Silver Pagoda are open to the public.
The ground plan and style of the palace building are strongly influenced by the Royal Palace in Bangkok.
Take a river cruise
Short river cruises and dinner cruises along the Phnom Penh riverfront are now
popular among tourists. A short cruise typically takes about 1-1/2 - 2 hours and
runs up the Tonle Sap River along the central riverfront area providing a
picturesque view of the Royal Palace, National Museum, parks and Phnom Penh
skyline, and then across the Tonle Sap and up the Mekong River to view floating
fishing villages.
Qualifications
In order to be considered for an English teaching position in Cambodia, schools
look for candidates with a basic degree and a TEFL certificate. With these
qualifications, you will find that you will be receiving multiple offers from
schools. Teaching jobs usually pay around $9-10 an hour with the best school
paying $15. Those wanting to teach English in Cambodia should also be genuinely
interested in and committed to the Cambodian country and culture. The best
precondition is an enthusiastic self-starter with a willingness to work. Schools
look for those with a strong desire to share their knowledge of English with the
Cambodian people.
