Back and forth, left and right. Sok Ban relentlessly the kitchen floor until the tiles glisten and gleam. “Please come back in ten more minutes.” she says with her blue hair net rustling to the sway of her body as the mop dances across the tiles.
And so, ten minutes pass…then another five.
Sok Ban hurriedly paces over and resides on her seat. Just before the interview starts she calls over another staff member, Samnang, meaning luck. The two sit beside each other and so, we commence.
Working nine hours a day in a school full of opinionated children and hungry beasts may sound unenjoyable, but the two cooks disagree. Sok Ban stated that the most enjoyable part of her day at work is cooking, “I like cooking the most because it’s my main profession and what I’m most passionate about.” Whereas, Samnang prefers to sell, he further explained that the snack cards the students abhor actually make his job easier. He claimed that “Even though many students complain about the cards it makes our job easier. We don’t need to wait for ABA or worry about change, it’s much faster.” Sok Ban interjected and said “Sometimes it is a bit difficult, so we do make exceptions if it’s only one or two students.”
Many students are under the misconception that the canteen staff members are directly employed under East-West. “We work under Newrest and then the school hires the company’s food services.” said Samnang, sporting his black Newrest polo shirt. Furthermore, when asked about where the baked goods are sourced from: according to Sok Ban “The cookies, madeleines, and such that we sell in the morning are ordered from another company and then brought to East-West freshly baked.” Additionally, “We never sell old food and always follow the appropriate expiration dates. At the end of the day there’s usually only one or two pastries left, mainly croissants.”
Beforehand, we were under the impression that despite the canteen staff members working from 7 AM until 4 PM, that they would still have secondary jobs due to the subpar reputation Cambodia has for its service job wages. Nevertheless, both the staff members ensured that they only worked under Newrest, however, they do have secondary jobs during long holidays, such as summer and winter breaks to uphold a stable income when the schools are closed.
The busy life of a canteen staff member usually goes unnoticed, yet everyday hundreds of students pass them everyday, communicate with them everyday, and eat their food everyday. They’re who keep our tummies full and our bodies nourished. They’re who fulfill our cravings during recess and who listen to our headache inducing complaints about the snack cards. So, next time you’re served by one of them, remember to say thank you!