Homeward Bound

July 3rd was the last day that we spent at the orphanage. I spent the morning teaching at the preschool. When the kids were released from school for lunch, the teachers began thanking us endlessly for the hard work that we have demonstrated in the previous few weeks. The teachers gave each of us a bouquet of Lotus flower seeds, and said, "thank you for being you, because you have bettered the lives of our children." Walking away from the preschool with the generous gifts and the kind words, I felt both accomplished and very appreciated. It made me realize how much we as a group had actually done, and furthermore, how much we were able to teach the students in such a short amount of time.

At the orphanage, the children earn money by performing traditional Khmer dance shows.When I returned at lunch time from the preschool, the stage was decorated and some of the children were busy in preparation for a final dance that afternoon in our honor. After eating lunch, music began playing and the atmosphere was quickly transformed into a dance party on the stage. Dancing with the children brought me a type of happiness that I am hard-pressed to put into words. There was absolutely nothing in the world that could have made that moment any better for me. It was one of the first times in my life where I was genuinely living in the moment - something that for the past few weeks I have observed the children do at all times.

Goodbye was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do. I found it very difficult to leave the orphanage knowing that in a few days I will be in the care of the people who love me most in this world - my family - while the orphans are waving farewell to the only people who will give them love for a very long time. The kids were distraught and could not stop crying. Each and every goodbye was difficult. It really hit home when I realized that the people who have taught me so much about myself, and whom I have grown to love so much in the past few weeks, I quite possibly may never see again.

Since we left the orphanage I have had time to reflect upon this extraordinary experience and the lessons that I have learned. I will be returning home with a much greater appreciation for everything. Mainly my home, my family, my friends, and my education. This comes from seeing a life lacking these components and realizing how much they are valued by others without them. I learned to look at things with a much more positive outlook. Many of my problems are not problems in the grand scheme of life. I learned to be passionate about everything I do and to go through every day with a smile. I learned to live each experience to the fullest, that everything happens for a reason, and to live in the moment. I am greatly looking forward to returning home and applying these lessons to my everyday life.

Cambodia #3

Love. Unconditional love. Every single morning we are greeted at the orphanage with hugs, kisses, and smiling faces. There is never a dull moment from the minute we arrive until the minute we leave. It’s hard to explain, but every child at the orphanage has the ability to view others without judgment. They don’t care about what you look like, the clothes you are wearing, or the language that you speak. Each child has been through so much, but it seems as though their past pain has only inspired and increased their current love in everything that they do.

Yesterday I was able to use our translator, Meng, to talk to one of the older girls at the orphanage. Her name is Srey Po, and she is 14 years old. Srey Po arrived at the orphanage six weeks ago because her family could no longer take care of her. Her brother teaches at the preschool in the Andong Village. Srey Po said that she has eleven brothers and sisters, only one of which who she has seen or contacted in the past year. She said that she had not talked to her parents since she arrived at the orphanage. If you had met Srey Po with no knowledge on her background, you would never be able to guess that such a hard-working, helpful and kind soul has been through so much. She told me about her plans to finish school, attend college, and become a doctor.

Such goals and aspirations are some of the things that make every child at the orphanage so intriguing. Their courage, attention to detail, independence, and charismatic nature are like none that I have ever seen before. Regardless of what you are doing, you can expect to be given constant love and appreciation, With only five days remaining at the orphanage, I plan to return the unconditional love to these amazing individuals whom have impacted my life on such a large scale.

Cambodia

The past few days I have spent teaching in Cambodian schools. The schools are very different here than they are in America. School is not mandatory, and parents would rather have their children working to earn money for the family than spending a day learning. The few students that do show up to school every day are very smart and eager to learn. Students attend three different schools, one in Khmer, one in English, and one in Japanese. School is 6 days a week. The children all thrive to learn. They are interested in any and all new information given to them.

Yesterday, we began teaching in a preschool. The preschool is in the middle of the slum village called Andong Village. There are 23 students, all of which were dressed in clean white collared shirts, with blue shorts or skirts. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say these are some of the smartest children I have ever met. They have only been learning English for 5 months, however they know as much as any preschooler in America would. There are quiet, they wait for instruction, and they are very disciplined. While asking questions, I was surprised to see 100% participation from all of the students. The preschool is dismissed at 10:30 for lunch, and resumes class at 2:00.

Four of us were fortunate enough to be invited back to the school for parent teacher conferences occurring later that day. We returned with no expectations. Slowly, parents began to arrive. We all sat barefoot on the floor in a circle. A young male, who works in the school, was there to translate the conference for us. I stood up and gave the parents an introduction about who we are, what we are doing, and where we are from. Looking around the room, I made many observations of the parents.

The parents were of all ages, some very young, others very old (probably grandparents). Everyone was dressed up very nicely. Regardless of crooked and rotten teeth, these were some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. The teacher had a ranking system, ordering students from best to worst. As each name was called the parents stood up and you could tell how proud of their children they were. This proved to be a very cultural experience, as some parents even sang songs. Everyone was clapping and happy. They asked us to sing, so we lead them in Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, with full participation. Each parent took turns thanking us for both the work we are doing with their child, and with the community. As each family left, the school provided them with a large bag of rice in order to keep their family healthy.

Today I resumed teaching in the English School with levels 1 and 4. Teaching in the school has been such an amazing and humbling experience. I am so grateful to have met such amazing individuals. In the past week I have learned both so much about myself, and about the amazing opportunities I have been blessed with. The students have taught me that knowledge is universally power and freedom. Knowledge is their ticket to a better life, and I should take advantage of the same opportunities afforded to me here and at home.

Blog #5 Cambodia

Do you ever pay attention to the signs along the road warning a fine for littering? I have never been so thankful for those signs. As a matter of fact I have never been so appreciative of all road laws. It didn’t take much time before I realized how chaotic a society is without them. In Cambodia, the primary method of travel is by motorcycle or “Tuk Tuk” (a small 5-passenger cart pulled behind a motorcycle). Traveling by Tuk Tuk around the city of Phnom Penh is one of the most authentic experiences you could imagine. There are vehicles everywhere, moving in all different directions at various speeds. There are no stop signs, no speed limits, no vehicle regulations, and there is absolutely no police enforcement. Mayhem to say the least! Although, the intriguing part doesn’t come from the hectic traffic patterns, as much the crowded sidewalks. Every inch of available space is covered. Mainly by vendors, who sell any possible merchandise imaginable out of little huts, which often times double as their homes. As you ride along, the most distinct thing that you notice is the smell – always changing and always very strong.

            From our hotel it takes around 45 minutes via Tuk Tuk to the orphanage. When we first arrived on Thursday afternoon, I couldn’t believe the conditions. There is almost nothing there. The orphanage as a whole consists of an old wooden stage, a small kitchen, two bathrooms, and two very cramped dorms, housing over thirty kids. Trash is everywhere, the roofs leak, and it is unsanitary to say the least.

            However poor the living conditions, they do not detract from the beautiful children one bit. When we first arrived, the children rushed to greet us. They welcomed us barefoot with loving eyes, and the most amazing smiles I have ever seen. Immediately they grabbed our hands, gave us hugs and kisses, and a tour of the orphanage. Despite the language barrier, they were anxious to play, and you could tell how excited they were to have love and attention.

            As we started working, I have gained a whole new appreciation for the luxuries I have at home. Yesterday one of my chores was collecting stray clothing and washing it. While completing this, I reflected on how grateful I am for a laundry machine. But later, I thought of the bigger picture. I get to go home from the orphanage and wash my clothes. I have a home, and I have parents. Today we started a project of expanding the girl’s house and adding a bathroom. The girls are so excited about the addition, and while working I realized that I was digging a hole in the ground. A simple hole in the ground is dramatically improving lives. This was both a humbling and a true realization of how fortunate I am.

            After bring around the children for a few days, I have picked up on their finest qualities: strength, hard work, courage, love, and acceptance. I have already learned so much from my time working with them. I am so excited to spend more time getting to know each and every child, and impacting their lives as much as they have already impacted mine.

Entry #4 ~ Before the Trip

The preparation for my trip to Cambodia has been very eye opening. While researching the history, watching documentaries, and looking at pictures, I have realized so many things about myself, and the lifestyle that I live. After watching the documentary “Living on One Dollar” I have been much more conscious of my lifestyle: the food I eat, the clothes I wear, my home, my car, my family. All items of which I depend on every day, but never really take the time to appreciate. I have also become much more aware of every-day wastefulness. This reflection is very difficult, because you truly do not know how much food, water, electricity, etc. that you waste on a daily basis, and how much these resources would mean to a person in a third world country.

I have many fears that are starting to appear as my trip is approaching. Much like before any long trip, I’m nervous of getting homesick. I’m nervous about being away from my family and friends for so long, and the lack of communication we will have. Although this may be hard for me at times, I think it will allow for me to grow as a person, learn about myself, and gain independence. Another fear that I have is being in such a different culture with a language barrier. I worry about this, because I am scared that a language barrier between the children and me will affect our relationships; however, I have been studying the language and culture, and plan to continue studying much more before I arrive.

A few of my friends have been on service trips to Cambodia in previous years and they all have told me to go into the trip with “no expectations”. With this in mind, the only goals that I have set for myself are having a positive and accepting attitude towards everything and working as hard as I can. I think that these goals will really help me to get the most from my experience and will push me both mentally and physically.

Entry #3 ~ Living on One Dollar

Recently I watched the documentary Living on One Dollar, following four young men, who experimented living on just one dollar a day for eight weeks, in rural Guatemala. I highly recommend this documentary to everyone, as it really puts our lives and opportunities into perspective. I found the overall happiness of the Guatemalan people to be the most profound aspect of the documentary. Almost everyone in this village is willing to help others, regardless of how little they have. Families who have almost nothing are able to maintain happiness and positivity. The people of this Guatemalan village were very accepting, and willing to help the men in the documentary, whether it was a simple interview, farming tips, or inviting them over for dinner.

Personally, I do not think I would be able to survive in the conditions displayed in the documentary. One of the guys ended up with stomach parasites, and they did not have the budget to pay for medication. All of the men had fleas after the first couple days. I believe that the medical care and lack of means to afford for care when needed would be one of the most challenging aspects of living in poverty. Many people need medical care, but due to their informal employment, they receive inconstant income, making it almost impossible to receive and pay for the medical help necessary.

Many of the values in which the Guatemalans have are similar to those obtained by people in the United States, as well as my individual values. The Guatemalans from the documentary believe in treating all people with respect. This is a big belief of mine, as I try to treat all people, regardless of our differences, with respect. The Guatemalans also exemplified happiness in even the worst conditions. This is an ethic that I really focus on in my life. No matter what situation, good or bad, I hope that I can extract the good, and smile at the little things that life brings. Another similarity in morals that the Guatemalans and I share is family. I really treasure and appreciate my family, as do the Guatemalans. The Guatemalans were constantly supporting and making sacrifices for their families, such as giving up school in order to help work to make money. Finally, we all place a large emphasis on hard work and education. Every day, regardless the task, it was clear how hardworking the Guatemalans are. They also were eager to learn, and get a good education, as education is often their only avenue out of life-long poverty.

This documentary gave me a new outlook on places in the world where people are truly “born into poverty”. Although very few would choose to live in poverty, their positive attitudes and hard work is very inspiring. There is a lesson to be learned with the amount of happiness that people can obtain in truly simple lifestyles. No material objects are needed to bring happiness. This documentary provided me with more insight as to the lifestyle and hardships of the children I will be working with on my service trip. I will use this in order to better understand the living conditions and background that most of the children have grown up with. It also helped me to realize the problems that the Cambodian people may be facing, and how they deal with them. The documentary taught me a lot about true happiness and selflessness, both of which I hope to bring, and learn more about on my service trip.

Entry #2 ~ What I have Learned so far

As I will be departing in just four short months, I have begun to study all-things Cambodia. In addition to attempting to learn their language, I have learned about the history, religion, economy, government, culture, etc.. What I have learned is astounding. Fortunately, at the beginning of January, my mother and I traveled to Mexico. This was my first real “third-world” experience, and it was eye opening. I had no idea about how the majority of others are living, and it proved to be something that you truly cannot comprehend while just reading about it. On average, a Cambodian will make around $1.25 per day, which is just under $457 per year. Each US dollar exchanges to around 4037 Cambodian Riels. In Cambodia, the main sources of income are tourism, and agriculture. Cambodia mainly produces rice, silk, corn, rubber, and tobacco. They have large exports of these items, as well as fish and clothing to the country’s trading partners, which are the the U.S., Western Europe, and other East Asian countries.

Through my research, I have learned a great deal about the differences in culture that I will need to know during my trip. Some include: bowing to your elders, sitting lower than elders, never pointing your feet at people, not crossing your legs or feet, never leaving chopsticks pointing outside of your bowl, never touching a Buddha statue, and bowing 3 times to the Buddha. Buddhism is the most common religion in Cambodia, with over 95% of Cambodians practicing the religion. Previously I have learned a lot about Buddhism in school, and the practice greatly interests me. I love the mindset and the peacefulness that Buddhists strive for. Their practices are something that I hope to learn more about while I am there.

The history of Cambodia is really astounding, and I am looking forward to learning more about it during my travels. Khmer Rouge was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea in Cambodia. It was formed in 1968 as an offshoot of the Vietnam People's Army from North Vietnam. It was the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Khmer Rouge allied with North Vietnam, the Viet Cong, and Pathet Lao during the Vietnam War against the anti-Communist forces. The organization is remembered especially for the Cambodian genocide. In 2014 two Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Kheiu Samphan were jailed for life, after they were found them guilty of crimes against humanity and responsible for the deaths of up to 2,000,000 Cambodians, nearly a quarter of the country's population, during the "killing field" era between 1975-1979. I cannot believe the history that is so recent to Cambodia, its shocking, and makes me feel horrible for the citizens who have lived through these tough times. It's hard to picture an event of that sort happening in the United States, and what the outcomes would look like.

With each thing I learn, I grow more and more excited to depart on this adventure. I am looking forward to embracing a new language, culture, and religion.