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.
