Cambodia - round three

A snowbound Heathrow and  catching flu almost scuppered our plans but, we managed to arrive in Cambodia, as scheduled, on Christmas Eve.  Henry, who was leaving London before us was not so lucky as his flight was cancelled.  We managed to get him on another one which meant that he spent Christmas Day at Schiphol before continuing to Bangkok in the evening.  Poor Henry.  He had Christmas lunch at Burger King whereas we had ours at a noodle shack in, very remote,  Koh Ker having cooked a lunch for the kids at the school.

They, of course, had no idea about Christmas, but we enjoyed it. Instead of over indulging ourselves on too much food we indulged those in much greater need. I had told Adrian about how much the kids eat when a special lunch is sponsored but, even so, he was shocked. Chopping cabbages and carrots and onions and slicing beef for over 200  hungry children can be a very jolly affair in an outside 'kitchen' with most of the extended Ly family and a few other volunteers from Australia. All carefully overseen by watchful eyes eagerly anticipating the feast to come.  We feed the children at this school a daily breakfast of rice, fish and vegetables grown in the school garden, it is rather meagre as funds do not allow more, but it is, literally, the difference between life and death in this horrifically deprived area..  To get unlimited noodles and beef and vegetables is a rare treat and so the most is made of it. You would not believe how much, even the smallest child, can eat.  Some carefully take some home in their bowls to share with their families.  It is all rather humbling.  Their lunch was augmented by a can of soya milk - even this was taken home by some to be carefully shared.

It was A's first time in Cambodia although he said that I had explained it so well it felt familiar.  we had a HUGE welcome from the Ly family and everyone connected to the house.  A special Christmas Eve meal had been lovingly prepared for us complete with Christmas music.  The house was decorated with a tree and coloured lights and a great effort had been made by all.  Lori had already corrupted the younger family members with the notion of Christmas presents and there was great excitement as they opened the gifts that I had brought for them.

A only had a week here and it went in a whirl as there was so much that I wanted him to see. We had a couple of days in Battambang where our friend Kim showed us around.  We got to ride the bamboo train which thrilled Adrian.  Also, to Kim's amusement, Adrian asked him to take to see the now defunct Battambang railway station.  There was various stuff lying around and Adrian was able to explain to Mr Kim how trains operated and were engineered.  I left them to it languidly waiting in the tuktuk listening to some excellent classical musicians practising in a nearby house. The bamboo train may soon be a thing of the past as the track is being replaced for the new Asean train which will cover South East Asia.

Henry taught English at Tchey School which he said he found hugely rewarding, although I don't think that a career as teacher awaits him.  He too has returned home as his new University term starts this week and he had collection exams just before the term started.  He spent much of his free time revising for his Maths exam by the pool at a local hotel. which can't have been too much of a hardship.

My days are filled with dressing endless wounds at Knar school, a couple of hospital visits with Vei, a boy with cerebral palsy and helping to procure a new wheel chair for him.  He comes from a destitute family with six children.  The youngest was only born last week.  They live in truly pitiful circumstances with no possessions except an endless supply of babies.  Despite this, they do love Vei and do their best for him.  Many poor parents with a handicapped child would have abandoned him.

We have been distributing the new underwear that was so generously donated by Beachborough School in Brackley.  A lack of underwear causes huge problems for the kids here and affects how they are able to play at school.  The reaction to all the lovely new knickers has been very funny. Cambodians love to laugh and there has certainly been some hysterical laughter over the underwear distribution.  The children are thrilled and I have seen them shyly admiring them under their desks and in their bags. A few of the little children have just put them straight on but the older ones have a little more decorum.  It's all very heart warming.

I am engaged in a big personal hygiene project at Knar School which is all looking very promising.  I am determined to get the children there cleaner.  The dirt on some of them is so ingrained it is almost tattooed on. More on this later.

Days pass. Weeks go. Before I know it I will be home again but, for now, I am perfectly content here.