Monday, January 29, 2007
Eric's Blog
This is my last night in Cambodia and I'm sad. I don't want to leave. It's nice being here because I realize how much I take people for granted, like my dad. He and I haven't been getting along lately and I miss him so much right now. I want to have conversations with him like we used to. I'm more patient since I've been here. I've had to be very patient, with a 20 hour flight, 5 hour bus ride to Battambang, and a 7 hour boat trip to Siem Reap. After seeing the temples and walking through the structures and climbing the stairs it hit me that I'm in Cambodia. I've learned some of the language from Phala my friend who was our translator in Phnom Penh and Battambang. I felt a sense of pride in helping with the daycare by painting and just playing with the kids. And I know I touched some of the hearts of the children I've encountered. Whether it was playing soccer or eating dinner I know I bonded with people I would never normally have. I don't feel as awkward around the people that are on this trip. I've grown to like everyone here. I know we're all suffering from culture shock but we were there for each other and it made things easier. It's best to go to a foreign country with strangers. You have to work together and rely on each other so you make true friendships. I will miss Cambodia. This experience gave me a whole new outlook on life.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Jeannie's Blog
For me, as a humanitarian and an anthropology professor, a travel study is a way to bring students into a world full of sounds and textures books cannot provide. It’s a chance to go ‘backstage’ so to speak, and get first hand look, a personal perspective, on world events. This trip to Cambodia certainly fulfilled that role. With Chris Wagner as our guide, and with a fistful of email contacts I’d collected putting the trip together, we traversed the country South to North, East to West – and if you count the history and politics we learned about, through time as well. People are SO nice, coming in on holidays, weekends and nights to share their knowledge with a group of visiting students and teachers form WCSU.
In Phnom Penh we visited historical sites grounding us in the recent tragic events of Cambodia’s genocide: we also visited the offices of World Education and found out about programs to help support the arts, to help kids stay in school, and even how Sesame Street (there called ‘Sabai Sabai’ or, Happy Happy) is helping preschool children get a head start. We saw how Princess Marie, daughter-in-law of the King, is trying to also promote the weaving arts and help empower women in her country (and I had a conversation with the Princess about her lunch with Angelina Jolie – a little surreal, a little bit fun!). We met a young American woman working with the Center for Disease Control whose job is to work with the Cambodian government to formulate policies regarding HIV/AIDS. We visited HOPE International Hospital where people line up in the morning to get a lottery number for a doctor’s visit (unless they have a serious illness in which they will seen right away). We visited Sustainable Cambodia in Pursat on our way to Battambang and then we worked. Our arrival in Battambang coincided with a National Holiday and the US Embassy sponsored the “Trio Chicago” playing Gershwin on a stage by the river (kind of surreal!).
At the Sobbhana day care and school, full of children 2 – 6 years old, the poorest children from the poorest villages, WCSU university students played, laughed, taught, made friendships, painted shutters, walls and doors, (and even sanded latrine doors!). They got dirty, but always with a couple of kids in tow. I heard many a student laugh incredulously, “But I don’t like kids!” while walking the school yard with a child in each arm. Maybe it was just these particular kids, maybe it was just learning a little about something inside of oneself you didn’t know was there. I think the week in Battambang, working alongside Khmers, working alongside the school director Sophal, a survivor of the genocide, was amazing. I kept hearing Sophal’s words of her years under Pol Pot echoing in my mind; especially how, with a smile, she described the fear she felt every night, every long dark night, waiting for sun up when she thought, ‘I’ve lived another day.’
We ate lunch and dinner on mats on the floor at the school, and the school cook, a former restaurant chef, was pretty talented! What she can whip up in an outdoor kitchen over an open fire - morning glories, pumpkin, vegetables with pineapple, all kinds of soups and sauces, yummy! (I gained 3 pounds!).Another memory of Battambang - 12 year-old-girl looking about 8 guiding us through the Killing caves, telling of how Pol Pot would slit the bellies of pregnant women and make a necklace of the fetuses; how people were killed by a blow to the back of their heads and if that didn’t kill them, the snakes in the cave would finish the job. I thought about a course I teach where in one section I ask, “Who gets a childhood?”
We also visited the Maddox Jolie Pitt Foundation and heard about their plans for a Millennium Village – and their program and community development directors came out to our site to as well, very kind.
The last stop, Siem Reap, visits to Angkor Wat – and to Angkor Children’s Hospital where we got a tour and information on volunteering abroad. And to the land mine museum, kind of an ad hoc structure built on the lines of a field camp, where amputees are the guides, kids really, who lost limbs while playing in the rice paddies and the forest. Sobering.
And now, at home at my computer, a few days of reverse culture shock before returning to work.
In Phnom Penh we visited historical sites grounding us in the recent tragic events of Cambodia’s genocide: we also visited the offices of World Education and found out about programs to help support the arts, to help kids stay in school, and even how Sesame Street (there called ‘Sabai Sabai’ or, Happy Happy) is helping preschool children get a head start. We saw how Princess Marie, daughter-in-law of the King, is trying to also promote the weaving arts and help empower women in her country (and I had a conversation with the Princess about her lunch with Angelina Jolie – a little surreal, a little bit fun!). We met a young American woman working with the Center for Disease Control whose job is to work with the Cambodian government to formulate policies regarding HIV/AIDS. We visited HOPE International Hospital where people line up in the morning to get a lottery number for a doctor’s visit (unless they have a serious illness in which they will seen right away). We visited Sustainable Cambodia in Pursat on our way to Battambang and then we worked. Our arrival in Battambang coincided with a National Holiday and the US Embassy sponsored the “Trio Chicago” playing Gershwin on a stage by the river (kind of surreal!).
At the Sobbhana day care and school, full of children 2 – 6 years old, the poorest children from the poorest villages, WCSU university students played, laughed, taught, made friendships, painted shutters, walls and doors, (and even sanded latrine doors!). They got dirty, but always with a couple of kids in tow. I heard many a student laugh incredulously, “But I don’t like kids!” while walking the school yard with a child in each arm. Maybe it was just these particular kids, maybe it was just learning a little about something inside of oneself you didn’t know was there. I think the week in Battambang, working alongside Khmers, working alongside the school director Sophal, a survivor of the genocide, was amazing. I kept hearing Sophal’s words of her years under Pol Pot echoing in my mind; especially how, with a smile, she described the fear she felt every night, every long dark night, waiting for sun up when she thought, ‘I’ve lived another day.’
We ate lunch and dinner on mats on the floor at the school, and the school cook, a former restaurant chef, was pretty talented! What she can whip up in an outdoor kitchen over an open fire - morning glories, pumpkin, vegetables with pineapple, all kinds of soups and sauces, yummy! (I gained 3 pounds!).Another memory of Battambang - 12 year-old-girl looking about 8 guiding us through the Killing caves, telling of how Pol Pot would slit the bellies of pregnant women and make a necklace of the fetuses; how people were killed by a blow to the back of their heads and if that didn’t kill them, the snakes in the cave would finish the job. I thought about a course I teach where in one section I ask, “Who gets a childhood?”
We also visited the Maddox Jolie Pitt Foundation and heard about their plans for a Millennium Village – and their program and community development directors came out to our site to as well, very kind.
The last stop, Siem Reap, visits to Angkor Wat – and to Angkor Children’s Hospital where we got a tour and information on volunteering abroad. And to the land mine museum, kind of an ad hoc structure built on the lines of a field camp, where amputees are the guides, kids really, who lost limbs while playing in the rice paddies and the forest. Sobering.
And now, at home at my computer, a few days of reverse culture shock before returning to work.
Friday, January 19, 2007
katerina's Blog
Cambodia. Beauty, hope and courage. Writing this after returning to the United States makes me truly appreciate the whole experience. Oddly enough, we left Cambodia on a hot, clear, beautiful day, and as I am writing this now snow is falling and has blanketed my house in white.
As a senior at Western Connecticut State University I was eager to give up my intercession break for a two and a half week stay in Cambodia. Jeannie Hatcherson first mentioned the trip to me over the summer, and I immediately made up my mind to go. I am no stranger to traveling, and although my family was hesitant about seeing me travel around the world, they were proud of me. I understand why people would be proud, but really I do not feel like I did anything spectacular. Anyone could buy a plane ticket and help out one of the hundreds of NGOs in Cambodia today. I was simply doing something I loved. It felt so right for me. I adore children and have a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been working in day care centers for years and have taught fourth grade, Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. I jumped at the chance of working at the day care run by Hearts and Hands for Cambodia. In preparation for the trip, I ran a bake sale. Luckily the proceeds totaled $250- more than what I had hoped for. My cousin lent a helping hand and organized her high school's National Honor Society to hold a dance, with the fundraising money to go towards the purchase of supplies for the children. Thanks to our hard work, I arrived in Phnom Penh carrying a large duffle bag, overflowing with goodies for the children in Battambang. But there was much to do before we were able to get to the day care.
While in Phnom Penh we toured temples at Takeo, the Royal Palace and the National Museum. We visited Toul Sleng prison, while made my stomach ache. I knew Cambodia's history before I arrived, but stepping into those buildings made it real. It terrified me that a government was capable of committing such horrific crimes on its own countrymen and women. What scared me even more was that the entire world did nothing to stop it. No one prevented the genocide from continuing and no one tried ANY of the Khmer Rouge officials. It dampened my outlook on the goodness of humanity. Looking at those buildings made me cry, for the people of Cambodia and all they have endured. During our stay in Battambang we hiked up a mountain to see the killing cave, where people were killed and thrown to snakes. The reality of the genocide was all around me, and it made me feel sick. To think that happened only 25 years ago blows my mind. We think horrible things like that cannot happen- we say never again. But it happened in Cambodia, it has happened since Cambodia, and it is still happening today. The mine museum we visited in Siem Reap was also hard. Our tour guide was a young boy who had his leg blown off by a land mine, which also killed his brother and sister. Walking around looking at all the destructive weapons used for war reaffirmed my already strong belief that war must end. Knowing there are still 7 million land mines in the jungles and fields of Cambodia scare me. It was a very heavy and emotional time for me.
Another touching experience came for me in Phnom Penh. We visited SFODA orphanage and I fell in love with a newborn baby. He was only five days old and was sick with thrush. I held him and gave him a bottle and he fell asleep in my arms. When I asked what his name was, I was told he had no name. I was told I could name him if I wanted. I honestly did not know what to say. Naming a child is a big responsibility and I felt that I was not worthy of naming the baby. I had just met him, spent a half an hour with him- how could I be the best candidate for selecting his name? After we left SFODA I thought of the little boy. I wanted to name him. When we went back to the center, Chris bought formula powder for him. I held him longer this time, talking to him and dancing with him. I asked again if he was named yet, eager to accept the responsibility. They said no, and that I could choose a name. Siddhartha I said. They said they would call him Hartha for short. It was difficult to leave SFODA that day, as I knew saying good-bye to Siddhartha would be hard.
Chris Wagner who runs Hearts and Hands for Cambodia, introduced us to three Cambodian friends- Phala, Sreymom and Sotia. We became fast friends. Phala spoke English fluently and was able to coach me in Khmer while I helped him with his English. Phala is friends with a group of monks at a pagoda in Phnom Penh and we went to meet them. One spoke very good English and we talked for a while. He asked if I would like to see his house and I went with him to a little wooden house adjacent to the pagoda. He turned on a string of small, bare light bulbs that certainly did not brighten the dark, one roomed house. The beds were draped with the orange toned cloths Buddhist monks are known for. I smiled when I noticed a Coca Cola can atop the monk's shelf. There was a shrine to Buddha, adorned with yellow incense and golden trinkets. I took my shoes and hat off, knelt on the ground, folded my hands and bowed my head for Buddha. I knew what to do, as I observed in pagodas during the days before. I touched my forehead to the ground three consecutive times and folded my hands and bowed my head to Buddha a final time. When I stood up everyone was standing around me and the monk was laughing because I knew the proper way to pay respect to Buddha. That was a unique experience. Another wonderful way to end our trip in Phnom Penh was meeting Princess Marie. We visited her silk shop and she gave us a tour, explaining the good work she has been doing. Meeting a real princess was very cool.
We departed Phnom Penh by bus with Phala, Sreymom, Sotia and their brother Bontin in tow. On the long drive to Battambang, we stopped in Pursat to visit an organization called Sustainable Cambodia. Out of all the organizations we visited I was most impressed with this one. The thing that made their work stand out from all the rest was that they insisted they accomplished nothing without the people. I liked how they were letting the people make their own decisions. We traveled to one of their village sites, and of course the swarms of children were a distraction for me. But the way in which the people of the village took initiative and propelled the work to be done was amazing. They decided who they wanted to represent the village, they decided the projects to be done and they were the manpower in getting the projects off the ground. Sustainability is obviously their main goal. It allowed me to see humanitarian aid orchestrated with the needs of the people as a priority. It was by far the best philosophy I have ever heard. Sustainable Cambodia should be a pillar to all NGOs around the world focusing on humanitarian work.
Our week long stay in Battambang was by far the most memorable point of the trip. I will miss the food at the center- the black pepper sauce, morning glory, rice and pineapple! The children at the day care were hesitant to meet us in the beginning, but by the end of the first day I had three kids holding onto each arm. Driving up to meet the children every morning was wonderful. They were eagerly looking for us and smiling. I even gave the little girls a bath! That was one of my fondest memories. Everyday a little 5 year old boy named Kot would grab my hand and pull me around the playground, speaking very fast in Khmer, as if I understood. His fingers and toes were deformed at birth- he only had one full toe and 4 full fingers. With Phala and Sreymom's help I interviewed him for the sponsoring program. He lives with his grandmother, who has HIV. His parents are divorced and his father works in Thailand, although he says he never sees them. I loved spending the week with Kot and the other children. We played Khmer games and we taught them the Limbo, Hokey Pokey, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, and Ring around the Rosey. We attempted to teach them songs in English, but the language skills were not yet there. The children successfully counted to 10 and sang Where is Thumbkin? in English. Darla lead teaching courses for the five child minders at the center. Since I have an Early Childhood degree, I assisted Darla with the instruction for the child minders. I made instruments from empty cans and bottles (recycling!!) and made a learning book for one of the child minders. It included the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors and identifications in English. Darla used the Khmer educational posters they had and showed the teachers how to use these as learning tools. She gave them pointers on what to teach and how to teach it, and made up activity centers. Without Darla's help all of the teaching supplies would be locked up in cabinets.
We also brought a play for the child minders to teach the children- The Cambodian Cinderella. The child minders took this on as their special project and the final play was performed during our party. Another unveiling we planned for the party was presenting the community with a newly painted building. Unfortunately, the painting did not go as smoothly as we would have hoped for, but by the last day the building had a fresh coat of bright paint and was reorganized by Darla. A mural was started in one of the rooms, with animals and nature scenes on the walls. For our last day at the center we threw a party. The parents were invited, as well as members of the villages. We distributed new clothes and shoes to the children and their families. Me and the other students sang a hello song in Khmer. The children sang a few songs and put on the Cinderella play. I adored how they used Batman slippers in place of a glass slipper. The costumes and makeup on the children were adorable and for their first play, they did very well. We celebrated with cookies, oranges, bananas and soda. It was a wonderful way to end our week. It was sad saying good-bye to the child minders, as I spent a lot of time working with them during the week. We gave each of them gifts and bid them good-bye. Then it was time to say good-bye to Phala, Sreymom and Sotia. Sreymom presented us with paper flowers she made, in our favorite colors. Sreymom and I cried, while Phala kept saying how happy he was. I will miss them and think about them often. We quickly became close friends, and it was sad to have to wish them good-bye.
The following day we left Battambang by boat for Siem Reap. I was happy we traveled by boat instead of bus, although I did get too much sun sitting on top of the boat. Tonle Sap Lake felt like the ocean, and the scenery for the whole trip was amazing. Sopaul traveled with us, which made me happy to still have Cambodian company. I spoke to her a lot about her personal experience during the Khmer Rouge and how firmly she believes in education. She is a strong woman, and I look up to her determination and strength. Siem Reap was spent touring Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples. Tuk tuks were a major form of transportation. We rode elephants up a mountain to watch the sunrise. That same day we watched the sunset from Angkor Wat. I partially defeated my fear of heights when I climbed up and down the vertical, small stones steps to reach the top of Angkor Wat. Despite my anxiety it was worth it. My favorite temple was Ta Prohm. The towering trees growing off the temple were breathtaking! They were so monstrous and alive, and they way they wrapped their thick roots around the stones were unbelievable. One night we went to an Apsara dance show. The costumes, slow movements and rhythms of the dancers were beautiful! I hope the Apsara dance is still taught to children today. It is such a rich cultural experience that should be shared for generations.
Now that I am home, I wish I could go back. I believe that helping others makes me grow into a better person. It cleanses my soul. It makes me happy, grateful, compassionate, understanding and appreciative. It puts life in perspective and makes me realize what is truly important. It makes me realize how all humanity strives for the same things- happiness and health. It makes me want to change the world. New ideas burst into my head. I get sick with the thought that my children will have to grow up in a world filled with suffering, poverty and war. Every act of kindness helps, and I am set on spending the rest of my life doing all that I can to help others. It was a wonderful trip, and I am looking forward to returning to Cambodia as soon as possible.
As a senior at Western Connecticut State University I was eager to give up my intercession break for a two and a half week stay in Cambodia. Jeannie Hatcherson first mentioned the trip to me over the summer, and I immediately made up my mind to go. I am no stranger to traveling, and although my family was hesitant about seeing me travel around the world, they were proud of me. I understand why people would be proud, but really I do not feel like I did anything spectacular. Anyone could buy a plane ticket and help out one of the hundreds of NGOs in Cambodia today. I was simply doing something I loved. It felt so right for me. I adore children and have a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been working in day care centers for years and have taught fourth grade, Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. I jumped at the chance of working at the day care run by Hearts and Hands for Cambodia. In preparation for the trip, I ran a bake sale. Luckily the proceeds totaled $250- more than what I had hoped for. My cousin lent a helping hand and organized her high school's National Honor Society to hold a dance, with the fundraising money to go towards the purchase of supplies for the children. Thanks to our hard work, I arrived in Phnom Penh carrying a large duffle bag, overflowing with goodies for the children in Battambang. But there was much to do before we were able to get to the day care.
While in Phnom Penh we toured temples at Takeo, the Royal Palace and the National Museum. We visited Toul Sleng prison, while made my stomach ache. I knew Cambodia's history before I arrived, but stepping into those buildings made it real. It terrified me that a government was capable of committing such horrific crimes on its own countrymen and women. What scared me even more was that the entire world did nothing to stop it. No one prevented the genocide from continuing and no one tried ANY of the Khmer Rouge officials. It dampened my outlook on the goodness of humanity. Looking at those buildings made me cry, for the people of Cambodia and all they have endured. During our stay in Battambang we hiked up a mountain to see the killing cave, where people were killed and thrown to snakes. The reality of the genocide was all around me, and it made me feel sick. To think that happened only 25 years ago blows my mind. We think horrible things like that cannot happen- we say never again. But it happened in Cambodia, it has happened since Cambodia, and it is still happening today. The mine museum we visited in Siem Reap was also hard. Our tour guide was a young boy who had his leg blown off by a land mine, which also killed his brother and sister. Walking around looking at all the destructive weapons used for war reaffirmed my already strong belief that war must end. Knowing there are still 7 million land mines in the jungles and fields of Cambodia scare me. It was a very heavy and emotional time for me.
Another touching experience came for me in Phnom Penh. We visited SFODA orphanage and I fell in love with a newborn baby. He was only five days old and was sick with thrush. I held him and gave him a bottle and he fell asleep in my arms. When I asked what his name was, I was told he had no name. I was told I could name him if I wanted. I honestly did not know what to say. Naming a child is a big responsibility and I felt that I was not worthy of naming the baby. I had just met him, spent a half an hour with him- how could I be the best candidate for selecting his name? After we left SFODA I thought of the little boy. I wanted to name him. When we went back to the center, Chris bought formula powder for him. I held him longer this time, talking to him and dancing with him. I asked again if he was named yet, eager to accept the responsibility. They said no, and that I could choose a name. Siddhartha I said. They said they would call him Hartha for short. It was difficult to leave SFODA that day, as I knew saying good-bye to Siddhartha would be hard.
Chris Wagner who runs Hearts and Hands for Cambodia, introduced us to three Cambodian friends- Phala, Sreymom and Sotia. We became fast friends. Phala spoke English fluently and was able to coach me in Khmer while I helped him with his English. Phala is friends with a group of monks at a pagoda in Phnom Penh and we went to meet them. One spoke very good English and we talked for a while. He asked if I would like to see his house and I went with him to a little wooden house adjacent to the pagoda. He turned on a string of small, bare light bulbs that certainly did not brighten the dark, one roomed house. The beds were draped with the orange toned cloths Buddhist monks are known for. I smiled when I noticed a Coca Cola can atop the monk's shelf. There was a shrine to Buddha, adorned with yellow incense and golden trinkets. I took my shoes and hat off, knelt on the ground, folded my hands and bowed my head for Buddha. I knew what to do, as I observed in pagodas during the days before. I touched my forehead to the ground three consecutive times and folded my hands and bowed my head to Buddha a final time. When I stood up everyone was standing around me and the monk was laughing because I knew the proper way to pay respect to Buddha. That was a unique experience. Another wonderful way to end our trip in Phnom Penh was meeting Princess Marie. We visited her silk shop and she gave us a tour, explaining the good work she has been doing. Meeting a real princess was very cool.
We departed Phnom Penh by bus with Phala, Sreymom, Sotia and their brother Bontin in tow. On the long drive to Battambang, we stopped in Pursat to visit an organization called Sustainable Cambodia. Out of all the organizations we visited I was most impressed with this one. The thing that made their work stand out from all the rest was that they insisted they accomplished nothing without the people. I liked how they were letting the people make their own decisions. We traveled to one of their village sites, and of course the swarms of children were a distraction for me. But the way in which the people of the village took initiative and propelled the work to be done was amazing. They decided who they wanted to represent the village, they decided the projects to be done and they were the manpower in getting the projects off the ground. Sustainability is obviously their main goal. It allowed me to see humanitarian aid orchestrated with the needs of the people as a priority. It was by far the best philosophy I have ever heard. Sustainable Cambodia should be a pillar to all NGOs around the world focusing on humanitarian work.
Our week long stay in Battambang was by far the most memorable point of the trip. I will miss the food at the center- the black pepper sauce, morning glory, rice and pineapple! The children at the day care were hesitant to meet us in the beginning, but by the end of the first day I had three kids holding onto each arm. Driving up to meet the children every morning was wonderful. They were eagerly looking for us and smiling. I even gave the little girls a bath! That was one of my fondest memories. Everyday a little 5 year old boy named Kot would grab my hand and pull me around the playground, speaking very fast in Khmer, as if I understood. His fingers and toes were deformed at birth- he only had one full toe and 4 full fingers. With Phala and Sreymom's help I interviewed him for the sponsoring program. He lives with his grandmother, who has HIV. His parents are divorced and his father works in Thailand, although he says he never sees them. I loved spending the week with Kot and the other children. We played Khmer games and we taught them the Limbo, Hokey Pokey, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, and Ring around the Rosey. We attempted to teach them songs in English, but the language skills were not yet there. The children successfully counted to 10 and sang Where is Thumbkin? in English. Darla lead teaching courses for the five child minders at the center. Since I have an Early Childhood degree, I assisted Darla with the instruction for the child minders. I made instruments from empty cans and bottles (recycling!!) and made a learning book for one of the child minders. It included the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors and identifications in English. Darla used the Khmer educational posters they had and showed the teachers how to use these as learning tools. She gave them pointers on what to teach and how to teach it, and made up activity centers. Without Darla's help all of the teaching supplies would be locked up in cabinets.
We also brought a play for the child minders to teach the children- The Cambodian Cinderella. The child minders took this on as their special project and the final play was performed during our party. Another unveiling we planned for the party was presenting the community with a newly painted building. Unfortunately, the painting did not go as smoothly as we would have hoped for, but by the last day the building had a fresh coat of bright paint and was reorganized by Darla. A mural was started in one of the rooms, with animals and nature scenes on the walls. For our last day at the center we threw a party. The parents were invited, as well as members of the villages. We distributed new clothes and shoes to the children and their families. Me and the other students sang a hello song in Khmer. The children sang a few songs and put on the Cinderella play. I adored how they used Batman slippers in place of a glass slipper. The costumes and makeup on the children were adorable and for their first play, they did very well. We celebrated with cookies, oranges, bananas and soda. It was a wonderful way to end our week. It was sad saying good-bye to the child minders, as I spent a lot of time working with them during the week. We gave each of them gifts and bid them good-bye. Then it was time to say good-bye to Phala, Sreymom and Sotia. Sreymom presented us with paper flowers she made, in our favorite colors. Sreymom and I cried, while Phala kept saying how happy he was. I will miss them and think about them often. We quickly became close friends, and it was sad to have to wish them good-bye.
The following day we left Battambang by boat for Siem Reap. I was happy we traveled by boat instead of bus, although I did get too much sun sitting on top of the boat. Tonle Sap Lake felt like the ocean, and the scenery for the whole trip was amazing. Sopaul traveled with us, which made me happy to still have Cambodian company. I spoke to her a lot about her personal experience during the Khmer Rouge and how firmly she believes in education. She is a strong woman, and I look up to her determination and strength. Siem Reap was spent touring Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples. Tuk tuks were a major form of transportation. We rode elephants up a mountain to watch the sunrise. That same day we watched the sunset from Angkor Wat. I partially defeated my fear of heights when I climbed up and down the vertical, small stones steps to reach the top of Angkor Wat. Despite my anxiety it was worth it. My favorite temple was Ta Prohm. The towering trees growing off the temple were breathtaking! They were so monstrous and alive, and they way they wrapped their thick roots around the stones were unbelievable. One night we went to an Apsara dance show. The costumes, slow movements and rhythms of the dancers were beautiful! I hope the Apsara dance is still taught to children today. It is such a rich cultural experience that should be shared for generations.
Now that I am home, I wish I could go back. I believe that helping others makes me grow into a better person. It cleanses my soul. It makes me happy, grateful, compassionate, understanding and appreciative. It puts life in perspective and makes me realize what is truly important. It makes me realize how all humanity strives for the same things- happiness and health. It makes me want to change the world. New ideas burst into my head. I get sick with the thought that my children will have to grow up in a world filled with suffering, poverty and war. Every act of kindness helps, and I am set on spending the rest of my life doing all that I can to help others. It was a wonderful trip, and I am looking forward to returning to Cambodia as soon as possible.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Blog from Dr Darla SHaw regarding Staff Development at the Day Care Center.
From the first day I visited Chris Wagner's Day Care Center in
Battambang I started providing staff development for the director and
5 child minders at the school. Each afternoon we would meet for an
hour or two. I would talk in Engish and the director would translate.
I showed the child minders how not to just have posters on the walls,
but to take them down, label thm and use them in mini lessons. I
showed them how to do the same with any and all items found around the
room; stuffed animals plants, wooden houses, dolls, etc.
By the second day I was there the child minders had taken the posters
off the wall and were using them to teach the childrn. They were
beginning to look at a literacy environment in a new way. On the
second day I went into make posters with the children from items found
out doors as well as from items found in newspaper and magazines. I
particularly focused on categories such as family, housing, plants
animals, sports, religion, food, transportation, etc. By the end of
the day the child minders were going through periodicals to develop
charts. I was so happy when they begin to collect pictures and words
to help children develop the concept of word families and sounding out
words.
On the third day of my visit I begin to take all of the items I found
in the school and put them into interactive learning centers. I
developed centers for puzzles, math, reading, writing and vocabulary,
science, art and construction, and role playing. The child minders
immediately begin to help me find material to put in the learning
centers. They were definately getting the concept of interactive
learning.
Throughout the week we taught the children new games and songs that
the child minders learned and reinfoced with the children. We did the
hokey pokey, the limbo, This is the way you brush your teeth, head,
shoulders, knees and toes, the itsy bitsy spider, when you are happy
and you know it, Simon Says......etc, etc..etc...The children loved
these new games and songs and sang them along with thumbkin, old
McDonald, counting and the ABC taught to them by Chris.
Probably the biggest learning for the childminders was how to go from
a story and storytelling to putting on a play with the children. They
had never done this before. Before coming to Cambodia I wrote a
modified version of the Cambodian Cinderella and each day the child
minders practiced it with the older children. They did such a
wonderful job. They added parts, props, costumes, music and an
incredible stage. Everyone was so excited about the play.
One Friday the parents came to the school to see their children
perform for the very first time on a stage. They had not seen a play
before and the talent of their children. They were so very proud.
Not really being a pre school teacher, I had to take everything I knew
from my 50 years of teaching and put it all togther. I think it
really worked as each day I saw new activities transpiring at the Day
Care Center. The directors and child minders are so eager to learn
and apply. I am so glad I had the opportunity to work with them and
really make a difference.
Battambang I started providing staff development for the director and
5 child minders at the school. Each afternoon we would meet for an
hour or two. I would talk in Engish and the director would translate.
I showed the child minders how not to just have posters on the walls,
but to take them down, label thm and use them in mini lessons. I
showed them how to do the same with any and all items found around the
room; stuffed animals plants, wooden houses, dolls, etc.
By the second day I was there the child minders had taken the posters
off the wall and were using them to teach the childrn. They were
beginning to look at a literacy environment in a new way. On the
second day I went into make posters with the children from items found
out doors as well as from items found in newspaper and magazines. I
particularly focused on categories such as family, housing, plants
animals, sports, religion, food, transportation, etc. By the end of
the day the child minders were going through periodicals to develop
charts. I was so happy when they begin to collect pictures and words
to help children develop the concept of word families and sounding out
words.
On the third day of my visit I begin to take all of the items I found
in the school and put them into interactive learning centers. I
developed centers for puzzles, math, reading, writing and vocabulary,
science, art and construction, and role playing. The child minders
immediately begin to help me find material to put in the learning
centers. They were definately getting the concept of interactive
learning.
Throughout the week we taught the children new games and songs that
the child minders learned and reinfoced with the children. We did the
hokey pokey, the limbo, This is the way you brush your teeth, head,
shoulders, knees and toes, the itsy bitsy spider, when you are happy
and you know it, Simon Says......etc, etc..etc...The children loved
these new games and songs and sang them along with thumbkin, old
McDonald, counting and the ABC taught to them by Chris.
Probably the biggest learning for the childminders was how to go from
a story and storytelling to putting on a play with the children. They
had never done this before. Before coming to Cambodia I wrote a
modified version of the Cambodian Cinderella and each day the child
minders practiced it with the older children. They did such a
wonderful job. They added parts, props, costumes, music and an
incredible stage. Everyone was so excited about the play.
One Friday the parents came to the school to see their children
perform for the very first time on a stage. They had not seen a play
before and the talent of their children. They were so very proud.
Not really being a pre school teacher, I had to take everything I knew
from my 50 years of teaching and put it all togther. I think it
really worked as each day I saw new activities transpiring at the Day
Care Center. The directors and child minders are so eager to learn
and apply. I am so glad I had the opportunity to work with them and
really make a difference.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Jeffrey's Blog
While travelling around Cambodia with our tour guides, I have picked up some vocabulary and a glimpse of the Khmer dialect. After growing up with English as my primary language and studying Spanish in school, I forgot the range of languages across the world. For example, learning some of the dialect in Cambodia is a big challenge since it is difficult to detect a difference in sounds, sounds unlike consonants, vowels or words in English or Spanish. With much practice and coaching, I am beginning to get a few important phrases and words that will help while working with the children at the day care this week.
After working with the children at the day care in Battambang for a few days, it was enlightening to visit the homes of some of the children. Mounds of hay, a small, one room hut made from straw and mud, a herd of children from nearby, and a few lush gardens of vegetables. One of the owners of this house is a 44 year old woman with about a half-a-dozen children, one of which recently graduated from the day care. To describe the woman in a few adjectives, I would use weathered, strong. It was enlightening to be able to see her living environment and compare it to homes in the United States: the difference is enormous. For example, we have rooms for every type of occasion – cooking, eating, socializing, hosting, sleeping, dining, entertainment, etc – whereas they have basic necessities mostly made from available resources. For me and many Americans, it is difficult to even imagine life in remote Cambodia – that is, without the Internet, a stocked kitchen, electricity, or a two-story house. Visiting the remote people of Cambodia was a reminder of how much I and many others take for granted when luxuries become the norm.
Whereas day care in America is more of a start to the education process, the day care in Cambodia is a second home for the children, from bathes, to meals, to playtime, to learning, to a loving and supportive environment for growing. In one of the interviews with a child’s family, the mother commented that her children would love to go to the day care seven days a week if they could. I found this comment as a proclamation of how much the day care impacts the lives of the children.
A perfect example of the day care as a second home came in the form of a little boy, Sumbat, whom eventually became “my son” for the week. While playing with the children on the playground, he hit his head on the edge of a cement step, leaving a deep cut in the back of his head. After calmly standing up, he held his head and soberly walked to sit down. No tears. Expecting to see a flood of tears and to hear blaring sobs, the boy quietly sat holding his wound without a flicker of pain. The day care staff cleaned the wound and took the boy to a nearby hospital in Battambang. Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by the hospital. After being frisked for weapons, we walked through a courtyard to meet immediately a very friendly doctor, speaking both Khmer and English. After visiting several orphanages and hospitals in Cambodia thus far, I was impressed not only by the clean facility but the professional and knowledgeable staff. For example, the building was immaculate, well-lit and organized, and the doctor used sterile instruments, properly cleaned the wound, and explained how to properly maintain the treatment. I was very impressed by the hospital, the best in town according to the people of Battambang. Like my visit to the Battambang hospital, my overall experience so far in Cambodia could not have been better.
After working with the children at the day care in Battambang for a few days, it was enlightening to visit the homes of some of the children. Mounds of hay, a small, one room hut made from straw and mud, a herd of children from nearby, and a few lush gardens of vegetables. One of the owners of this house is a 44 year old woman with about a half-a-dozen children, one of which recently graduated from the day care. To describe the woman in a few adjectives, I would use weathered, strong. It was enlightening to be able to see her living environment and compare it to homes in the United States: the difference is enormous. For example, we have rooms for every type of occasion – cooking, eating, socializing, hosting, sleeping, dining, entertainment, etc – whereas they have basic necessities mostly made from available resources. For me and many Americans, it is difficult to even imagine life in remote Cambodia – that is, without the Internet, a stocked kitchen, electricity, or a two-story house. Visiting the remote people of Cambodia was a reminder of how much I and many others take for granted when luxuries become the norm.
Whereas day care in America is more of a start to the education process, the day care in Cambodia is a second home for the children, from bathes, to meals, to playtime, to learning, to a loving and supportive environment for growing. In one of the interviews with a child’s family, the mother commented that her children would love to go to the day care seven days a week if they could. I found this comment as a proclamation of how much the day care impacts the lives of the children.
A perfect example of the day care as a second home came in the form of a little boy, Sumbat, whom eventually became “my son” for the week. While playing with the children on the playground, he hit his head on the edge of a cement step, leaving a deep cut in the back of his head. After calmly standing up, he held his head and soberly walked to sit down. No tears. Expecting to see a flood of tears and to hear blaring sobs, the boy quietly sat holding his wound without a flicker of pain. The day care staff cleaned the wound and took the boy to a nearby hospital in Battambang. Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by the hospital. After being frisked for weapons, we walked through a courtyard to meet immediately a very friendly doctor, speaking both Khmer and English. After visiting several orphanages and hospitals in Cambodia thus far, I was impressed not only by the clean facility but the professional and knowledgeable staff. For example, the building was immaculate, well-lit and organized, and the doctor used sterile instruments, properly cleaned the wound, and explained how to properly maintain the treatment. I was very impressed by the hospital, the best in town according to the people of Battambang. Like my visit to the Battambang hospital, my overall experience so far in Cambodia could not have been better.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Chris's Blog
I am sitting here at the computer spending alot of time waiting for it to upload looking at the sign "welcome to Teo (our hotel) charging for Real (they mean Riel) 60 min 4000R ($1)" Funny how English words find their way humorously onto signs?
Today we finally finished painting the main building- after multiple trips to the paint store, getting the students to paint for awhile because I sent the painters to lunch in frustration, and paying 2 of the Khmer painters- artists to do the trim because I knew they could do it without slopping paint everywhere. It looks good now. The painter in charge decided to paint me while I was painting. We will have to see how that turned out- I was not looking good?!
We went to the market to buy mats, towels for the kids to bathe with, sandals- I have never seen so many dirty bare feet, and clothes for the children. They were practicing their play this afternoon, Cinderella the Khmer version. The girls playing the good and bad sister got into a pretty good slapping match? They are wearing the princess tiaras and costumes I brought over from Halloween in Nov.
I wish we could uplosd some pictures but we dont seem to have any computer savy people with us. A picture tells a thousand words and these kids are cute. I am dirty, exhausted but happy to have things finally coming together. Tomorrow is the big day. I get to make a speech, the students have to sing in Khamai, and the children preform for their parents and friends. Wish us good luck.
Today we finally finished painting the main building- after multiple trips to the paint store, getting the students to paint for awhile because I sent the painters to lunch in frustration, and paying 2 of the Khmer painters- artists to do the trim because I knew they could do it without slopping paint everywhere. It looks good now. The painter in charge decided to paint me while I was painting. We will have to see how that turned out- I was not looking good?!
We went to the market to buy mats, towels for the kids to bathe with, sandals- I have never seen so many dirty bare feet, and clothes for the children. They were practicing their play this afternoon, Cinderella the Khmer version. The girls playing the good and bad sister got into a pretty good slapping match? They are wearing the princess tiaras and costumes I brought over from Halloween in Nov.
I wish we could uplosd some pictures but we dont seem to have any computer savy people with us. A picture tells a thousand words and these kids are cute. I am dirty, exhausted but happy to have things finally coming together. Tomorrow is the big day. I get to make a speech, the students have to sing in Khamai, and the children preform for their parents and friends. Wish us good luck.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Chris's Blog Jan. 10
I have to work backwards in order to remember our activities. Today was especially frustrating. We have been in Cambodia for a week and to all of us it seems like forever, not in a bad way but the pace and heat are exhausting. Also trying to work in a language you dont understand is like swimming in glue. We got the painting of the two buildings underway after much discussion about paint. The walls here are a limestone base and it is harder to get the paint to stick. First the walls need to be sanded which sends out reams of dust. Then the interior needs to be primed- usually they mix cheap paint with water and glue so I had to convince the painter that primer was better. Then due to miscommunication the exterior paint was mixed with too much water and had to be changed. The painter hired 6 people who do not know anything about painting and it shows. How can I complain when he probably only pays them $2 a day. The paint however was not cheap. I think we got it all straightened out now. Sophal the director said that the painter did not know how to manage and his crew ran amok! We went back tonight and it is starting to look good. Sophal said that a few of the children wandered back in the afternoon and were excited about the "new" building. I am sure it will all take shape and be OK. It reminds me of our remodeling in Conn. Anyway the boys will paint the trim tomorrow and I am sure it will look great for our party on Friday. Tomorrow Sophal and I head out at 7am in our tuk tuk to buy more paint and go to the bank.
We also went into the village to meet some of the Day Care families. It was definitely an eye opening experience for the students. They live in huts made of palm grass and bamboo, simple construction with one room shared by all. All cooking is done outside in a pit with few pots. One of the little girls came to the center yesterday with a burn on her foot that I had dressed Mon. Hot water was spilled on her by accident while her mother was cooking. Unfortunately that is not an uncommon thing. While walking to the second families home we were followed by about 25 children. I felt like the piped piper. Quite a few of the children went to the Day Care and we sat together - all on my lap. I asked all of them their names- the only thing I can say in Khamai.
Yesterday was exciting. We got to the center at 8 and within 30 min. I was taking 2 children to the Emergency. One little boy fell and hit his head on the cement step. He needed stitches. The little girl, Srey Mom, was the one with the burn on her foot. Her mother took her to the village healer and she spit something on her foot? It looked terrible. Once there we were frisked upon entry- signs everywhere about no guns. I had just met a man at the hotel in the morning that was an EOD in the Navy, now retired working in Pailin (which is heavily mined). We had a nice chat trying to find out if we knew anyone in common in the Navy. He told me about the Trauma center here and how wonderful it was. It must be fate. I was impressed - we could have been in the US except for the waiting time- which was short. The little girls mom got a talking to about the folk healer and he firmly gave her instructions on proper care. The little boy got his stiches, by a nurse I might add- very efficient. Not a peep out of the little boy but Srey mom was quite verbal. I need to make a note to teach simple medical care- first aid. Sophal does a good job but I need to get her a few things and teach the childminders.
Yesterday we also went on the Bamboo train. This is literally a bamboo platform on wheels that rides on the train track powered by a motor. We must have gone at rush hour. It is made to get on and off the track very quickly- a few minutes. The rules of the road are whatever is bigger or heavier has right of way. We got off first for a real train moving quite slowly and carrying CalTex. Then we were off for a bamboo train carrying 2 motos. Riding along the track is like being on an amusement ride. The rails are not smooth and the platform is thin- gives your but a buzz. We stopped also to pick up passengers. It was a neat way to see the countryside. We traveled through the rice fields which have just been harvested. There were many cows- beautiful white with bells but skinny.
We also went into the village to meet some of the Day Care families. It was definitely an eye opening experience for the students. They live in huts made of palm grass and bamboo, simple construction with one room shared by all. All cooking is done outside in a pit with few pots. One of the little girls came to the center yesterday with a burn on her foot that I had dressed Mon. Hot water was spilled on her by accident while her mother was cooking. Unfortunately that is not an uncommon thing. While walking to the second families home we were followed by about 25 children. I felt like the piped piper. Quite a few of the children went to the Day Care and we sat together - all on my lap. I asked all of them their names- the only thing I can say in Khamai.
Yesterday was exciting. We got to the center at 8 and within 30 min. I was taking 2 children to the Emergency. One little boy fell and hit his head on the cement step. He needed stitches. The little girl, Srey Mom, was the one with the burn on her foot. Her mother took her to the village healer and she spit something on her foot? It looked terrible. Once there we were frisked upon entry- signs everywhere about no guns. I had just met a man at the hotel in the morning that was an EOD in the Navy, now retired working in Pailin (which is heavily mined). We had a nice chat trying to find out if we knew anyone in common in the Navy. He told me about the Trauma center here and how wonderful it was. It must be fate. I was impressed - we could have been in the US except for the waiting time- which was short. The little girls mom got a talking to about the folk healer and he firmly gave her instructions on proper care. The little boy got his stiches, by a nurse I might add- very efficient. Not a peep out of the little boy but Srey mom was quite verbal. I need to make a note to teach simple medical care- first aid. Sophal does a good job but I need to get her a few things and teach the childminders.
Yesterday we also went on the Bamboo train. This is literally a bamboo platform on wheels that rides on the train track powered by a motor. We must have gone at rush hour. It is made to get on and off the track very quickly- a few minutes. The rules of the road are whatever is bigger or heavier has right of way. We got off first for a real train moving quite slowly and carrying CalTex. Then we were off for a bamboo train carrying 2 motos. Riding along the track is like being on an amusement ride. The rails are not smooth and the platform is thin- gives your but a buzz. We stopped also to pick up passengers. It was a neat way to see the countryside. We traveled through the rice fields which have just been harvested. There were many cows- beautiful white with bells but skinny.
Darla's Blog Jan.10
Blog from Dr. Darla Shaw, Professor of Education, WCSU. Story of
Sophal, Director of the Sabbhana Day Care\Community Center in
Battambang, Cambodia.
While working at the Sobbhana Community and Day Care Center in
Battambang, the WCSU students met the director, Sophal. This 47 year
old woman has dedicated her life to books, learning, and her
community. Through her efforts and those of Chris Wagner of Hearts
and Hands for Cambodia, over 100 of the poorest preschoolers from five
different villages are receiving a better qualify of life. Without
the help of these two women these 100 children might not receive even
one meal a day. Instead they would be starving from mallnutrition or
out on the street begging and selling.
Sophal is not only amazing in her efforts to educate others, but is
also amazing in that she is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge Regime and
is still a productive citizen. Most of the survivors where so badly
damaged both physically and mentally they have not been able to get on
with their lives. They have been called the lost generation.
When Sophal was 10 years old her father moved the family from the
countryside to the city of Phnom Penh to get away from the Vietnam
bombings. Sophal was happy about this move as it meant that she could
get a better education. Sophal loved learning and wanted so much to
become an English teacher.
Sophal's dreams were abruptlly shattered, however, when she was 16 and
Pol Pat, the head of Khmer Rouge came into power in 1975. Pol Pat
wanted to rid the country of all educated people, artisians, and
professionals and start a new agricultural community. To do this he
would slaughter over 20,000 in the next four years.
For some reason Sophal and her mother and father were send out into
the country to work, while her brother and other immediate relatives
were sent to Taul Steno Prison for interrogation, torture and possible
death. If they did not commit suicide in the prison or were killed
there they were butchered in the killing fields outside of the city.
To save bullets, the people were bludgoned to death and thrown into
open graves.
Before being sent to the field to work at age 16, Sophal and her
family were told not to worry. They did not need to take provisions
and would be home soon. They only took a little bit of rice with them
and the clothing on their backs. They soon found out the lies they
had been told.
The families were immediately separated and sent to different work
camps. They were put in tiny cells with many people and slept on dirt
floors. They received one cup of rice a day and one change of
clothing. Sophal and the other field workers worked from dawn to dusk
with no rest periods in between.
At age 16, Sophal was less than 100 pounds but made to work 12 hours
daily harvesting rice, tilling the land behind water buffalo or carry
heavy heavy loads.
When it became dark at night Sophal became very fearful of what would
happen in the night. When the sun came up the next day, she knew that
she had possibly one more day to live.
During the day Sophal was also sent into the forest to gather various
types of foods. While in the forests she continually came upon the
remains of butchered bodies that had been left there to decay. These
visions are still very much with her today.
When the regime lost power in 1979, Sophal returned to her tiny
village to see if any of her relatives were still alive. She found
that her mother and father, who had gone to the fields with her were
alive, but that her brother and the rest of her immediate family had
been slaughtered and spent their last hours at the killing fields.
Sophal was now age 20 and wanted so badly to go back to Phnom Penh and
continue her education. Her father would not allow this. It was time
for her to marry and have a family. She followed her father's orders
and married and had three children. To help make money for the family
Sophal sold newspapers on the street. From listening to people on the
street Sophal also taught herself English.
One day a worker for Women's Rights in Cambodia spotted Sophal and saw
that there was something special about her. She took her aside and
had her meet with Princess Maria who was working to establish day care
center around the country. There was no pay for Sopal to work at one
of these centers but she was willing to volunteer for several years in
order to learn more and improve her English.
Along the way Sophal also found time to take English and French
classes. Taking English and French was still illegal in Cambodia at
this time, people were only supposed to speak Russian or Khmer.
Because Sophal was found taking classes illegally she was imprisoned.
She was eventually let out of prison and fined based on her weight, so
many kilos per pound.
Today Sophal is working harder than ever. She is running and
daycare/community center, paying to educate most of her relatives,
teaching English to other day care teachers in the evening and taking
classes on her own.
She believes that she survived the Khmer Rouge Regime for a reason and
is going to do more than stay at home and cook. She has a real reason
to live and inspires everyone all around her.
The Khmer Rouge has really taken it toll on the entire Cambodian
population, however. The best and brightest culturally have all been
lost, a generation of parents as role models is gone (parenting is
very poor at this point), and the health programs of the people who
were the survivors of the time are immense. Diabetes, hearts attacks,
high blood pressre, depression and numerous other diseases are rampant
in that age group. Here the age life span is early 50's and for this
group it is even younger.
I feel so very fortunate to have met Sophal. When you meet her she
just glows with love. You would never believe that this woman who is
so full of energy and humanity had gone through the life that she has
had. I hope this story is in a small way a tribute to a very great
lady of Cambodia.
Sophal, Director of the Sabbhana Day Care\Community Center in
Battambang, Cambodia.
While working at the Sobbhana Community and Day Care Center in
Battambang, the WCSU students met the director, Sophal. This 47 year
old woman has dedicated her life to books, learning, and her
community. Through her efforts and those of Chris Wagner of Hearts
and Hands for Cambodia, over 100 of the poorest preschoolers from five
different villages are receiving a better qualify of life. Without
the help of these two women these 100 children might not receive even
one meal a day. Instead they would be starving from mallnutrition or
out on the street begging and selling.
Sophal is not only amazing in her efforts to educate others, but is
also amazing in that she is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge Regime and
is still a productive citizen. Most of the survivors where so badly
damaged both physically and mentally they have not been able to get on
with their lives. They have been called the lost generation.
When Sophal was 10 years old her father moved the family from the
countryside to the city of Phnom Penh to get away from the Vietnam
bombings. Sophal was happy about this move as it meant that she could
get a better education. Sophal loved learning and wanted so much to
become an English teacher.
Sophal's dreams were abruptlly shattered, however, when she was 16 and
Pol Pat, the head of Khmer Rouge came into power in 1975. Pol Pat
wanted to rid the country of all educated people, artisians, and
professionals and start a new agricultural community. To do this he
would slaughter over 20,000 in the next four years.
For some reason Sophal and her mother and father were send out into
the country to work, while her brother and other immediate relatives
were sent to Taul Steno Prison for interrogation, torture and possible
death. If they did not commit suicide in the prison or were killed
there they were butchered in the killing fields outside of the city.
To save bullets, the people were bludgoned to death and thrown into
open graves.
Before being sent to the field to work at age 16, Sophal and her
family were told not to worry. They did not need to take provisions
and would be home soon. They only took a little bit of rice with them
and the clothing on their backs. They soon found out the lies they
had been told.
The families were immediately separated and sent to different work
camps. They were put in tiny cells with many people and slept on dirt
floors. They received one cup of rice a day and one change of
clothing. Sophal and the other field workers worked from dawn to dusk
with no rest periods in between.
At age 16, Sophal was less than 100 pounds but made to work 12 hours
daily harvesting rice, tilling the land behind water buffalo or carry
heavy heavy loads.
When it became dark at night Sophal became very fearful of what would
happen in the night. When the sun came up the next day, she knew that
she had possibly one more day to live.
During the day Sophal was also sent into the forest to gather various
types of foods. While in the forests she continually came upon the
remains of butchered bodies that had been left there to decay. These
visions are still very much with her today.
When the regime lost power in 1979, Sophal returned to her tiny
village to see if any of her relatives were still alive. She found
that her mother and father, who had gone to the fields with her were
alive, but that her brother and the rest of her immediate family had
been slaughtered and spent their last hours at the killing fields.
Sophal was now age 20 and wanted so badly to go back to Phnom Penh and
continue her education. Her father would not allow this. It was time
for her to marry and have a family. She followed her father's orders
and married and had three children. To help make money for the family
Sophal sold newspapers on the street. From listening to people on the
street Sophal also taught herself English.
One day a worker for Women's Rights in Cambodia spotted Sophal and saw
that there was something special about her. She took her aside and
had her meet with Princess Maria who was working to establish day care
center around the country. There was no pay for Sopal to work at one
of these centers but she was willing to volunteer for several years in
order to learn more and improve her English.
Along the way Sophal also found time to take English and French
classes. Taking English and French was still illegal in Cambodia at
this time, people were only supposed to speak Russian or Khmer.
Because Sophal was found taking classes illegally she was imprisoned.
She was eventually let out of prison and fined based on her weight, so
many kilos per pound.
Today Sophal is working harder than ever. She is running and
daycare/community center, paying to educate most of her relatives,
teaching English to other day care teachers in the evening and taking
classes on her own.
She believes that she survived the Khmer Rouge Regime for a reason and
is going to do more than stay at home and cook. She has a real reason
to live and inspires everyone all around her.
The Khmer Rouge has really taken it toll on the entire Cambodian
population, however. The best and brightest culturally have all been
lost, a generation of parents as role models is gone (parenting is
very poor at this point), and the health programs of the people who
were the survivors of the time are immense. Diabetes, hearts attacks,
high blood pressre, depression and numerous other diseases are rampant
in that age group. Here the age life span is early 50's and for this
group it is even younger.
I feel so very fortunate to have met Sophal. When you meet her she
just glows with love. You would never believe that this woman who is
so full of energy and humanity had gone through the life that she has
had. I hope this story is in a small way a tribute to a very great
lady of Cambodia.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Ariel's Blog Jan.8
I'll admit it. I'm pretty jaded and bitter. I'm pretty self-involved (maybe even overly), and I easily forget how good I actually have it. I mean, I ain't got a palace with a pearl bedroom overlooking a lotus garden; 19 chefs or a poodle (I might be getting ripped here). But I do have the necessary materials to sustain a reasonably good life. And having a plane ticket to Cambodia is one of those necessary materials that adds to my luck.
Thankfully.
I can't really say I love it in Cambodia. Only because I don't really understand how my thoughts are processing my time here. I can admit that I feel incredibly comfortable. Of course, I have good people around me, food everyday (If I'm so inclined) and van with ... well, nothing special. But a van is a van nevertheless (Point A to point B. That's all that matters, right?) But beyond that, I'm surrounded by an easy spirit. And though this kind of cool flow is not limited to Cambodia, experiencing it is always great.
The smells vary from sweet, to dirty, awful, putrid raw fish. In fact, in some places of Cambodia, the smell of Far Rock Away beach in New York brought back the memory of running from a giant dirty wave with a used syringe ready to poke on demand. Foul. I don’t have those awful moments here, but I’m going for filler.
I’m amazed by the children I’ve met. Mostly because they’re simply great. Bright, compassionate and so damn cute. This is a rarity, I must say. I’m not impressed by most children, and sometimes I don’t understand why they get so much attention. If it came down to a puppy or a baby, I’m going for the puppy. But my perception on this has changed a bit after visiting several orphanages. But especially the orphanage in Battambang, Hearts and Hands for Cambodia.
Those little monsters. I adore them. Boogers all over their faces, dirt on their … everything! They’re great. And when I watch them express a level of contentment, especially when they don’t have much for themselves, I feel overjoyed. They capture so much dignity for themselves, and they don’t even realize it. I’m honoured to be let in to their playground, and have their dirty little amazing hands show me the way of excitement via a game of Tug of War, Duck-Duck-Goose, or whatever else.
Because of these kids, I’m excited for the rest of my week at Hearts and Hands. I don’t often get to have so much fun with such great people.
I’m Ariel, and that’s my ramble.
Thankfully.
I can't really say I love it in Cambodia. Only because I don't really understand how my thoughts are processing my time here. I can admit that I feel incredibly comfortable. Of course, I have good people around me, food everyday (If I'm so inclined) and van with ... well, nothing special. But a van is a van nevertheless (Point A to point B. That's all that matters, right?) But beyond that, I'm surrounded by an easy spirit. And though this kind of cool flow is not limited to Cambodia, experiencing it is always great.
The smells vary from sweet, to dirty, awful, putrid raw fish. In fact, in some places of Cambodia, the smell of Far Rock Away beach in New York brought back the memory of running from a giant dirty wave with a used syringe ready to poke on demand. Foul. I don’t have those awful moments here, but I’m going for filler.
I’m amazed by the children I’ve met. Mostly because they’re simply great. Bright, compassionate and so damn cute. This is a rarity, I must say. I’m not impressed by most children, and sometimes I don’t understand why they get so much attention. If it came down to a puppy or a baby, I’m going for the puppy. But my perception on this has changed a bit after visiting several orphanages. But especially the orphanage in Battambang, Hearts and Hands for Cambodia.
Those little monsters. I adore them. Boogers all over their faces, dirt on their … everything! They’re great. And when I watch them express a level of contentment, especially when they don’t have much for themselves, I feel overjoyed. They capture so much dignity for themselves, and they don’t even realize it. I’m honoured to be let in to their playground, and have their dirty little amazing hands show me the way of excitement via a game of Tug of War, Duck-Duck-Goose, or whatever else.
Because of these kids, I’m excited for the rest of my week at Hearts and Hands. I don’t often get to have so much fun with such great people.
I’m Ariel, and that’s my ramble.
Laura's Blog Jan. 8
I’ve never had such filthy feet and been okay with it. The dusty air and potpourri of smells have become comfortably familiar. Cambodia is great! We spent most of today at the daycare center in Battambang. The children were initially shy; later tonight I learned that the last “foreigners” to visit were dentists. But we weren’t there to pull teeth and they quickly became attached. Literally, attached… At one point, Ariel had one child on each leg. We played duck-duck-goose Khmer-style and ran through the playground playing red-light, green-light. The sense of friendship and responsibility among the children was intriguing. If someone tripped; there was immediately another set of little hands to help. The child-minders were fun and eager to learn the teaching techniques offered by Dr. Shaw. Lunch was great too. I have a newfound passion for the flavour of fried morning glories. The best part of my day, though, was counting with a few of the children. I’ve learned how to say and write the numbers one through ten in Khmai. As a crazy math dork, I found this amazingly exciting. After returning to the hotel, some of us went to the Central Market to examine jade pendants, taste tamarind, and people-watch. Always in the mood for adventure, I took a motorcycle ride back to the hotel wearing my knock-off Prada sunglasses from Phnom Penh’s market and a mischievous smile. It was an eventful day.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Jessica's blog Jan.7
Our first week in Cambodia is nearly over - so far we have seen and done so much! Our days have been jammed packed. In the last few days we have taken a speed boat to see 5th and 6th century buddhist temples that were on the highest spots in cambodia (only a very small mountain range that is next to the Vietnam border).
We also went to the Teoul Slang Prison Museum that was formally a primary school before the Khmer Rouge took it over. Many people were tortured and killed in what were once classrooms. Out of several thousand prisoners only 7 survived when the Vietnamese liberated Phnom Pehn. However very few Khmer Rouge were captured or brought to justice - even their leader Pol Pot died of natural causes in 1998. It is believed that over 20% of the population were murdered, over 3 million people between 1975-79, but its believed that there were far more people murdered under Pol Pot's regime. Needless to say, the visit to the museum was very sad and heavy.
Yesterday we met the Princess Marie of Cambodia. She runs several community projects and formally funded the orphanage where we will be working this week in Battanbang. Her funding was pulled when her family lost power to the new government. She runs a facility in Phnom Pehn that helps to empower the community by teaching them skills like weaving and sewing so that they can make high-end quality handicrafts to sell. The Princess is very appraochable, hands-on and is deeply involved in these projects. It was a pleasure to meet her.
Today we drove to Battanbang where we will be staying the rest of the week and working in an orphanage that is sponsored by the charity group we are traveling with - Hearts and Hands for Cambodia. On our way here we stopped in Pursat and visited a community/day-care center that is teaching the community how to empower themselves to become self-sustaining. Its quite a successful project that provides not only education for the local children but also the surrounding villages. Villagers are learning to use bio-sand water filtration systems, raising bees for honey, rice banks, fisheriers, microloans for small businesses and other community cooperative programs that not only help their environment but also generate much needed income that helps to sustain the communities. It was quite an impressive project, as were the volunteers that make it happen. David Emry is one such volunteer, from the U.S. who has commited to volunteer for a whole year as well as paying for his own way and accomodations to be there to help out. He is just one of many who are volunteering their time and money to help Cambodians stand on their own.
Well that's it for today - more to come!
-Jessica
We also went to the Teoul Slang Prison Museum that was formally a primary school before the Khmer Rouge took it over. Many people were tortured and killed in what were once classrooms. Out of several thousand prisoners only 7 survived when the Vietnamese liberated Phnom Pehn. However very few Khmer Rouge were captured or brought to justice - even their leader Pol Pot died of natural causes in 1998. It is believed that over 20% of the population were murdered, over 3 million people between 1975-79, but its believed that there were far more people murdered under Pol Pot's regime. Needless to say, the visit to the museum was very sad and heavy.
Yesterday we met the Princess Marie of Cambodia. She runs several community projects and formally funded the orphanage where we will be working this week in Battanbang. Her funding was pulled when her family lost power to the new government. She runs a facility in Phnom Pehn that helps to empower the community by teaching them skills like weaving and sewing so that they can make high-end quality handicrafts to sell. The Princess is very appraochable, hands-on and is deeply involved in these projects. It was a pleasure to meet her.
Today we drove to Battanbang where we will be staying the rest of the week and working in an orphanage that is sponsored by the charity group we are traveling with - Hearts and Hands for Cambodia. On our way here we stopped in Pursat and visited a community/day-care center that is teaching the community how to empower themselves to become self-sustaining. Its quite a successful project that provides not only education for the local children but also the surrounding villages. Villagers are learning to use bio-sand water filtration systems, raising bees for honey, rice banks, fisheriers, microloans for small businesses and other community cooperative programs that not only help their environment but also generate much needed income that helps to sustain the communities. It was quite an impressive project, as were the volunteers that make it happen. David Emry is one such volunteer, from the U.S. who has commited to volunteer for a whole year as well as paying for his own way and accomodations to be there to help out. He is just one of many who are volunteering their time and money to help Cambodians stand on their own.
Well that's it for today - more to come!
-Jessica
Chris - Jan. 7
We havent had time to even think about jet lag since arriving in Phnom Penh. I am always emotional about returning as soon as I look out the airplane window and see the twists and turns of the Mekong and the land devoid of trees I think about the people and what they have been through and my stomach gets tied up in knots. It almost feels like the first time in 2000 when Ivey and I worked to set up the Singapore medical team for their first mission. Though now I have a small group of Khmer friends who have become my family.
I always try to maximize my time and start running as soon as I hit the ground. I need to see everyone and be everywhere in usually a short period of time. Those who know me see this as normal. Anyway the group has been great and put up with the fast pace. I have asked them to get on this blog and give their impressions of Cambodia. Hopefully you can get a picture of what we are doing and seeing. We are now in Battambang and we will slow down since we will be working full time at the Day Care.
That means we should have time to write
I always try to maximize my time and start running as soon as I hit the ground. I need to see everyone and be everywhere in usually a short period of time. Those who know me see this as normal. Anyway the group has been great and put up with the fast pace. I have asked them to get on this blog and give their impressions of Cambodia. Hopefully you can get a picture of what we are doing and seeing. We are now in Battambang and we will slow down since we will be working full time at the Day Care.
That means we should have time to write
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Darla's Post- January 6
Hi, I am Dr. Darla Shaw, professor of education at Western Ct. State
University. I had never been to Cambodia so decided to join Jeanne
and her students on this winter break trip.
On the plane to Cambodia I read an article about Global Souls. The
article was about people who travel, not as tourists but as learners
and helpers to the people most in need in third world countries.
Today, on my first day of the trip, I already saw several examples of
the amazing work that these Global Souls accomplish through their
selfless work. These people spend their lives networking to allow
other global souls to perform such necessary deeds as adoption,
education, health care, job placement and training, and giving of
unconditional love.
The first woman I met was anthropology professor, Jeanne Hatcherson.
She has inspired her undergraduates to come half way around the world
with her, on several occasions, to see how truly one person can make a
difference in our overly materialistic world. Each one of her
dedicated students has been totally transformed by her humanitarian
trips. They see first hand how global issues are not something one
reads about in the newspaper or sees on TV, but are a reality where
one can have an impact.
Jeanne could have chosen a much easier life of teaching in her local
hometown, but has chosen instead to take medical groups and her
students on challenging trips that benefit all involved. Using Jeanne
as a role model, her students have started a Humanitarian Travel Club
on campus, a club with a true purpose.
Next I met Chris Wagner who has also spent her life with medical teams
but is also working with orphanages and day care centers to set up
model programs for the masses. Chris does this while working as a
nurse in her native George and raising three children.
When people whose lives she has changed see Chris, they embrace her
with tears of gratitutde in their eyes and a strong love in their
hearts. Chris is the "real deal" and has put helping humanity ahead
of many of her personal needs. Like Jeanne, Chris is a tireless
worker whose mind and body never stops thinking about possibilities.
In addition to all of her other work, Chris is also able to spot
people with potential along the way,. When she sees someone in an
orphanage, a hospital or a day care center that she feels she can
bring to the cause, she nurtures that person for life. Through her
gift of insight Chris has been able to bring many seemingly "lost
souls" to a much higher station in life that others thought possible.
The third compassionate person that I met on my first way of the trip
to Cambodia was Dr. Monica who runs a dental clinic in one of the
worst part of the city. In addition to taking care of the dental
needs of 15 to 20 children each day, she spends her free time working
with schools and orphanages all over the city and in the small
villages. Dr. Monica is a Mother Theresa like character that comes
with oranges, bananas and bread and an excess of love for humanity in
her heart. It is truly a thing of beauty to see Jeanne, Chris and Dr.
Monica working cooperative to benefit those most in need in the area.
While spending an incredible first day with these three women I knew
they never questioned: Is the task too large? Do I have the time?
Is funding going to be a problem?
Am I doing the right thing or how is this project going to affect my
personal life? Their vision for projects are clear and forthright and
they are all on a tireless mission.
As almost a 70 year old woman I want to give back to the world and I
am willing to do all that I can to make my own small difference. On
the other hand, I am not a Jeanne, a Chris or a Dr. Monica who eat,
sleep, and breath good will around the world. These three women were
blessed with a special gift to understand that happiness comes from
the "we" in the world and not the "me." I am so happy to have these
global souls as my role models. I am so happy that our students also
see this type of humanitarian woman who does not take "no" for an
answer but finds a way to constantly make things happen where future
generations can reap the rewards.
University. I had never been to Cambodia so decided to join Jeanne
and her students on this winter break trip.
On the plane to Cambodia I read an article about Global Souls. The
article was about people who travel, not as tourists but as learners
and helpers to the people most in need in third world countries.
Today, on my first day of the trip, I already saw several examples of
the amazing work that these Global Souls accomplish through their
selfless work. These people spend their lives networking to allow
other global souls to perform such necessary deeds as adoption,
education, health care, job placement and training, and giving of
unconditional love.
The first woman I met was anthropology professor, Jeanne Hatcherson.
She has inspired her undergraduates to come half way around the world
with her, on several occasions, to see how truly one person can make a
difference in our overly materialistic world. Each one of her
dedicated students has been totally transformed by her humanitarian
trips. They see first hand how global issues are not something one
reads about in the newspaper or sees on TV, but are a reality where
one can have an impact.
Jeanne could have chosen a much easier life of teaching in her local
hometown, but has chosen instead to take medical groups and her
students on challenging trips that benefit all involved. Using Jeanne
as a role model, her students have started a Humanitarian Travel Club
on campus, a club with a true purpose.
Next I met Chris Wagner who has also spent her life with medical teams
but is also working with orphanages and day care centers to set up
model programs for the masses. Chris does this while working as a
nurse in her native George and raising three children.
When people whose lives she has changed see Chris, they embrace her
with tears of gratitutde in their eyes and a strong love in their
hearts. Chris is the "real deal" and has put helping humanity ahead
of many of her personal needs. Like Jeanne, Chris is a tireless
worker whose mind and body never stops thinking about possibilities.
In addition to all of her other work, Chris is also able to spot
people with potential along the way,. When she sees someone in an
orphanage, a hospital or a day care center that she feels she can
bring to the cause, she nurtures that person for life. Through her
gift of insight Chris has been able to bring many seemingly "lost
souls" to a much higher station in life that others thought possible.
The third compassionate person that I met on my first way of the trip
to Cambodia was Dr. Monica who runs a dental clinic in one of the
worst part of the city. In addition to taking care of the dental
needs of 15 to 20 children each day, she spends her free time working
with schools and orphanages all over the city and in the small
villages. Dr. Monica is a Mother Theresa like character that comes
with oranges, bananas and bread and an excess of love for humanity in
her heart. It is truly a thing of beauty to see Jeanne, Chris and Dr.
Monica working cooperative to benefit those most in need in the area.
While spending an incredible first day with these three women I knew
they never questioned: Is the task too large? Do I have the time?
Is funding going to be a problem?
Am I doing the right thing or how is this project going to affect my
personal life? Their vision for projects are clear and forthright and
they are all on a tireless mission.
As almost a 70 year old woman I want to give back to the world and I
am willing to do all that I can to make my own small difference. On
the other hand, I am not a Jeanne, a Chris or a Dr. Monica who eat,
sleep, and breath good will around the world. These three women were
blessed with a special gift to understand that happiness comes from
the "we" in the world and not the "me." I am so happy to have these
global souls as my role models. I am so happy that our students also
see this type of humanitarian woman who does not take "no" for an
answer but finds a way to constantly make things happen where future
generations can reap the rewards.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
We made it to Phnom Penh
Hello All-
We finally made to Phnom Penh Jan 2 at 5:15 pm! We had an unevenful flight to Singapore with a short stop in Germany. I was able to switch my seat on the first leg and had 3 seats to myself. I managed to sleep the whole trip. Good old Singapore airlines didn't do anything special for New Year's Eve- not even make an announcement. I was definitely hoping for champagne at least. Anyway I slept through it. The next leg (11 hours) I wasn't so lucky and only managed 2 seats. They do have a good entertainment system and I even found audio books. We had a long layover in Singapore and so we decided to take the MRT (subway) and see as much as we could. We headed out at 7am. The MRT has changed since I was there in 2003 they have extended it. Chinatown was sleepy as the shops weren't open yet but we managed to have coffee for that wake up kick we needed. Next we jumped back on the MRT for Little India and wove our way through the shops, incense and temples. Our last stop was in Clarke Quay for a quick bite and some tall Tiger beers at the Hawker stalls. I will fill in the details tomorrow as right now I am not even sure what day it is and my internet time has run out.
We finally made to Phnom Penh Jan 2 at 5:15 pm! We had an unevenful flight to Singapore with a short stop in Germany. I was able to switch my seat on the first leg and had 3 seats to myself. I managed to sleep the whole trip. Good old Singapore airlines didn't do anything special for New Year's Eve- not even make an announcement. I was definitely hoping for champagne at least. Anyway I slept through it. The next leg (11 hours) I wasn't so lucky and only managed 2 seats. They do have a good entertainment system and I even found audio books. We had a long layover in Singapore and so we decided to take the MRT (subway) and see as much as we could. We headed out at 7am. The MRT has changed since I was there in 2003 they have extended it. Chinatown was sleepy as the shops weren't open yet but we managed to have coffee for that wake up kick we needed. Next we jumped back on the MRT for Little India and wove our way through the shops, incense and temples. Our last stop was in Clarke Quay for a quick bite and some tall Tiger beers at the Hawker stalls. I will fill in the details tomorrow as right now I am not even sure what day it is and my internet time has run out.
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