I wanted you to get a little glimpse of what life at the orphanage for these kids looks like. There are lots of animals, it's like a small farm here. They have Geese, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, and turkeys. Just this past week one dog had little puppies and two of the pigs had piglets. Chhun Ly, her daughters and some of the other older girls cook the meals for the orphanage every day. Whenever we go to visit they are busy plucking chickens, preparing rice, and peeling and cutting the different spices. And they add a lot of spices to their food here. Everyday Rosh and Srey Mom are working with the pigs. They clean their pens, make sure the new piglets are each getting enough milk from the mother, and they wash the pigs with water they get from a nearby jug of rain water. Living here doesn't mean you get a free ride. Many of the kids work hard to keep this place going. Some of the older boys study English all of the time. I get to help correct some of their work and help with pronunciation when I go. They love having the help and having someone to study their English with. Most Cambodians are excited to learn English and take every chance they get to learn it. I love being able to so easily entertain the younger boys and girls when we go. It takes nothing for these kids to have a great time. They have so little, just us being there is exciting for them. Arriving is one of the best times that I have had here. Being greeted with so many hellos and hugs. At first the greetings were very formal, but now they run to us with hugs and like little monkeys clinging to each of us.
We recently got to paint the inside of the church with all the kids. We made a mess on the floor that took a lot of cleaning but it was great to get the kids involved on the project. Some really worked hard and some worked hard for a few minutes until running around the room playing tag looked more fun. We had lots of little blue foot print marks all over the floor. Apparently the paint here is too thick and so we had to add gasoline to it. I'm thinking that wouldn't work with the fire code in the states, but here it works I guess. We still have more to paint but the church looks much better and much more inviting. For our next project we are having all the kids make their own picture frames from scrap wood they find in the orphanage. They tie them with wire or vines or anything else they can find. We plan to print pictures of the kids and the orphanage and put those in their frames. I'll have to make their frames a little more sturdy from supplies at the hardware store but they have done a great job making them so far. I can't wait to see all the pictures of them hanging around the orphanage in the picture frames they made. They can have a sense of pride knowing that they help create the artwork that decorates the place. The walls are very plain now and we want to give the place a little life even after we are gone.
The church is on the bottom and most of the kids rooms are on the top.
Squatty potty anyone?
On the left is where some of the older boys sleep. On the right are the pig pens.
Here is one of the girls rooms.
Cheak and David enjoying their Coke and Sprite!
This is one of the small boys rooms.
Up on the balcony where all of the girls rooms are.
Cheak and his drawing inspired by the pictures of NYC I was showing the kids.
Cheers!
They waste no parts of the chicken.
Here is the inside of the church building.
Srey Mom is washing down the pig pens and the pigs
Cheak and David being themselves.
This gets pretty muddy after the rain, which is just about every day.
Thoue caught a bunch of fish and even some snakes in his trap.
A little glimpse of the how things are cooked here.
The door to the church.
The geese with attitude.
The kitchen and sleeping area where the older boys sleep.
The view from the back of the balcony.
Me showing the kids pictures from all the places I've been.
The pigs were intrigued by my camera.
This mother is very protective. She tried attacking me when I wasn't even near her puppies!
Another one of the girls room.
A side view of their main building
Smey and his coke. It's been awesome to see him warm up to us over the past couple of months.
Somnang getting lunch ready.
Srey Mom worked hard painting and removing the paint from the floor. She's always got a smile and is always ready with a hug.
Their sandals get too muddy to keep on when going up stairs or entering any room.
Getting that wall looking blue and shiney.
Thoue the fisherman.
A view from the balcony.
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