Feet

While I am no medical professional (and often get a little queasy when seeing blood or other injuries), I have had a chance this summer to put my first aid skills to the test…

Knar School is located about one hour via tuk tuk from Siem Reap.  PLF sponsors the primary school in this village, and it is often plagued with health problems, particularly injuries to the feet and infections caused from these injuries. 

Entrance to Knar Primary School

Most of the children do not wear shoes.  While PLF provides them with a pair each semester, the children are not used to wearing them, and the shoes often end up lost at some point, especially for the younger ones (we are working to break this....).  The children also spend a lot of time in the rice fields.  Running around in these fields causes cuts to their feet that are usually not properly treated.  And lastly, the children in this village do not understand proper hygiene.  They do not bathe regularly.  They are the “grubbiest” of all of the children that PLF sponsors.  And, if you are going to play with the kids make sure that your hair is up and you don’t touch a head and then your own hair…because you will come home with lice.  The school leaders aren’t pushing a personal hygiene message, but it is necessary at this school for the children to be healthy.

Here I have included some photos of bathings at the school.  About once a week Lori and others come out to the school, bathe the children’s feet and legs, and address any medical problems that have come up.  Anything from foot injuries to pink eye to typhoid…

 Lori and Tuk Tuk Driver Chamnan Treat a Child

I’m not going to lie…my first visit to this school was a little overwhelming, especially all of the injuries.  I went with Lori after she returned from a two month absence, and there were a lot of feet to fix.  I can be squeamish looking at blood, blisters, and such on my own feet.  So, being around all of the children and their injuries had me a bit spooked.  While Lori and our tuk tuk driver Pov jumped right in to bathing the kids and treating their injuries, I explored the school, spent time with some of the kids, and observed the whole process.  It was a lot to take in.

 Tuk Tuk Driver Pov Bathing Feet

My second trip to Knar, I was better prepared.  As soon as we arrived, the kids started gathering for the bathing and feet treatment.  I grabbed some gloves and set up my station.  At first I was in charge of bathing feet.  After a while I moved to the treatment station.  Luckily Lori was there to tell me what to do, which medication to use, etc.

Nurse for the Day

So Many Children in Need of Assistance!

While my favorite memory of my time here will not be treating foot injuries, it is definitely one that I won’t forget.  The look on the children’s faces when you bathe their feet for them…the way they cringe in pain when you first squirt hydrogen peroxide on their sores but end up with smiles on their faces at whatever color band aid they have picked out...the little boy who had to come back to me three times because my gauze-wrapping skills are not up to par, particularly when he doesn’t have shoes to wear…the missing toenails…the lack of shoes…  It was a lot to take in, and something I won’t forget.  One thing that has really meant a lot to me in my internship is that I have spent so much time in the field.  I haven’t been cooped up in an office all day.  I have been at the schools, I have seen the struggles, and while I am only here for a short amount of time, I feel that I have an understanding of the problems that these children are facing every day.

Bandaging a Foot

One moment that really struck a cord with me at Knar was when a little girl came to my bathing station with dried blood on her legs.  I didn’t see a cut but let Lori know that there is blood coming from somewhere and to take a look at her at the treatment station.  I’m not sure if this was the case with her or not, but oftentimes if a child is found with blood on her legs and no sores for it to come from, it means that she was raped.  It is in situations like these that you just don’t know what to do.  Here you have this tiny child who may have endured something so terrible.  It’s hard to wrap your head around it, hard to know what to do, and hard to realize just how prevalent this problem is.  In talking with Lori, she said that sexual abuse is very common in the children from Knar Village.  While PLF may not be able to change the behavior of villagers, the Foundation can provide a safe place for children to come, play, and just be kids. 

Treating a Student with a Bad Case of Pink Eye

I can’t begin to imagine what the school and these children’s lives would be like if PLF wasn’t there.  The Foundation’s presence is making a difference in these children’s lives.  Whether or not they can stop all bad things that happen, the children know that there is someone who cares about them out there.  There is someone who will bring them food, someone who will clean their legs, someone who will play with them, and someone who will do anything to see their smile.  I am so glad that I have been able to be a part of PLF’s work this summer.

Switching to a more positive side of things…

While there are a lot of issues at this school, it is one of my favorites to go to.  I love the children at Knar.  There is nothing more fun than spending an afternoon playing with the kindergartners.  They are too cute!  While most of the younger kids don’t know English (all you ever hear is: “hello…goodbye, hello…goodbye, hello…goodbye”), they are really a joy to be around.  Play seems to have a universal language!

One of the kids who caught my attention at Knar School is Tien.  He was abandoned on the side of the road at the school as a two year old.  He was out there alone, naked, and with no one to take care of him.  He  ran wild and stuck around the school a while until one of the older girls took him home with her.  He still came to school everyday (although he was not old enough to attend class), but he would never let anyone approach him, give him anything, etc.  Eventually he grew to trust Lori.  When he was old enough, he enrolled in kindergarten, and he is a star student today in the first grade.  Lori said that the day he first got his school uniform is one she will always remember.  For the first time, he had something brand new that was his.  She said he looked so proud and looked at his reflection in every surface that he could.  I can just imagine!  He still always has his shirt tucked in.  He is adorable and so much fun to play with.  He loves to be chased around and get into mischief.  Once he was old enough, he gave himself the name Tien, which means candle. 

Tien Getting Ready for Lunch

Another one of my favorite people to visit at Knar is Ani.  She is the first grade teacher at the school.  She teaches at Knar in the mornings, goes to class in Siem Reap in the afternoons, and works at a bar in the Night Market in Siem Reap at everyday.  She works so many jobs to support her family, including her siblings and parents.  Her younger brother attends the English class held each evening for older students at Knar led by PLF volunteers Maggie and Daniel (you can read more here).  Her days are long and her dedication is impressive.  She is a really fun person to be around…always has a smile on her face and makes sure to say hello to me.  We have even gone to visit her at work at the Island Bar here in Siem Reap.

While the kids are a bit grubby at Knar, the school itself is as well.  The oldest of the buildings actually has chunks of the wall missing that have been stolen by those living around the school.  It’s a site to see…30 – 40 kindergartners in a classroom with half of the wall missing.  I don’t think the pictures will do it justice.  But, at least the children have a building and do not have to have class under the tress or in grass huts.  The kids who come to the night class are in these rooms as well.  They use a car battery to light three florescent lights so they can see their desks and the white board.  Lori calls it a “jungle class” because there are lizards, bugs, and all kinds of things flying across the battery-lit room.  The kids’ dedication to learning is amazing!

Knar Primary School is also the site where a family who visit each year hosted a luncheon recently.  There are 440 students at Knar, and PLF prepared lunch for all of them one afternoon.  The kids ate and had a chance to play with the visitors.  There was volleyball, soccer, basketball, hula hooping, and all kinds of fun going on.  I even impressed some of the boys with my mad basketball skills!  While I am not very coordinated at sports, I did teach the ten year old boys some new tricks.  The one thing I learned from being on my church’s basketball team in the second grade is how to dribble through my legs.  While I haven’t done it in years, somehow I still can do it.  The boys were very impressed with this, and it gave me a lot of credibility.  They spent the rest of the afternoon working on their dribbling skills!

Cooking the Noodles

Draining the Noodles

M

Mixing in the Vegetables and Beef

R

Ready for Lunch!

Eat Up!

Younger Siblings Visit School for the Afternoon

I Think He Likes It!

D

Drink Up!

As I finish this blog entry and re-read it, I realize how it has so many ups and downs.  But, I guess that’s how life is when working in a developing country.  Some days the challenges seem endless.  Sometimes I just feel overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done.  There are some problems where it seems there may not be a solution.  But, then I remember the joy that I saw in the children as we ran in circles around the schoolyard.  While their lives aren’t perfect and the work PLF does isn’t either, the Foundation does make a difference.  Whether it be a mind full of knowledge, a tummy full of food, or a simple smile, the children’s lives are better with PLF around.  While there will always be challenges and always be bad days where nothing seems to be working out, in the end we are caring for a child who may not have anyone else who cares.  We are showing love to a child who may not have experienced it before.  And, sometimes, just knowing that is enough.

"You Are a Vehicle..."

These are the words that Lori said to me as I began my first bicycle ride through Siem Reap.  After I had arrived and settled in, it was time for me to learn how to maneuver through the chaotic traffic of the city.  There are several ways to get around in Siem Reap:

Walking

I rarely see people walking anywhere in Siem Reap, especially in the Wat Bo area where I live.  Sidewalks can be hard to come by and crossing the street can be a little dangerous.  The majority of those walking are either locals pushing a cart of things to sell or are Westerners.  Other than the convenience store a block away, the fried chicken stand across the street, and Two Dragons restaurant just around the corner, I rarely walk anywhere.  I have found that it is so much easier to jump on a bicycle…

Bicycle

For many people, especially those living in poverty, bicycles are the main mode of transportation.  While learning of rules of the road, or the lack of them here, can be a bit intimidating, once you get a hang of it, bike rides can be really exhilarating.  It’s nice to feel the breeze as you weave down the street on a hot day.  While traffic patterns seem strange, compared to at home, bicyclists are more accepted as vehicles on the road here.  In DC, you would be plowed over if you rode a bike the way locals do here.  However, in Siem Reap, when you are on a bicycle, you are a vehicle.  You are recognized on the road…except by those with in Lexuses or Land Rovers…look out for them because they are not looking for you…

 My Bici on the Road out of Angkor Thom

Rules of the Road:

·      Everyone honks their horn here, constantly.  The reason to do so is to let people know that you are passing on the left.  Rather than using it when you are angry, it is used to let people know you are going around them.  This was a little hard to get used to, but it is very helpful when maneuvering through traffic.

·      People don’t stop when going through intersections.  Everyone just goes…and somehow it works.  This was a little hard for me to get comfortable with.  My first day biking with Lori I watched as she effortlessly flew through a crazy intersection.  I on the other hand stopped, panicked at all the traffic, and though that I would end up waiting to cross all day.  However, as I have learned, you (carefully) just have to go.  People are looking out for each other and slow and speed up as necessary.  Amazingly enough it works.

·      Stop signs and red lights are just suggestions.  Don’t expect people to stop for them.  Enough said.

·      One way streets may not be one way.  If you are a foreigner and go the wrong way on one, you probably will be stopped.  If you are a local, no problem.

·      When turning to the left, you should cross over to the left side of the street before your turn facing on coming traffic, hug the curb as you make your turn, and then, when you can, make your way back over to the correct side of the street.  This was also a bit difficult to get used to, particularly when you are headed the wrong way in to on-coming traffic.  However, like the other rules of the road, I have gotten used to and better at doing this as well.

 Gas Station on the Way to Knar Primary School

Moto

Motorcycles are everywhere in Siem Reap.  They seem to be the mode of transport of choice not just for individuals but for entire families.  No need for a min van or SUV when you have a moto!  I still laugh at the site of a father, mother, and their two children all stuffed on the back of a moto.  I have seen motos driving down the street with a passenger carrying and hooked up to an IV.  I have seen a moto with what looked to be grocery store baskets attached to each side to hold children.    Motos with pigs attached to the back going to market.  Motos with twenty or so dead chickens.  Monks on motos.  The list goes on and on….

 Motos Lined up by the Market

 Monk Lounging by Some Motos

While motos are fun, they are also a bit dangerous.  They only cost $1 to get anywhere in town, but your safety is at the mercy of your driver.  And, he doesn’t have a helmet for you…potentially not one for himself either.  I rode with one of our drivers, Sovann, on his moto.  He had taken me to some of the temples in his tuk tuk (read more below).  We got to a place where there was supposed to be an island.  Since the water is so low we were able to take his moto out to it and see the temple and the endless rice fields.  It was a lot of fun!  There is something so exciting about jumping on the back of a moto and heading out into Cambodi’s rice fields…

 Moto through Cambodia's Rice Fields

Not too worry out in the rice fields is the safest place to be riding a moto!

Tuk Tuk

This is the way that most tourists get around Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor Wat.  They are made up of a four seater “buggy” pulled by a motorbike.  Typically one to four people ride in them; however, we have been known to squish a few more in.  Tuk tuks will take you anywhere in town for $2.  They also cost about $15 for the day.

 Tuk Tuk Parked in Downtown Siem Reap

Riding in a Tuk Tuk in Phnom Penh

I really enjoy riding in the tuk tuks.  They go slow enough so that you can still take in everything around you but avoid sitting in one place in the heat of the Cambodia sun.  Seven Candles and the Foundation have four tuk tuk drivers who are used as drivers.  I have had the opportunity to ride with all of them and even have a meal with most of them.  

Chamnam is the first tuk tuk driver that I spent a lot of time with.  He has driven me all around (and I mean all around) the Angkor Wat complex.  I had him tracking down temples that he had never even heard of that I wanted to see.  We were yelling for directions from ladies biking to market as we drove down dirt roads through the countryside looking for temples that sometimes ended up being only a few stones.  Chamnam did get to see some new temples that he hadn’t before.  He had a great time, I just know it…

Sovann is one of the younger tuk tuk drivers who works for the house.  He has gone to dinner with a group of us a few times, taken us to our first Cambodian club (Zone One), and has given me a look into the life of an average Cambodian.  He has worked hard to be where he is today and done a seemingly endless number of jobs.  And, while the life of a tuk tuk driver may not be glamorous, he is doing pretty well for himself.  He is even in a relationship with an American girl who lived in Cambodia for a year who has recently returned. 

Sovann Walking out to His Moto

The other two drivers are Pov and Danny.  Pov has been Lori’s tuk tuk driver since she first came to Cambodia as a tourist.  His wife, Srey, has recently started working at the Guest House as a housekeeper.  He also has a young daughter Tita.  I don’t’ see Danny as much around the Guest House.  I think that he mainly takes tourists out to Angkor Wat and around town.  He has a son who is adorable.

Cars and Vans

While motos, bikes, and tuk tuks rule the road, there are a small number of cars and vans around Siem Reap.  Most of these are for tourists.  You can rent a “taxi” for the day for about $50.  You can take the front seat of a “taxi” to Poipet (the closest border crossing into Thailand about three hours away) for about $10.  The Guest House has one car that is typically reserved for tourists who prefer to travel that way.  When Ponheary gives tours, she also travels in the car.

The Guest House has a van as well that we often use to travel to Koh Ker (about three hours away)  in or when large groups of tourists arrive.  My favorite times in the van have been when we traveled “Cambodian style.”  While the van is made for maybe 11 people or so, in “Cambodian style,” we have put anywhere from 15 to 18 people in it.  It’s a good chance to get to know some members of the Ly family or tourists who have come along for the ride!

 Unfortunately the Van Broke Down on the Way Back from Koh Ker One Day...

But, Now It Has a New Engine and Is as Good as New!

Trying to Capture Riding "Cambodian Style"

This Pictures Doesn't Do It Justice Though...

Koh Ker

About 3 hours outside of Siem Reap is the village of Koh Ker.  Located near a famous temple of the same name, Koh Ker doesn’t get many visitors.  Due to its remoteness and a lack of a paved road part of the way there, not many tourists venture this far into the Cambodian countryside.  

The village chief is a former Khmer Rogue general.  He lost a leg in the war most likely due to a landmine.  While the Foundation has a relationship with him because we work in the village, it is an interesting one.  As in many things that happen in Cambodia, when the Foundation does something, he wants to be paid for it.  Apparently when PLF built a kitchen at the primary school, he wanted us to pay him for being there.  There is a great deal of corruption under the rule of the village chief and his underlings in Koh Ker.  And, the people of the village are not only affected by their leaders but by the legacy of the Khmer Rogue as well.

Village Chief

Another Village Authority Figure

As in many rural villages, the people here are mainly uneducated and illiterate.  Most of them work as farmers or sell livestock.  There is a high rate of alcohol abuse in the adults.  The children of this village see school as a refuge.  It is a place where they can escape their difficult lives at home and the work that they are expected to do.  School is a place where they can learn, where they are fed, where they see a doctor, where they play with their friends, and where they are safe.  These things can’t be said for their lives at home.  While so of them may have families who take care of them, it does not seem to be the case for most of them.

Koh Ker Primary School

The village has not been open to outside assistance either.  An NGO came to teach the villagers skills that they may be able to use once tourism rises in the area around the temple.  One NGO tried to teach ceramics and pottery-making; however, the villagers wanted to be paid by the NGO to attend the classes.  While I am sure that there were mistakes made on the end of the NGO, every organization that has come has been unable to work with the village itself.

Koh Ker is also in an area that was once and still is heavily mined.  When we travel to Koh Ker we must make sure to only go in areas around the school and the temple that have been traveled before.  The school backs up to an active mine field.  Peace Boat (NGO) and CMAC (organization that works to clear land mines) have been working to clear more land around the school, but it is a painstakingly slow process.

I have made three visits to Koh Ker School since I have been here. 

The first with CNN…  Here I had the opportunity to observe the Khmer classes, assist with preparing breakfast, play with the children, and get an understanding of the school.

The second to look at some land that we hope to buy in Srayang (the biggest “town” near Koh Ker and the location of the closest secondary school).  Here, PLF hopes to build a group home for those children who would like to go to secondary school.  (More on this in a later post…)

Some of the sixth grade girls who are graduating and hope to continue on to secondary school.

The third to visit the secondary school in Srayang with a few donors and volunteers for the school’s end of the year ceremony.  (Don’t worry, the inspirational speeches from local authorities included someone telling the children that they shouldn’t think that they can do anything with their lives…They won’t be doctors or politicians…They are only in school to pass their time…  Yeah, great speech, huh?  Just want you want to hear at the end of the school year celebration.)

One of the top students receiving an award

While the school in Koh Ker and the village itself face many challenges, there is a lot of good being done.  The children’s health and level of education has improved dramatically since PLF arrived at the school.  The past year PLF even added a lending library to the school that is in constant use.  And, while none of the children speak English and I only know a bit of Khmer, I love having the chance to see them and be around them.  From a very young age they face great hardships.  But still, six days a week, year round, no matter what they weather, they walk to school where for a few hours at least, they get to be children.

Typical Home in the Village

Part of the Path to School from the Village

More pictures to come soon!

Ponheary Ly: A True Hero

It all started with one student.  Ponheary Ly, who served as a teacher and later tour guide in Cambodia, had a passion for education.  Living a portion of her life in poverty, Ponheary knew the struggles that children in rural Cambodia faced when trying to attend school.  Starting with just one student, Ponheary began what has grown into the Ponheary Ly Foundation sponsoring over 2,000 students in four primary schools and five secondary schools through rural northwestern Cambodia.

Ponheary grew up in a family where education was important.  Her father was a teacher, and she and her siblings knew the value of education.  Early in life she took advantage of opportunities to learn and expand her knowledge, but all of that changed when the Khmer Rogue took power.  The Khmer Rogue abolished education and killed many of the intellectuals and educators in Cambodia during its rule of the country, including killing Ponheary’s father and thirteen of her family members.  In the aftermath of the regime, Ponheary and her surviving family members worked to rebuild their lives.  Ponheary became a teacher.  It is during her teaching years that she began supporting students and extra programs at the schools where she worked.

After working as a teacher, Ponheary then became a tour guide.  It was here that she began to secure funding for poor children to attend school.  At the Temples of Angkor where she took tourists, Ponheary came into contact with numerous children who spent their days selling trinkets to tourists rather than attending school.  Moved by what she saw, Ponheary decided to use her tips to support a better education system for Cambodia’s children.  She encouraged the tourists she met to sponsor children’s education programs rather than buying from the children at the temples, which only encouraged them to continue missing school.

Ponheary started supporting one student with her own earnings and soon, with the help of the tourists she guided, she was able to expand this number.  In 2005, Ponheary met a tourist from Austin, TX, and both of their lives would change forever.  Lori Carlson came to Cambodia on vacation and was inspired by Ponheary’s work.  After returning to Texas she set up a foundation in order to help Ponheary to expand her work.  After several years of visiting Cambodia to help with projects on the ground, Lori decided to move to Siem Reap to work daily with Ponheary and the children of Cambodia.

The Ponheary Ly Foundation (PLF) now supports over 2,000 children.  Ponheary’s dream of helping Cambodia’s children has become a reality on a larger scale than she ever expected.  The Foundation is driven not only by the number of children that it helps but also by what education means to Cambodians.  After living through the brutal rule of the Khmer Rogue, Ponheary has been able to do something that honors the memory of her father and all those who lost their lives because they were educators or educated.  She is working to move past her own struggles as well as to move her country beyond the traumatizing memories of the past.  Education provides new life and opportunity to many of Cambodia’s youth.

CNN Heroes!

The day after I arrived to Cambodia a crew from CNN arrived to do some filming.  Ponheary (of the Ponheary Ly Foundation where I am working) was nominated as a CNN Hero for 2010.  She was selected by the network to be recognized as a Hero of the Week and will be in the running to win Hero of the Year later in 2010 (I’ll definitely let you know when the voting begins!).

Ponheary’s story is truly amazing.  Although I had only been around her for a couple of days when filming started, I could tell that she had something special about her.  While she has been through some many struggles of her own, she has been so willing to give back to those around her who are in need.  Ponheary grew up in poverty and suffered violence under the Khmer Rogue.  Her father was killed along with other members of her family but she, her mother, and her siblings survived.  Unlike most Cambodians who don’t seem to talk about that time in their lives, Ponheary and her family are willing to share their memories and the struggles they endured to survive.  It’s been amazing to hear firsthand accounts of everything that has happened in Cambodia.

My next blog post is a draft of what I put together on the history of the Foundation for the website.  It will give you some insight into what Ponheary and the Foundation are all about…

The Foundation was officially formed after Lori Carlson, my boss, visited as a tourist and had Ponheary as her tour guide.  Lori now lives permanently in Siem Reap and directs things from her room/office in the Seven Candles Guesthouse where I am also living and working.  A former business executive, Lori sees things differently than many of the Cambodians supporting the Foundation do.  The combination of her business sense and Ponheary’s understanding of the Cambodian way of life make the Foundation successful.  They both have a passion for what they do and for the children they work with.

CNN came to recognize Ponheary’s contributions to the lives of children in rural Cambodia.  It was great to see them interact with her.  The Foundation works rather quietly and does not often get the recognition that it deserves for all that it does.  For a brief clip that CNN put together (based off of two full days of filming!), check out this website: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/06/17/cnnheroes.ly.profile.cnn 

You can also see a clip on Lori here: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/06/17/cnnheroes.ly.extra.cnn

Everyone joked that I was so lucky that on my second full day in Cambodia that CNN was here and that I was getting a free tour of part of the Angkor Complex, and I was!  While I was still extremely jet lagged, getting to watch the filming process and getting to be a part of it was a great experience.  I got to do some filming as a new intern for the Foundation with Ponheary at Bayon Temple (which has come to be one of my favorites) and then at a temple on the way to Koh Ker.  I am only in the videos for a brief second, but I am just glad that I was able to be there that day!  I think that the clip they put together is a good representation of Ponheary and her work.

   

    

This was also my first trip to Koh Ker and the first time that Lori and the others had actually spent the night there.  (More details on Koh Ker to follow in a separate entry…)   Koh Ker is the most rural school and the one that has the most needs in almost every way.  The village has been traumatized by the violence of the Khmer Rogue and doesn’t seem to be able to recover from it.  The hope for PLF is the children.  

(Photos by me and Dara Ly.)

I've Arrived!

I'm in Cambodia!  I left the US on June 3rd and flew to Seattle, Seoul, and then to Siem Reap.  The flights were fairly uneventful.  There were some great views of Seattle and all of the mountains on the descent into that particular airport that I tried to capture (see below).  But other than that, I did a lot of sleeping, a lot of movie-watching, and a lot of eating.  I tried some new Korean dishes and made friends with a Korean women sitting beside me on my long flight, despite the fact that I know no Korean and she knew no English...

Approaching Seattle

Seattle Skyline

Airport in Seoul

Over 24 hours of traveling and many on-flight movies later I arrived to the small Siem Reap airport in my new home.  Lori, who is the director of the Ponheary Ly Foundation (PLF), greeted me at the airport.  She herself had just returned to Cambodia after two months of traveling both home to the US and around the world.  She drove me to the Seven Candles Guesthouse where I will be staying for the summer and where the PLF office is located.  As it was about midnight once I got set up in my room, I headed to bed to try to tackle the jet lag...

My first full day in Cambodia was full of exploration.  Lori took me to breakfast in the city center on Pub Street and gave me a brief orientation of the city, cultural taboos, and living life in Cambodia.  Siem Reap has a population of around 140,000 people but has between 1 and 1.5 million tourist who visit each year.  There are also a large number of ex-pats working and living in the city.  While Khmer is the official language of Cambodia, you can get by only speaking English.  Most people know enough of it for visitors to easily go to restaurants, go shopping, and find transportation.

After breakfast we headed to the grocery store (one of my favorite things to do in foreign countries...my host family in Argentina never understood why I liked to walk around Carrfore, their version of a Super-Walmart so much...) to prepare for an overnight trip to Koh Ker to visit one of the schools that PLF supports.  Lori walked me around the city center and showed me some of the highlights and important points of reference.  After a morning of exploring I headed to an internet cafe to touch base with my family and the returned to the guesthouse to pack and nap.  While we lost electricity for most of the afternoon (apparently it has been happening once a day or so), I am excited that we have it.  My room is pretty nice (pictures to come soon).  I have electricity, air conditioning, access to the internet, and hot water.

I'm looking forward to a great summer in Cambodia!