PhotoBooth

When I came back in March of this year, it didn't take long before the WatOpotians discovered PhotoBooth on my MacBook Pro.  I recently made a video of some of my favorite clips I've gotten over the months which I posted here.  Below are also a random assortment of the photographs that were taken with the program.  

Srey Nith

Me, Srey Nith, Pesei

Chanthol with Nak and Thy in the background

Davit

Sopheak on his very first day at Wat Opot.  He either thought he had struck gold with the coolest orphanage around, or he was thinking "who are these people...."

Kunthy and me

When Laura, my friend from home, came to visit she got in on the action too.  Leak, Kunthy and Somnang 2 joined in as well.

Even the older girls have fun with it, like Srey Leak and Srey Lis.
 

Pesei, never one to leave his room without looking his best, would probably be mortified if he knew I put this online...

Me and my buddy, Mr. Chai

Wey

One of Somnangs favorite movies is MegaMind.  He LOVED having a picture of him with the MegaMind head.  For weeks after he begged for more PhotoBooth, running around asking me "Kat MegaMind?!  MegaMind?!"

Sovanarith, Thy, and Somnang

Kimseck

When I leave Wat Opot I wonder what the kids will miss more, me or my computer...

SFF 4: LAYNG LAN!

Often before "Hello" and "Thank you," some of the first words that new volunteers will learn in Khmer are layng lan, or "play cars!"  The Creative Learning Center is filled with educational and fun toys and activities and the place where Melinda conducts daily English classes for the preschoolers up to third graders.  After their lessons, and only if they attend school, they can play.  Cars are the most popular toys with both the boys and the girls.  On days that Melinda doesn't teach there is usually a mob of kids following around whoever will listen begging to layng lan until one of us caves.  Melinda and I were browsing a book and toy store in Phnom Penh when she discovered boxes of build your own cars on clearance.  With Summer Fun Fund money ready to be spent, we purchased 10 kits.  We were excited about these for two reasons: the kids LOVE cars (borderline obsessed), and they are incredibly smart and love the challenge of assembling things.  

We had to sneak the boxes into the house to wait for a good time to bring them out in small groups.  Otherwise panic would set in with everyone dying to get their hands on the pieces.

With most of the kids gone to Phnom Chisor with some Japanese visitors, Seyha, Thear, and Chanthol were the lucky ones to get to break open the new toys.  They saw the boxes and eagerly waited in our doorway like little [Western] kids on Christmas morning.

They thoroughly read the picture instructions and set to work.  Each kit is set-up to make one of three things.  Some are a car, dinosaur, or boat; one is a car, hoovercraft, or helicopter; and another a car, bulldozer, and fork lift.

Seyha

Thear and Chanthol hard at work

Seyha and his masterpiece

Chanthol

It wasn't long before the little kids who didn't journey to the mountain caught wind of what was going on in the Creative Learning Center.  Chai desperately wanted in on the action.  How can you say no to a face like his?

Srey Nith wanted to come play but wasn't interested in playing with the boys.  She silently set up market and waited patiently for someone to notice her.  I took pity on the little entrepreneur and was her first (and only) customer.

Virak is one of the most car-crazed and is most guilty of harassing us to layng lan.  He didn't have the patience to build his own car but got to reap the benefits of someone else's work.

Soon everyone was back from Phnom Chisor and organized chaos ensued.  Somehow we managed to keep the pieces together and everyone walked away happy.  We have since brought the kits out one at a time in small groups to maintain the excitement and the toys.

Two of the kids from the village came to get in on the fun too.  The new cars were the talk of the town. With Wat Opot quick to share it's privileges with the greater community, the village kids were excited as well and probably anxious to see what fun stuff Wat Opot gets next!

SFF 3: Tonle Bati & Teen Conference

Thanks to the Summer Fun Fund and Brunner Medical Missions, the Wat Opot family got to enjoy an outing to the Phnom Tamao Zoo and Tonle (Lake) Bati.  This being the third trip this year to the lake, it is the first time the weather was appropriate.  Back in April when we went, in the hottest month of the year, we woke up that morning to almost a cool breeze and overcast after 3 solid weeks of 100+ degree heat and overwhelming humidity.  This trip, however, fell on a hot day where the lake could be as refreshing as possible.  I recently made the following video documenting how the WatOpotians kept cool all summer.  The photographs and video footage are from our trips to the lake, the kids swimming on the Wat Opot property, and playing in the rain.  I hope you enjoy it!

While the kids enjoyed their day in the sun, the empty and child-free Wat Opot grounds played host to an HIV Teen Conference with some of the oldest Wat Opot residents and visitors from the district.  The all-day conference was put on by Wayne and newlywed volunteers Brittany and JR Johnstone from the US.  I stayed back to assist as twenty teenagers participated in total with the goal being to bring together a group to find support and encouragement in one another.  Among other events, Wayne put together a presentation on being the victor of HIV not the victim.  In one example, he showed a picture of a man with no legs begging for money on the street and in the next picture a man with prosthetic legs running around a track.  The idea was to encourage the teenagers to go out and overcome their obstacles instead of sitting around in self-pity.  Even in Cambodia, in fact 30 minutes from Wat Opot, is a free clinic where amputees are fitted and rehabilitated with prostheses (going back to the example).  That clinic is next to the free HIV/AIDS clinic where medication and therapy is readily available to those who chose to be compliant and determined to live a happy and healthy life.  Another major topic was sexual responsibility, a taboo but very necessary topic in Cambodia.  The teens talked about healthy relationships as friends and more, when to tell someone your status, and what exactly puts someone else in danger of contracting HIV.  The conference lasted most of the day and was very positive and successful.  I enjoyed seeing some of the Wat Opot kids open up and share their feelings and stories with each other, though at times it was very emotional.  As the age groups at Wat Opot get younger, the percentage with HIV increase.  There aren't many teenagers with HIV/AIDS so having a larger support network outside of the family is crucial.  I was happy to be a part of the day and hope that Wat Opot will host more in the future.

Brittany overlooks the group during an icebreaker. 

Princesses for a night

I have been so touched by the amazing support and generosity of my family and friends at home.  You all have helped me to raise so much money for Wat Opot and bring them so many new clothes, toys, education material, medicine and hygiene supplies, and fun activities.  Most recently, my neighbor Elaine Falk and a small group of women from her church have been working on dresses for the little girls.  Before they arrived, Elaine explained to me that they were made from pillowcases but I had no idea what to expect.  What came were nine absolutely gorgeous dresses in different patterns and colors.  I was so excited to give them to the girls, but wasn't sure how to do it.  Wat Opot kids play HARD.  Their play clothes are dirty and torn, and though we change them out as needed, it doesn't take long for a new shirt to be fully worn in.  

The new volunteer dorm is finished and the girls officially moved into their new home in the middle of campus last night.  I held onto the dresses to give out in celebration of their new space.  Last night we had a little slumber party and I told the little girls I had a surprise for them, something they could only wear each night after they bathed.  After 6 rushed bucket showers, they were ready for their treat!  I laid the dresses out and each girl got to pick which dress they wanted.  The whole time they were giggling and jumping up and down, just beyond elated for their new beautiful dresses!  Elaine said she wanted to make them feel like princesses, and they certainly did!

Kimseck, Venot, Kunthea, Srey Mao, Srey Nak, Channy

 

Srey Leak modeling

 Initially I assumed the dresses would only be for the little ones.  Srey Leak sleeps on the little girls side of the house, so she got to have the last dress left.  Because of the adjustable straps, they fit the girls of all sizes, even the teens.  The other teens were kind of jealous!  They all want one now too, and were happy to learn that Elaine and her friends are making and sending more.

The little girls went nuts in excitement!  It was so beautiful to see them so happy :)  They couldn't contain themselves and jumped all over each other until I left to go back to my own room.

Venot is quite the tomboy.  Even SHE loved the dresses, which is really saying something!

I love them so much I can't stand it!

Little Ratana was already asleep, but she'll get to wear hers tonight!

Thank you Elaine and those who helped make these little dresses :)  What a special treat for these beautiful little ladies!

SFF 2: New Swing

When I first arrived to Wat Opot, on a hot July day last summer, it was on the swings outside of the dorm where I first sat and fell in love with the children.  The swings are an iconic part of Wat Opot.  A place to escape the hot sun, a place to sit and watch everyone at play.  Sitting with sad little ones who just want to be held, offering a comforting presence to teens while they ponder the old times with their families.  Like many volunteers before me, I sat on those swings and learned the kids names, heard their stories, and earned their trust.  I learned most of what little Khmer I know on those swings, and will never forget one night where I sat there for hours with Chihomi, a Japanese volunteer, and LongDy, Sambaht, and Pesei, three of the Khmer teens, as we tried to piece together a conversation using bits of four languages (there was a little French thrown in there too).  

These are some of my first pictures from Wat Opot on the swing when it was still in good condition:

Little Srey Nith the class clown in August 2010

Rith, Virak, and Wey on the swing last summer.  They've grown so much in one year!

With so much action, the swings slowly wore away.  Metal rods broke, the joints had rusted, and the paint chipped.  One side didn't have a bench at all, and the other was worn down so badly that only two people could sit on it or it would give way.  We decided to bring new life to the famous swings with the help of Cora Marshall and the Summer Fun Fund.  A man came out and welded new benches, fixed the joints, and gave both swings a fancy new coat of yellow paint.

Coming down the driveway, the swings are a visitors first view of Wat Opot

So pretty!

Mr. Chai approves!

Thank you again to all who donated to the Summer Fun Fund.  There are more updates coming along of all the other things we have done this summer with your generosity!  It's not too late to donate... my paypal is still accepting donations and can be found under the blog archives.  Thank you :)

Rice Planting Day

Today was rice planting day at Wat Opot.  There is a small rice field next to the pagoda that Wat Opot plants and harvests each year to make use of the land and to keep the children connected to the people of the region.  Every person on campus who consumes rice had to help plant, so every resident from 2 year old Ratana (who mostly just splashed around) to me, Melinda, other volunteers, and Khmer staff got into the mud to work.  It was my first experience in the rice fields.  I had fun with the kids, but two hours was enough for me.  I can't imagine doing that full time.  We also only had one small field to plant whereas most planters have to do several large fields.  I definitely have a new found respect and appreciation for the people who work the rice fields.  It is tough work to say the least.

The rice plants come in bundles.  When you plant, you pull off just a small portion and stick it down in the mud.  The rice goes into rows, ideally about a foot apart.  The planting is done after the start of the rainy season after the fields flood.  The rice needs mud to grow in and the field must remain wet for the plants to stay alive.  Last year there was a drought and the fields dried up before they should have, leaving everyone in the region worried as to whether there would be enough rice this year.  As I understand, enough rain came later in the season to revitalize the fields to still yield a substantial crop. 

Ty Meng, Kimseck, Srey Mao, Davit

Kunthy and Phanya

Srey Nak

Channy

Brian showing the boys how to plant

Melinda helping Virak and Wey

I can't stress the importance of rice in Cambodia and all of Southeast Asia, and I guess Asia in general. Rice is served for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A meat or vegetable dish is eaten with it, but rice is the main food. When someone is going to eat a meal, they say they are going to "hope bai," or "eat rice." In the US we would have rice with our meal, here you eat rice and whatever comes with it.

Takeo province, where Wat Opot is located, is filled with neatly planted rice fields.  Ours certainly isn't as pretty, but we had a great time and tried our best!