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!