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When you've spent five whole months with amazing people you never want to leave. Ever. It was my last 6 hours in school today before I embark on the rest of my travelling experience and did I want to leave? No. A pretty simple answer. I already miss their little smiling faces, their 'hello chaaarrr' and giggles when I tickle them. I already miss the kids waving and calling my name 'charrr Bess' as I cycle into school and the suspiciously rabid looking dogs that decided to surround and follow me down the school road while the local women say hello. I miss talking to the teachers and knowing that when I go home for lunch it means I'm only half way through the day and get to spend the other half with even more amazing kids.
So my last day (gulp), went so quickly. I had such an unforgettable send off and knowing I get to see them when I'm back, even if it is just for a few days, made it a whole lot better. I received umpteen cuddles, played football with the boys and skyped Stoke Poges School with the Level 3 class. They loved the Skype session! Their faces lit up, both with shock and happiness, and they managed to answer and ask questions which were thrown their way. It was lovely of them to actually get to see the kids that wrote to them and who they replied back to……this will definitely be a way for me to keep in contact with the kids too when I'm back home. The final goodbye's for other volunteers at ABC's I have managed to avoid seeing but now I was actually experiencing it. 60 cuties before me saying thank you, and we love you, then singing 'hello-goodbye' (Beatles)…you say goodbye and I say helloooo…. Sob sob sob. I was then showered in pictures, cards, and stone plaques (from Ly Hour) with 'I love you' on. So, imagine someone stood in front of 60 children who don't want you to leave. Who tell you every day that they love you. Who make getting out of bed a 6.45 worth every minute. Imagine 6 teachers staring back at you-most unaware that it was actually your last day. Imagine the heat and emotion making it unbearable to breathe. You blink. Something drips down your cheek. It's not sweat. When they have finished singing the kids run and hug you. The sunglasses which were worn on the head and now covering your eyes but your smile sticks. That person was me. And with the piles and piles of cards and few bracelets I got given the one present that I will never forget is from a boy called Jame. Inside the card was an envelope. And in that envelope were angry bird cards but when looking further inside, folded in a neat square shape was Riel. I was given money. It was pennies but to them it's a lot. I looked at him in shock; he looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and gave it to him but he closed the envelope with it in and said 'chaaaar keep'. I think it's fair to say I'll be taking that to my death bed. So yes it was a goodbye but it will be a quick hello when I'm back in August before I actually have to leave for the UK. I can't wait to see them again!
The rest of the month of May, standing in for Tammy, has been successful, besides a few minor complications. Music lessons were a success and they loved the roll-out keyboards! We had a new volunteer called Maree who was working on the nutrition side of things- she attended breakfast club for research and spent the mornings in school, something ABC's has never had before so it was great! The replies to the letters from the UK were written and sent, they are all so good. Bong na, the cook, decided to randomly hug me and introduce me to her family and earlier this week three people, Nick, Jim and Loll from Spitler school came for a visit and I had to show them around and explain plans for the site etc-they couldn't believe I was 19. I was also asked to represent Tammy in the local 'warehouse' quiz to raise money for ABC's-so a nerve-racking speech had to be made but we managed to raise $66! But with positives always come negatives. The truck broke down multiple times, one time we had to push it until it started, so I hired one for three days, so it could be repaired. But I think the worst is this….A woman arrived and spoke to Soky about a boy in her class. The woman has taken care of him because his actual mum and the woman's sister cannot. The woman said that he often skips government school (Wat Bo would be a better option as he is taken there) and also walks around late at night (often doesn't get home until 10pm). She is thinking, and wanting to send him to an orphanage!!!! An orphanage. She wants to turn this boy's life around even more. I wanted to scream, cry and, well, hide.
In general I've found Cambodia a safe place. No one physically grabs you, apart from one guy at the start of May; this did shock me just because it's unheard of here. But everyone has those days I guess and yesterday was mine. I saw a man on the side of the road being resuscitated, mouth to mouth, when it was lashing down with rain. I recognised his face, a local tramp here, but in shock I couldn't believe what I was seeing and it was safer not to stop. I then had a hobo-looking man approach me who said he was from America; he spoke perfect English. He said he was staying in town and had had all of his belongings taken. He had to live with the monks who had been feeding him. He then, with both hands in his pocket, said that he went to the embassy but they couldn't help. I guess he wanted money but a part of me just wanted to run, and well, eventually I just said 'sorry' and made a run for it on my bike. Then, that same evening, 'ladddy you want to get high' was screamed at me and whilst riding home a man rode alongside me in a moped saying 'ladddy you want to sleep with me'.....let's forget that day ever happened Siem Reap.
As I'm leaving on Monday we're out for our 'last night out' on Saturday and then on Sunday I'm meeting Tammy to say my goodbyes and hand over keys and important other things which I have looked after while she has been away. On Monday the adventure begins. I fly to Kuala Lumpur with Serra, woooooo! We spend two days there then fly to Bali, an even bigger wooooooo!
So that's me and Siem Reap until August.
x
- comments
Mon Great stuff Bess. Lyhour and Jame are such sweeties - especially Jame. That's really touching. I'm holed up at KL possibly about to miss my flight coz I didn't get a stupid visa for Vietnam so may be flying in tomorrow lunchtime instead - boo!
Mum Beth, tears in my eyes again while reading this. So lucky to find your passion in life at such a young age. Not so sure that I enjoyed reading the penultimate paragraph though! x