Firstly we'd like to apologise for how long it's been since our last blog.
It's been an amazing few months here, some of the best of our lives and an absolute whirlwind that we've neglected the blog.
Since we last wrote it's fair to say a lot has happened! We've attended two Cambodian weddings, both of which helped us understand and appreciate the Khmer culture to a whole new level. Weddings here are more of a regular social occasion, and a time to eat your worries away. The brides have about 7 dress changes a day, all wonderful and stunning outfits drowned in jewels. It is traditional to start the day with many ceremonies of good luck, one includes pairs coming up behind the bride and groom and pretending to cut and wash their hair (this was to symbolise a new beginning as something that is universally known as a new beginning is a fresh chop to your locks.) We were sat there obediently admiring this ritual before getting rushed up to perform this by the bride's parents also! We were delivered course after course of multiple unidentifiable fish and were encouraged to eat the fried chickens head we had very carefully left on the side of our plates.
We've now structured our days at the orphanage to our liking with Art, Dance and Drama classes surrounding our English classes, keeping us busy. We've now taught our primary class half the dance to 'Uptown Funk' and will be moving on to 'Thriller' next. As you can imagine this is endless fun.
Living at the orphanage gives us an opportunity to be more than just teachers to these amazing children. They call us 'big sister' and get hurried over to join the 124 orphans huddled around one small television watching 'Who wants to be a millionaire'- Cambodian style every Saturday night.
Before leaving for Cambodia we were both told how generous the Cambodians are, and they have more than exceeded this expectation. People are so grateful to discover we are teacher volunteers, and how long we are here for, they bow to us and tell us that they are so grateful, including, bizarrely the princess and Secretary of State of Cambodia who visited the orphanage and gave us such warm welcomes to their country, giving us their cards if we ever need anything! This humbles us hugely, and makes me embarrassed when I think about Britain's outlook to foreigners. They are so commonly seen as a nuisance, to "get out of our country" and we are told to hold on to our Britishness and fly the flag. Why do so many people struggle embracing other people's cultures? Take that UKIP.
It's such a funny thought now to think of the children I know at home, the child I was, needing the new best toy or playing on your parents flashy iPad with adults fussing over you. The children we work with had one nanny between say 15 of them. They ask for our Pringles packets and water bottles and play with them endlessly, with more glee than many children who have more. They clap and cry with laughter when they guess hangman right and applaud like its the best entertainment since Cambodian Who wants to be a millionaire.
Sometimes, very often it's true when they say the less you have, the more you give.
Esme and Charlotte
Xoxo