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The next morning we visit Samraong, about two hours bumpy drive from Siem Reap. We travel straight to the medical project at the local hospital - which covers a population of about 150 000 inhabitants in the area. The conditions are very poor and simple, not only comparing to our own western standard. The hospital has a maternity ward as well as a couple of other sections including one for HIV and HIV children. A while back the hospital was forced to shut down the kitchen due to financial constraints and they are now unable to provide food for the patients. There is instead an open outdoor kitchen area where families of the patients can cook for their relatives. Further there is little running water inside and the toilets and wash area are both outside. Still, these have been renovated by volunteers and are in good conditions, but occasional, temporary floods in the rainy season make the circumstances worse for the ill.
As a participant here you must realize and be prepared that you will be very little involved in the medical treatment of patients, simply either because you do not have a health care background and/or because of the language which is the obvious main obstacle. Still; there are so many other ways you can help out; improving the environment by anything from painting the beds or rooms and corridors to gardening outside, cleaning and certainly showing your compassion and assisting patients, their families and especially the children. It is thus far the project that makes the biggest dig to the heart; it is clear that the people who come here are suffering and the care that can be provided is sadly far from enough in many cases. The children seem deprived of entertainment and games; mostly playing with old toys of which they really are too old.There is a quiet and shyness in this place; at large everyone here are simply sick and just want to get well and home.One woman sits quietly on the stairs, she is expecting her first baby and has come to deliver - she is nervous, but shares a faint smile as we pass.
Next stop is the School of Promise orphanage.There are about 30 children living here but only one woman caring for them full time.The kids age range from six to 18 however most of them seem to be around 10. No participants here when we visit, but the tasks here are similar to what we saw at the orphanage in Singburi; teaching and renovation. The children love to play, they show us where they sleep; in dormitories; one for the girls and another for the boys - maybe 15 in each room. These kids really warm u
p to us - not only because of the soaring heat today - they sing, show us their school books and love to take pictures. And when we start with the funny faces they surely provide comic relief!
We then go to the homestay in the same village. At this time four volunteers are living here with the family of five. The atmosphere is relaxed and the home cooked food we are served is again fantastic. We sit together at the big outdoor dinner table and discuss the value and meaning of the work they all do; three in the medical program at the hospital; nurses and a medical student and one teaching at the school. English, Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian. They all love it here; living in a small community and making a difference through their stay and work. But at the same time they have learnt about patience and accepting the fact that they cannot do everything; they are faced with constraints both financially and culturally which means things take time. You have to adapt and find your way to fit in with the environment.
And they do; Two of them have organized their own little project; through gathering money from home they have bought toothbrushes and toothpaste for the school kids and are now teaching them how to clean their teeth - a habit they are not common with here. We get to see this dental hygiene demonstration in action as we later visit the school.
One Swedish girl has also found her way of cheering up the children she meets; with balloons! 'Anywhere you see balloons here, you know I have been there. And they make everyone smile!'
We visit the Samraong Padoga, see the Buddhist munk centre and get to meet with some of the munks and temple boys here. Becoming a munk is also a path to education for sons of poor families. Stying with the munks, talking openly with them and learning about their way of life is part of the volunteer culture/Buddhist program for the participants here. Imagine getting up before dawn and walk through the village bare feet collecting the offerings from the community - where already most people have nothing - an incredible, heartwarming experience.
After returning to Siem Reap it is time for dinner again where we have a fabulous mix of traditional Khmer cuisine of course accompanied by the local Angkor beer! We finish the night by a visit to the market, a bit of a massage and not to mention the exhilarating fish massage; put your feet in a fish tank and the little buggars actually feed on the dead skin on your feet. Your footsies come out feeling smooth, but you have to stand the unbelievable tickling to get there.
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