This one is a split donation, 100kg of rice from me, 100kg of rice from Frank and 50kg of rice from Emma. So for all my family playing at home, 2 of those bags are from you guys and a huge thank you again. This 250kg is to feed 17 growing children and 2 adults three meals a day of which are all predominately rice (rice soup from breakfast, rice and a very, very small amount of meat for dinner, maybe rice and rice and vegetables for dinner, or rice soup again). We guesstimated that this will feed them for the month after we leave when there are no volunteers coming until well into October. The rice bags became a bit of a play ground…

Here are the children this morning, looking fabulously well dressed for their morning class.

Last night I wanted to take Socheat out for dinner to thank her for all the motorbike rides, translations and help she has given me and Emma over the past week. Unfortunately Emma had a very difficult time getting back from Siem Reap, as dinner was meant to be from the two of us, but I was just thankful she got home safely, Socheat brought her brother and his shadow (Mrs. Leng’s son) along as well. They drove me about 5 minutes out of town down the main road to a very poplar restaurant amongst the locals, and one I had no hope of finding myself. I told them to order for me cause I wanted to taste their favourite Khmer foods. We got a delicious marinated beef dish with green tomatoes which you ate with a salt and pepper mix that you squeeze lime into and rice, a seafood dish which was their favourite (uncooked prawns), I was warned not to eat much cause it would make me sick cause my stomach isn’t like theirs… Which was fine by me, I tasted it and it was really quiet spicy (though my tolerance is getting better). And then we had a tong yum soup, think tom yum but less oily and much more fresh, which was filled with fish, lemongrass, herbs and mushrooms and was just spicy enough and was absolutely incredible! Topped off by a plate of pineapple, I took 4 people out, drinks included for $20 all together, now I could get use to that! And then I went into a food coma!

Gecko’s at the dinner table…

My girls sporting their new clothes. The younger girls had to have short sleeved shirts as there were no more long sleeve ones in they’re size (long sleeves to protect from the sun- though we all might think it’s crazy, they can’t afford sunscreen to cover there skin, and white skin is seen as beautiful over here)

The children have two sets of clothing, they rotate them each day whilst the other is getting washed. (And we all need something new to wear each time we go out…)Some of their shoes I’m unsure how they walk in cause they’re holding on by a thread. The idea of a uniform has been a fantasy of Borin’s for a few years now, and something that will separate them less from the fortunate few who can afford to attend school. Whilst they only for 3-4 hours of English a day, a uniform for them 1. Makes it all the more proper and real as well as 2. Gives them another set of clothes to play in (and hopefully take better care of). So yesterday Borin and I went down to the tailor here, and chose out 17 school shirts, 9 skirts and 8 trousers for each and every kid at the orphanage to have their very own uniform (and maybe one day if they are lucky enough to be sponsored to go to school, they’ll already be set). Borin was the happiest I’ve ever seen her, and one of the girls that came along kept hugging me and saying thank you, you’re so good ‘Cher’. The kids were filled with so much glee when they each received there packages. We popped them straight on!

For those that don’t know, my family each year, give up a portion of money at Christmas to buy gifts for villages and communities that need it most, we’ve bought, wells, animals etc. in the past but one of my aunties had a great idea in using this money to fund my orphanage as I was thinking of getting some sponsorship from family and friends. So these uniforms in fact are the result of my very generous family, and 1/3rd of their sponsorship. The rest of the gifts are coming throughout the week! So a huge thank you to everyone who contributed, here is how happy you’ve all made someone/s!

And the reason I always come home the dusty feet (and for some reason no other volunteers feet are ever are dirty as mine)

I saw this quote today and (as many could vouch) it is way too appropriate and true.

Rothana and Sok Vy are very cleaver when it comes to building and constructing. They will resume old bottles, and balloons and make instruments. They can tie incredible knots and they constructed this swing for themselves to play on. Pictured is Rothana.