Day 5: Shopping for Books and Sophary's Family

               This morning MaryAnne and I met Dara to go shopping for several things that the five schools need.  We first went to a large store where we picked out many school supplies for the classrooms.  Next, we chose over 100 books in both English and the Khmer language to add to each school’s library collection.  Mr. Grinspoon provided funding for all of these materials. I found it fascinating when MaryAnne picked out flashcards in English on career ambitions (on one side of the card was a picture-and on the reverse side was the word that corresponds).  While in the store, MaryAnne was going through each flashcard with Dara, while she looked at the picture and stated the English word that went with the picture.  It was really moving to watch because so many people here are working very hard to learn the English language. Dara told me that she always had set goals for herself to become educated, learn the English language, and become a lawyer. She is a very ambitious person who is very thorough and organized with her job and schooling, and she works very hard to support her and her younger brother.  She is truly an inspiration. 

            After spending a couple of hours in the first store, we headed to the market to purchase some more items that are needed before the children and parents ceremony on Thursday.  At the market we shopped for towels and soap for each of the 255 students.  We also bought purses and material to make skirts for the women teachers, and wallets and shirts for the male teachers.  The market is a very interesting place where you really get a feel for the different culture of this country. You can purchase nearly anything you could ever imagine at these markets and for a low price.  I was shocked to see massive crickets and tarantulas on sale for a snack! Narith and Dara both ate some crickets.  It definitely did not look appetizing!

            After a long day of shopping, MaryAnne, Dara, Narith, and I went out to lunch.  While sitting at our table, very young children were right by us trying to sell books that they held in a box that was strapped around their neck.  They were pleading for us to purchase their books and they remained as close to our table as the restaurant owners would let them. The children had old, dirty clothes and no shoes on their feet.  At this hour children should be at school, but these children were out begging on the streets.  I never really expected to see this really happening.  It is a site you see only in movies.  I gave one boy, who was probably no more than 8 or 9 years old, a dollar.  He smiled, said thank you, and came back with his friend to ask if he could have one too.  As I gave the other young boy a dollar he put his hands together to say thank you as well.  It was very sad to see such young children on the streets when they should be learning to better their future.  In our car ride leaving the restaurant, I saw another child pushing an older woman in a wheelchair that ran out in the middle of the road to knock on the windows of vehicles to plead for money.  This is very common to see here.

            Tonight MaryAnne and I went to meet Sophary’s family for dinner at their home.  Sophary is a man who now lives and works in the U.S because he left the county when the government tried to kill him for supporting unions and bettering the workforce.  He has been trying for three years now to get his green card so that he can see his family again.  He hope is to have them all move to the U.S, but if that is not possible he plans to move back to Cambodia. MaryAnne brought a computer that Sophary wanted her to give to his sons.  He is able to talk to his family on skype everyday.  I was able to meet his wife, children, and other relatives who were all very kind.  We had a great conversation over dinner where I learned about each of them and more about life in Cambodia.

                       

            What a wonderful day!