Brittany Decker - CAMBODIA 2009

This is the end of this trip, but not the end of the road...

2009-10-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

So finally my journey has come to an end... The past two weeks have gone by so unbelievably fast. I appreciate all that I have been able to do and I feel that MaryAnne and I have made the absolute best use of our time here. As I think about leaving, I am overcome with emotions knowing that I am coming back to my beautiful college campus, my very own house where I live with my family, and even a car that I have to drive around. At the same time, I am leaving here the children who walk miles to get to their one room schoolhouse each day with very few supplies and no electricity. Then they walk home in the thick mud to their grass huts where they will then go to work to support their families. I have never before realized how truly lucky I am.

I have formed some very special relationships with the people that I have met here. I don’t even think they realize the impact that they have each made on my life. It makes me sad not knowing if or when I will see these individuals again, but I will continue to keep in contact with them so that the relationships continue to grow.

Just because this short trip is over, does not mean I am through with the issues of poverty in Cambodia. It is actually just the beginning for me. I have since developed a passion for these people and even though I am only a single person, I would love to help better the lives of people here in any way that I can. When I return, I will work very hard to create my video documentary with the footage that I have retrieved the past two weeks. When I share my video with others my hope is to create a better understanding of what life is like here and engage each person to want to make a difference as well. I plan to use my video as a marketing tool to help raise funds for the many needs of the schools and the clinic here. I feel that as a college student it is the perfect time to explore internationally to better understand different cultures and ways of life. It is the perfect time to get my peers and others involved with an issue of great importance; and it is the perfect time to make a difference in the lives of others.

Once again, thank you to all who made this experience possible. I look forward to my return so that I can share the many stories I have. And thank you for following along on my journey…

Until next time,

Brittany Decker

Day 13: Pagoda

2009-10-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today was my last full day here in Cambodia. This morning MaryAnne and I ran a few final errands and took a ride one more time around Phnom Penh. Then Narith took us to go see a Pagoda. A Pagoda is a religious building where the people of Cambodia go to practice Buddhism. Nearly 99% of the people of Cambodia are Buddhist. It was a very beautiful and ornamental structure. Inside there was a massive statue of Buddha and the walls were decorated with detailed pictures that told stories of the religion and how it came about. MaryAnne and I had quite a long conversation with a monk that told us about the Pagoda and about their religion. He also told us that around 700-800 kids from the Providences live there so that they can go to school in the city. To pay for the building and the housing of these students and the additional 150 monks, the monks walk the streets each day to ask shop owners for donations. People always give money because they highly respect the monks- they are a symbol of the religion. It was really interesting to learn another aspect of the Cambodian culture.

Day 12: RDI

2009-10-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today MaryAnne and I went to Resource Development International (RDI). It is there where people work to make water filters. A man named John, originally from Kentucky, gave us a tour of the facility. I was able to see the entire process of the filters being made and I learned a lot about the importance of families having a water filter in their home. When John began working here, the statistics showed that 1 in 5 babies died before the age of 5 years old because of diseases from drinking the Mekong River. Now it is 1 in 12 babies, which is better but still a very high rate. I learned that mothers do not even name their babies at birth. They wait a couple of months because it is a high possibility that the baby will not survive. These water filters cost $10 each, which may not seem like a very high price to us especially because this is an item of necessity. However to the families living in the Provinces- in villages like Phum Thom, this is not an affordable price. MaryAnne hopes that someday in the near future she can help to get water filters to more of these people.

At RDI I was able to see a small TV studio that they had as well. In this studio they film a TV show called New World that is comparable to Sesame Street in the U.S. It was great to see the set and the way they went about filming and editing here. Also at RDI I saw the biggest pigs that I have ever seen! I have always wanted a pet pig, but I don’t think my parents would appreciate having one this size.

This afternoon MaryAnne and I had a little bit of down time. It was hot and sunny outside so we went for a swim at our hotel. I was able to get some reading done as well, which is always relaxing. I started another of one of the many books I purchased here about the Khmer Rouge.

Tonight MaryAnne and I went out to dinner with Arun and Shenda at the Khmer Surin. Arun and Shenda help to organize the money MaryAnne gives to the clinic and orphans in Phum Thom. Shenda is also Narith’s daughter and she is very nice! We had a great dinner together.

Day 11: Busy Day :)

2009-10-26T06:27:00.002-07:00

Today was a very busy day! This morning we left bright and early to go to the Russian market. I bought many unique gifts to bring back with me that I am very excited about. After we left the market, Narith took us to the corner of a street where his wife works selling clothes. It was so wonderful to meet her and MaryAnne and I both purchased some clothing to support their family. We also went to this shop where people with disabilities make everything in the store. It was nice to support a great cause and also purchase gifts there as well.

MaryAnne had a Rotary Club meeting that she attended during lunchtime. Instead of attending the meeting with her, Narith and I spent a few hours together. He drove me around the city to a few places where I wanted to capture video including: the King’s palace, the Prime Minister’s mansion that he built for his father, and many other statues and monuments. Then Narith and I went to lunch at this restaurant along the Mekong River. As we were eating, I once again saw the children walking around selling books and begging for money. I went up to them this time to ask for a picture with them. I also gave them each a few dollars and they were very excited. Narith gave the children his shoes to shine as well. It is very sad to see these children on the streets instead of in school on a Monday afternoon.

During our conversation at lunch I asked Narith to tell me where he was during the time of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. He told me that he was 18 years old then and he was sent to work in the rice fields. He showed me a huge scar on his leg of when a soldier hit him with a piece of wood because he was not feeling well one day and could not work. He was in the hospital for months. But worst of all, Narith lost his father and two brothers in 1977 because of this tragedy in Cambodia. They all died from starvation. It was very sad to hear Narith talk about what he went through during this time. Nearly each and every person in Cambodia still has a story of what happened about 30 years ago.

At around 1:30, we picked MaryAnne up from where her meeting was held. Our next stop was meeting Dara and Kim-Ann at the eyeglasses store. Kim-Ann is one of the teachers in a school MaryAnne oversees and our goal today was to buy her glasses because she has very poor vision. Kim-Ann lives in a squatter community and is a single mother with six children that she has to care for. The other night at the Teachers celebration she even took with her all of the leftovers from our dinner so that she could feed her children. She works very hard at her job and is a very kind person. I am very glad we were able to see an eye doctor and get her a pair of glasses.

Finally today we met with Pov, a college student here who is my age. Pov teaches English to orphans, so today we helped him to buy supplies for his students. We bought 65 notebooks, pencils, sharpeners, books, flashcards, and dictionaries. We also got him a briefcase. MaryAnne also plans to give him money to purchase a laptop. Pov was very appreciative. I am so happy I was able to meet him!

Also, today I purchased for myself an English-Khmer dictionary. I practiced the Khmer language all day with Narith and also with Pov. They corrected me whenever I pronounced a word wrong- It was so much fun! I would love to someday learn the Khmer language so I could come back here and understand what people around me are saying and be able to have conversations with them.

Today was a very productive and accomplished day.

Day 10: Church, Many new friends

2009-10-26T06:27:00.001-07:00

This morning an old friend of MaryAnne’s, Cornelia, met us at our hotel to have breakfast. Cornelia is a surgeon at Hope Hospital here in Phnom Penh, which is a medical center dedicated to providing free health care to adults. Over breakfast she told us a bit about the hospital and how busy it was. So busy in fact that many times they must turn down patients. Right now, Hope Hospital is celebrating its 1 million-th patient. That is absolutely incredible.

After breakfast MaryAnne, Cornelia, and I went to church down the street. The mass was very interesting. We were given headphones because somebody translated the service for us in English. There was music with drums, guitars, singing, and everybody was clapping their hands to the beat. It was also neat because we got to see three baptisms today where each person went into this huge barrel of water and held under water for a second. Everybody crowded around cheering and clapping.

The greatest thing about going to the mass today was all of the people I had the opportunity to meet and learn about. I met this one man named Sutton. He told me how he was a pediatrician living in a million dollar home overlooking the water in Orange County, California. Recently him and his family gave up everything they had and moved to Cambodia to help out here. I met this one woman named Jennifer who is the Priest’s wife. She was a very nice lady who also moved here for a period of time to do missionary work. I also met a girl who is about 23 years old named Rachel. Rachel grew up in Boston and recently moved here by herself to open her own small shop where women who have HIV/AIDS work. I met a doctor and his wife from Massachusetts as well. MaryAnne and I went to lunch with this group of people. I learned a lot through speaking with Cornelia, Jennifer, and Rachel. We had a very nice conversation while we ate. I really feel that it is so important to meet people and to network everywhere I go. I hope to keep in contact with these wonderful people I met today.

Day 9: Girl Guide Promise Ceremony/ Medical Clinic

2009-10-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Each day I think to myself that it is impossible for living conditions to get any worse for the people of Cambodia. Today I saw poverty at its absolute worst state imaginable.

This morning MaryAnne and I left our hotel at 6am when the Commissioner of Girl Guides picked us up. Our destination today was Phum Thom, a small village about two and a half hours from Phnom Penh. To get there we had to take a ferry to across the Mekong River because there are no roads yet connecting the communities on the other side. Next we drove down this very, very long muddy road. This road was filled with massive holes and the mud was extremely slippery. We were driving in a big truck and our vehicle still fishtailed many times. Others on this road were driving motos or animal-drawn carriages and they had a more difficult time getting through the mud. I saw many people fall off their motos and become covered in mud. As we reached the villages, the mud roads continued and I began to see more of the awful conditions for people living here. It was honestly like a whole different world or back in time centuries ago when civilization was just beginning to form. These people lived in small huts made of grass, leaves and sticks that were many times elevated on posts to keep from the flooding of the river. People here use the Mekong River for everything- bathing, washing clothes and dishes, drinking and for every use imaginable. The trash and wastes from these people end up in the river. The water was a dark brown color and very dirty. People here farm, fish, and work in the rice fields to obtain their food. There is no electricity, shops, or restrooms anywhere in the villages. Cars do not typically pass through the streets- today the people starred as our big truck passed by their homes. Many were shocked as they saw me looking out the back window because they have probably never seen an American before. Dogs and cows rested in streets not wanting to be disturbed and chickens and roosters walked casually across the street. I noticed many young children as I drove by these villages. Many were unattended and playing outside without any clothes on.

We finally reached the location where the Promise Ceremony was to be taken place. Girl Guides are equivalent to what we all know as Girl Scouts in the U.S. Some goals for these girls include: learning a variety of different skills, participating in community service, and protecting themselves-especially from human trafficking. There were 105 girls at the ceremony today and each were there to make a commitment to become leaders in their community as a Girl Guide. It was so wonderful to see that even in the conditions these girls lived in, they still set goals for themselves to succeed. MaryAnne and I each received a Girl Guides of Cambodia uniform and bandana as well making us official Girl Guides! We helped to give each girl her bandana and pins for her shirt. Towards the end of the ceremony we handed each girl the gift bags we made for them. They were very excited with the hair accessories and the WNEC stuffed animal that was inside the bag. They also were very interested with their dental kits. I noticed the children looking confused with the dental floss; not understanding it’s use. It made their day to just receive those small items.

MaryAnne funded the ceremony and it was very well put together. The girls sang and one young girl spoke. There were other speeches from the Commissioner of Girls Guides, MaryAnne, and the Village Leader congratulating them on their accomplishment. I really enjoyed capturing video of this event and being able to interact with the girls as well.

After the ceremony we walked to the nearby medical clinic that MaryAnne and the Grinspoon Foundation built and provide funding for sustaining. It is called the Sok Sabay Clinic and it opened in October of 2006. The commune is comprised of about 26,000 people in six small villages and there is are no other health clinics close by. The orgional plan for the clinic was to service a maximum of 300 patients a month. However, in less than a year the patient load grew to 1,800 patients a month. Many people get very sick from drinking the filthy river water. Just this past year, the clinic was enlarged to better care for mothers and children. Before the clinic was established, mothers would have their babies outside of their homes or in the fields. Now about 40 women a month come in to deliver their babies. Today I was able to see five mothers with their newborn babies- all boys! They were so tiny and adorable- what an incredible site to see! I learned one baby that was delivered today had something seriously wrong with his stomach swelling. The mother and baby had to be brought to Phnom Penh to try and save the baby. However, to get there they need to take a boat (not even a speed boat), which will take a very long time. Visiting the clinic today allowed me to see tremendous impact it has on this society.

I have never before realized just how lucky I am to be living life in my shoes. Feelings of guilt came over me as I was leaving that village to go back to my luxury hotel room with electricity, a bed, and a bathroom. I have so much that I take for granted everyday of my life without even realizing it. The people living in the villages were smiling and satisfied with what they had. These people do not know any different because this is how they have lived their entire lives. Yet seeing how they lived will affect me for the rest of my life and allow me to appreciate everything I have so much more. This is something that is very important for everybody to learn... Hopefully the video I create will help to open the eyes of others to think the same way.

(For more photos see my Facebook page)

Day 8: Visiting the Schools :)

2009-10-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Today MaryAnne, Dara, And I went to visit the five schools in the villages outside of Phnom Penh. The schools are no larger than a single classroom. The children only go to school for two hours a day and there is a rotating schedule so that all 100 children that attend each school can be given time to learn each day. It was unbelievable to see first hand the living conditions for people who live in these areas. The dirt roads are lined with potholes that could be a foot deep and filled with water from the rain. I saw many of the grass huts, shacks, and tents that people lived in. I also saw many babies and very young children with no clothes on that walked around on the street and played in the mud. Women were washing their clothes outside with a small bucket of water. Without the support of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, there would be no chance for these children to receive an education.

When our car drove into the village, many children on the street ran behind the vehicle in excitement to see us. The school houses were very small inside. Only the sun provided the lighting for the room and there were no outlets for a fan, despite the very hot weather. As the children entered the classroom they went up to the teacher to bow before taking their seat. Dara guided the students to greet us in English. In unison, the children said “Good morning, Brittany and Good morning MaryAnne.” Today was like a holiday for the students because they each received a backpack, school uniform, books, a pencil, and a sharpener from the funding of the Grinspoon Foundation. They were very excited as they looked at all of their school supplies. The students seemed very happy to be in school.

of the schoolhouse, many children gathered around me. They attempted to use their English by asking what my name was and my age. They were all fascinated with my video camera. An entire group of them looked at the video screen laughing while another child went on the other side of the lens to be taped. Those same children followed us as we walked around the area. I had a great time playing with the kids!

It is clear to me that the children of Cambodia have a special appreciation for learning and going to school. This was apparent through the respect the children had for the teacher and the smiles on their faces while just sitting at the tables ready to learn. Every student raised their hand when MaryAnne asked if they wanted to go to secondary school. Her hope is to be sure each child will be able to receive money to allow them to have this opportunity.

Day 7: The Student Ceremony/ Lunch with the Government/ Teacher Celebration

2009-10-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

I can’t even begin to explain the experiences that I have encountered today. I feel as though I can write a book about the incredible day I had, so it will be a challenge for me to write only a short blog entry.

Narith came to pick MaryAnne and I up this morning at 6:15am. Then we drove with Dara and Sarath-the executive director of CVCD (Cambodian Volunteers for Community Development) to the parent and student ceremony in a village right outside the city. I learned that these villages are actually squatter communities where people who live there have been driven out of the city because of their tremendous poverty. They do not even own this land that they live on and they can be forced to leave at any time. The 5 schools that MaryAnne runs are all in the squatter communities. As I walked towards the tent, many of the small children turned around to smile and wave at me. One small boy ran right up to me to shake me hand and tell me his name and then proceeded to run back to his friends giggling. The ceremony was beautiful. People from the government also attended the ceremony. I found it fascinating when the Secretary of State, Chey Chap, stepped out of his car everybody stood up immediately and the teachers and adults all hurried over to him to make a path for his entrance and bow to him. During his speech I sat next to a young man that I met so that he could translate for me what he was saying. He speech was very powerful and the children’s eyes did not leave his direction. He spoke of the 3 important things for them to be: 1. To be good children 2. To be a good Student 3. To be a good friend. He told the children to always bow to their parents before going to school, and to tell parents when they return so that they know they are home safely. He gave his sincere thank you to the Grinspoon Foundation for funding the schools so that these children could learn. What I really noticed about this society is that people are taught to always give respect to others. Bowing and always respecting elders is very important. They all referred to the Secretary of State as the Excellency. MaryAnne also gave a wonderful speech at this ceremony that Sarath translated to the children, teachers, and parents.

After the speeches we handed out the gift boxes, envelopes of $3, certificates, and bags of rice to each child as we called each name to be recognized. As I walked down the line of students to hand them their gift they bowed to say thank you. They had huge smiles on their faces and they were very excited to be receiving these rewards. I really enjoyed the interaction that I had with the children. Many of them were interested in my camera so they came over to curiously take a look behind the screen. When I asked to take a picture with some of them, many kids hurried to run over to come into the picture. It was a very rewarding feeling to see all of the children so happy to be there. These children live in shacks, tents, or grass huts and would not be able to receive an education without the Grinspoon Foundation’s support. Otherwise they would immediately begin working in the fields, picking garbage off the street, or staying home to care for their families. Families just wouldn’t have enough money to send their children to receive an education. The ceremony was a very eye-opening experience for me.

After the ceremony MaryAnne, Dara, Sarath, and I had a very special lunch. We went to a fancy restaurant along the Makon River with the government- including the Secretary of State, Minister of informal education, and three others. It was a very informative meeting and I was even able to ask many of my own questions. The officials spoke in mostly Khmer and Sarath translated to us, always referring to Chey Chap as the Excellency. They explained to us the main differences between formal and informal education because the schools the Grinspoon Foundation provides funding for are informal schools. The government runs the formal schools and children have to pay a fee each day to the teacher in order to attend. These schools are in session for around 6 hours everyday and it takes about 6 years to complete primary school. The informal schools are privately owned, in this case by CVCD and funded through the Grinspoon Foundation and the children do not pay a fee to attend. However, in these schools children only go for two hours each day and it takes about 3 years to complete the primary schooling. Despite the time difference, the students in the five schools that MaryAnne oversees many times perform higher on the tests compared to students from government schools. I also found out that teachers make around $60-$200 per month and about 20% of children in Cambodia do not attend school at all. MaryAnne expressed a concern that the children in her primary schools do not further their education to high school because they would have to go to a government school and they cannot afford it. She is hoping that there is a way the government can help out.

Though the lunch was formal and educational, it was also very casual and humorous at the same time. From the beginning of the lunch, everytime they took a sip of their drink they tapped every person’s class to cheers. I was very curious as to why they were doing this; I just figured it was a part of their culture. Then towards the end of the lunch, the minister of education said I just have one question for you… How come in your country to always hit the glasses before drinking? I believe they were doing it because that is what they thought was a normal part of our culture. At one point I found the two of the men laughing to each other and looking a me while speaking in the Khmer language. I was a bit nervous of what they were saying, but Dara told me they said I was beautiful. I felt relieved and honored of their conversation! The afternoon was filled with conversation and laughter. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to meet with the Excellency and other government officials from this country.

To top off our very eventful today, MaryAnne organized a teacher celebration at the Khmer Surin restaurant for dinner. There were eleven teachers and a few other guests that attended, many that I have meet previously when visiting at CVCD. To begin the celebration, MaryAnne gave a short speech to give a sincere thank you for all of the hard work that the teachers do throughout the year. She gave them each a certificate and a gift bag that we put together earlier this week. I sat next to a teacher that taught English in the schools. He is a new teacher and still working on learning the English language himself. I had the most wonderful conversation with him over dinner about many different aspects of the Cambodian culture. As I had mentioned previously, the culture here centers around respect. He told me that it is very important to always remove shoes before entering a house, if you go inside with your shoes on it is very impolite. When speaking to elders always remove a hat or glasses and it is disrespectful to sit higher than an elder. He also told me about the huge water festival that is next month that everybody here is talking about. During this time, the people here have three days off of work to watch the boat races. At midnight, the people offer food to the moon in order to determine how much rain will come of the next season. In Cambodia, there are two seasons. From June- October is the rainy season where is rains nearly everyday. Everyday I have been here it has rained each day for a short period of time in the afternoon. The other season in the cold season, which in fact does not get very cold at all. He also explained that the New Year is celebrated in April. On April 14th each person turns the next year older together (each person does not celebrate on their exact day of birth). I told him a bit about Western New England and he told me a bit about the University he attended. He said that it costs around $900 a year to attend college, I told him WNEC school was a bit more expensive. Also, it is always very important to bow upon greeting and to say thank you. It is not culturally acceptable for women to shake hands because it is intrusive and disrespectful for a man to touch a woman in such a way. During dinner the teachers helped me to use chopsticks to eat my food, they found it amusing that I could not hold them correctly.

Sitting next to this English teacher was a female teacher named Centary. She was a very kind-hearted woman that I had met earlier this week at CVCD. She spoke in Khmer to the English teacher, and then he looked over at me to translate. She asked me if she could have a picture of me for her home. He explained that in Cambodian culture when you want to have a baby, you place a picture of a beautiful person on the wall in desire for the baby to look like the particular person. She wanted this picture to put on her wall for that very reason. She smiled and looked at me, when he told me that and honestly my eyes filled up with tears. I felt very honored to receive this ultimate compliment from this teacher.

It was wonderful to get to know all of the teachers in the schools and to learn even more about society here. We were very grateful for the hard work they put in each day at their schools. They said they hope that I return to Cambodia again.

Before I conclude, I would just like to explain yet one more thing that I found fascinating in this society in regard to the animals here. It is common to see chickens just roaming around or goats on the side of the street. Today I saw a cow just walking across the street in front of all the cars. You see dogs here all the time just wandering the streets with no collars or anything. When I asked Sarath about it today, he said dogs here just roam around. He mentioned when he went to the U.S he noticed owners put something around the dog’s neck and had control over it. There are geckos everywhere, including in my hotel room. To top off the day, I saw an elephant just roaming down the street. I was in shock!! Narith did not even take a second glance… this is normal here.

Today was an extraordinary day that I will remember for my entire life. I met so many wonderful and inspirational people, expanded my knowledge on the way of life in Cambodia, and saw the happiness of the children here to receive an education. I feel so lucky to have had this experience today. It was life changing and eye opening.

Day 6: Gift Boxes

2009-10-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

Today MaryAnne and I met with Dara again bright and early to piece together the boxes that each child will receive at the honors ceremony tomorrow. Out of the 530 total students at the five schools, 255 students who have received high honors will be attending the ceremony tomorrow. In each box that we put together there is a small towel, a bar of soap, a pencil case, and a correction pen. 75 of the students have perfect attendance and 20 are named as “Outstanding Students” for their high test scores.. In addition to the gift boxes, these students will receive $3 each and their parents will receive a 25 pound bag of rice for their child’s accomplishment. These incentives are very important because it encourages the children to go to school each day and try their very best. The number of students with perfect attendance nearly doubled from last year. Dara, MaryAnne, and I had a lot of fun packaging these boxes and completing final preparations for tomorrow.
This afternoon I went to a store called Peace Handcrafts. This small shop was special because it provides training and employment opportunity to disabled artisans and the underprivileged, especially women, to earn a living and improve their living condition. MaryAnne and I purchased a few small souvenirs to support their cause.
Back at the hotel, we finished the gift bags for the teachers and for the Girl Guide leaders. I am going to try to get to bed a bit earlier tonight because we leave here tomorrow at 6 am and the next three days are very busy… I can’t wait!

Day 5: Shopping for Books and Sophary's Family

2009-10-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

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!

Day 4: Meetings and the Market

2009-10-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

This morning MaryAnne and I had a meeting with a woman named Tan Phally at the Girl Guide Office. MaryAnne and her family gives funding to the Girl Guides program, which is comparable to Girl Scout Troops in the United States. MaryAnne funded the Promise Ceremony that will be held on Saturday in Phum Thom, and we discussed what our role will be in helping out in the ceremony. The five women we met with were very friendly and understood English fairly well. They showed us pictures of what events the troops had taken part in throughout the past year. One particular thing the girls learned in Girl Guides was how to read and locate places on a map. MaryAnne explained her goal for Girl Guides. She emphasized the importance of each girl feeling good about themselves. She wants the girls to participate in community service, learn new skills, educate themselves beyond secondary school, and learn to protect themselves- particularly from human trafficking. I really enjoyed meeting Tan Phally and the other young women at the meeting today- they seemed about my age. Girl Guides is such an incredible program that MaryAnne supports.

Our next stop was the Russian Market- and boy was that a great thing to see! The market is huge and has anything and everything you can ever want. The market has very narrow paths with vendors lined up on each and every side and it is extremely hot and crowded. I was able to purchase a couple of cds with Khmer music to use in my video that I am producing. Narith helped us to bargain, he was great! We plan to go back to the market a few more times while we are here.

After the market, we had a meeting with a young woman named Dara, who is the director of the five schools that the MaryAnne oversees. In addition, MaryAnne herself pays for Dara’s education in law school. Dara was a kind-hearted and very organized person. She has been taking classes for a year now to better her English; she does very well. We discussed the details for the Celebration with children and parents that will be held on Thursday. Also, tomorrow we will be going shopping with Dara to purchase 100 books for the schools and other school supplies for the children.

Today was a very fulfilling day, and I look forward to tomorrow!

Communication Student Sets Sights on Cambodia

2009-10-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

Communication Student Sets Sights on Cambodia

Posted October 16, 2009

When Brittany M. Decker started her junior year at Western New England College, little did she realize it would take her half-way around the globe. But that’s exactly where she’s heading to document a charitable foundation’s efforts to provide education and medical care to the poor.

Decker departed October 15 on a two week trip to Cambodia. There, the communications major will videotape a documentary project on The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation’s work outside the capital of Phnom Penh. “I feel very fortunate to be able to travel abroad, meet some exceptional people, and hopefully make a difference in a global perspective,” said Decker, a native of Bristol, Connecticut. “I look forward to being able to apply what I have learned here at Western New England College in such an incredible way.”

Since 2004, the foundation has funded schools in small squatter communities outside Phnom Pehn, serving more than 500 students in five schools. The foundation also supports a group of orphans, and funded a project to create a medical clinic serving more than 2,000 people per month, with an emphasis on maternity care for women and children.

The trip wasn’t even on Decker’s radar at the start of the semester seven weeks ago. She knew she would be producing a video on the foundation. When Dr. MaryAnne Herron, director of special projects for the foundation, extended an invitation to accompany her to Cambodia, Decker worked with her advisor and other professors to clear her schedule and make the trip possible.

“The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation welcomes the vision of Western New England College to participate as a global partner with the Foundation’s charitable programs in Cambodia,” said Herron. “We are so pleased that the college has stepped forward to allow Brittany to take part in this significant mission.”

Decker became involved with The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation through the Western New England College Institute for Media and Non-Profit Communication. The Institute connects students with area non-profit organizations in need of video production services. The projects provide students with professional experience writing, producing, shooting, and editing video projects, while the non-profit organization receives professional-quality video production at low or no cost.

“These unique opportunities make Western New England College a special place to learn,” said Brenda A. Garton, director of the Institute and a member of the College’s communication faculty. “Creating this video will provide Brittany with an extraordinary experience that will impact the rest of her life and assist the Grinspoon Foundation with their remarkable work in Cambodia.”

Decker hopes to blog about her experiences during the trip and will show her finished documentary video at the College when it is complete.

Day 3: The Killing Fields

2009-10-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

Day 3

The Killing Fields

This morning MaryAnne and I met for breakfast at 7:00am and Narith picked us up at 9:00am. Our first stop was to find a cell phone store, because MaryAnne’s phone was not working. Narith was able to bargain a cell phone on the street for $24 that she could use while she was here.

This afternoon MaryAnne brought me to see the killing fields. In the 1970s the Khmer Rouge

army led by Pol Pot forced everybody out of Phnom Penh. The government first killed doctors, nurses, teachers, and other intellectuals- leaving the country unable to care for it’s people. Nearly 1.7 million people died from the killings or starvation. MaryAnne and I had our own tour guide named Chantheng Nhim. He explained to us that he was alive during the genocide, but him and his family moved up north. Two of

his sisters died of starvation, but he survived due to breast-feeding from his mother. At the killing fields, we saw many mass graves where about 115 people were buried in each grave. In the largest mass grave, 450 people were buried. Our tour guide pointed out a tree where the soldiers would “smash babies” against the tree to kill them. To kill adults, the army used farming tools because they did not want to waste their bullets. We saw skulls of people killed and we even saw teeth that still remained in the dirt. Next we went to the Museum of Genocide Crime. It was here that people were tortured before being brought to the killing fields. The soldiers would torture people by ripping of fingernails or hanging them by their feet and letting their head drown under water in a pot below. I can’t even begin to explain all of the emotions inside of me from what I saw today. It was just so unbelievable to learn the cruel things that happened to people only about 30 years ago.

I was able to get video footage of the killing fields, museum, and an interview with our tour guide that I look forward to sharing with all of you. If you want to learn more about the genocide in Phnom Penh I would highly recommend watching the movie “The Killing Fields” and reading the book First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung.

Tonight MaryAnne and I were very busy putting together all the gifts for the Girl Guides (same as Girl Scout in the U.S) and for the teachers. We made over 100 gift bags

that included: a dental package with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss; small bags of hair accessories and bead necklaces; friendship bracelets made by Girl Scout Troops in the U.S; and small stuffed animals that I brought with me that say Western New England College. We had a lot of fun putting together the packages and I cannot wait until we can give them to the children!

Day 2

2009-10-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Day 2

This morning MaryAnne and I had breakfast with the Phnom Penh Rotary Club. We met a couple of very nice people and learned a lot about the city. In the afternoon, we came back to our hotel. I went to the gym and MaryAnne went for a swim. It was great to relax for a bit because I am not use to the 11-hour time change yet! This evening we went to a church service and out to dinner at a very nice restaurant. We rode on a tuk-tuk to get back to our hotel (which is a carriage pulled by a moto). It was great to see the different cultures of this country!

Day 1: Traveling

2009-10-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Day 1

Traveling

My day began today at 3:30 in the morning. MaryAnne and I had a 10:00am plane to catch in New York. I was able to keep myself occupied by reading, watching movies, and sleeping for the first long 15-hour flight. We then had a 2-hour layover in Hong Kong and a second flight that was another two hours. It took me a very long time to go through security because I have four video cameras, two microphones, chargers, wires, a lap top, etc.. in my back pack, and I had to take everything out.. twice! It was a bit entertaining.

Finally we reached Phnom Penh, Cambodia! I met our driver, Narith, who will be taking us everywhere for the next two weeks… he is very nice and he speaks English fairly well. I was already in shock just on our drive from the airport to the hotel. On the streets the main source of transportation are motos (small motorcycle bikes). I saw entire families sitting on one bike! Many people rode on the back of trucks as well. I don’t think that there are many traffic regulations here because drivers do not stop before they turn a corner, they drive on the opposite sides of the road, and there is barely any organization what so ever on the road. There must be accidents here all the time! The hotel we are staying at is called the Imperial Garden Hotel & Villa, and it is beautiful! I look forward to the rest of

my trip. I will keep you all updated!

Welcome!

2009-10-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! This blog will allow you to follow along on my journey in Cambodia. I will accompany MaryAnne Herron from the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation. MaryAnne is responsible for overseeing five schools in villages outside of the capitol, Phnom Penh, as well as overseeing a medical clinic to help take care of children and families. I will be filming here to create a documentary on what the foundation does for the people of Cambodia. In addition I will be helping MaryAnne with the many events she has planned. Thank you to all who are following... I look forward to keeping you updated everyday!

Thank you to all of those who made this trip possible!

Brenda Garton

Harold Grinspoon

MaryAnne Herron

Dean Zern

Eric Zahm

Dean Ghahramani

Richard Keating

My parents

WNEC bookstore

And many others from the Western New England College Community…