How much do you appreciate your mops, cleaners, scrubbing brushes and dustpans? After today, I appreciate them so much more. Imagine this...suds, suds and more suds, little naked bodies sliding on bellies across the floor, brooms pushing the soapy water out the door, little hands on giant sponges scrubbing the stained walls, ants running in terror, toilets turning white again, t-shirts wiping the floor somewhat dry, fans blowing to finish the drying, giggling ringing through the orphanage...teamwork is an understatement. The last time the orphanage was scrubbed down like this was a year ago, seriously. The FlipCam material for today is going to be an absolute joy to view. One minute I would see a bubble-covered brown body, and then the next minute he was sliding under the bed and to the other side of the room. Loved it!
Isaal...my clone of Axel...I want to bring him home. From across the room this afternoon I watched him dress himself in Axel's overalls. A little too short, but so adorable. I have to admit that I'm a little obsessed with him and would bring him back home with me in a heartbeat, if it was allowed. Cambodian children are only allowed to be sponsored from overseas. To adopt him I would need to live in Cambodia. He's five and only a tad bit taller than my Axel who's almost three. His eyes, oh his eyes...I can just see the pain inside, so I hug him, hug him, hug him. Nalin, a lady that works at the orphanage, told Isaal in Khmer today that Jen wanted to take him home with her-he shook his head no. Then she told him that I had a little boy like him-he then considered my offer. ;)
Ah...how could I forget the fruit/veggie/meat stand purchase with Lisamarie today...seriously. Meat hung from wires, all kinds, and the giant heart, ick.Fish without heads, limes engrossed with flies, and unique looking items that we weren't sure whether or not they were fruit or veggies? We were dying laughing, gagging from time to time. But again, to witness the smiles on the faces when we arrived...so worth the swatting of flies and near-vomit sensations. Watermelon for all! Potatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, pork, etc. AND...all organic, and I mean organic. ;)
Round 2 of de-licing today...we realized, after reading the label on the bottle this time, that dry hair was the prerequisite...woops. After lathering little heads, the kids had to stand on the wall and wait for 10 minutes, the magical numbers of minutes required for the shampoo to kill the lice in their hair. Ah yes, I will be de-licing myself tonight as well. The lice is present in mostly females, but the boys feel left out. So...I washed Thong's head as well...I think he just wanted a scalp massage-I don't blame him.
Final note...these kids have some rhythm. I placed my earphones into tiny ears, flipped on some Timbaland and Will.I.Am...and the shoulders started rockin, the heads began shakin...priceless! I love to just watch the kids in action. By doing this I get a sense of their personality, their likes and dislikes-it's then that I can jump in with conversation, kick a ball around, or simply hug them.
I <3 Cambodia.
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