Getting Comfortable

With the images and emotions from Cambodia still fresh in my mind, the ability to compare and contrast Cambodia with Nicaragua comes naturally. Coming into this service trip open-minded and free of expectations, I was immediately baffled, but comforted, by the clean environment. Those of you who have visited Nicaragua before may respectfully disagree with me, yet I'm making my determination based on my experience in Cambodia. Intricately shaped trees line the streets, reminding me of the film "Edward Scissorhands," drawing the passersby in and claiming, "Look at me! Look at me!" During this service trip we have the pleasure of staying at Hostel Hamacas, a quaint home-away-from-home which is truly inviting and immerses one into the culture of the country with its vibrant color schemes, lush foliage and authentic decor. I am approaching this opportunity with zero expectations, and so I will just breathe, laugh, love and live like there's no tomorrow. 

Originating from Miami and also my new favorite ladies, Aleyda and Kristal will serve as our translators this week, assisting us both on site at Escuela Especial and during our afternoon home visits. Known to most as the bubbly individual always seeking to be a better person and foster better situations for those around her, Lisamarie discovered Aleyda and Kristal through a companion at a yoga class here in Nicaragua. My initial impression was that these females were street smart, savvy women with tough outer shells, women that would get a job done and get it right. And yes, after several conversations throughout the day, the assumption was confirmed; however, this kind-hearted mother-daughter duo shares the same passions as Lisamarie and me. Hardworking, firm and fearless, as a quadruplet we will do our best to accomplish the work we came to do, both for the students in Nicaragua and the students we have brought from our little bubble in Eagle County. 

Before initiating CLEANING 101, we were given the opportunity to meet most of the staff, which included some of the following: Carmen Margherita (physical therapy), Marta (preschool), and Marino (teacher for the deaf). Meeting Marino, a beautiful soul with a beaming smile, provided me my first experience with the Nicaraguan sign language. Marino, deaf himself, was very patient as we learned how to sign his name, because it did take multiple attempts. When we correctly signed back with "Buenos Dias," he lit up like a neon sign in the dark of night. I see a new friendship and mentor in my future. 

And so now, please permit me to take you on a short journey of the school: 11 metal-gated classrooms, blue-white-blue exterior paint to represent the flag, lush foliage, banana and papaya trees, a desperate lack of supplies, no whiteboards, handwritten posters, random activities obviously supplied by donors, broken manipulatives, no pencils, rooms lined with wheelchairs and rickety wooden chairs, stacks of unorganized papers, running water, cobweb-covered equipment, dirt and grime from 28 years of existence...I could keep going and going, but I think you get the point. To adequately prepare for our upcoming week with the students, we needed to show the teachers how invested we truly are, how much this opportunity means to us. Cleaning the school not only makes us feel good at the end of the day, but it fosters our commitment to greatness, our compassion for those who can do nothing for us in return.

Our mission for Day 1 at the school was to clean and organize every classroom, disinfect the cafeteria, and purify the grounds of waste. Paired up with Kristal, Maddie, Makena and I gained unforgettable information about spiders, as our intimate encounter with one served as a defining moment in our day. Did you know that a tarantula's defense mechanism is its hairs? Apparently when threatened, they release their hairs into the opponent's mouth, further encompassing the esophagus and lungs, eventually suffocating them. You may wonder why I added this tidbit of information into my blog? It's because I took this new knowledge and immediately compared it to my involvement with Children's Global Alliance-three words: Share. The. Love. Two years ago when I expressed (in a photo comment on Facebook) to Lisamarie that I wanted to be involved, she shared her personal objective and desire to bring students aboard. One agreement spiraled into the next, and the next, and look where the organization is now. Inclusive of my son Axel and my commitments at home, it is my world. I am not suffocating like the victim mentioned above, but am truly living and breathing the opportunities provided me by CGA and Lisamarie Howell. Thank you, LMH, for being my tarantula. I am surrounded by so much love, which in turn, radiates from my own love-swollen heart. 

At the current moment I am overwhelmed with curiosity and anxiety. How do the classes and teachers function with limited supplies? What will the student-to-teacher ratio look like in action? What challenges do they face that I haven’t already been exposed to? How will our limited knowledge of Nicaraguan sign language play out? Will we be accepted by the children? 

Once again, this opportunity forces me, whether I want to accept this reality or not, to be grateful for everyone and everything in my life. So I remember to breath, laugh, love and live. xoxo

Que dia mas bonito!

Hola. Soy una voluntaria de los Estados Unidos por Global Alianza de los Ninos.

Here. We. Go.

Tomorrow I embark on a journey with 5 students to the beautiful country of Nicaragua, where we will be volunteering at Escuela Especial Sor Maria Romero, a school for students with special needs. So severely disabled that travel is not an option, we will be making daily trips to volunteer in students’ homes.

I have a slightly elevated level of anxiety going into this trip, as it will be my first time in Nicaragua. As was last year with my first trip to Cambodia, my stomach is fluttering with butterflies, and fluttering may be an understatement-I have that euphoric feeling one gets before making a monumental step or decision in their life, accompanied with some nausea...no big deal.

As an educator and a mother, not only do I know that I can make a big impact in Rivas, Nicaragua, but the students and teachers will be even more impactful upon my character, fostering my personal growth and sense of global awareness.

I look forward to this challenge and opportunity. 

Thank you, Lisamarie, for making it happen! 

Buenas Noches. xoxo

Speechless...literally.

What a whirlwind of a summer it's been, and finding a peaceful moment to digest the reality I experienced in Cambodia has been very challenging. I find myself, at least ten times a day, processing the trip, our strengths, our areas for improvement, student growth, and personal growth.

What started as a series of interviews at CPO turned into a sea of new knowledge, one I am finding hard to express in words to friends and family. One has to, ideally, experience the reality firsthand to fully understand the depth of poverty we were exposed to, and to recognize the "happiness" that truly exists in such conditions.

I'd like to start with information divulged through initial interviews with Sohm Ahn, the "director" of the orphanage. A Cambodian's salary typcially averages anywhere from $30-$50 a month, equivalent to $360-$600 a year, depending on the type of work performed. Keeping this in mind, CPO pays $120 for their land rental and $30 for electric, both per month. With 33+ children, "staff" members, the director and her husband all needing to survive, you may wonder how they actually do? With rice pricing at $30/bag, and needing 8 bags per month to able to feed every mouth three times a day, their monthly bill is almost $400! Needless to say, they eat limited amounts of pork and eggs for protein, and morning glories are the common vegetable, or should I say weed? That's what it appeared to be, but the taste is delightful. As we pressed on with questions, we found that a Japanese group supplies 4 bags of rice per month and also assists with the land rental fee. Apparently this Japanese group visits CPO 1-2 times per month now, and the two have been associated with each other for quite some time, back to when CPO was a small shack of 4-5 kids, located in the slums. The help has been consistent, necessary, and truly a blessing!

Every child attends the government school, when age appropriate, with grades 1-6 attending 1/2 day sessions and the high school students attending full day sessions. With a well on site (yet desperately needing some H2O), the children bathe and wash their clothes regularly; Every child fends for himself. (the little guys needed some prompting to keep clean, and when we could convince them to come bathe, there's nothing sweeter than smiles, wide eyes, and tan behinds glistening in the Cambodian sun)

Needs, needs, needs...I commonly use this language with Axel-"you may want it, but you don't NEED it." Needs expressed consisted of the following: a small enclosed room to teach English, money for rice, snack money for the children when at school, a extension of the roof to prevent leaking onto the stage/sleeping quarters, and running water. To consistently provide money for food, several select students are very versed in traditional Khmer dancing, and they hold performances on their stage. The local village is invited, entrance fees support the orphanage, and every once in a while the group travels to perform at local weddings and celebrations. One step towards self-sustainability! Yes!

Lisamarie immediately decided to fund both the roof and the governmental running water:
Roof: $180
Water: $190
Smiles on their faces: priceless
                                                                   Beginning Stages

                                                                         Progressing

                                                                        3/4 completed

                                                               Mission Accomplished!

The roof materials were purchased that very same day, and construction began the next. Witnessing this event, a "taken-for-granted luxury back home," filled my heart with the utmost gratitude for my own life. Picture the Grinch, not saying that I'm the Grinch, but the moment in which his heart swells in his chest to ten times the normal size...that's what this moment felt like, and it's the best way for me to describe it.

So, I guess I've overcome the "speechless" situation I was in...

xoxo

Another Unique Experience

How I Wonder...

Since when does an English class begin with singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?" It does in Cambodia, and it's followed by "London Bridge," unified recitation, and additional singing accompanied by the harmonica. As a language arts educator, I would consider this the "anticipatory set" in my classroom, the activity to engage the students, and that's exactly what "Twinkle, Twinkle" did on our visit to SFODA, an orphanage on the Tonle Sap River. This special place originated in 1996, and now fosters approximately 50 children.

What was promising about SFODA was the fact that it is making progress toward self-sustainability, for it sells items to bring in much needed funds, such as paintings, metal carvings, gem stones and thread bracelets. Our student volunteers cleared them out of both paintings and bracelets, which not only satisfied the cravings of the students, but truly benefitted the orphanage, allowing for the purchase of food and supplies.

Considerably identifed as a "shack" to the lay person, the crooked, wooden structure across the street, which wouldn't even be considered a street in Vail, Colorado, housed the kitchen, mess hall, laundering area, and art studio. Honestly, I didn't think the wooden planks would support us as we trodded across, but thankfully they did, and we witnessed several floating houses in the river upon arrival. The lesson we learned was exactly this: (somewhat disturbing, yet intriguing)

The Vietnamese inhabit the floating homes, and they are illegal immigrants, yet no one bothers to make a move towards deportation, for the Vietnamese helped the Cambodian people during the Khmer Rouge & Pol Pot regime in the years 1975-1979. What most government officials fail to realize is that the floating houses contain fish cages underneath, and fish are typically sold at a high market price in the local markets. Fish is a luxury food in Cambodia, so the illegal Vietnamese hold the key to secret wealth. Words cannot express the deteriorating state of the floating house itself, but how convenient to see the satellite dish and sparkly new mountain bike parked in front-irony at its best!

Another unparalleled experience to say the least...

Tattoo Guesthouse: Unforgettable Hospitality

As I sit here in Seoul, I keep thinking about the crew at Tattoo, and how deep of a respect I have for each one of them. Makara (aka Jan) is the head staff member, and for the following responsibilities, he only earns approximately $50 per month: checking guests in and out, cleaning, laundry, master of the cooler, cooking, arranging transportation, translating, etc. Our goodbye last night was heartfelt, as they do mean the world to us! Knowing that the Cambodian culture is a modest one, we respected them, rewarded them, and developed relationships with them; What bothered me the most was the lack of respect shown by other guests, both in attire and foul language. However, to keep this excerpt positive, I will definitely miss the nightly dance parties and smiling faces at Tattoo. Every time I walked up to the entrance and slipped off my flip flops, they greeted me with bear hugs, picking me up off the ground, making me feel welcome and safe. I pray that I can keep my promise to them, that I'll be back next year again.

XOXO, Tattoo Staff!

Cambodian Hope Association

It's taken me until now to blog about this orphanage that warrants a special place in my heart, as a piece of my heart is now broken after our 2 hour visit with them this past week. An obvious contrast from the welcoming atmostphere last April, we pulled into the site, only to be greeted by the heavily locked gate. When the children heard the tuk tuk drive up, they slowly crept up to the gate; however, I didn't recognize the faces of my boys, for they appeared dismal and sad-something just wasn't right.

As Rithy (the director) approached the entrance, I felt a surge of anger build, and the questions began to transpire within me:
Where are all the children? Why don't I see any females? When did they eat last? Why does the environment seem so empty?
Out of the shadows of the orphanage came Thong, one of my Cambodian sons, and our hug was something different-he clung to me, as if extremely fearful to let go. The spark was gone; Only a straight face remained, one of desperation and deprivation. What has happened here?

As our group continued on into the main building to drop supplies and our backpacks, Rithy began telling me about how badly they needed the computers to be fixed, and this literally dragged on for 10 solid minutes. No "how are you" or "thank you for coming" existed in this moment, and needless to say, I was crushed by his greediness. While observing my surroundings, the place was empty...no cabinets with supplies, no more English teaching materials, no tables. Nothing but vacant space. We were then let in to the office to fill the medical supply cupboard, and Rithy asked me to identify the current inventory and the items we were donating, and my initial gut feeling told me that his intentions were evil, and that the supplies wouldn't be used for the children, but as goods to be sold at the market-this instinct was later confirmed when I witnessed Rithy & his wife boxing up the supplies. Every item that I placed in the cupboard resulted in a heartwrenching stab to my soul.

Trying to maintain a positive attitude for the CHA orphans and my student volunteers, we embarked on yet another delousing session, as this was something we could take control of, and we could immediately use the supplies on the children. Approximately 20 orphans remain at CHA, and every head contained lice, so naturally it felt good to accomplish an objective, and the boys loved every minute of the head massages. While delousing we questioned the boys about their last meal, the past year, etc. Pon Leu hinted at the fact that they had eaten breakfast (it was now 4:30pm) and would eat again tomorrow. Once a day! (insert some foul language and frustration here) Being the typical Americans that we are, we pulled out protein bars, dried fruits & nuts, Cheezits, and any possible snack we could scrounge up from our packs. Next, picture emaciated, drooling vultures ravaging some roadkill-that's exactly what the next scene offered.

Finding it difficult to stay much longer, as the gruesome atmosphere was beginning to take its toll on Jack and me, we began the process of departure. Rithy only asked when we would be back and if we could bring more medical supplies on our next visit, and the children struggled to let go, with painstaking terror in their eyes. I highly doubt I will see most of those children again, and my heart aches knowing that they realize the same. The hope is gone, I'm angry and disappointed, and this feeling of helplessness makes me want to vomit...

Words cannot express the moment when I kissed Thong goodbye...I believe it may be the last.

People Improvement Organization (aka PIO) Orphanage

Although our service trip is mostly dedicated to CPO Orphanage this year, we are still visiting other orphanages, to compare and contrast philosophies and structures, to distribute medical supplies and clothing, and to seek out future opportunities.

PIO is conveniently tucked away, nestled behind several trash dumps, but nonetheless, a unique place filled with laughter, talent and love. The house manager, Ms. Yim Somaly, lives in Phnom Penh yet works at the orphanage from sun up until sun down, ensuring that children are fed and punctual for school. The director originates from Canada, hence the Canadian flags draping the perimeter of the main room. Originally stationed upon the trash dump hill, PIO is now linked to a multilevel school across the yard, funded by Singapore, Australia, and the United States, one country contributing to each level of the facility. After interviewing Yim, I discovered that most children in this orphanage are clueless as to where their parents are living, for most of them were dropped off by grandparents that couldn't support them anymore-parents promise the grandparents that they'll be back, and head to Malaysia for work...they never come back. When utility bills consume the grandparents, they are forced to leave their home. Conveniently, the elderly are welcome at local pagodas, but not children-thus the separation and overly-populated orphanages. PIO, supporting ages 3 and up, houses 62 children at the moment, with a few more on the way.

My heartwrenching moment: noticing the small (approximately 8x12x3) Red Cross box mounted on the wall. When asked if this was the "önly" medical supply cabinet, Yim replied, with a solemn expression, "Yes." Knowing that this would be the case in most every orphanage we visited during this service trip, we had a packed medical suitcase ready to unload. The interesting part linked to medical supplies is that we need to educate each director about the uses of each one, as everything is written in English, and although they may speak limited English, medical terminology is not included in their vocabulary.

To conclude our visit, the children blessed us with traditional Khmer dance performances, both male & female versions, and words cannot express the gracefulness and poise exhibited in these moments. On the contrary, the kids asked to see our moves while blasting some Hip Hop & Electronica. Here we were, a bunch of spunky Americans, shakin' it like we know how, dripping with sweat & looking ridiculous...but to see the smiles on their faces and hear the giggles (with an occasional finger-pointing) absolutely gave us a sense of contentment.

Shake What Your Mama Gave Ya!
FB LINK for PIO: www.facebook.com/pio.cambodia