Gabe-day4

Our second day in Takeo and it feels like we've been here for a week. Everyone is so friendly and it already feels like home. Each day we are experiencing new parts of their culture and learning things about them and ourselves. Monday the 8th started off early with most people going to the market at 7 in the morning, I've been told it was great but unfortunately I had prior arrangements with my pillow. They bought delicious fresh cooked donuts for the equivalent of 13 cents and delicious sugar cane

Half the people went to the bike shop to get their bikes fixed whilst the other half went to the orphanage for half an hour before lunch and siesta. Lunch was a sandwich subway dreams about creating. Most people did not take advantage of their siesta but instead played intense games of spoons, with dire consequences. The loser had to put on more and more winter clothes depending on how many times they lost consecutively, not what you want a 35 degree day with high humidity. We were delayed by heavy rain but we soon left for the orphanage to connect with the children.

After our hectic bike ride on the way to the orphanage, in which Lynne suffered a brutal crash and had to go home for some betadine and bandages. At the orphanage we were immediately greeted by the Cambodian kids huge smiles, warmth and want to help us. They helped us put our bikes in the right spot even fix some bikes. After signing in, it was straight onto the soccer "field" next door that was largely comprised of puddles, mud and rocks but we still manages to have a great game of soccer, boys against girls and some of the orphans to help the girls out. The girls, aided by some star players came out victorious. I was very surprised how good all the kids were a playing soccer and it seems that just 6 months ago they went all the way to phnom penh for soccer and won a championship. Everyone soon tired out and then the soccer match degraded into an all on all mud fight that lasted 2-3 hours. There were no survivors. Everyone was mudified. The war finally ended (after many great battles such as the fall of Ben West, the destruction of Jasmine Pietrocola's clothes and many more) due to the Cambodian kids. Calling it quits for showers. And then there was rain! It poured down and it cooled everyone down and brought a smile to everyones faces. The rain did not stop the fun and everyone kept on playing and connecting. We set off for a cold shower to get the mud and grit off. Dinner was beef curry/laksa that was delicious. We then chilled and unwound until our debriefing meeting were we reflected on the day and planned for another day in the Kingdom of Cambodia.



Lynne- Sent from my iPad