24'th of August

Our time is nearly up and both of us would love to stay on in Siem Reap if we could. We have been helping out at CDO today. There is an Australian volunteer there who has been taking a third class of children which is between the younger and older children. It makes things much easier to manage and the children learn more being in three rather than two classes.

On the wall of the orphanage there are some photos of some of the children before they moved to the orphanage and they looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Malnutrition has affected many of them. For instance, the girl Sophy in the photo below is almost thirteen years old yet she is extremely tiny.

Because it was the last day of the person teaching the third class today, we had a short teaching afternoon and instead played some games with the kids. We played a few ball games and a game called "catch the fish" where you have to run from one side of the compound to the other without being caught.

All day one little boy was asking us, "where is Beeeeel" (Bill), and saying, "I want to see B, I, L, L" (Stan's dad taught him how to spell his name). He was very sad when we told him Bill won't be back tomorrow. "Christmas", he asked hopefully. "No not Christmas". So, Bill, if you are reading, you would make one boy's day if you can pop back and see him for Christmas.

On our way home after class we found this interesting snack along the road which gave Nicole the shivers.

Here it is in close up if you want a better view: