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Published: March 25th 2010
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Unfortunately Brul has not appeared and I have had no news. The only thing I can do is stay positive and hope that I have had an impact on him even in the short time scale I knew him.
The 18th birthday party was fun (although it turned out he was actually 19.) Lots of dolled up Khmer girls and boys turned up. The girls looking glam in their dramatic fake eyelashes and whitened faces and the boys with spiked up hair. We had a whole cow to eat. The westerners were served pieces of beef on platters and a sauce to dip in (which I later found out was fermented fish.) Meanwhile the Khmers ate all the other parts (yes everything.) We were all handed an envelope to put money into as a gift. We then had to write our name on the front so no one could get away with being a cheap scape. This is common practice apparently and guests are expected to do the same at weddings to help cover the costs. We danced in a big circle around a table moving our hands about like snakes. In the middle was a big vase of flowers.
These were taken out and used as a prop to dance with. I got talking to a Khmer boy there who at the age of 18 told me he was engaged. He was very keen for me to meet his fiancée. So off I went to her house. She was only 15 and not allowed to attend the party because her mother was a ‘dragon’ according to the young guy. When we arrived it was a karaoke bar (brothel.) The prostitutes were stood outside and my initial thought was ‘oh no she is a prostitute.’ However, the family lived in a small box room with a bed and TV next door. The karaoke bar was their family business. The girl was beautiful and she introduced me to her family. She collected a little plastic seat for me to sit on. I was sat there chatting away and I suddenly realised where I was. I was sat outside a brothel next to prostitutes chatting to a 15 year old about getting married whilst her 8 year old sister was dancing around us. It was all very surreal. I wished them the best of luck and told the guy to work hard
so he could try and get his wife to be to university when she gets older.
So I braved it and finally got my hair cut yesterday. I went in and tried to explain with dramatic hand movements that I wanted a trim. This didn’t seem to work as a catalogue showing images of Japanese women sporting short funky hair cuts was placed on my lap. Luckily on the back page there was 4 pictures of western looking women with pretty regular haircuts. I pointed to the one which looked the same as mine. I was greeted by an enthusiastic nod and then the hairdresser began slicing into my hair with a razor which was glued onto a comb. Now as many of you know I hate having my hair cut and she was slicing off rather too much. I managed to stop her after she had chopped off almost 3 inches. Then she blow dried my hair and straightened it within an inch of its life. It was very humid so it kept going frizzy. The whole process took about 15 minutes but for only the equivalent of £3 I can’t really complain.
So at the weekend
I went with 12 other volunteers to a place called West Baray. It was awesome. We hired a truck and all jumped in like cattle. When we arrived at the large lake we bought drinks and fruit and took a dodgy looking boat out to an island. The island was deserted (at least that is how it looked as the boat got closer) and there were temples ruins in the middle surrounded by trees with sand around the edge like a beach. Literally as soon as the boat pulled in about 20 little children came running out of the bushes with baskets of bracelet’s. Their selling technique was pretty good and they were very friendly asking us lots of questions so they could practice their English. These little children sat with us for the entire day and were incredibly persistent. To be fair their persistence did pay off and after being sat there for hours and hours I ended up buying a load of bracelets (5 for $1 - you can hardly say no to that.) We brought a ball with us and involved them in our games. They seemed to enjoy it and it allowed them to be children
at least for a short span. We stayed at the island all day and watched the sun go down over the jungle. Then we took the dodgy boat back (which tipped every time someone stood up) jumped in the truck and sang along to 60’s music someone had playing on a speaker on their ipod. It was a really fun day.
I found out that the old lady that I go and visit behind the market has cancer so there isn’t really any medication I can get her. I am planning on going to visit her tomorrow after school and bring her some more fish and rice. The community try and support her but because they are so poor she doesn’t really get much in terms of food. She is always grateful though even if I just go and sit with her. I am going to see if I can get someone else to keep the visits up after I am gone. This weekend I am off to Phenon Phen to see the Killing Fields and S21 before I leave. We are getting a night bus there tomorrow which takes 6 hours and then the bus back on Sunday
night..
I can’t believe I have only just over a week until I leave. When I first arrived it was such a shock I actually thought I would never settle into the environment and now it has zoomed past. It is going to be incredibly hard to leave especially the children who I have built close relationships with. I have had the most incredible experience of my life. I have had so many experiences I would have never imagined and met some truly amazing people. The Khmer people continue to inspire me with their positive outlook on life, openness and acceptance of me into their culture. I am off to Australia, it will be another adventure.
Thinking of you all,
Lots of love
Ellie xxxxxxxxx
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Simon
non-member comment
You are a star
You've been brilliant Ellie and have done so much to help no one will forget you. Do you think you will be back? I don't think I could imagine never going back for at least a visit. Enjoy Phnom penh. It's a real shock after Siem Reap! Safe travels Simon xxx