Cambodia: Day 5 & Day 6

Day 5

One of the most rewarding feelings in the entire world is knowing  you have positively impacted a child’s life, and that neither you or them will ever forget. Today I was able to teach the Cambodian children that live in the slums English and help them read and write. Every single time they said a word and got it right they would smile and ask for more help. Every child I saw today is so eager to learn. Some of the children are actually better at speaking English than their teacher is, which is why it is such a big help for us to be able to take the children to the next level, and teach the teacher too. We were able to help the children read books in English in the library and really focus on pronouncing every word. I wish that everyone in the world would have the drive to learn that these kids do; in order to go to school in Cambodia, you really have to want it. These children inspire me and make me want to do better, live every day in the moment, and focus on the good things in life.

Day 6

Progress has been made on the girls’ house!! We worked on it for most of the day today: setting the bricks, starting the roof, and finishing the wood work. The girls would sit and watch us for a while, looking at their new house being built. They would laugh, and smile, and cheer our name whenever we would nail something or saw something. It was so rewarding that the girls were excited about their new house being built and they made it fun and easy even though it was hot and sweaty. I actually love doing manual labor because it is the most accomplishing feeling after you are done. We have already gotten so far and seeing the final piece almost done is so amazing.  I can’t wait for the moment when we show the girls’ their new house, and they can see all the hard work we have put into it.

Cambodia: Day 3 & Day 4

Day 3

Today was very successful! Our new project is to build a house for the girls to sleep in and basically for them to have their own room. Right now, the boys and girls both sleep together on the main area in the orphanage on the stage. Our Cambodia team split up into 2 groups today; the team that worked with the children in the slums and helped teach them English, and the other team who started on building the house for the girls. I was on the team that started on the house and we cleaned up the trash, deweeded the area, and started mowing the lawn by hand. Normally it would have been extremely difficult, but knowing that this would help the children and that they were so excited about their new houses made it fun and well worth it. After we finished clearing the area to build tomorrow, we got to play with the kids. I sat down with Nirot and Srey Noun and tried to teach them how to say "AMURICA" and in a few hours everyone in the orphanage was screaming "Amerrrrica!". I am so so excited to see the look on their face when we bring them to their new house. 

Day 4

I've known these children only a few days and I'm in complete love with every one of them. Today Keelin and I started to help the children learn colors, sentences, body parts and clothing items. We would point to one of my socks and the children in our group (Sachia, Yoma, Heang, Srey Na, Chy Nai) and all the kids would say "Pink sock!", and we would point to Keelins shirt and they would say, "Blue shirt!" and so on. Throughout the day Keelin and I would take children with the translator, Sok Ti, and we would talk to kids one-on-one and find out their stories. We talked to a bunch of different children but one of the most interesting stories was Lavin's story. He's a really quite shy boy that doesn't socialize quite as much as some of the other children but his story is inspiring. His mom died from an illness when he was young, and his dad lives with his little sister. During the mornings he teaches English at the school in the slums, and in the afternoon sometimes helps his dad clean shirts and spoons. He speaks English so well, which makes sense since he's been studying English for the last 3 years. 

I am so excited to be part of this journey and I am so thankful. 

Cambodia: Day 1, & Day 2

Day 1

Imagine having everyone in your family killed and tortured for no apparent reason.

This is what most Cambodians have to deal with every single day, and yet they still persevere and continue their lives happily and in great joy. Nearly half of the entire country of Cambodia (4 million people) were killed off by the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot.

Today we went to the S-21 prison, one of the many torture chambers and jails for many innocent Cambodians. Formerly a high school, Pol Pot created this compound and killed nearly 20,000 Cambodians, with only 7 survivors. We got to have a tour and saw the jail cells people were kept in, and the actual rooms and beds people were killed and tortured in. 

It was so challenging to see the pictures of the hundreds of innocent Cambodians killed off, just because they were intelligent, looked different, or anything other than being completely dumb. It was so overwhelming to think that one man could change the history of the entire country. 

After going to the S-21 prison, we went and visited the Killing Fields, where they would take more people and prisoners and slaughter them off. We saw areas where the Khmer Rouge would beat children, babies, men and women until they died, and then left them in a little hole. It was so incredibly hard to imagine someone being able to murder millions of people, just because they might have thought of revolting against the Khmer Rouge. In one of the areas we went to, we were told that Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge, had a motto: "It's better to kill an innocent, then miss a criminal" This sentence was so powerful to me; the fact that Cambodians were slaughtered and murdered just because he didn't want to miss a criminal. He would kill babies in case they sought revenge later in their life, children too.

It is so immensely hard to react when you hear stories about this. 

After learning the history of Cambodia, we went and visited the orphanage we would be working at for the next couple of weeks. We met the children, drew pictures, played volleyball, laughed and had so much fun in the short time we were there. When we first arrived, the children greeted us so happily and hugged us and kissed us, without even knowing our names. I love them already even though I met them so briefly. I am so excited to be on this journey. 

Day 2

Today we went to the orphanage all day. After a very warm welcome from everyone, we started to clean and disinfect the entire place. My group started with cleaning the "stage" and living room area where the children eat, sleep, play, and dance. We swept and scrubbed the floors until they were clean as they could be. It felt so rewarding when the children would come and help us clean, and we were able to teach them that being sanitary and clean was a priority. After most of the orphanage was cleaned, our group started delousing the children. We had an assembly line of children getting deloused, combed, manicured, and cleaned up. I worked on delousing the children first, and it was so rewarding when they would understand what we were doing and then thank us so gratefully afterwards. The look on their face when we would help clean their hair, nails, and hands were surprised; they had never had anyone help them stay clean and be completely nice to them before in their lives. 

After we cleaned up the children and the orphanage we played with the kids. I bonded with a girl named Srey Noun and Srey Neath right away, and was asked to be their "sister". Some of the boys would help me pronounce words I didn't know, and then laugh and make fun of me when I completely got the words wrong. I have instantly fell in love with these kids and everyday I look forward to see them again. 

Cambodia!

Hello everyone!
So as you all know, I went to Rivas, Nicaragua to work in a school for children with special needs.
This year, I was accepted to go to Phnom Phen, Cambodia to work in an orphanage. I am so excited to embark on yet another service trip with CGA. I have already had a few fundraisers that went really well. Keep you all updated!
Thank you!!
-Makena

Nicaragua Reflecting

"We did it!"
Those were the first words I heard the second we landed in Denver from Meaghan, who was sitting behind me. We did do it... I've never been so proud of myself, and of everyone that went on the trip. Maddie, Meaghan, Kevin, and Douglas. Thank you so much for changing my life, and all 90 students in Nicaragua's lives as well.

 We worked so hard before, during, and after working in the school. Some of us picked up trash for hours on the beach. We cleaned the school for hours and hours in the heat. We scrubbed mats for the longest time, because we knew it would help. We have seen the other side of civilization. Children with disabilities being kept in dark closets, not fed, just because they're thought of as a burden and curse on the family. We've seen the saddest things, and the happiest things.

I am so proud of myself, and everyone around me for being part of this experience.

Nicaragua: Day 7, and Day 8: last two days at the school

Day 7:

                Today was a once in a lifetime experience for me. I spent my morning doing physical therapy home visits with Carmen Margarita and Jenna. We went to a total of 7 houses, but only 3 of them were home. The first house that was home was a really nice house compared to the houses we’ve seen so far. The little boy’s name was Andy and he was 3 ½ and he had Cerebral Palsy. I wasn’t worried at all about this child’s living conditions or anything because around town they call his house the “dream house”, he seemed happy and also he was well fed and nourished.
                The next house we visited was the exact opposite of Andy’s. The little girl’s name was Marisol, and when we walked into the path to their house, her mom told me that the outhouse-looking shack in the corner of their yard is their old house, and then we walked into the new one. The mom had 3 children, and herself to take care of. Her youngest daughter, Marisol, was the skinniest girl I have ever seen in my life. She was three and a half (same age as Andy) and she was literally skin and bones. My thumb was the size of her wrist, and if you put a wedding ring on her wrist, it could slide to her elbow with ease. Imagine how tiny this child was. I felt like if I touched her, I could break her. Her mother told us they couldn’t afford any food for their family, and yet the sister and mother were in perfect condition and a little overweight. I could tell the mother really wanted to help Marisol, but also felt like there were better ways she could have.
                The last house we visited had a one year old daughter, Alexandra, who was diagnosed with a tumor in her lower back. When she had it removed when she was a baby, it resulted in her loss of use of her legs. She was paralyzed from the waist down. She was so cute, and she was only one year old. She looked healthy and fed well. Their family had a dad, uncle, mom, sister, and grandfather and they were all healthy looking and happy. Their living conditions weren’t as nice… they lived in a dirty shack where everything seemed gross and unsanitary. I found out the mother had HIV and they were yet to know if Alexandra has it.
                Tomorrow is our last day at the school… I really, really hope that all those families will come to the going away party at the school tomorrow and I really hope to see them there.

Day 8:

                I have never felt so attached to 84 children in my life. I was completely surprised about the bond I had built with these children over a course of 7 days. Saying goodbye was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, and the worst part is I think some of the children still think we will see them on Monday.
                We spent the morning getting all the things ready for the fiesta we were throwing the children when they had lunch. They ate lunch at 10 in the morning (because most of the children do not eat breakfast, so it’s almost like a brunch for the students), so we had to set everything up before then. We were handing out donated clothes (thank you!!) to the students all morning and it was so cute to have them be so proud of something we don’t really give much attention to. When we showed up this morning we saw Ramon wearing the shirt we gave him yesterday, and it was the cutest thing in the entire world.
                When the fiesta started we had the children all eat, then we all walked outside to start the piñata. Kevin and I handed out cookies, sweets, fruits, candies, etc. to all the students and teachers prior to hitting both the piñatas. I was so so so so so happy when I saw Marisol and her mother show up to the party and I gave them some clothes, food, and candy. I hope they enjoyed it. Once all the children had their food and desserts, the piñata started. The second it broke, the children went insane. I have never seen kids wanting candy as much as they did. It was cute, but also a little scary and different.
                After the piñatas were broken, everyone had their clothes, everyone had food and desserts, and everyone was happy the presents were given to us. Students had made us bags and given us presents inside of them. I was given a small handmade jewlrey box, and a necklace hanger (it looked like a miniature coat hanger). I started crying when I hugged the little boy that gave it to me, well... until he bit my ear in front of everyone... I still loved him though. Everyone was given presents and gifts and then we said our goodbyes. I love these children so much and they will always forever have a place in my heart. 

 If home is where the heart is, Escuela Especial por Maria Romero is my home. 

Nicaragua: Day 5, and Day 6

Day 5:

Let me just say, it's the fifth day and I love it here. I had the privilege today to work in the classroom for the students who were deaf and it was so much fun! I felt like I learned so much along with helping the students a lot as well. I first walked into the room with Kristal (the translator who helped me) and all the students started signing to me. I just could catch a few words, like "nombre", and "tu" so I filled in the blanks and I spelled out my name along with my sign name. They were so sweet and the teacher had Kristal and I do a separate sign language lesson in front of the class, while they worked on their homework assignment. It was insanely fun because everyone was so helpful to me, and I made a whole new group of friends I honestly never thought I would have as friends. Even though there is a language barrier, these children are so sweet and surprisingly don't become frustrated when I watch them sign and seriously have no clue what they just asked me; they write it down on my hand so I'll be able to learn new signs.

At dinner, Kevin and Maddie told me about their home visits they made that night, and it took my whole energy to hold back my tears. They visited with social services and they told me about one house they went into where their child that had special needs was locked in a dark closet with just a paper bag to entertain herself with, she was malnourished, and had seizures all the time. The girl's step-father that was in charge of her, only kept her alive so he could get the $30 a month the government gave him to help her. None of that money was given to her what so ever, just used for the rest of the family that she lived with. Hearing this made my heart sink. I seriously felt like my whole life was in a bubble until now. I am so appreciative about this trip because it has opened my eyes to a world I didn't even know existed.


Day 6:
Today I started out working in the classroom for students in the first and second grade. Some of the students that showed up that day were the kindest souls you'll ever meet. Sulema, Astrid, Wilbur, Maria Jose, Christopher, and Julio. Sulema I already knew from before, and reading Lisa-Marie's blog about her last year made me already love her before I even knew her. Sulema would call me "mama" all the time and it made me feel so loved. The way she said it, the way she looked in my eyes, everything about her I fell in love with. Another highlight of my day today was seeing how excited the children become when you pull out a camera. I would let them take a picture of something, and I was so surprised how professional the photos the children took were.
At lunch/recess the children that were deaf would take me around the school and like try to have conversations with me. They told me all about themselves, and by the end of 20 minutes, I knew about 20 more words and signs and had tons of words written on my hands. Today I almost didn't wash my hands because I thought all the words on my hands showed how much those children mean to me.
After lunch, I worked in the classroom for children in the 3rd and 4th grade. The teacher, Nora, in charge desperately needed help. Each student in her classroom needed one-on-one help, and there was about 10 of them, and one of her. I started working with student by student one-on-one and they learned so fast and so much. I taught each child the numbers 1-10. I was so surprised on from going from not knowing the majority of the numbers to knowing the numbers in less than an hour. They are so comprehensive and intellectual it blew me away. The smiles on their faces after they would get a number right were so precious I swear to god I was so proud of them I felt like I was their mother on the first day of school.
I am cherishing every single moment I have at the school because we don't have a lot of time left there. We only have tomorrow, and Friday at the school. I wish I could just move here forever, get a teaching degree, and work here. (That doesn't sound like a bad idea...)

Love you all!!
-Makena