Basil & Polycarp

This is my last memory of these brothers. Walking out of the school grounds, holding hands, knowing that whatever happens, they always have eachother.
Basil and Polycarp lived with their grandmother, who started taking care of them when their father passed away and their mother abandoned them. The boys walked a couple miles every day to take a dolla dolla by themselves, all in order to make it to school. They are in kindergarten and first grade. Their grandmother works 7 days a week selling fish in Arusha in order to feed the boys, and pay for their education. She is in debt to LOAMO, making payments for the boys schooling, as well as for their Aunt's schooling. When it came time for testing, Basil and Polycarp were pulled from their classes, along with some other students. Since their payments were delinquent, they were not allowed to take their exams. They were sent home until they could provide either money or a note from Grandma as to why she couldn't pay. This day was very hard for me. I understood why the school had to be strict about payments, but it broke my heart that innocent children had to suffer due to something out of their control. As I stood discussing the upsetting reality that was unfolding, a group of children began to approach, heads hung low in sadness. Basil & Polycarp, holding hands as always, drug their feet slowly in the dirt, devastated to be headed home. They looked at me, and I gave a weak smile back, attempting to conceal my tears.
I didn't go say goodbye. I didn't give them a hug. I just watched them. Walking out of the school grounds, holding hands, knowing that whatever happens, they have eachother. 

Day 47: Our Support System

When on trips with CGA, we are usually surrounded by an in-country support system.

In Cambodia, we have our guesthouse, a place where we have stayed for years. The staff has taken care of us day in and day out. We feel safe and protected, and at times, Tat Too Guesthouse becomes our home. Our drivers are our family. They carry us safely through the bustling streets to CPO Orphanage ever day, and they don't stop there. They are only responsible for our transportation to and from, yet they choose to spend their days helping us at the orphanage. These men can be seen building things, mixing concrete, translating and making themselves beyond useful. They invest themselves in our work and service projects. These men are our protectors, our safe place. We would not survive the streets of Phnom Penh without Boo Lay, Boo Phat and Boo Tong. This brings us to our translators. The word translator hardly encompasses everything these women do for us. Meng and Sothy do indeed bridge the language gap for the group. They offer insight on Cambodian culture that no guidebook could compete with. They too get down and dirty with physical tasks. Meng will stand up to unfair treatment of our group and the children at the orphanage. She is kindhearted, yet strong and confident. We are never taken advantage of as foreigners, because Meng does not stand for such things. Over the years, Meng and Sothy have become the dearest of friends to us. Their selfless, loving acts tug at our heartstrings. We are so blessed to have an extended family so great, so far from home.

When exiting Kilimanjaro airport, we are greeted by the large smiles of Jodie or Kelvin and the other members of KATz. The KATz team supports and assists us unfailingly from arrival to departure and everywhere in between. Upon reaching Maisha Cottage, the smiles we encounter belong to Dada Dotto, MwaJabu and Oscar. These three feed us two meals a day and treat us as though we are royalty. Every encounter begins with a "Karibu" and a big hug, followed by questions about your sleep, your breakfast, and your general well being. These genuine questions reinforce the fact that these people are the most kind and generous souls. Every day, a KATz member, picks us up and drives us to LOAMO. A LOAMO welcome is unlike any other. It is a place where the adults are more excited to see us than the students. The staff at LOAMO would give the clothes off their backs to any member of CGA. Some of them have endured pain and struggle that is impossible to fathom, yet by their kindness and generosity, you would never know. Their hearts are so full of love. Every moment with them is a blessing, every moment should be cherished.

In Nicaragua, we are honored to work with Aleyda. Our firecracker translator keeps us from being unfairly treated or overcharged due to our foreign status. Although my time in Nicaragua was short, there was never a doubt in my mind that Aleyda and our drivers were invested in our cause, our projects, and us.

What does Children's Global Alliance Do?

It is with great delight that I share Children’s Global Alliance in its entirety with you. CGA’s mission is “to infuse the next generation with a sense of global responsibility, promote and foster character and integrity among teenagers, and provide relief and education in developing countries.” As of 2015, we now travel to Nicaragua, Cambodia, Tanzania and Nepal. Starting in September each year, we host our informational meetings at middle and high schools throughout the Vail Valley. Our program is open to students between the ages of 12 and 16, and although most of our participants live in Eagle County, we do have nationwide student interest and participation.  

To apply, students are required to compose an essay and fundraising plan which  meet specific guidelines. Once received, an interview is scheduled with 3-4 of our chaperones. These essays, fundraising plans and interviews help us determine whether or not the applicant has the level of maturity, responsibility and passion that we require to participate in our program. We expect our students to raise the necessary funds for the travel portion of their service trip; the amounts vary by country and cover flights, housing and food. We firmly believe that our service trips are so much more valuable to the students when it is worked for and earned; student fundraising will forever remain a part of Children’s Global Alliance. Upon culmination of applicant interviews, we make our final volunteer selections per country. There are occurrences where a student is chosen for a different trip than they originally applied for. As chaperones, we must build a team of students, using everyone’s strengths and areas for improvement to create the strongest group. Some applicants are not chosen their first year of applying, but most come back a second time, more mature and better prepared for a trip. Once the teams are formed, we guide students in their fundraising efforts, as well as team building, blog writing and country knowledge and language.

The months leading up to the trip are just as important as the trip itself. Our students are expected to work for their experience, whether earning their funds with a well written donation letter, hosting fundraisers, or working at jobs like tutoring or babysitting. Local community service hours are a non-negotiable in our program.

While on the trip, the students blog about their experiences, and our expectations, rightfully so, are quite high. Blogs are an effective way for our students to document and process  their feelings, as well as communicate their experiences to family, friends and donors. We urge the students to be creative and “dig deep” when writing their blogs, to tell a story and paint a picture of this life changing experience.

As these developing countries are poverty-stricken and very different from Vail, or anywhere in the United States for that matter, understanding the culture and history of the countries we visit is critical.  Because Children’s Global Alliance values awareness and an understanding of the struggles of the people that we encounter on the street, in the orphanages or in the schools, our students are required to understand the basics of the local language, as it shows respect and effort on our part as volunteers.

Monthly meetings and chaperone guidance are priorities for Children’s Global Alliance. Relationships start forming the second the students are chosen; we need to ensure that students adhere to prerequisites and rules before embarking on a trip around the world. Every student is required to bring a 50 pound bag of donations and supplies on our trips, so we host donation drives to collect school supplies, clothes, medical supplies and other items that are not readily available to the children we serve.  

Annually, we hold one main event to raise funds for all service projects. Our generous host, Bol Vail, has functioned as our Brunch & Bol event venue the past few years. This fun-filled, community building event includes bowling and brunch, as well as a live and silent auction;  we raised $36,000 this past March! On prior trips we’ve built homes that provided shelter for 56 orphaned children in Cambodia (the students actually helped build the homes under the supervision of a local professional), funded surgeries and ongoing medical care, dental work, school tuition, planted crops, and fed hundreds of children and families around the world.

Once we arrive in the country, the real fun begins! There is nothing quite like being completely out of your comfort zone: different food, different smells, different language, different culture, different faces. Personal technology is prohibited, allowing students and chaperones to immerse themselves fully into this new world, connect with their team, and learn more about themselves.

In Nicaragua, we work at a school for children with disabilities. Our students tutor one-on-one, assist teachers, and visit the homes of children too disabled to attend school. In Cambodia, we work at an orphanage and teach English at a nearby school. We improve the orphanage in whatever way is most pressing at the time: fixing plumbing, building homes, planting crops and deep cleaning. In Nepal, our students work at a humble school for children of a nearby slum, helping to educate and empower. They also complete manual labor projects that include making repairs to the existing structure. While in Tanzania, our students work at LOAMO, an English medium school where the staff have hearts of gold. Our students assist in the classrooms, where they see firsthand the value of an education, something that they typically take for granted. Our students also participate in valuable home visits, spending time with families of five who live in homes smaller than the students’ bedrooms. These people are happy, proud, and love sharing their stories with us.

Through CGA service trip participation, our student volunteers’ perception of life is beautifully and drastically altered. They come home with a greater respect for family, education and the lives they live. They are shown how little effort, money and love it takes to make an enormous impact on lives around the world. These students will go on to be teachers, doctors, parents and leaders of our community and more. These experiences will continue to shape their leadership skills, their relationships, and their impact on the world they live in.

Children’s Global Alliance has grown every year through the generosity and faith of our community. Although our chaperones are all volunteers, they are dedicated to continuing to grow and improve our programs. We appreciate you taking the time to read about our organization. We hope our passion and love for our volunteers and our service projects is palpable through this letter, and we welcome any questions you may have.

Day 37: LOAMO

Our first week in LOAMO was very exciting. Our students were divided into the ten classes to assist and possibly teach. Some students spent the first few days taking notes and grading papers. Other students were asked to teach class immediately. It took some time to adjust to their duties. Although they had prepared and practiced their lesson plans, they struggled to apply them to their class. Our free time was spent fine-tuning lesson plans and reflecting on the methods of the teachers. We also split the group up for home visits of underprivileged children. I went to the home of Basil and Polycarp. The boys are in kindergarten and class one. They live with their grandmother because their father passed away and their mother is remarried and no longer wants them. Grandma works 13 hour days, seven days a week to support the boys and herself, as well as pay for school. They split the 5km trip to school between walking and taking a dalla dalla alone. Both are so small, when I watch them begin their trip hand in hand, I am not sure whether to cry or smile at the love they contain. We also visited Mr. Kimaro’s house. Mr. Kimaro is a very hard worker. He is a teacher at LOAMO six days a week and takes college classes four days a week. His work day totals at around 15 hours. His two oldest children, Declan and Deborah, attend LOAMO. Since he is a teacher, he receives a discount on tuition, however it is still more than he can afford. His wife does not currently work, she cares for their one year old child, Declan, at home. Mrs. Kimaro has two sewing machines at home but does not know how to work them. She is hoping to one day go to school to learn how to used them. Mr. Kimaro is going to college for IT work and hopes to get a higher paying job once he graduates school. His salary at LOAMO is not enough to support his family of five and he is not doing what he is passionate about. At the moment, he is in debt to his church and friends 70,000 Tanzanian Shillings, roughly $33. He can’t afford to pay rent, and has a verbal agreement with his landlord to pay him when he can. This is scary however, because he and his family could be kicked out at any time. His financial goal is to be able to pay his bills, repay his debts, send his wife to school and start savings accounts for his children’s schooling. Some days Mr. Kimaro does not have money to ride the bus and he walks 4km to school. He jokes about it being his exercise, but said it is harder to say he’s out exercising when his whole family is walking to church. One day we went to visit Joyce and Ebenezer’s home. Joyce helps in the office at LOAMO and Ebenezer is in kindergarten. Joyce’s home was two rooms that were put together very nicely. She has lived there for eight years. Her eldest sone is 20 and going to Form 6 in Kilimanjaro. He and Ebenezer have different fathers, both whom are not involved in their son’s lives. Joyce has spent the last twenty years as a hard working single mother. When she was 35 she suffered a stroke. She occasionally deals with residual leg pain. Joyce puts 10,000 Tanzanian Shillings ($5) of every paycheck in a bank account she has created for each of her sons to help pay for college. Her job at LOAMO helps her receive a discounted tuition for Ebenezer. It is inspiring how hard she works and how much she cares for her boys. Kindergarten is my favorite class by far. The first week I spent most of my time observing from the rear of the classroom. The back row of boys grew close to me, Polycarp from the home visit, Bright, Bravon, Adrian, Paul Godfrey and Joshua Emmanuel. Paul and Joshua struggled with staying on task, so I was able to have one on one time with them. I also spent a good amount of time in baby class, where I met Kisai. He is a sweet five year old boy who struggles greatly in class. Numbers are his biggest downfall, he can count but not write. A lot of times he will repeat a portion of a question you ask him, instead of answering it. He struggles to express his feelings and communicate. He is usually alone. My first time watching him try to do his classwork, I started to cry. He struggled so much to do what he was told to do. He needed some very unique help in class. I wrote some friends in the USA who are teachers to give me some ideas on how to help him and I received some valuable feedback. With this information, I was able to do some research and create notes for the teachers. They were so incredibly grateful for the suggestions and help, and have been putting it all in to action immediately. Today, Thursday the 23rd, was an exceptionally hard day. Our students have had a week and a half of teaching, and some of them have excelled, some have struggled. Yesterday was their last day of teaching, and today and tomorrow are exams. Their duties have shifted back to being assistants, grading tests and overseeing the examination process. When the classes were preparing to start testing, the headmaster of the school, Mr. Nicodemus, had started to collect students from each class. I soon learned that these children all had outstanding tuition fees and would not be allowed to test until they were paid. He had sent letters to their caregivers explaining the situation and had received no response. As much as I understood the reasoning behind not letting the students test, I was brokenhearted by the devastation on their faces and began to cry. The school cannot afford to allow so many students to not pay, and although they are very generous with late payments, at some point they have to draw the line. Mr. Nicodemus told us if he had received a letter or a small form of payment he would gladly have allowed the students to test, however no response at all was considered very rude. Polycarp, Basil and Good Luck were among the children sent home. I tried to hide my emotion, as it is not something to show freely. To avoid wiping tears from my face, I began to wipe the dust off Polycarp and Basil’s shoes. Fiona and I went to search for Lisa Marie, who was asking about the outstanding bills. As we were discussing who owed what amount, The boys passed by us, holding hands, headed to the dalla dalla or walking all the way home. I completely lost it, tears streaming and breathing short. My heart was breaking into a million pieces. These poor kids were casualties of poverty and struggle. They were the brightest and hardest working in their classes, yet since their guardian’s couldn’t, or didn’t, pay for their schooling, they were sent home. I wanted so badly to wipe away all their debt, as I did the dirt on their shoes, however where would that get them? One term would be paid for, but the next? Perhaps being sent home from school would be enough to urge their caregivers to work harder to give something, anything, to the school. It makes me sick to think that some families have to choose between food and education. It also makes me sick to think that some families abuse the care and cooperation from the school that allows the children to receive a wonderful education. I feel the most sick to think of how children in America, myself included, take for granted schooling, teachers and education in general. The rest of the day was spent handing out gift bags for the less privileged children. The donations collected and donated by people in the Vail Valley were divided and given to the students at LOAMO who struggle the most. Every child was beyond thrilled with their black garbage bag of second hand and new goods. Some of the staff also received gifts, and we were showered in tears of thanks and love. Tanzania is abundant with love, generosity and kindness. Everyone I have encountered here would give the shirt off their back and the food from their mouth without a moment’s hesitation. The genuine thank you’s, offered with blessings upon blessings, began to piece my broken heart together again. “Do you want to leave? Are you ready to go home?” I am repeatedly asked. “No”, I respond, “No, not at all.”

Day 30: Rehema's Send Off

The day after we arrived in Tanzania, we made a surprise visit to LOAMO. The welcome was better than I could have hoped for, as I had only spent two days at the school last year. The staff was so happy to see us and we were so happy to see them. Lisa Marie and I were surprised with an invite to a wedding send-off party for Rehema, the school’s secretary. A send-off is similar to a rehearsal dinner, it is an event put on and paid for by the bride’s family, whereas the wedding is put on by the groom’s family. We did not know what to expect! As per custom, we donated to the gift being purchased by the LOAMO staff and were told to arrive promptly at 6:30pm. 

The day of the send-off was spent preparing for our students arrival, grocery shopping and setting up the bedrooms. Since we were planning on teaching at the school, we had brought nicer clothes to wear, however even in our nice clothes we were under dressed. It also turned out that we had been told to arrive a good hour early. 

The decorations were so bright and elaborate! Pink, yellow and blue cloth was draped over chairs, tables and hung from the ceiling. Crystal candle holders adorned the tables. As the guests began to arrive, I felt as though I was at a red carpet event. All the men were dressed in their nicest suits with polished shoes. The women, oh the women… The younger crowd of women were dressed modernly; dresses were strappy, short, poofy and sparkly. Elaborate weaves sat upon their heads. The older women were adorned in stunning tribal patterns and ketengas. Layers of vibrant fabrics draped over their shoulders. Beaded jewelry hung from their ears and necks. Jewelry that they had no doubt made themselves. The elder Maasai women greet each other with a “gili gili”, a clicking noise made with their tongues to show extreme happiness. 

The night progressed unlike any night I had ever experienced. There was a soup reception, where we all awaited Rehema’s arrival and conga-lined around her car to a live band. After all the guests were seated, she came dancing down the aisle with her brother and they took their place at the front of the room in two large white chairs, where they would remain for the remainder of the ceremony. A man with a very large old video camera walked around, projecting brightly lit video of the guests onto two large screens at the back of the room. Nearly the whole ceremony was in Swahili, but apparently the MC was quite funny, occasionally at our expense. Rehema and her family presented gifts to her husbands family, in the form of cakes and ketengas. Traditional dances and songs were performed by guests. Toasts were made and significant food was displayed; in particular a goat who’s entire body minus the head had been roasted, and was wheeled out with a mouth full of greens, adorned in orange and lime slices, kneeling on a dolly. Around 11pm, dinner was being served and Lisa Marie and I were beyond exhausted. Upon confirming it would not be rude for us to leave at this point, we snuck away from the festivities, our minds reeling from the once in a lifetime night we had just had. 

Day 22: The Switch

When driving to the airport in Cambodia, my heart was breaking. I did not want to leave. How was I to flip a switch and prepare for Tanzania when I was not emotionally ready? Our travel day seemed longer than I expected, and although I slept on the plane, I did not feel well. This was going to be a harder transition than I thought.

Outside the arrival gate, Jodie waited eagerly. Upon seeing her, the unease I had been feeling started to fade, even when I dumped my trolley filled with our five bags in front of the crowd waiting outside. As we travelled the familiar road between Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha, the brown and green landscape whizzed by us. Goat herders, young and old, tended to their livelyhood. It is much cooler here than in Cambodia, the air is more dry. The beauty of Tanzania begins to fill my heart once again. Vivid colors adorn every woman and man proudly. Lush green forest indicates the base of Mt. Meru. "I'm excited now." I whispered to Lisa Marie. The switch has been flipped. Cambodia has become my past, now Tanzania is my present.

Day 19: Love.

Love. It's a unique thing. The more love you give, the more love you get. The more heartbreaks you endure, the greater you can love and be loved. The more you love, the more you hurt, and the more you love again. You can never run out of love. You have an endless supply. Be generous with your love. Hold nothing back. Give give give. No one is undeserving, no one has too much or too little. Even if you think you have nothing, you still have love. Love creates more love when given away. Share all your love and be grateful for the love you receive.

The end of our trip is quickly approaching, and I am not ready to leave. I am never ready to leave, but this time seems to have gone by quicker than usual. 

When looking at the faces of the kids at CPO, you would not guess the struggles they have seen. So many of their stories break my heart. Srey Pi hasn't seen her father in years, and only sees her mother a few times a year. She and her brother Lao have been at CPO for 7 years, so at this point it is home and the other children are her family. Srey Na, Srey Neath and SokHeng hardly ever see their father. Their mother is an addict who dropped their new half brother, Pan Ya, off a few months ago. Pan Ya is under two and there is another baby on the way, once again from a different father. The mother was given refuge at the orphanage for a short period of time, but after she brought around a few too many questionable characters and spent more time drinking with these strangers than caring for her kids, Mama kicked her out. Her kids clearly have a love hate relationship with her. They are desperate for her attention, yet somehow know she is not worth their time. She came to the orphanage the last day, when Pan Ya got very sick. Mama had to yell at her and pay for her tuk tuk. She arrived dressed in very nice clothes and wearing makeup, not what you would expect for a woman too poor to care for her children. She made herself at home eating half the food that was intended for her son. Ravey had lost her father a few years ago. She, her mother and brothers repeatedly snuck across the Thai border looking for work. One of these attempts led to her and one of her brothers being imprisoned in Thailand for a month. Even Heang, Mama and Papa's own son, is treated like any other cast away, ordered to do his parents laundry and never showed affection by his own flesh and blood. 

Although Niroon's family struggles to make ends meet, at least there is love and family values. Watching Rath or Rhett with Warot's new baby girl is adorable. They clearly love and care for their niece very deeply. The older siblings look after the younger ones, it is a rougher love than we are used to, but a love none the less. Niroon is very much a momma's boy. He is so proud of her and she cares for him every day. She may not be able to support her children, or give them the most stable of environments, but she does love them the best she can, which is admirable. 

It makes me sad to think of what life is like for the kids when we leave. They receive so much love when we are here. I honestly think some have never heard "I love you" before meeting us. There is structure in their lives with us. Someone to show them how to take care of themselves and be responsible, do laundry, clean their rooms, do homework. Children here grow up so much faster than children at home because they must. There is no one there for them besides themselves and each other. They are forced into adulthood far sooner than any American child. 

There are so many contributing factors to why Cambodia is so beautiful, the number one reason being the people. The kind, loving, beautiful souls that this country produces are why I will always love it here. The smiles that mask all pain and sadness. The action of living in the present moment, enjoying each second as it comes, and being grateful for all good fortune that comes your way. Every moment spent with these people brings love, peace and gratitude over me like a crashing wave, and I will bask in the remnants of these feelings until I return again. 

Day 10: Preschool

Preschool is quite an experience. Thirty little bodies sit at three rows of desks clothed in blue shorts and skirts with white tops bordered in red. They are tiny, ages 3-5, and although they are still young children, they behave and seem to comprehend so much better than kids in America. These kids want to learn.

My first experience in the preschool was rough. The students with me came into the classroom unprepared. They were not organized with their lesson plans and had too much lag time in between activities. By the end of the morning class, the kids were completely disengaged and bored. The student teachers were feeling slightly discouraged but they had two hours to go over lesson plans and prepare for the afternoon classes. While our students were working, the preschool kids were also still busy. On their mid day break, the kids are fed a healthy lunch, given baths and napped to rejuvenate. This is so much more than a classroom, this is a place where they are cared for and taught healthy lifestyle habits.

When we returned, it was clear the student teacher's hard work had paid off. They found individual white boards for each student and had them writing their ABC's and 123's. The focus and excitement of the preschoolers was unbelievable. One little boy literally squealed every time he wrote a letter correctly. The majority of the students would fill their entire whiteboards with rows of the number or letter they were practicing. The afternoon class went by so smoothly and quickly. The teachers were impressed by the focus of their students and excited by their improvements. The preschoolers were thrilled by their small achievements. When we reviewed our day in the tuk tuk, every student recognized the importance of being organized and prepared in the classroom. These small victories they teach themselves are steps to a greater awareness and overall growth.

Days 4-7, Old & New Bonds

I am so behind on the stories I want to tell. I've ended up with some sort of sinus sickness and it's all I can do to make it through dinner at night, let alone paint the stories of my days. Here we go.

On Sunday, I had the most pleasant surprise. Lisa Marie came walking into the yard as I was sitting taking a water break. Behind her was a tall skinny man with a face mask on, and I immediately thought he was one of our contractors. As he began to grow closer, I realized his movements seemed familiar, his eyes glistened in a way that I knew.  Before I could stop myself I had leapt off the stage squealing and catapulted my way into Lavin's arms. It is difficult to have favorites on these trips, but Lavin and his siblings; Lavit, Srey Neath Thom & Srey Neit, are at the top of my list. I met them three years ago on my first ever CGA trip, two months after their mother had passed away. Their father still lives in Andong and does his best to care for the kids while dealing with health issues. Last year, Lavit & Lavin had moved to a new orphanage/home in Phnom Penh. We went to visit and it was so much nicer and well kept than CPO. As sad as it was to not have them close anymore, clearly they were in a better place. Srey Neath Thom unfortunately was working in a garment factory, which made me so concerned for her well being. Lavin is who wrote my tattoo on my forearm, which reads, "I remember you forever in my heart", in Khmer. Last year was his first time seeing it, and his response was, "This is my handwriting, I am with you always." Now all four kids live in the same home in Phnom Penh. They go home to visit their father once a month, and we were lucky enough to see them on this visit. Srey Neath Thom is going to school to be a hairstylist, which made me very happy. Lavit and Lavin are still in school and speak phenomenal English. Lavin is almost 18 and taller than me, Lavit is also almost taller than me. Srey Neit has gone from a baby to a walking, talking beautiful little girl. To hold all four of them in my arms again was the most amazing feeling, I don't know how to explain.

Andong village is an important part of the experience our students get when traveling to Cambodia. For argument's sake, Andong is a slum. Although paved roads are starting to appear more and more, the main streets are mainly flattened trash piles that turn into cesspools during the rainy season. I love this place, despite it's brutal outward appearance; the sense of community and the love within is quite beautiful. I like to ease the students into this reality by walking the newer paved route in to the preschool, and follow up with leaving through the old road, where the families of Niroon, Srey Chen, Srey Neit and Lavin's family live. The route out of town consists of walking through wet trash piles and jumping from brick to brick to avoid the sludge. Every person we pass says hello, either in English or Khmer, grandparents smile at us and children follow us, as we are the white people who come year after year to help.

 With a student in tow, we went to visit Cheang, Sok Heang Thom and the new baby in the village. Cheang was let go from the orphanage because her and Warath were pregnant before marriage (They married a week after we left last year). This seems a little crazy to me, as the children who live at CPO have seen far worse than babies out of wedlock, such as prostitute mothers, being abandoned by their parents at the gates of CPO and even watching their parents pass away. Cheang was the only one who really cared for the kids and kept them in line, making them bathe, go to school and help clean up around the orphanage. It is a blessing in disguise however, as now they live in a nicer home near the preschool and she has a new job that is better pay. She lives in what we would call a studio apartment, with one bathroom, with Sok Heng Thom, Warath, her mother and the new baby. It is maybe half the size of my bedroom at home. Chan Ton, her son, still lives at CPO.

My next stop was Srey Mei. Krissy and I found her outside the school last year and were told by the villagers that she was the "crazy girl". We believe she has cerebral palsy or perhaps suffered a stroke as a baby. She doesn't know how old she is, but I think she is around 10. She goes to school, at a lower level and is constantly made fun of and bullied by the village kids. I think the children at CPO are more accepting of her after we made sure they treated her kindly last year. We went to her aunt's house, and normally, when you arrive at a Cambodian home you are greeted with a place to sit and offered food. This was not the case here, Srey Mei's aunt and uncle hardly looked up from their bowls of rice when we came to the door asking for her. Mei was watching a static television and when she turned and saw us her eyes lit up like fireworks. She struggled to her feet and practically fell into Lisa Marie's arms, gripping onto Lisa Marie's neck as tight as she could. Her enormous grin sent us all into unstoppable tears as she made her way to Meng and I with hugs. She was filthy from head to toe and her clothes hung baggily from her bony body. No surprise, there was no objection to us taking her back to the orphanage for the day to clean her up and feed her. I carried her back to the orphanage and she continued to hold on with all her might, nuzzling her face into my neck and kissing my cheek. She told Meng that she remembered us all, and Krissy as well. Once we returned to CPO, Srey Mei was deloused, bathed, given new clothes, fed and manicured. She then spent the rest of the day playing with the kids, never losing her brilliant smile.

Yesterday, Monday, I had a new experience. I was talking to Lisa Marie when Meng rushed over saying a 10 year old boy Simin was hurt. He had been laying on his stomach playing with some other boys when they jumped on his back. He was writhing in pain, saying his legs and low back hurt. We came to the conclusion it was most likely a pinched sciatic nerve, however, he was hurting so badly we decided to take him to the hospital. The adults at the orphanage were trying to cure him with copious amounts of Tiger Balm and aggressive back rubs. Troy, Meng and I spent the 40 minute tuk tuk ride trying to make Simin's trip as comfortable as possible and when we finally arrived at the National Pediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh, his ibuprofen had kicked in and he had started to relax. For the next 4 hours, we shuffled from one building to the next, carrying poor Simin in only is underpants, from one exam room to another. The admissions workers tried to tack on extra charges, claiming I was Simin's mother, and foreigners pay a different price. They even tried to challenge Meng on her Cambodian roots. After we took x-rays, we were told we had to wait for the doctor to return from lunch. Apparently, lunch lasts from 11am to 2pm. We ate lunch ourselves and Simin was beginning to move a bit better, yet we still wanted a doctors opinion on his health. After shuffling between a few more exam rooms looking for a doctor to read the x-ray, getting peed on by a baby, and repeatedly asking for someone to help us, Meng confronted a woman who was seemingly in charge to a degree. The woman told Meng that one of the doctors decided to not come home from lunch and the other was in surgery, and if Simin had been more hurt then he would have been taken care of better. At this point, we had the attention of the entire waiting area (two white people was enough of a start), and Meng, God bless her, reached her breaking point. She lectured the woman on the lack of care and concern for a Cambodian child, for whom this hospital was built to serve. The hospital is government run, and most doctors work there merely for the perks; cars paid for by the government, etc. It is not uncommon for a doctor to work half day and then decide to leave and finish the day at their private practice, where they can charge upwards of three times the amount (We paid $16 total for our experience). Needless to say, we stormed out of the hospital, Simin and x-rays in hand, and headed back to CPO. By this time, Simin was begging to go home and saying he felt better. I am happy to report that he seems to be doing just fine now.

Day 2: Reverence. Honor. Peace. Reflection. Let Go.

The travel day to Cambodia is always a whirlwind. Jumping 13 hours into the future, with 29 hours of travel, we arrive to a climate very unlike home, in a city that couldn't be more opposite from Vail. The 17th of June existed, yet I could not tell you the capacity, as there was no sunrise or sunset, no way to gauge the day.

Per usual on the trip to Cambodia, the first stop of the day was Toul Sleng, or the S21 Prison in Phnom Penh. A negative energy flows from the gates of Toul Sleng, it grips you as you stare at the large razor wired buildings, as your ears are filled with the horrors that took place behind the walls. Our guide was 15 when the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh, and his entire family was killed during the four years under Pol Pot's regime. Walking through the halls, you can feel the restless spirits of the hundreds tortured and killed there. A heaviness fills the air, blood stains the floor and photographs of innocent victims stare at you in every room. I always leave this place fearing for humanity. How many times can the human race try to destroy itself?

The next stop is Choeung Ek, the most well known of the Killing Fields. The first year, I spent my entire time walking around feeling nauseous, shaky and miserable. Last year I chose to not go in, I couldn't handle the way it made me feel. This year, I decided to brave the tour again. The soft wind rustled the tree leaves and branches. The birds and bugs were alive, chirping and making little noises. This place, where so many worst nightmares occurred, is now serene and peaceful. It is as if the souls of the deceased are able to rest knowing their story is being shared, their pain and horror is no longer a secret to hold. It is more peaceful here than at Toul Sleng. The trees and animals have somehow created a sanctuary, a safe place of remembrance. There is an energy of acceptance, yet a silent urge to let go. Allow what is and what was, move forward with the knowledge gained. Honor the past, the deceased, the lessons learned. This sacred place is calm now. Surrounded by barbed wire fences, protecting the memories and bones of those who suffered here. There are people everywhere; our group of students, a small gathering of monks, tourists from all over the globe, yet it is quiet. We are all silently reflecting on life, ours and others, listening to the breeze, and honoring the souls painfully lost.

Day 1, Cambodia 2015

"Every generation has the obligation to free men's minds for a look at new worlds... to look out from a higher plateau than the last generation."- Ellison S. Onizuka

Eight months ago, fourteen nervous students sat down to a panel of four chaperones to interview for the adventure of a lifetime. Armed with essays and fundraising plans, they sought out to convince the women in front of them that they should be accepted to travel to Cambodia with Children’s Global Alliance. A few days later, they received a phone call praising their hard work and efforts, and inviting them to change their own lives, as well as others. 

The months that followed were harder than expected. Frequent meetings, blog assignments, language tests and fundraising deadlines kept these kids on their toes, working for every second of the journey. There were struggles, consequences, frustrations, triumphs, breakdowns and breakthroughs. This experience would not be easy or freely given. This experience would be earned wholeheartedly.

Today, these fourteen students and three chaperones met at the check-in gate of the airport, 34 bags were checked, families were hugged and kissed, goodbyes were said. We board our first plane with waves of nervousness, followed by waves of excitement. We will land in Cambodia in awe, with open minds and hearts. We will leave in three weeks as expanded human beings. Different, yet the same. Passionate, inspired, educated, enlightened and full of love. Seventeen lives are about to be forever changed. 

I'm baaaaack...

I haven't posted in a while. Life has been a whirlwind. Our main fundraiser at Bol was a success, as always. This year we raised our most impressive fundraising success so far. We also had a very generous donor match our hard work with up to $20,000. The amazing things we can do with all this money!!! I am so excited to start doing work. This year I will spend 7 weeks traveling with CGA, and I am not going to lie, I did not budget well over the winter. After our fundraiser, I got another job and started working 7 days a week and pinching pennies. I'm quite proud of myself for how much I've saved in the last few months. Being gone for 7 weeks straight will be a whole new animal. The bills don't stop, rent still has to be paid, Charlie Brown has to be taken care of.... I've had a lot on my plate, and I know I put it all there myself.

I am very excited about all the students traveling with me this year. There have been some challenges, some frustrations, but I see so much potential in each and every one of them. I have no doubt in my mind that once we are away from our comforts of home and parents and friends, that these students will break out of their shells and shine like diamonds. They will kick ass! Will it be easy? Probably not, but the best things in life never are.

I also cannot wait to go back to some of my favorite places on this planet. It will be my third trip to Cambodia. I get to see so many of the kids again. See how they have grown, matured, yet still get just as excited for our arrival. Even the kids in the village remember us year after year. One of our translators had twins, so I cannot wait to meet her baby boys. Our translators are like our sisters. They are the most amazing women, who have overcome so much to be where they are today. Spending every day learning from them is such an amazing blessing. I feel such a closeness with our friends and helpers in Cambodia. I feel I have known them for much longer than three years. Every trip back is like coming home.

This will be my second trip to Tanzania. Last year we were only able to work at LOAMO school for a few days, and this trip we will be there much more. I am so excited to spend more time with the staff there, who opened their arms and hearts enormously to me in a short two days. I am looking forward to see how our student's will grow helping and teaching in the classrooms. It will be so challenging and they will really have to step up their game. I look forward to settling in to the culture of Tanzania even more, now that it will be just a bit more familiar. The people of Tanzania are so kind, I love the energy and endless smiles.

I also get to embark on an amazing new adventure this year. I get to delve even deeper behind the scenes of what it takes to run this organization and make these amazing trips work. I will be accompanying Lisa Marie to scout for a possible new location for the future of CGA. Visiting orphanages, schools and exploring strange towns with the intent of sharing them with future student volunteers. I am so honored to be able to experience this!!!

People ask me every day if I am excited for my trips, a mere 17 days away. Yes, yes I am excited. I am nervous, I am scared, I am anxious, I am unprepared, I am mentally ready and I know I won't feel at ease until I step on the first plane... Which is a crazy notion if you know me, because I hate flying! 7 weeks away from home, during my favorite time of the year, living in places and ways that are so surreal and beautiful. The good news is, as the dust begins to settle, the writing will start. Stay tuned for more adventures of a lifetime.

Help the Chaperones Raise $10k in 30 Days!!!

Donate online, sign up for bowling or buy a spectator ticket and vote for your favorite chaperone challenge! Help us reach our goal of $10,000!!!

 (Your donation counts for double as a private donor is matching our funds!!)