It's hard to know where to start with these blogs and especially with these kids. Yesterday we headed to the Russian market first thing in the morning before going to the orphanage. Cambodia is the hot, really hot. Even at 8:00 am you are already drenched in sweat, leaving you to question every day if clothes are really necessary. The trouble is people here are extremely modest and keep most of their skin covered at all times because they want their skin to be as white as possible. This makes it difficult for two American girls, fighting off heat rash, to wear pants below the knees and shoulders covered at all times. So there we are, the Russian market, 8:00am, respectfully dressed, delirious from the heat and negotiating the price of what we think is 3 kilos of pork. FYI if they leave the pink furry skin on it costs less. Between the open air hanging meat (including seafood) and our salesperson making change directly on a slab of something I could only determine still had a liver, it was an interesting morning. We then started individually  negotiating for about 30 pounds of potatoes, carrots, peppers and onions. Between the Pork and veggies this would feed the kids for about 4 days. We also found some tiny, inexpensive earrings for the girls (20 pairs for $10) and some flip flops for some of the boys. We try to bring them a little something to brighten their day and their appreciation is priceless.

Moving on, we grabbed a tuk tuk and headed to the orphanage. They all ran out front when we pulled up with hugs and help with all the bags. We immediately inquired about Tita the little girl who was hospitalized the night before and found out she was still there. One of the older girls showed us some bad open sores on the scalps of two of the younger girls, sisters, Ken and Kim. We grabbed the two girls and headed to the hospital to visit Tita. After getting the sisters checked and battling the language barrier, we all piled in Tita's room. She is four, but looks two and had an IV hooked up in her tiny little hand. They think she had Dengue fever which is transmitted from a mosquito and she was extremely dehydrated. Jacey, myself, Kim and Ken all got into bed with Tita. We showed her pictures of the other kids on the digital camera and that cheered her up. She was then allowed to go ""home." Her overnight stay, medication and the check up and medication for Kim and Ken was $70 total. Daniel, the volunteer (angel) from Korea paid for the bill before he had left. We carried Tita and her IV bag still intact back to the orphanage. We hung up the bag, by a string in the window and all the other children gathered around her on the floor and tried to make her comfortable. It is the sweetest thing to watch them all take care of each other. They are all small for their age but their maturity is years beyond anything I have ever seen in children. They don't complain, fight, throw tantrums and are completely selfless. They look you straight in the eyes when they talk and tell you they love you and someone is always hugging you...beautiful.

During our lunch break, we left and I had a small breakdown. I was frustrated and saddened that these kids are subjected to these conditions. I was sickened by what they have already endured at such a young age. I was upset that Tita didn't have a Mother to hold her and a plush bed to comfort her when she was sick like I always did. I then pulled it together, I am going to have some bad days.

We returned after lunch and gave the girls showers, applied medication to Kim and Ken's heads and had our earring ceremony. About 15 of them had pierced ears and they keep a little piece of string or small wooden stick in their that they use as earrings. They were ecstatic. Kim, who is 6, couldn't get earrings because her ears had closed up. She walked upstairs, devastated and emerged 5 minutes later with her sticks pushed back threw her ears, hilarious.

I then broke out the bubble wand and all bets were off. I am not entirely sure they have ever seen such a thing. It started with confusion and then pure joy and laughter while trying to chase down and dominate the bubbles. I was getting lightheaded from trying to keep up.

They day ended great, I have a feeling most of them will. Today I am going to make a list of things to do to make the orphanage a better place to live. Once again, figuring out where to start should get interesting. Until tomorrow.

XO,
LM