Becoming a Daughter of Cambo!

Juum Riep Sua! Soks a bi? Soks a bi.

Just a little Khmai to get you all excited!
Well, I have lot's to report on so we might as well get started;

I've been to visit Daughter's a couple times now. And it's more then I could've dreamed. I'm very impressed with the facilities and the programs. I have to take Tuk Tuk rides all on my own now and the first day I had to it poured! Okay, so I like rain, right? I used to like going for runs at night in Winnipeg along Wellington late at night. And I thought THAT was powerful rain?! Well, let me tell you...I have NEVER seen rain like this. I came downstairs to wait for my tuk tuk to arrive (yes, I have my own driver. I've sort of just adopted him into that role. I have him programmed into my cellular...Pireth is his name. He used to be a teacher but it only paid him 25 dollars a MONTH! so he quit and makes more driving then teaching?!), and when I got down the stairs I was almost taken away by the floods! Okay, okay...that's me exageratting...but it was deep and coming down fast. It was at least up to midcalf! My tuk tuk came and he drove right up to my front door and opened the flaps to the tuk tuk that he had pulled down to shield me from the rain! He had one of those flimsy rain coats on that look like they're made of saran wrap. I thought it would be dry inside but to my dismay my butt got completely soaked from the seats! On the way I couldnt believe my eyes. The rain in the streets were deep; half way up the tires. I started to giggle out loud! Ooh, what an adventure. It started to thunder and lightning and I got really excited. We made our way down Sihanouk and when we stopped at a "stop light" I saw a little wet girl sitting on the median. She was completely soaked! When we stopped I heard a little voice behind me. It was her. She had come to the back of the tuk tuk and parted the flaps and extended her two empty, wet hands inside and asked for money. Ahhhh!! I had been warned not to give in by Eileen. But my poor little heart was breaking for her poor little heart. I shook my head no and because I didn't know what else to do I kissed my empty palms and put them in her empty palms and drew a very big and warming smile...I gave her my love with a smile on!

We finally arrived at Daughter's and I was escorted to a semi-secretive destination. It is a tall skinny building amongst what I can see to be the poorest of the city. I was in the slums. All of the girls and women smiled widely when I came and was introduced. I met the nurse I will be working with, her name is Ruth, and so is the boss so I will call the nurse; Nurse Ruth and the boss; Boss Ruth. Nurse Ruth showed me our little nursing room and I sat in on some triaging. A lot of headaches, STD's, TB, loss of appetite, depression, night mares, HIV, worms and other such things. We are actually diagnosing, prescribing meds and doing assessments all without the help of a doctor! The plan is for me to watch and assist Nurse Ruth until I feel comfortable to do it on my own. Nurse Ruth leaves in March '09 so please pray another nurse will be able to come before I have to leave too! I am also teaching a jewellery class one morning a week. The programs that I was able to see in action were the cake decorating (and I am talking wedding cakes more elaborately and perfectly decorated then our cakes in Canada!), jewellery, sewing (table runners, clothes, pot holders, etc....I'm trying to get a connection with Ten Thousand Villages going. Boss Ruth sells to America, NZ, Aust, and England but not to CAnada!), and t-shirt making...these are awesome shirts too. I think all of you would like them. The brand is called "Freed" and the designs are simple, 90's colors, with funky designs. Almost a bit "skater-ish". I'll be sporting them soon enough...I'm sure.

I was so happy to be there that I almost couldn't withhold my excitement! I saw all the girls working hard, being paid a salary and a safe place to stay and I was overwhelmed with an assurance that I am meant to be here this year. Only one girl is still actively working in the brothels...all the rest have stopped!

Okay, onto other Cambo living things: we got a washing machine. Two Khmai men came speaking no english to deliver and install it. They had to carry that thing up 2 flights of really really small steps. When they got it up they looked at where it was supposed to go and shook their heads and spoke strange words to eachother! Oh dear, Eileen and I thought this was no good. Through sign language and the skills of two very annimated Canadians, we realized that they couldn't find a place to drain the water coming from the machine. The men were stumped. Well, I just got on my hands and knees and looked around and pointed to what I thought was a hole in the ground...which ended up being exactly what they were looking for. Yeah, that's right. I'm a plumber too! I got the machine working for Eileen and I and the Toshiba has nothing to worry about...it's in gentle hands.

Onto Election news: The Prime Minister was re-elected after the country voted on Sunday. Apparantly in the past years there have been some violent protests after the elections. But we were fine this year. I heard that the people knew that he would be re-elected because everyone had been warned that if he wasn't he would declare civil war. And the rumour is that he was the one who brought in the Vietnamese troops as a way of showing how serious he was about declaring war. He is a corrupt man but the people did what they could to keep peace. A democratic election is seeming more and more joke here.

Eileen and I have a pet cat that sits outside our bellcony. It runs when we get close...which I learned yesterday to be a God send...I was trying to lure him to the window with my excellent cat calling abilities and all of a sudden I saw little tiny worms falling from his bum! Ah, I guess you can say I became very clear with the fact that I wouldn't be touching a cat for ten months!

So, I can't remember anything else except I'm learning the power of a white teethed Canadian smile! It has the power to cause motto's to collide, children to wave excitedly, tuk tuk's to jump to attention....and Nigerian men to stop you mid aisle at the grocery store and ask for a date! Oh dear!

Peace and Love,
Berls