Did they just lock us in?

VictoriaWell today we finally got to sleep in! If you consider 8:30 sleeping in that is. However, it was greatly appreciated after several long days in a row. After a pretty laid back morning, Peip took us to the Royal Palace. The palace was closing at 11am and we got there at about 10:25, so we quickly saw as much as we could. They were telling us the history and random facts about everything as we passed by, which was helpful cause there were very few signs and if there was one it was probably in Khami. When we were gathered around one tree listening to Ronnie talk about the uses of the flowers, we just so happened to look up to see them closing the gates and were about to lock them. So we all went running across the courtyard out the gate before they could lock us in the palace.
After our fun at the palace, we went to the villa where all the ex-patriots from the hospital live for lunch. It was nice to spend time with people that you can always understand what they are saying. We had some good American-ish food. We all laugh and joked about our adventures in Cambodia. Then Grace and Katrina asked if we wanted to go to the Russian Market so we were, like sure, why not. We can always shop of course so we took the market by storm again.

Continue reading

What a Day!

VictoriaWe started today by going to the Tuol Sleng museum. We took our Tuk Tuk for the first time without the teachers, and we made it there perfectly safe (for all the parents). We watched a short movie about a couple who were held there and then toured the place. It amazed me that people could be so cruel to their own countrymen. These people were beaten for not saying the right thing or worse killed for their past lives. We went Peip there and she showed us around and talked about the history of the place. She was born the day that war started so it was meaningful for her to show us around.
The museum is very solemn but extremely moving, so I am very happy we got to go. We all recovered from the sadness, by shopping like any American girl would do. First, we went to beautiful shoes, they had make shoes to fit you. I am very excited to see all our purchases in a week. Then we went back to the Russian market to get some more of our gifts bought and of course I ended up with some things I didn’t come for but I loved so I got anyway.
It rained for the first time today, while we were in the market. Thankfully that helped to cool off the day some, therefore, i was very grateful. We also went to church today, which was another moving experience. The church here is what I think every church should really be like. The community is amazing and they are so welcoming to us all. In fact, we have been invited to a church wedding this coming Saturday We all bought our party dresses yesterday and are getting very excited for the next weekend today. The adventures of Cambodia are amazing and I cant wait for more to come this week.
Love, Victoria

OH SUSAN!!!

VictoriaToday was our first day in the Center for Hope Hospital. Phalla met us outside the hospital to take us on a tour of where we would be working for the next two weeks. The hospital is a lot different than I expected, a lot more advanced. All the nurses were so excited to see Mrs. Taplin, they were all saying OH SUSAN!!!.
They were very happy that we had come to help them and told us that the people of Cambodia would be very gracious for our presence. I was in the OR today, and it was awesome. I got to watch three surgeries and talk to several of the surgeons and nurses. I was amazed at how much that the surgeons and nurses could do for these people. I really did not know what to expect of their operating room, but it was very nice.
For lunch, we went to a traditional Cambodian restaurant with the Piep, the preachers wife. It was so good, my favorite meal so far. We saw her again to church tonight. The preacher was so happy to see us all. I really think that we were mentioned about ten times, and then they made Mrs. Taplin go talk in front of everyone (she didnt know that was going to happen).

Continue reading