So we're back to blog for the last time together.
Steph is about to hop on a bus to Siem Reap and Elise is catching a plane home tomorrow morning.
We've had a fairly busy week, so haven't gotten around to getting onto the blog, so we'll give you a bit of a catch up.
Monday night we went to bed at 8.30 and slept for 12 hrs, we felt very well rested and refreshed the next day after such a busy weekend. On Tuesday morning we went to the Russian markets and bargained very well to buy all the tshirts for the kids' christmas presents. In the end we bought a total of 38 tshirts at ridiculously cheap prices really. That afternoon, uni classes went well, we were both sharing with some of the new volunteers, and then we combined our kids classes and made origami santas and elves. the kids went a bit origami crazy and started making anything and everything that they could, including the other things from the books we had brought. by the end of the lesson, we had not only santas hanging around the room off the paper chains from monday, but also boats, mice, hats, and randomly shaped pieces of paper. We also made origami lanterns with them in the second half, which seemed to be a bit more ordered.
On wednesday we spent the morning planning some lessons with the other volunteers and took the girls up to the stationary shop so they could buy some books. Steph also went for a walk in the mroning up to the camera shops to see how cheap the cameras were, but didnt buy anything in the end. Classes again went well, we got the kids to make chirstmas cards, which some of you back home may be recieving. we felt like it was almost our own little sweat shop with the kids churning out cards, but they give us so many drawings and everything every day taht we thought we might as well put their talents to good use.
On christmas eve we headed to the russian markets again with the girls, for our last hoorah buying dvds and presents. we again bought way too many dvds, because there were so many to choose from at ridiculously cheap prices. I (elise) also bought a small nymph (apsara in khmer) statue which i have been a bit obsessed with since seeing the carvings in siem reap, so i was happy with that :) i also bought a dress for $4 which was quite a steal.
We had our last class with our uni students which was a bit sad to say goodbye. we both had a small party with them at the end with lollies and christmas cards. In our kids class, the other 2 girls went to take aidens class because he was sick, so the two of us were left with all the kids. it went amazingly well, we kind of gave them free range with christmas activities, some made origami and some drew pictures. it was almost silent for practically the full 2 hours with the kids sharing 2 pairs of scissors and two glues perfectly. it was heaven for the 2 of us and we just kept looking at each other in amazement at how well they all behaved. we think it probably had something to do with the fact that there were just less teachers there to give them attention and therefore they werent so distracted.
That night we went to Khmer Kitchen for the last meal, unfortunately we couldnt sit upstairs on the cushions liek we normally do, but we still had a lovely meal. it was sad to think we wouldnt be going there again. then we met the others at the river side for a pre christmas drink at FCC which was nice. Steph also found a gorgeous dress in a small shop which the lady then altered to fit her perfectly which she picked up today (saturday). We then spent the rest of the night making xmas cards for each kid, steph with only 5 kids didn't have quite as much work as me with my class of 16 and didn't last quite as late, as i stayed up until 2.30 making mine.
On christmas morning, we exchanged our gifts (i bought steph a set of nice coloured pens the day before- which she knew about and she bought me a set of ipod speakers that we had gotten to play music for the kids on christmas - whcih i knew about). we went on a short walk with the others to find a pizza shop where we bought 6 large pizzas for the kids and then headed to the orphanage for celebrations. when we got there the kids had just gotten home from school, they were much less enthused than we were expecting and it ended up being a pretty chilled day. The pizza was a hit and we spent the afternoon listening to music, playing uno, making more origami and playing a few games. We gave out the shirts which they seemed happy about, but were a bit picky about the colours and sizes, which was a bit of a shame. It was a bit sad to say goodbye to them all, we got given certificates from the director and lots of cards and small gifts from the kids. They all waved us off which was nice and we headed back to the guesthouse to discover that all the tables had been moved and chairs were set up around the edge of the room ready for the christmas party.
The party was a completely bizarre experience, we all sat around the edge of the room in a row, chatting to a few people and then had a small feast which was about the only thing that remindedus of a usual christmas at home. then the games began.......the first was one where a potatoe is tied to a piece of string and then around the persons waist. they then have to try at hit another potatoe on the ground along the room to a target, oh and to do this they have to make pelvic thrusting movements which is quite hilarious to watch. steph, the good teamplayer got up and had a go, it was quite a rigged game, with the potatoes being kicked, swapped between players and moved back and forth during the game but lots of fun to watch. we also did lots of traditional dancing which was interesting but we discovered very repetitive.
We had a really good night and lots of fun, very different from anything back home, but an experience all the same. After the festivities we headed up with our mars bars to pack our bags and sort through all the pictures that the kids had given us over our time here. drawing being the favourite thing in my class meant that i had over a hundred pictures to sort through, i think ive ended up with about one picture from each kid along withall the cards, xmas letters and origami. it was an epic effort for both of us to get through it and we feel a bti bad about all the paper that is being thrown out, but we certainly cant bring it all home.
this morning we went back to the riverside so that steph could collect her newly altered dress, we also stopped into a couple more shops and ashamedly bought a few more dvds..... now we're just chilling waiting for steph to be picked up for another scary mini bus ride to the bus station and then she will be on her way to siem reap, a 6 hr bus ride. I will stay here at the guest house tongiht, and probably just chill in our room with my book and the tv ready to get on a tuk tuk at 7l30 tomoro mornign and off to the airport.
We hope everyone back home had a very merry christmas, it still doesnt feel to us like we even really had christmas, very strange. and look forward to seeing you all very soon.
much love,
Steph and Elise
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