Back in the USA

We arrived in Hartford around 4am Saturday morning. We're catching up with family and mumbling our way through the last days before the start of school. The stories begin to surface and leak out...

It's easier to upload photos here.

Last Photos

The connection is a little iffy; I'll try to post some photos here. Adding photos has been quirky and now appears to have taken a real dislike to me. You'll have to wait for images of Emma and Warren's workshops as well as other adventures at the Mohaosrop.

Back in Phnom Penh

Five and 1/2 hours on a bus and we/re back in Phnom Penh. Our last full day here begins at 9 with an appointment at the US Embassy. we'll return to the tintrument maker in what is left of the Squatter Community here. Then a little more shopping and attempts to pack for our ride back to the States. We will see you soon.

It's Monday in SE Asia - What are you doing?

Wedding in Battambang

Its not my fault I'm from Connecticut

when the sick four finished you know - being sick- we headed on our way to battam bang. Our trip was only 3 and a half hours while the four who had left the day before spent 7 hours on a boat, suckers. It was really nice to see everyone. We all acted extra giddy and went out for western food to celebrate.
Then we went to Mohaosrop where we met up with Man Mens class and 270 something other kids. Riege got blessed, and Charlie nodded off while praying- it was longer then expected. After that there was the one of the best circus ever with a lot of traditional dancing mixed into the acrobatics. All and all it was a great first day.
This morning was a little longer...
its cold here
emma grace
p.s. rieges a goof- and cant spell

Seaprated in Siem Reap

We were all up early yesterday (Wednesday) for a 5:30 van ride to the boat scheduled to take us to Battambang. With three and a half down with gastro-intestinal distress, four of us made the trip along with Arn, Srey Ma, So-Pa, Charley and Sara. Apparently the boat was a local – taking on passengers at floating villages on route, the initial twenty-seven passengers swelled to almost forty, along with a propane tank and other goods to be delivered along the way; 8 and 1/2 hours later we arrived in Battambang as the monsoon rains began a little weary and, for those westerners (baraang) riding on top, a little too much sun. There is a zen to this local travel that, with time, we would learn to savor.

Battambang, closer to the Thai border, is very different, and pleasantly so, from Siem Reap. Not tourist focused, the markets cater to locals so we see bolts of fabric for making karmas rather than individual karmas for sale. We’ve found a few local restaurants that have good inexpensive food for both dinner and breakfast - $8.85 for dinner at the Smoking Pot last night and $12.00 for breakfast at the Sunrise Coffeehouse (very good coffee). The four of us plan to rent bicycles and do a little exploring today (Thursday).

The others will arrive by cab around 2 this afternoon. We are eager to see them and begin the Mahasrop together.

BALLOONS!

We love your comments! Please keep them coming! It reminds us that people at home actually remember who we are....

Today is Sunday and the internet lines seem a little faster. So we are going to take advantage. Jake and Charlie are making this post... finally. We know you've been waiting.

So last night we went to this concert. We encourage you to Google Beatocello. He's a swiss classical cello player/doctor who endorses hospitals in Cambodia that work with children. Every Saturday night he holds a free concert to promote awareness on TB, Denghai Fever and other diseases in the concert.

Afterwords, a few of us went to a carnival down the road. There we could pop balloons to win SWEET prizes like fish sauce and ginger wine!!! =) Charlie won three candy bars! He didn't pop enough for the sauce. Emma and Jake rode a ride... it was very safe. Johnny, Charlie and Gabe spent that time convincing the locals that they were street boxers from France. This led to our invitation to a kick boxing match across the lot, Cambodia VS. Thailand. We stayed for two rounds.

Today we ate lots of Crepes! After that we went to the market to find presents for Mon Men's class. It was sort of like Supermarket Sweep but harder because we weren't in a Stop N Shop or a Toys R Us.
Obstacles included:
-Children clinging to our legs
-Overwhelming stench of fish
-Language Barrier
In spite of all these we ended victoriously! We mounted our bicycles with 17 backpacks, 17 notebooks, 37 pencils and 17 pencil sharpeners and 17 pens!!!

yayyyyyyyy!
-JakeandCharlie
kisses
xoxoxoxoxoxooxox