Last Full Day in Phnom Penh

Hello again. We had a great day! This morning we delivered food to the orphanage. Lots of rice and bananas as well as formula. The refrigerator arrived shortly after we did. It caused quite a stir.
Sopheap and Kaley enjoyed the children immensely. The girls living at the center were in class during the morning as the boys go in the afternoon. Fortunately for Sopheap she knew just how to handle all of the young boys. I have lots of pictures of handicapped children to show you. Keep in mind that both visits were during school hours so the normal children were busy with studies. These children are very well cared for considering what the nannies have to work with. It is amazing. I saw no distended bellies like I saw 16 years ago.

While at the Nutrition Center we were shown "the book." It is a record of each child that has passed through when they were born, who brought them in and where they are from. Usually that is a very confidential document, but the donations opened that door for Kaley to possibly get some information. Unfortunately there is no record of Kaley but they did say they may have missed on or two kids here and there. Had they known anyone would be back they would have been more careful. We were told that the only families that come back to find birth parents are Americans. We did find Sopheap's records which was fun for her to see.

I returned from the Nutrition Center and had a meeting with Jesse McCaul who is a missionary running a trade school program out of Pnom Penh. He said his school is not equipped to work with the deaf but there were schools available and he would get me information. While having lunch by the pool my feet started stinging. When I looked down they were covered with teeny tiny red ants. They were biting like crazy! I stuck my feet in the pool and they seem to be fine now. I was a little worried and both Sopheap and Leann got bit and have rather nasty marks. Sopheap is okay but Leann had to go see a doctor because of infection.

Lisa visited an NGO group today called Tabitha. They are kind of the Cambodian version of Habitat for Humanity. They do work in the area of Sopheap's family and may be able to help her sisters. Yoen will can Uncle Nol and give him the information as the contact has to come from them.

This afternoon we ran a few errands. Stopping at a jewelry store we purchased some cool Cambodian jewelery then picked up Yeon and his family for a big dinner out for our last night in Phnom Penh. Yoen is an incredible man. He is constantly trying to perfect his English. When he learns a new word he has a write it down for him and tell him how it is used in a sentence. He is also very curious to learn what all of our weird little phrases mean (apple of my eye..etc) and use them in a sentence. He has three boys who are so darling. All are learning english. They are amazing. Sopheap had her Ipod on and was letting them listen to it. To her surprise they sang along to Smack That by Akon and Beautiful Girl by Sean Kingston. It was hysterical! tThe whole evening was so much fun. This is the first meal I have felt brave enough to try some of their dishes and fruit.

Hilary has gone from Hilary to Sopheap. She loves the name because that is what her sister's call her as well as the workers here at the hotel. They have taken her in and taught her Khmer words and laugh as her when she tries to say or use them. She has really become a part of her country and is enjoying being among the crowd. I don't care for it because I can't spot her anymore in the crowd. (I just realized I have spelt Phnom Penh wrong this whole tripso sorry about that). Gotta run. I need to go pack as we leave for Angkor Wat in the morning. Two days there and then home. Enjoy the pics (if I can get them uploaded).