April 5th (I think) ... maybe the 6th?
So hot today that we didn't do too much. I had to go get some bank stuff sorted out. When I left what seemed like the 10th bank I had to go to, I decided to go to the corner store to get something to quench my thirst. On my way into the store there were several young girls and mothers holding their babies (children or siblings) begging for milk. The begging here is different than what a person would experience in Cuba or Mexico.
It is total desperation.
So of course my heart broke and I told the one little girl that I would buy her some milk for her sister. Smart little cookie that she was, she took me to the most expensive "powdered milk" products and asked if I could buy her a few canisters. I told her that I would buy her a carton of milk and she randomly grabbed one, which happened to be skim. I put that one back and went to look for one that had the highest amount of fat in it. She politely thanked me as we walked out. I then realized that I had gotten something for the baby, but nothing for this 12 year old little girl. I asked her if she too was hungry and she shook her head yes. I offered to get her something too. Of course, my dumb ass Western brain thought she'd ask for chocolate or chips. Instead, she asked if I could buy her some bread or rice. Bread I could buy, but I thought some fried rice might be better, so I suggested for her to come back to my hotel where I could order her something from the restaurant. I could see that she was a little hesitant, so I asked where we could go that was a bit closer for her and she pointed towards a side street.
We began walking together, her baby sister on her hip, and I happened to turn around to notice another little girl (age nine) and a mother and little baby also following us. Call me a sucker, but how could I possibly give rice to one and refuse the other two? So we all went to a local restaurant to eat some lunch. I don't think the waitress was too impressed that I was bringing in a handful of beggars into the restaurant, but I really didn't care. You could see the excitement in the children's eyes, and of course, wanting to take full advantage of the white tourist, they all wanted to order the most expensive things on the menu. The waitress I reckon proceeded to tell them in Cambodian to not take advantage, and they all ended up ordering chicken fried rice. The waitress also told me that they wanted to order a shake each, and asked whether that was okay.
I experienced two amazing things sitting at that table. The first one humbled me greatly. When the rice came out the older sister blew on the rice -- like a little mom-- and fed her sister the whole time. She did not once put a spoonful of rice in her mouth, until her baby sister didn't want any more.
As a teacher back home, I'm always dealing with kids bickering with each other, and fighting. Very rarely do I hear students speak highly of their siblings. Here on the other hand, these two sisters shared a bond with each other, that most people in our Western world will rarely experience. This young girl displayed compassion and love, virtues that I try to teach on a daily basis. These virtues do not have to be taught here, as they are necessities for survival.
The second thing that struck me was that I was sitting across a woman -- we did not speak the same language, and live such different lives, yet we both felt so connected to one another. I smiled at her in awe of her strength and determination, and doing whatever it took to feed her child. She smiled at me, who knows what she was thinking?
After waving goodbye, we both went in opposite directions.... both on the same dirt road. I met back up with the girls, sitting by the pool, and had a full emotional breakdown. I felt guilty going to put my bathing suit on and cooling off in the pool, while these people have to continue to live like this. I don't feel sorry for the Cambodians, however, it's really difficult for me to grasp how it's possible that there is such extreme poverty, when as a nation, we have the funds and resources to be able to feed everyone in the world. I just don't get it.
So hot today that we didn't do too much. I had to go get some bank stuff sorted out. When I left what seemed like the 10th bank I had to go to, I decided to go to the corner store to get something to quench my thirst. On my way into the store there were several young girls and mothers holding their babies (children or siblings) begging for milk. The begging here is different than what a person would experience in Cuba or Mexico.
It is total desperation.
So of course my heart broke and I told the one little girl that I would buy her some milk for her sister. Smart little cookie that she was, she took me to the most expensive "powdered milk" products and asked if I could buy her a few canisters. I told her that I would buy her a carton of milk and she randomly grabbed one, which happened to be skim. I put that one back and went to look for one that had the highest amount of fat in it. She politely thanked me as we walked out. I then realized that I had gotten something for the baby, but nothing for this 12 year old little girl. I asked her if she too was hungry and she shook her head yes. I offered to get her something too. Of course, my dumb ass Western brain thought she'd ask for chocolate or chips. Instead, she asked if I could buy her some bread or rice. Bread I could buy, but I thought some fried rice might be better, so I suggested for her to come back to my hotel where I could order her something from the restaurant. I could see that she was a little hesitant, so I asked where we could go that was a bit closer for her and she pointed towards a side street.
We began walking together, her baby sister on her hip, and I happened to turn around to notice another little girl (age nine) and a mother and little baby also following us. Call me a sucker, but how could I possibly give rice to one and refuse the other two? So we all went to a local restaurant to eat some lunch. I don't think the waitress was too impressed that I was bringing in a handful of beggars into the restaurant, but I really didn't care. You could see the excitement in the children's eyes, and of course, wanting to take full advantage of the white tourist, they all wanted to order the most expensive things on the menu. The waitress I reckon proceeded to tell them in Cambodian to not take advantage, and they all ended up ordering chicken fried rice. The waitress also told me that they wanted to order a shake each, and asked whether that was okay.
I experienced two amazing things sitting at that table. The first one humbled me greatly. When the rice came out the older sister blew on the rice -- like a little mom-- and fed her sister the whole time. She did not once put a spoonful of rice in her mouth, until her baby sister didn't want any more.
As a teacher back home, I'm always dealing with kids bickering with each other, and fighting. Very rarely do I hear students speak highly of their siblings. Here on the other hand, these two sisters shared a bond with each other, that most people in our Western world will rarely experience. This young girl displayed compassion and love, virtues that I try to teach on a daily basis. These virtues do not have to be taught here, as they are necessities for survival.
The second thing that struck me was that I was sitting across a woman -- we did not speak the same language, and live such different lives, yet we both felt so connected to one another. I smiled at her in awe of her strength and determination, and doing whatever it took to feed her child. She smiled at me, who knows what she was thinking?
After waving goodbye, we both went in opposite directions.... both on the same dirt road. I met back up with the girls, sitting by the pool, and had a full emotional breakdown. I felt guilty going to put my bathing suit on and cooling off in the pool, while these people have to continue to live like this. I don't feel sorry for the Cambodians, however, it's really difficult for me to grasp how it's possible that there is such extreme poverty, when as a nation, we have the funds and resources to be able to feed everyone in the world. I just don't get it.
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