Day 13

Today was our last day here in Cambodia not traveling. We woke up really early and then we went back to Anchorwat to tour it and we got an amazing tour guide who knew what seemed like everything about every temple in Cambodia. He toured us around 3 temples in Cambodia, Anchorwat, Anchortom, and Ta Bong, (the jungle temple) where Angelena Jolie filmed Tumb Raider. That was my personal favorite, it was beautiful! There were trees going in all directions, outstanding temples everywhere, just very breath taking. Then at 12:00 noon we went back to our guesthouse, showered finished packing, got everything ready, and off we went at 3:00 pm! We drove for only about 5 hours and then we went into the airport, boarded, and I've now been up for as day strait, We'll see how happy I am by the time I meet my mom in the airport. I am VERY excited to go and see my friends, my little sister, mt mom, Scott, and everyone but I was EXTREMELY sad to leave Pon, Tong, and Reit, Hen, Kea, just everyone! :( Well I'm pretty sure this is my last post. This trip was so fulfilling, it was everything I hoped for and more and I hope next years group enjoys themselves as much we did!!!

Day 12

Today was a great day. We saw so many amazing, beautiful, and interesting things that I am so glad we didn't miss out on. We first woke up early and then a tour guide came and picked us up at the Guesthouse. We took a drive to Seim Reip and then on our way there we went throught the floating village, which wasn't really what I was expecting. It was really cool though. There were all these houses on the water. It kinda looked like there was a hurricane or something and the basements flooded and there was only the top floor, it was really amazing. Then we continued on our journey and we went to Anchorwat to tryed and see the sunset which didn't really work out because all the clouds were covering it, but it was still amazing anyways. Then we went to our Guesthouse for the nite and it was really nice. So all in all it was an awesome day we looked at one of the amazing temples of Cambodia, and I'd say it was definitely one of the most beautiful thinga I've ever seen! I'm excited for tomorrow! I'll write more then!

Day 11

Today was a really depressing day. It was our last day at the orphanage and I would be playing with the kids having a great time until the thought would cross my mind that today was goodbye. We all woke up, and we went right to the orphanage, we played with the kids for a couple of hours and then we left to go get party supplies. We were having a party obviously cuz it was our last day. We got them pizza, coke, desserts, and lots of other things too. So we went back to the orphanage and we told them to get in their little eating circle and we were feeding them pizza, and I served one of my favorites, Pon, and he gives me this balloon that had the sweetest things on it. It was like "I dont want you to go, I will will miss yiou, I will always remember you." just so sweet, I will miss Tong, Reit, and Pon most of all. We were all in their big church room and then Jack came and he's like Kassie we're leaving in a couple of minutes. And that's when I just lost it, I started having a few tears and people were giving me bracletes and things to remember them by and I was so devastated to have to leave these amazing kids. So we didn't leave for a couple of hours after Jack came in and told me that, in the last couple of hours every kid started to cry except for very very few. Reit remindes me of one of my cousins and so it was hard to see him start to cry and he just had these tears rollong down his cheeks, and people never cry in Cambodia unless it is a big deal, like these kids were street beggars and I saw 2 kids cry this whole time and when we left, practically everyone was crying. Anyways so since crying doesn't happen Reit was embarassed and so was Pon, I told them it's ok to cry and that it is good to cry but they were both just shaking their heads like it is totally a disgrace to cry and I just felt awful. The very first kid who lost it was Kea, just had a total meltdown, hugging everyone telling us he didn't wanna say goodbye, he was hanging on our shirts begging us not to go, I was really really sad after I saw this. So all the kids lost it and they were all crying the only person I didn't see cry was Tong, but apparently everyone else did. They are so cute. They give you bracelets and rings that they made you, and they are so embarassed to give them to you! Its hilarious. When we were leaving I was really sad to leave Pon because he's the quiet one who is just the best kid in the world once he finally warms up and he was huggung me saying I love you please don't leave! And I would say I'm sorry, I have to go, I love you too! I will come back one day I promise. It was really sad, and I miss them all so much already. Reit, when I would say we had to go he'd always be like no, you live here, you sleep! I will come back one day and I hope that day will be soon!

Day 10

Today was a little sad for all of us I think. We were all thinking how sad we were going to be to leave them tomorrow, we've become so attached. I love all of them and today I was playing this game at the end with Reit, Pon  (another one of my favorites), and Nina. We were sort of playing 2 on 2 basket ball with no hoops, just like a competition over the ball. It was a blast more and more people started playing, it was such a good feeling, the hot tiles on your feet! Today was a couple of other volunteers last day here and so we had a "party" and it was pretty cute to see all the "gangsta" kids dancing like their eminem or something, HILARIOUS! I just love them, they steal our sunglasses and were em around all day they were so funny acting like little eminems. In the "gangsta" group there's Tong, Reit and some more people but I don't know their names. I always make fun of Reit, I say "Reit, pull your pants up!" and he just starts laughing and sometimes he sticks his tongue out and then laughs and walks away, ah I love that kid. 2 people made me bracelets with his name on it I was like "Um thank you I love it, I guess?" I dont know if we will be writing on the weekend so I'm going to tell you what we're doing. First on Saturday morning we are going to have a tour guide pick us up at the Tatoo Guesthouse and then we will have a 5 or 6 hour drive to Seim Reip, I dont think I spelled that right but it's ok. In Seim Reip we will go to the floating village which is a village on boats over the water, we will stay up late and then watch the sun set. The next morning we are getting up early to watch the sun rise and then we are going to Anchorwat. We will be there until 3 o'clock and then we are going to leave and go to the airport! I am excited to go back to America but I will miss the kids a lot! I wish I could bring them to America! I say to the ones I like the most "We go to America, I take you and we have a better life!" They just laugh and say "Yes I go to America!" All done!

Day 9

Today was a good day. We followed our regular schedule we went to the orphanage, then to the sports club then back and now here! Yesterday I had a good time, the kids all seemed a little bit out of it to me but maybe that's just me, I dont know. I love how at the  orphanage, there are the little groups. There is the group of boys who think they're really BA and the wear their pants all low and think they're super good at everything. I love that group, they're hilarious, I cant tell if they do it for fun or because they really think they're super cool. Then there are all these groups of like 3 girls and they all chase around the BA kids and they fight a lot, so cute! And then there's all the little kids, they all are very moody, one minute happy and giggling, the next minute they're all mad, and act like their too cool. I love being with all of them. Well, more tomorrow!!

Day 8

Today was another fabulous day. We all woke up and we went to all different places looking for fruits, vegetables, and a few other things and then we got to the orphanage around 9 or 9:30 would be my guess. Today was our cleaning day so we cleaned everything, it took a lot less time than I thought it would, and that was only the girls in the morning. Then we took a lunch break, went to the sports club and I fell asleep on a chair and got a burn, I love getting sunburned, unless it's really bad. We went back to the orphanage after that and we cleaned the boys area which took I think a little longer than it did to clean the girls. It was a blast, all the boys completely stripped down to their underwear and and they were sliding all over the place, having the time of their lives. After that we went to the Russian market to get some things that we ordered. And by the way Kim is all better now, it's weird, in Cambodia kids just get doses of fevers that last a day or 2 and then they go away, not like in the US where you usually only get fevers if you're sick. Now we are here and we only have 4 more days I think, maybe 5 at the orphanage :(. I love the kids in the orphanage they are the sweetest. My favorites are Kea, Tira, Witchia, Tong, Long, Reit, Pon, and Kin, lots of others too. You can't adopt children in Cambodia unless you're married and you live in Cambodia, weird. But if I could adopt these kids, I would probably have around 15 to 20 kids. They are just amazing kids, so giving, always want to be able to share whatever they have with you. Well more tomorrow!

Day 6

Today was our "chill" day. It was a nice day, we went to the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge which was very sad. The Khmer Rouge was sorta like a mini Holocaust except the people who's lives it effected are still here today. Our tour guide was the only one in his family who survived it so it was just sad to know that people who were victims are still walking on these streets today. And then we went to the National Museum and we walked around, looked at all the beautiful art and then we took pictures by the awesome fish ponds. Ms. G and Anna were doing yoga poses and they almost fell in, funny. More tomorrow!

Day 7

Today was another great day. I love going to the orphanage and then just being there with the kids. So first we all woke up and then we went and drove in the tuk tuk to the farm thing and we looked at the pigs and we watched jack torture the chickens and pigs. The pigs are really cute, we still have to get more though. Then we went to the orphanage and had a great time. Ms. G tried to teach them yoga and they were really good, it was one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen. After that Me and Tabor and Kea and Reit and lots of other kids played games, like we threw a Frisbee, and they taught us a game kinda like hot potato where you needed to get faster but whoever dropped it first lost. We had a fun time and then we went to the sports club and I sat around, had fried rice and 2 amazing pineapple smoothies. Then we went back to the orphanage and the place is almost deserted, there's like 3 kids we can see. So we all sat and watched a little girl named Tira sleep and then all the kids come out and we all just hung out and had a nice time. After that we went to the Russian market to try and get something we asked for, and they didn't have it ready so we left, and then we came here. Tira is one of the cutest little girls you will ever meet, she always has a smile on her face, and she ALWAYS wants to be held. I love her she's adorable. Sreykim got sick today and was burning up so we were trying to make her down liquids but we couldn't tell if she was drinking them or not. One thing that for me personally is really disturbing for some reason is that people in Cambodia don't really have cups and so people here drink their drinks out of plastic bags, and its not gross or anything I just don't like the way it seems in my mind what they're doing.

Day 5

Today has been a great day so far, except I got sunbured especially on my arms and neck, I need to get burnt anyways. We woke up and I got scrambled eggs as usual and then we went to the orphanage for a couple of hours and we left, worked on the farm, finished the coop, and then we went back to the orphanage and we played with the kids then we came here. I also just found out today that in Cambodia when you turn 18 you can do whatever, get a job, drive a car without any tests, and so on. Cambodia is very different from America. America typically has only a few smells, and Cambodia has many. Some are not so nice. The kids at the orphanage are so cute. Its sometimes hard though not to get frustrated when you need something and they have absolutely no idea what your talking about. I especially like this boy and he's 11 or 12 and his name is Kea. He is adorable he doesn't speak much english but he likes it when you put your arm around his shoulder. He just wants to be close to you. This girl her name is Shrykin and she doesn't speak much english either but she's beautiful, she is just gorgeous and she's 11. Sometimes you forget to treat them like they're your age because they look like they're like 9. The people in Cambodia arent like anorexic they just are all very short. Coming to Cambodia really makes you appreciate some things like water, air conditioning, no humidity, computers, friends, parents, siblings, cars, school, food, and the list could still go on. Lisamarie said that tomorrow we are just going to have a "chill" day so I'll put more tomorrow!

Day 4

Today we woke up, and then we went to the Russian market to get meat for the kids and i swear, i almost puked! Then, we went to the internet place to try and get a hold of our parents, but no luck for me. After that we went to the orphanage for 4 hours and we played games and did puzzles and things like that. Then we went on a city tour around the city we looked at all the beautiful places and in a way they all look the same, they have all these little swirly golden type of thinga at the edge of roof tops. Now we are here. It is really hard to be here because I miss America a lot. I will be back soon and am enjoying my time here.

Day 3

Today we went to the orphanage and we played with the kids for a long time, after that we went to the VIP sports club again and ate, got some smoothies, and sat in the sun. Then, we drove down to their mini farm and we took apart their old chicken coop, when we were halfway done putting up a new one for them, we ran out of wire to keep it together. So tomorrow we are going to have to go to the market and go and get some more wire. After we finished doing that we went back to the guesthouse and we ate and now we're here. I am going to take a shower when we get back to the guesthouse. I feel very dirty. More tomorrow.

Day 2

Today we went to the orphanage to say hi to the kids and then we went with some of the older kids to go to their mini farm thing. We cleaned the pig areas and we cleaned the chicken coops. They were filled with trash and I am thankful that I could go there and help them raise their animals, we were there for 3 hours and it was very exhausting, and UNBELIEVABLY hot. After about an hour and a half we all went over to their hose and completely drenched ourselves and some of us filled up our boots and clogged around trying to pick up trash. Good times, good times! After that we went to the VIP sports club that has tennis courts, a gym, a pool, a sauna, and these fish that clean the bacteria off your feet. The feeling was really strange, like suction cups! It tickled a lot and it was not for me. So we all sat by the pool and some of us swam, we got pineapple, bananas, and even coconut water shakes. It was paradise! I felt like we were on vacation! then we went back to our guest house and we sat around and talked ate some candy and then Lisamarie came in and told us that we had 30 min to get ready to go to dinner. After like 10 min Jack told everyone time is up so we were all freaking out trying to get dressed and all, then everyone leaves and Jack goes we still have 20 min. Nina hears him say this and she jumps out of the bathroom and whips him with her shirt, jack was yelling and moaning and then he asked me to tell him if there was a big mark and now he has a huge welt on his back. We also got a really nice tuk tuk driver and his name is Lay and you pronounce it like Lie. He waits for you everywhere you go and he never leaves, no matter how long. Right now we are about to go to dinner by the riverside. One thing I forgot to say yesterday is that the shower is in there with the whole bathroom, like you've got the toilet, sink, and shower head with no curtain or bathtub just the shower head on the wall in the middle of the room. Its a really uncomfortable experience. That's all. Till tomorrow.

Day 1

Today was pretty crazy. We got here at like 1 in the morning Cambodia time, which is lunchtime there, so no sleep. There are absolutely no rules when driving! You're so close to other cars you could push the driver out. We went in a tuk-tuk which is sorta like a mini carriage. At the begging of the day we learned about the culture and some of the language, Khmer. After that we went to the orphanage and played with the kids for a couple of hours, they are so cute! They walk around and they call you sister, they ask how old you are and what your name is. They don't speak much English and it's hard to understand, but you can manage to tell what's going on. We went to the Russian market and they hung dead animals which stink like you can't even believe. There were a lot of cool bracelets, and jewelry, beautiful art, and very pretty throw over scarf things. We ate lunch there at the market, and it was very interesting, they put noodles, leaves, lettuce, nuts, seasoning, and some kind of soup in the bowl. They've got all sorts of exotic fruits like dragon fruit, which is hot pink and black and white. They have jack fruit which is sort of like dull harder version of a mango. I think that's all. I will try to do more tomorrow.

Share The Love

             The fundraiser went great!! We raised A LOT of money, we reached our goal and I couldn't be more thankful. We have a donation box at stone creek, gently worn clothes, and stuffed animals, and childrens picture books, nail polish, baindaids, and much more is what we're looking for! Thanks

What going to Cambodia means to me

                Going to Cambodia means the world to me!! Helping these people who are so unfortunite, makes me so grateful. I know that this will be the experiance of a lifetime and I can't wait. Being so fortunite ourselves, we take a lot of things for granted. For example, our friends and family. Helping these kids overcome what they're missing, especially since I know what it feels like to have a part of me missing.

About Me

                  Hi. I'm Kassie and I'm from Salt Lake City, Utah. I moved to Colorado when I was about 8. I have been through a lot of hard times so I can't wait to help these kids and fulfill their lives that much more. Going to Cambodia means so much to me, and I couldn't be more excited! I've always loved kids so that's a plus. I have a really big imagination, but I am also very literal person all at the same time. I have layers to me like a pull apart red vine, so if you wanna get to the heart you definitely have to care. I am someone who will always be there for you. It doesn't matter to me what you need or what kind of problem you're facing, I'll help you through it. All I need to be happy is to know the people I love the most are happy. Always being thankful for the things you have has always been important to me. I love giving people advice, I like to know that people think I have the answer for their problem. My favorite color is purple, and I love mac and cheese!:)