Pnom Penh, Day 2

The internet is SO slow, so I'm not going to have time to write much. Just wanted to check in quickly.

We had a pretty heavy morning with a visit to S21 (a secondary school that was used as a concentration camp during the civil war) and the Killing Fields. Over 2 million people died in Cambodia under the rule of the Khmer Rouge in the 70s (the number is including those that died due to starvation, illness, etc), and anyone who was educated or wore glasses was executed. A lot to digest. Even today, there are many unrecovered landmines and you see amputees around the city. So many people we meet today lost someone in their family. The tragedy was bigger than the holocaust, but it's amazing to think of how recent it is. The most striking moments for me this morning were first listening to the guide at S21 tell about her husband, children and family being killed (everyone working at S21 lost relatives) and then seeing pictures of people who were held prisoner or worked for the regime from the period and then recent pictures and telling about their situations now, sharing their accounts about why they were involved or what influenced them at the time to do some of the unthinkable things they did. Fear is a powerful thing.

Later on, we visited several NGOs, including NYEMO, an incredible business and factory run by and for local women, and a non-profit water filteration company who taught us how to clean water filters (made from local materials and clay) so we can train the teachers at the PEPY school this week. It's amazing to see what these people are doing and re-enforces how important education is (in addition to technology...if it was just technology, it would already be done, right?).

Tomorrow morning we are heading to the school in the rural northeast (7 hour busride) and I'm getting pumped about meeting the kids. I'm working with a fellow from London on a lesson about different kinds of English slang (someone else already took my origami idea...shoot!) and I think we're going to help build a bike shelter.

I have to head out, but I hope to write more about the experience shortly. I'm pretty grimy (hair is STRAW) and need a shower before dinner, but this might be my last internet time for a bit. Last night, we checked out the night market (stocked with garments from local factories...including Target brands, of all things...brings me back...) but we might explore a bit after our last NGO visit and dinner tonight. It'll be an early morning and the city closes down around 11, anyways, so we'll see. The foot is feeling better too, btw, but isn't totally healed... OK for some play time with the children however :)

I'm filled with observations, questions and stories but that just means I have more to tell later! Hope you all have had a lovely weekend and wish us luck over the next few days! Off to Katie!