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!