AWARD CEREMONY

Dateline:
Kessararam Primary School, Sat, July 30, 2011
Deanna Shimko

I arrived 7 am according to my invitation. I was led across the open courtyard to the front of the ceremony area (no auditorium here) and seated in one of the 8 wood chairs on the platform. I was the first "honored guest" to arrive taking seriously the printed starting time. I noted the second row of plastic chairs flanking the forward wood chairs. (Last year I sat in one of those second row plastic chairs... promotion!?!)

The students, their families and teachers were in the process of organizing the assembly. My heart pounded as I sat facing the gathering of the students who will receive awards today, the teachers and the students' families and photographers. My invitation came without instructions or orientation, and I knew by my seating location that I would be asked to do something.

About 7:45 am the ceremony began, attendees were greeted, the honored guests were introduced, and the Director of the school, Van Marath, spoke for 45 minutes delivering a complete report to the parents and local authorities about school budget, facility repairs and improvements, student demographics including number and gender of students completing the year successfully and those who didn't as well as those who dropped out of school.

Then Village Chief spoke, then the Commune Chief, and a student who thanked the teachers for their good teaching and care of the students.

Then the student awards: the top five students in each classroom in each grade would be called by name to come forward and receive an achievement certificate. In turn, the honored guests would present to a group of 5. A photographer was present taking a picture of the event as well as each student at the award moment, and the student and his/her family would receive a photograph. Some parents took pictures, too, and some parents stood with their student for the photograph.

We watched while dark clouds gathered and hoped we could complete the ceremony without the threatening rain. Everyone is not under shelter, and there is no place to go but into the classrooms.

There is no public transportation to school for students. Many poor families cannot afford bicycles for their children to go to school. Each year the Director of Kessararam Primary School tries to find a donor(s) to contribute 5 bicycles that are presented to the 5 students at the Awards Ceremony. Donors can come from surprising places!

This year a young man from Washington State, USA who is in Siem Reap now for 1 year and working at Shanta Mani Hotel and Spa, organized his co-workers to raise money to donate the 5 bicycles. One by one the 5 bicycles are presented and pictures taken!

At the end, many congratulations and pictures all around. Front row are the top student from each grade. Second row are primary donors; 3rd from right is Van Marath, Director of the school, 2nd from right is assistant to the director.

The efforts of the students and their families for good grades and regular attendance and the contributions of the donors had been recognized very well this morning.

Our Cambodia mission is a primary donor of Kessararam Primary School since 2008 through our clean water well; health, sanitation and first aid and information technology and vocational skills initiatives. I am honored to attend the Awards Ceremony to represent USA people who make this Cambodia mission possible.

UNDER THE MANGO TREES

Dateline:
Khnar Thmei Village, Friday, July 22, 2011
Deanna Shimko

A villager doing laundry and showering

at the well on the property of Khnar Thmei United Methodist Church in Khnar Thmei Village.

This is the first well of our Cambodia mission. It was built in spring of 2002 and located on the property of the Khnar Thmei United Methodist Church where nearby village families have easy access.

The well is surrounded by and shaded by mango trees. The shade makes using the well at any time of day comfortable.

Our Cambodia mission has built more than 60 clean water wells in 24 villages, 6 primary schools and 2 orphanages. Included with the well is personal hygiene and community sanitation education and training.

CONNECT TO THE INTERNET

Dateline:
Kessararam Primary School, Siem Reap Town, Mon, July 18, 2011
Deanna Shimko

Kessararam Primary School, located in one of the villages that make up the Siem Reap Town metro area, is now connected to the internet. That's good! No one at Kessararam Primary School knows how to use the internet or has an email address! Let's change that! The teachers want to know!

Sam P holds a long class Monday afternoon explaining about the internet, web sites, conducting searches, email addresses, creating and sending a message, opening inbox and managing messages. Mony Hun assists Sam with interpretation into Khmer language.

Each teacher gets her/his own email address and practices locating her/his inbox and creating and sending a message.

Author's note: This is Sam's third year teaching computer skills to the teachers at Kessararam Primary School and providing computer equipment and supplies. In 2008, our Cambodia mission provided an Afridev hand pump and well to this school of 1507 students.

FIELD TRIP TO PUOK SILK FARM

Dateline:
National Silk Center, Puok District, Mon, July 18, 2011
Deanna Shimko

Early morning Mony drove out to Bos Kralanh Village to give the sewing class women a ride to Siem Reap Town by 9 a.m. - a few came by motorbike to our meeting point at Artisans d'Angkor, stone and wood carving workshops for Khmer traditional arts. From there we would be traveling by free shuttle bus to Puok Silk Center about 12 miles west of Siem Reap Town on National Hwy 6.

Last summer and this year, we have been teaching sewing skills for particular items for the ladies to make to sell in the market. Pat thought that a field trip would illustrate to the ladies the information we had already been discussing about producing for the market: e.g. quality, patterns, colors, styles, sizes, presentation and display. This was an adventure - to plan and to pull off. Would the ladies be able to come...from their homes and daily chores of preparing meals and caring for children!? It would surely be an unusual experience for them! Twelve of us altogether - Sam, Pat, and I, and 8 ladies plus Mr Sok, their mentor and organizer of cooperative women's activities in Bos Kralanh Village - climbed onto the bus for our free ride and tour of the Puok Silk Center

The tour was a beginning to end process of silk making from different kinds of mulberry trees to various stages of larvae feeding on the mulberry leaves. We were elated...the ladies were interested, absorbed, wanted to touch and asking questions!!

...spinning thread from the cocoons....

...dyed silk thread on spools....

....and weaving on a manual loom.




We topped the morning off with a Khmer food lunch at Chanreash 10 Makara Restaurant in Siem Reap Town. Total cost for the lunch for 12 people - just $25!!!

I had my favorite soup - boiled fish with sliced tender bamboo shoots in coconut milk with steamed rice.

The field trip was a great experience and a great success! We learned a lot and had a great time together doing it!!

THE FEAST

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town, New Riverside Siem Reap Hotel, Tues, July 19, 2011
Deanna Shimko

The day of Pat's departure (and Sam would depart the next day), our hotel chef Kosal Nou (who completed the 1-year Cooking Course at Paul Dubrule School of Culinary Arts in Siem Reap Town) invited us to a farewell lunch. Kosal's learning at Paul Dubrule School included French, Italian, Khmer and American cuisine. He has learned well about quality of ingredients, care in the preparation and cooking, and presentation, and his ability and interest extend well beyond the listed menu, or as Kosal likes to say"..."off the menu."

First, he presented stuffed poached fish

followed by pasta with chicken in cream sauce

and topped off with dessert of mixed fruit in sauce served in a dragon fruit boat!

And Sam enjoying the fabulous dessert!

HOLY GROUND

Dateline:
Khnar Thmei Village/United Methodist Church, Sun, July 17,2011, 8:30 a.m.
Deanna Shimko

It's Sunday morning, and I'm on my way to worship service at Khnar Thmei Village United Methodist Church. It's my first Sunday in my two months stay, and I am exhiliarated at the prospect of this familiar experience.

I always sit in the front wooden pew. In my 12 years I have never seen the Khmer sit in the front pew. I have a clear view to the door to the church. Every year, every Sunday this view and its symbolism absorbs me. "Take off your shoes for the ground you are standing on is holy."

Musical accompaniment to congregational singing is guitar, maracas, tambourine, drum and thro. Here Mr. Sok, an expert in traditional Khmer music and instruments, plays the thro, a 3-stringed wooden instrument played with a bow.

The youth of the church are the worship leaders along with Pastor Sokha. Here Sopheap Sath is reading one of the morning's scriptures.

Pastor Sem Sokha preaching on the morning's scriptures.

This is Sam's and Pat's final Sunday as they depart in a couple days. They take a few minutes during announcements time to say their farewells. Mony Hun interpretes their English into Khmer language.

When service ends an hour and a half later, folks linger and take lots of time for fellowship. Ahhh, I'm back on Cambodia time!!

BEAUTY IN PHNOM PENH

Dateline:
Phnom Penh, Sat, July 16, 2011
Deanna Shimko

Here the distinct and unmistakable architecture and traditional colors of Cambodia in the royal palace that is located on Sisowath Quay that parallels Tonle Sap River just north of its confluence with the Bassac and Mekong Rivers.

One of the many beautiful monuments at the center of roundabouts in Phnom Penh. Roundabouts are common in Cambodian cities and towns and usually have a statute of a traditional figure or image at the center.

BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE, TRAGIC DAY

Dateline:
Phnom Penh, Friday, July 15, 2011
Deanna Shimko

I was in Phnom Penh with Sam P and Pat L for two days of meetings at Resource Development International-Cambodia and US Embassy to explore resources for our program development and expansion.

Do you remember the great tragedy for the Khmer people? It happened last November 2010 on the last day of the annual Cambodian Water Festival (Bon Om Touk).

This beautiful bridge is the site of the great tragedy: 456 people confirmed dead—109 who lost their lives at the scene and 347 who died in Phnom Penh’s overwhelmed public hospitals. Hundreds more were injured.

The 50-metre Diamond Gate suspension bridge is one of two bridges that connect the 100-hectare (250 acre) Koh Pich (Diamond) Island in the Bassac River to central Phomn Penh. The stampede on the bridge occurred as concerts were ending on both sides of the bridge. Survivors reported being trapped by surges of people pushing in both directions.

The Cambodian Water Festival, which occurs on the full moon usually in November, celebrates a major natural occurrence: the reversing flow between the Tonle Sap and the Mekong River.

For most of the year, the Tonle Sap empties into the Mekong River. However, when the rainy season arrives in June, the Mekong rises, reversing the flow to dump water into the lake, increasing its size ten-fold. When the rainy season ends in November, the Mekong drops once more, allowing the current to reverse again, emptying the excess waters of Tonle Sap back into the Mekong.

FLOWERS ABUNDANT

Dateline:
Kessararam Primary School, Wednesday, July 13, 2:00 pm
Deanna Shimko

A surprise awaited Sam, Pat and me when we arrived at 2:00 pm for a meeting with the school's director and some teachers. Van Marath, the school's director, who

participated in our sewing class last year, had designed and sewed a blouse for herself from yo-yo's! Beautiful blouse and talented lady!

And another surprise...the school's sewing teacher who was in our sewing class last year incorporated making flowers and yo-yo's into her sewing classes for the students.

And one more surprise...the teachers in all the grades encouraged the students'creative sewing skills. Classrooms and the library are decorated with the fabric flowers and yo-yo's the students made. And most classrooms have displays of geometric shapes made from the students'yo-yo's and flowers!

I DON'T WANT THE WHEELS TO DISAPPEAR INTO THE PLANE

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town, Tuesday, July 19 2011, 10:13 a.m.
Pat E Lyon

I want the wheels to linger on the tarmack so that I can be in Cambodia just a little longer.  As the wheels retreat and we lift off, I lean toward the window for one last look at my second country.  The sun has set.  I can just see the water.  I see the straight palms against the horizon.  And I know, I just know I will be back.  Even though I've spent half a used car, I need to go back.  I have oten wondered why.  And I still do not know.  I am like a puzzle of two pieces.  One piece is in the United States where I have the most promising seven grandsons you could ever imagine.  A garden jungle of weeds, a loving family, a skinny cat, and a cute man are waiting for me.  But right now, I did not want to leave.  I was just getting started.  I needed more time to be with the village women.  We have not yet found a market.  We have only hope...that what we are doing will lead to something.  Something we cannot yet see.

Their hearts are so good.  They cooperate so wonderfully.  Surely God will bless such good intentions.

These women help each other learn.  Their craft is so different from ours and that is what makes their purses so appealing.

These women are close to my heart.  We speak without words.  Three are pregnant.  I want to see their babies!

I leave them in the competent hands of Deanna, Mr. Sok, Mony and God.

On the plane I am reading a book called "Soul Survivors...Stories of Women and Children in Cambodia,"by Bhavia C. Wagner.  I have often wondered how Cambodians could survive and forgive so much.  Then tonight I read these words:  "In each breath, we inhale hope, life and lovingkindness, and we exhale sorrow and pain." (-Mu Sochua, founder of Khemara, a Cambodian women's development organization.)  What lessons these dear sisters have to teach us.

I leave now to see if I will fly to Tokyo or what other adventures await in this Thai night.

SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town, Sunday, July 10 2011, 9:56 a.m.
Pat E Lyon

There was a surprise for us in worship today.  A bus load of Ohio Conference people arrived with Deacon Dee and young people en route to a Youth Rally at Battambang.  In Cambodia, white foreigners are referred to in slang as "barang." All the Khmer men sat together and played musical instruments on the west side of the church.  Except one guy with the Ohio people was from Mexico and he didn't have a drum or a thro or rattles or a guitar.  Mony and I sat together and the Khmer women sat together with the children.

Mony whistled the Khmer hymns.  It was beautiful.

The pastor gave a rousing sermon with six points.  After the great cloud of Ohioans witnessed about their mission, Mony and I went up.  I said, "My group is very small.  But it gets bigger this week when Sam and Deanna will come." Everyone clapped.  I told them that long ago, Deanna and I came to teach small children about Jesus and about English.  But small children grew up.  What to do?  So now we try to get scholarships from people in USA for University and Paul De Brule School of Culinary Arts.  I asked all the students to come forward.  They stood in a line.  Tall and sophisticated.  Each one told their name and major.  There were so many youth I could not see to the other end.  (And two had exams?)  I worried for a moment, "Will we get enough money to put all the little kids I just saw in Sunday School through school?

I also told about wells, toilets, pigs and pig pens, seeds and seedlings, etc.  I said, "If Jesus asks you to help, don't wait for a committee to vote on it.  Just help." No wonder I was in trouble all the time!

After worship, Joseph Chan spoke to me about his plan, outlined neatly and enclosed in plastic.  He had not changed in the eleven years since I first met him.  I asked him twice if the land belonged to him or the United Methodist Church.  He pointed and talked faster.  So I still do not know.  But he has a dream of many things.

Then quickly, he bounded for his 4x4 and everyone jumped on the bus and they rode off in a cloud...of dust!

Dee was the staff person for justice in the Ohio Conference and they have a partnership with Cambodia.  Hey, Wisconsin Methodists, we need to put some money and staff on justice!

MISSION

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town, Thursday, July 14 2011, 10:52 p.m.
Pat E Lyon

The beginning of rainy season has drastically affected our schedule, so I have not told you all the stories that are occurring every moment.  When Deanna came, I started being able to sleep again.  I seriously considered changing my plane ticket because there are so many more things I wanted to accomlish and so many things I needed to show the village women.

I took a great risk in coming to Cambodia because my mother is in very fragile health.  I obtained the frequent flyer tickets last early December - a miracle in itself!  Also my daughter is great with child.  So I decided to start for home next Tuesday.

Last night my aunt got a message to me through a friend's email.  Two of my mother's sisters and Uncle Bob went to see my mother.  She always brightens when Uncle Bob visits.  My aunt told Mom that Patty would come to see her as soon as she got home.  My mother has been cognitively disabled by mini strokes.  But my aunt heard her respond, "mission".

We are leaving for Phnom Penh to meet more NGO's so I write this in haste.

THE BIRTHDAY CAR

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town - Sat July 9 2011, 9:22 a.m.
Pat E Lyon

In the picture you will see a little girl in a new pink plastic car.  Life here reminds me of living at Asbury Acres.  At the end of the 70's we lived at Asbury Acres United Methodist Camp.  It was a 500 acre camp with beautiful pine trees, a good fishing/swimming lake, and 2 small lakes.  Mike Weigand Sr. was the manager and since women could not manage in the 70's, I was the camp cook.  (No kidding.)  My son and daughter, Mike and Emily were loved by the entire staff.  Tony Fuller's brother, Terry was there, and Paul Armstrong, in addition to some other PK's.  There is a staff of about 20 here, and they all take turns watching the managers' children.  There is also an Auntie who has most of the responsibility.  Isn't this car the greatest?

24 HOURS TO GO

Dateline: Waterford WI, 7:10 a.m.
Deanna Shimko

In the week before I depart, I organize marshalling the things I'm going to take with me to Cambodia in terms of concentric circles in a geographical area with my home as the center, so the closer the departure date, the closer to home I can be.  Yesterday was my last foray to Wauwatosa to pick up a gift of flannel from a friend, stopping at Big Bend to get travelling cash, then to a friend's nearby home for my last pick up of flannel.  Now I have everything at home that I need to take with me: first aid supplies, personal hygiene supplies in travel sizes (bar soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothbrushes and toothpaste, etc), 5 metal rules and flannel for sewing classes, a bottle of 120 500 mg acetamenophin (requested via email from Cambodia 2 days ago) for our Khmer friends who suffer frequent headaches from poor quality food and stress of daily living.  Today's job is to get packed - this is where I'll find out whether my lists worked well and I've really got everything I need to take with me.  In my living room area I've opened out 2 suitcases, a backpack (my carryon), and a traveling purse (small shoulder bag to carry travel docs enroute and while in Cambodia).  Around the backpack I've piled those things that will go into it including my camera and reading material.  Around the purse are traveling docs, wallet, pen, and small pkg of tissues.  And first aid supplies, personal hygiene items, sewing supplies, phone charger, some "On the Go" and rice cakes which travel well and make great treats in Cambodia, and my clothes.  My task today is to maximize size and weight limits and get everything into the suitcases and backpack!

This last days before departure to Cambodia I have mixed feelings.  I'll be leaving many good friends and family for 2 months and after 10 months of being away I'm going back to Cambodia to friends and village people who are anxious for me to be there!  With me I take the precious supplies you have collected.  Thank you so much for faithfully throughout the year collecting these supplies for the Khmer families.  The money that you've given to the Cambodia wells mission has been deposited into the project's bank account and first payment was wire transferred to Cambodia in spring when building began and supplies needed to be bought and workers paid.  There will be a final payment due about September when the work is nearly finished.  Your precious money gifts become wells, hygiene and sanitation education and training, clean water handling and malaria education and training, toilets, piglets and pig pens, educ scholarships, vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings - a budget of about $17,000 each year.  Thank you for your generous and precious gifts to make this mission possible.  If you'd like to support the Cambodia mission with a money gift, please make your check payable to "Cambodia Commun Dev Proj" and mail it to Carol Lohr, Treasurer, Cambodia Commun Dev Proj, 8504 Caldwell Road, Mukwonago, WI 53149.  We, (Pat, Sam and I) pay our own costs to travel to and be in Cambodia including airfare, visas, immunizations, interpreters/drivers, lodging, food, etc, with our own money and by raising money in other ways.  Together we can do this life saving and life changing mission.  We are ordinary people doing extraordinary things!!

THE CLICK PURSE

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town - Fri July 8 2011, 4:35 am
Pat E Lyon

Today was the second day of the most difficult purse: the click purse.  It clicks open and shut becuase part of a metal tape measure is hidden in a cuff at the top of the purse.  The idea for this came from an advanced quilter who showed it to my Aunt Marti in Elkhorn.  I am not sure I am doing it right, but the Khmer women love it.  It takes more fabric than the average tie purse becuase of the "cuff" and a large bow on one side.  It also required stiff interfacing.  They all want handles.  But the handles are drapery cords or upholstery trim.  At Jo Ann's $1.26 a yard.  It takes about 1 meter for a handle.  I found a few bargains, but when the handles are gone, they are gone.  So we will have more of the clutch purses.  After click purse, we will have the fourth purse made from a large man's tie.  This will be a little easier to make because there is less fear of running out of supplies for this tie, and they can play with the design.  They have learned to make inverted pleats, side pleats, and gather at the purse top.  One woman made pin tucks.  She has a machine at home and so came very prepared today.

The women would like to sell the purses, but they have told Mony they are happy to come to class to learn the skill of sewing.

And my dear, dear sewing class?  Today one sewing machine was broken.  So they had to wait or find other jobs to do to wait for a machine.  And the very versatile Mony was able to repair the machine.

Sam arrives Sunday night.  Deanna arrives Monday night.  Deanna's bed is nearly cleaned off of ties and linings.  The other side of my bed is lined with "kits" ready for sewing.  Mony went out to look for containers so that we can organize Mr. Sok's inventory of thread, fabric, interfacing, needles, flowers and makings for flowers, jewelry for purses and general chaos.  The Sok family has truly been the most generous of hosts.

Today, cat caught a lizard and left it right under the whiteboard for me.

ANOTHER CREATURE

Dateline:

Siem Reap Town - Sun July 3 2011, 10:21 pm

Pat E Lyon

Another creature is a rat just outside the dining room door. I have seen him three times. He looks like a giant bratwurst with a short tail. Or a weiner balloon. I observe that the Khmer have a less panic-stricken approach to things like this than I do. For now I am trying to undemonize him by thinking up a bratwurst sort of name. Any ideas? And I compartmentalize. And I avoid that exit when possible. And no, I have not yet had a Kodak moment with him so don't look for a jpeg.

MONY ONE METER FROM ANGELINA JOLIE (NO KIDDING)

Dateline:

Siem Reap Town - Sat July 2 2011, 12:05 a.m.

Pat E Lyon

Mony received a last minute notice from an old friend. Did he want to be driver for the party traveling with Angelina Jolie? Are you kidding?

Evidently the beauty movie star icon was in Cambodia to make an ad for expensive luggage. Only the fancy cars carried her family and nannies, etc. But Mony got to drive her make-up artist. He was very close to her. He showed me with his arms. She is very beautiful and very thin. When she comes to Cambodia they close down the entire hotel except for the guests already there.

Actually, he was more impressed with her personal body guard, who had more muscles than he had ever seen. And the body guard shook his hand. How much was he paid? $5.00 US

There is a drink named the "Tomb Raider" at the Red Piano restaurant in honor of her presence here for the filming. In the movie, Angkor Wat statues come to life. By the way, the "Red Piano" which has no piano is no longer painted tomato soup undiluted orange, but now hot pink neon. And they have added a water trough with a rail around it. I am not sure what the purpose is, except coolness. Mony tried to explain over a chocolate Sundae, but I did not get it.

THERE'S A MOUSE IN MY UNDERLINING

Dateline:

Siem Reap Town - Tue July 5 2011, 8:56 a.m.

Pat E Lyon

Mony and I arrived early for sewing class. It was to have been from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. But really, it is from 10:15 am to 1:00 pm and the women are still sewing when we leave. I began by writing on the whiteboard. We were going to have a meeting at 12:45 to discuss design. I noticed Mr. Sok's cat was very interested in a plastic bag of purse tab underlinings that I had left next to the wall the night before. Mrs. Sok said, "SHHHHH" and tried to scoot the cat away. I naively assumed there must be a cricket in the bag, or that it was a really playful cat. Mony also tried. "SHHHH!" It must be Khmer to "scat". Suddenly the cat found what it wanted. It left the bag with a fat "mou." ("mouse" with Khmer pronounciation) The cat proceeded to chase the mouse all around the house. Mony chaased it into a corner behind the sewing machines. Just then another student came in. She exclaimed about the mouse and cat. I shrieked and cliimbed onto a sewing chair. I was barefoot and wearing baggy crop pants.

The woman strided up to the mouse and cat and took the mouse in her bare hands and carried it outside. She handed it over to a small boy and walked back into the house and began to sew (without washing her hands).

I wondered to myself..."Is this rodent week or what?"

And all the way back in the buried recesses of my mind I thought quietly to myself "EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

I do not know the fate of the "mou". The cat seemed rather disappointed.

THE CREATURES NEARBY

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town - Thurs, June 30, 2011, 10:32 p.m.
Pat E Lyon

The smallest creature is the nearest. It is a tiny gecko about 1-1/2 inches long. He has tried to get into my room for days. I shoo him away from the door because he would sing at night like a cricket. And I once had a terrible experience of stepping on one with my bare foot and do not want to repeat it, especially without Deanna to calm me down. They have put something like weather stripping under my door to keep geckos out. My room is the closest to the rug shaking balcony, and I think geckos use it as a point of entry. But last night I saw that he or his friend had made it in. He scooted across the wall, just above my suitcase. I vowed to keep my suitcase zipped, because it would not be good for him to attempt the flight home. Outside my window is a large lizard...a duk doh that is the sound he makes at night: "duk doh, duk doh."

On National Hwy Route 6, Mony and I sawa dog that had been struck by a car. Its pretty face looked up at me with big German shepherd eyes. Two cars had stopped, with people standing around. The road has become very busy, and has been constructed to have two boulevards. This is a far cry from the lotus ponds and burning rubbish piles of ten years ago. I just prayed and prayed that the dog would not have to suffer. I do not know how it turned out.

There are beautiful white cows along the road to Bos Kralanh Village. I noticed one was especially thin. Its shoulders were caved - its ribs were showing. I wonder why since it seemed to share the same grass as the other cows. Since the roads are very bad from rain, we have to travel slowly. Then I saw two cows tied near a house. Suddenly one sort of convulsed and fell to the ground, upside down. I asked Mony if we should go back. He said, "No, the owner will come." A boy, about the size of Barret came running down the road. When we came back, the cows were not there. I like to think it's all right. But I do not know.

At the home of the tailor, there are many cats and dogs. One dog is very old and blind, but he barks anyway and then retreats under his table. I have wondered why there is just one little kitten. The mother would not just have one, would she? And what of the others? And why was this one chosen? When I was a little girl, I remember hearing terrible stories about too many cats or dogs. I try not to wonder about it too much, but I do.

When we go to the house of Mr. Sok to have sewing class, there are dogs. At first, they barked and made quite a fuss when we arrived. Now they just look up with one eye. They expect us to come.

Not far from here there are monkeys and elephants. Other forest creatures share the same struggle as in the USA. Humans are taking over their habitat. I am told that with bribes, you can work around the rules that protect the environment, and the creatures whose habitat is not protected.

JET LAG TV

Dateline
Siem Reap Town - Wed, June 29, 2011, 10:28 p.m.
Pat E Lyon

Gradually, I am turning myself around so that it is now 9:07 a.m. and not 9:07 p.m. At first I would find myself just treading water and not being able to think because I was tired when I wanted to be awake. Then when I wanted to sleep, I was wide awake. I occupied myself by creating purse tie kits. I matched up a tie with fabric I had brought from the U.S. and cut enough for each pattern piece, depending on how much fabric there was and which style of purse it would become. During this time, I would watch TV beyond borders. There are 84 channels which includes many Khmer, German, French, Korean, Malaysian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, HBO, Star, AXN, and "F" which is a fashion channel. There are also channels that I think are like MTV. The Khmer MTV is very innocent. Slow music with background scenes of Angkor Wat. Sometimes the song is about romance that goes awry. Early this morning I was just perplexed at what I saw. I realize that music videos areartistic expression, but this one struck me as very far away from my American culture. I do not know its origin. There was a singer wearing South Asian clothing from traditional dance, but it had been greatly modified into a rock star two piece swim suit kind of thing. A man dressed a little like Liberace was dancing next to her, but I don't think he was singing. There were many dancers on the stage with her. What bothered me the most was that there was a large group of Playboy bunnies wearing white suits and white and pink ears as background dancers. You might want to laugh, but I take a real Gloria Steinem stance on this Hugh Hefner-inspired stuff. I have seen little grade school girls wearing bunny T-shirts. What kind of charm does this hold in part of the world where children are kidnapped and sold into a world of violence and depravity? Please watch the Demi Moore special on CNN about sex trafficking in the world and do what you can to stop it. Feminist Grandmother

NO LAUGHING MATTER

June 26, 2011
Pat E Lyon

First sewing class begins this morning. I am very excited and a little apprehensive. Your prayers are appreciated.

Please try to watch the Demi Moore special on human trafficking on CNN. The feature is about Nepal, but the problem is big here in Cambodia also. Please encourage others to stop joking about or glamorizing prostitution.

DON'T GO TO THE MARKET WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT

June 25, 2011
Pat E Lyon

I cannot imagine how my daughter would manage to go to the market here. First, you must dodge buses, cars, moto bikes and dogs. You step under a kind of tarp and suddenly, it is dark. As your eyes adjust to the light, your senses are absoluely assaulted. There is a wave of odor that is like nothing else. I remembered it as soon as I entered. The smell of hot humans, babies who needed to go to the bathroom (but could not), fish, fish paste, something being grilled, fruits and vegetables. After you accustom yourself to the smells, be prepared for the sights! Chickens with splayed legs and exposed entrails reach toward me as if to clutch at my arm in desperation. Fish stare blankly into space with flies crawling over thei shiny bodies. Wilted long beans and herbs tied tightly into bundles lay in a basket. Red meat lays exposed on a board with dried pieces hanging above. Stacks of cane sugar wrapped in leaves tempt me. There are large bouquets of flowers. A post is pierced with small sticks holding bracelets made from fragrant white jasmine. To move about, you must turn sideways and try to be small so that others may pass. At your feet there are women squatting, working with what they have brought to sell. And just to your right, a young woman is working at a sewing machine, turning fine silk into a ballgown for a wedding. Ahead is a narrow shop where you can get your hair cut or your nails done. There is very little movement of air.

I am tempted to faint, but avoid it. It is wet under my sandals with all the things I have already mentioned and more.

I move ahead, trying to memorize where to find the material shop and the button shop, and a good place to buy shampoo.

This is the old market. It is one of my favorite places. And I like it a thousand times more than Wal Mart. By the way, at the air conditioned Angkor Market, you can buy frozen strawberries for $13.50 US a kilo. I think maybe the small pineapple and watermelon at the old market is better.

WHY AM I SO HAPPY?

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town - June 22, 2011, 10:19 pm
Pat E Lyon

Well, it wasn't as romantic as I had imagined. Mr. Mony called Mr. Sok twice about how to find his house. Even though he has driven to Bos Kralanh Village for years, the crops are different and the roads are bad so we had to find a new route. Mony tried a left turn and went down a cow path that was only wide enough for one cow at a time. It dead ended in a rice paddy of unknown depth. Oh, wait, I guess it was a water buffalo path, not a cow path. In the distance, we see Mrs. Sok motioning to us to go back. Now Mony knows. Our road is one block over but not much better than the cow path. I close my eyes. It feels like we are about to runover a duck.

The greeting is much like I had described. Mr. and Mrs. Sok both know I am offering my sympathy on the loss of their beautiful son to electric shock. Once inside, Sok tells Mony that the women are in the rice fields and cannot come to class yet. They begin to assemble the new sewing machine Mony has brought from Battambang Province. Their point of reference is the other machine, which is a Janome in a Singer stand with a formica top.

But then the women do come to class. I remember their faces. They are probably older than they look. One tells about her headaches and I can see in her eyes that she does not feel well. Two are wearing turtle necks under a jacket. They have long pants and long sleeves. How does this work? It's siesta time. I showed them the purses we would make. They think it is very interesting. Then a women rises and disappears into a side room. She brings back a box, a treasure box. It is FILLED with beautiful flowers that they have made from last year's class. Diana Saw bought some and got them pins and clips to attach. I show how they can put a flower on the purse. Their flowers are exquisite. Much better than I could have made.

Quietly they agree to start class next Monday from 11:00 am to noon. Mony adds: "That way, no family violence." I could not laugh. We do a needs assessment. Two irons, two boards, new whiteboard and markers.

The Soks graciously invite us to stay for lunch. From out of nowhere, Mrs. Sok emerges with amok - fish soup with vegetables. There was a plate for bones and a bowl of rice. It was wonderful to commune with them, but I felt a distinct sadness in the air. Little conversation.

About 6:00 pm, Mr. Kosal brought spaghetti marinara to my room. It was delicious. I took ties apart and continued making its for purses. I fell asleep surrounded by ties. I awoke at 3:15 am. Yesterday it was 11:30 pm. I get up and continue with the ties. Soon I will blend into this time zone. It's good I am doing this now and not disturbing Deanna. But she has never minded.

I try to analyze why I am so happy. And I do not know. I just am!

Pat at the Wheel and Out of Control

It's that time again! Sam Pritchett, Pat Lyon and I are preparing for the 2011 Cambodia mission. Sam departs Austin, Texas, on Saturday, July 9, and you can follow Sam on his blog, see link at right on this blogspot. I will depart Chicago on Sunday, July 10, and will continue to post on this blog. Pat departed Chicago on Sunday, June 19, and has landed safely in Siem Reap Town Monday evening about 9 pm Wisconsin time.

Thanks to many of you and other generous people who make the Cambodia mission. All of your generous money donations benefit the vulnerable Cambodian people: clean water wells, toilets, domestic hygiene and sanitation education and training, vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings, piglets and pig pens, educational scholarships to post secondary education for poor youth, first aid supplies and training, personal hygiene supplies and training, computer equipment and training for youth, sewing equipment and supplies and training for village women. Costs for travel to Cambodia, immunizations, lodging in Cambodia, visas, interpreters, motorbike and car drivers in Cambodia and whatever else is necessary are paid for by mission members themselves and with money they raise in other ways. Please keep the Cambodia mission and the mission members in your prayers. Pat does not yet have a blog, so I'm posting her emails here. Enjoy!! Deanna

Pat at the Wheel and Out of Control
June 22, 2011 9:31 pm

We have known the tailor now for about 6 years. We found her through Christine and Jnnifer Boehm. She has moved for the third time, but we have been able to track her down. She lives across from place where kill pigs, cows, chickens, etc. Now she has a married son who live with her in addition to her very competent single daughter Rothny who works two jobs as an accountant. Her home is two inches away from that of another family. She has created her own jungle at the entrance of the house with flowers and plants that we buy for house plants. On the other side of that there is a frog pond.

This year, one of my goals is to develop competency in sewing with treadle sewing machine. Hers is somewhat foreboding. It is a Janome, industrial strength type, mounted on a cast iron Singer frame. In the past, she has not wanted to serve in a teaching capacity because she is self taught and very modest. She does not know how much I wonder how she can sew without the help of Vogue, Simplicity, MCall's, etc. But now she and Rothny are very excited that I want to learn. Why, I do not know. About five dogs of varying sizes and amounts of fur move aside. There is a tiny newborn kitten in front of me. A pretty little girl about two years old clings to her grandmother because I am large, pale, and wear glasses. Mony needs a cigarette, but he's watching.

I must turn the large wheel at my right and get my feet going at the same time. There is no plastic here, like with my little Nancy's Notions "Babby Lock". (What a wuss name for a machine.) I turn wih all my might and they start shouting at me. They are probably saying "go, go go!" The tailor pulls me from the chair to show me. She spreads her bare feet a certain way. I try to imitate. I sew a little bit crooked and it makes gathers. The machine becomes un-threaded. Rothny tries to thread it from behind and upside down.

I am ready to give up but they persist. Once again the tailor shows me with her feet and I finally get it. Right-left, right-left, etc. Wow! Exercise and sew at the same time. Left hand must guide and pull fabric. Four body parts all doing something different at the same time. Good thing I'm not chewing gum!

I am measured for a dress and shirt. I point, show pictures, nod yes or no. I shoo Mr. Mony from the room to get measured. This is a probem. We agree to come again for another lesson. Adieu, adieu!

The next night I return at 5:00 pm because cooler. But sewing machine broken. She shows us where a new part is needed. I tell them I am glad it was not me! Pat L