Sao meets us at the Blue Pumpkin and tells us that he has set it up for us to meet with our scholarship students at Bill's and Jill's house at 1100. As we eat our Western breakfast Sao takes off and promises to pick us up in front at 1030. We have some time so we walk through the old market. The smells are sharp and strong as we walk through the food area. Fruit, meat, and fish are available. Open bags of rice line the aisles. This is where most of the Khmer people buy their food. It is crowded yet no one seems to mind the flash from my camera. The other sections are full of "tourist" ware. There are t-shirts, skirts, silk scarves, jewelry, carved Buddhas. The vendors half-heartedly ask us if we want to buy. The last time we were here they seemed more aggressive. The poor world economy reaches everyone. The final section is household goods for Khmer; diapers, cleaning products, brooms, medicine.
We leave the market and just walk around old town. We walk by the guesthouse where we stayed in 2008. It has completely changed. It has a different name and looks newer. Signs promise WiFi and showers. We only paid $12/night back in 2008, we wonder how much it costs now.
We circle back to the Blue Pumpkin to wait for Sao and soon realize that standing stationary courts beggars and street vendors. Many of them are missing limbs from the land mines. I want to help all of them but realize I can't. We buy a book from one man who is missing a leg and an arm. We in our good clothes and with full bellies are relieved when Sao pulls up in the tuk tuk.
We head to Bill's and Jill's house through an area we've never been. Fewer tourists yet many vendors catering to the Khmer. Naked toddlers and dogs line the street among the food carts and gasoline sellers.
We arrive at their beautiful rental house where Channy is already waiting. We have not met her as she is in the second group of students who were selected in 2009. She is quick to smile and we greet her with the traditional som pas -- hands together as if in prayer and a slight bow. She is studying accounting. Soon the others arrive -- Sok Kheng is a gentle young man studying information technology. He has an exam tonight so has brought his book to study. His English is very good. Chantrea is next. She has just finished her exams and will graduate if she passed. She studied accounting and currently works at the Khmer Kitchen where we ate the other night. She is working on improving her English. She and Channy are very close and are constantly holding hands and sitting close together. Khemra is a strong young woman who is studying civil engineering. Her speech is very quiet at first, and we have to lean forward to hear her. Her English is good and she asks a lot of questions. As she gets more comfortable with us she speaks more loudly. Chantrea tells us that Sina is working untill 1200 but will join us when she gets off work. Sina wants to be a lawyer.
The highlight of the meeting is when we get on Skype with Asad and Olivia back in Flagstaff, AZ. Bill and Jill just arrived with Naret, one of our students, and Sophary, who works at the Land Mine Museum with Bill. Video skype is a big hit with all as we laugh and wave, continuously moving the laptop around so everyone can be seen. The temperature is only in the 50s (11 C) back in Flagstaff and Sophary is in a chair with blankets upon her. The kids back here can't believe how cold it is and laugh at Sophary. Sina shows up while we are on Skype and gets to say hi to everyone in Flagstaff. It is a fun time and a good way to end the meeting. It was good for Matt and me as well, as we miss not having Asad and Olivia here in Siem Reap.
Peace,
Riva & Matt
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