January - April 2011

 So I've decided that there is finally enough semi-interesting stuff to write a new blog entry.  There is a big event at the girls school called International Day.  You have a country room where you do country specific activities, international food stalls and various performances.  This was the first time in a long while that the Americans decided to a room, so we were all pretty busy.  We decided to do a football throw, where with the help of an Indian, a Kiwi (from New Zealand) and a few half German kids we managed to cut a hole in some wood, paint it like an American flag and rig a doorbell to the thing.  This way when you made it through the opening you hit a sensor and the doorbell went off.  It was pretty cool.  We did the Cotton Eyed Joe on stage and had a really good time.

These were the two interns...Alexia and Amy who both took time out of their day to come help me with the kids.  Shawn was out of town.  Shawn only goes out of town when there are major functions or holidays where we could possibly go somewhere but then can't, so the help was very much appreciated.

 The following photos are from a Khmer wedding we attended.  It was a very rich wedding and quite interesting.  We all had a good time.

A bottle of whiskey is on every table  If you drink it all, you get another bottle.

Phoebe made friends with a little girl  They jumped on stage to pick the fresh flowers that were there.

A huge room was rented with all of these tables set.  Someone seats you at a table, then when the table is full you're served food.  If no one wants to sit with you, you could be waiting a long time to eat.  Luckily we didn't have to wait too long.

Emma collecting flowers

Mattie taking pictures with random women

I took this picture because of the cake.  I can't imagine how much money it cost as it came from the best cafe in town...called Bloom Cafe (also a cafe that is solely operated by former brothel workers or other women who have had similar difficulties...run by an amazing Australian couple.  If you feel compelled to donate to a cause, Bloom Cafe is on-line)

                                                      Les Manguiers - The Mango Trees

There is a beautiful place called Les Manguiers about 3 hours from Phnom Penh.  It's on the river and very primitive.  Just cabins with fans.  We love going here and it's just very very peaceful.

Emma's awesome cannonball

Mattie's perfect pencil!

Phoebe also wanted to give jumping off here a shot.  Look at our brave girl!

We spent New Years Eve here at Les Manguiers.  I just realized I should have put this post first.  Oohh.  That's going to drive me a little crazy.  Anyway, on New Year's Eve they had a party and when the clock struck 12, the owner Jean-Yves cut down some branches from a tree filled with fireflies, then let them go when it was 2011.   There are a few trees that are full of fireflies so when you look at them they look like Christmas Trees with blinking lights.  It was pretty neat.

We also took a night boat ride to see not only the firefly tree, but to see the florescent plankton.  That was one of the coolest things we've ever seen.  When you run your hand through the water you see these crystal like lights glide through the water where your hands have been.  It was beautiful.  Some friends we met decided to go swimming in the water, thus the plankton.  Emma decided to join them in the water.  The pictures didn't show the lit up water, but I can say when one of the men swam under water, you couldn't see too much of him, but you could see his body outlined in the water by pinkish lights as he swam.  It was much like a snow angel but in water.

In February we had a wonderful visit from Marc Dedman and his daughter Emma.  They traveled all over S.E. Asia but used Phnom Penh as their base.  Anyone of you is welcome to do the same.  They traveled to Malaysia and Vietnam and up to Siem Reap.  They would have gone to Thailand as well but ran out of time.  So, it can be done!

The following few photos are of the big girls at school.  This first photo is of Emma and her best friend Sophie.  Sophie is from Australia and was late returning to school after Christmas break as her mama hurt her back.  They stayed a little longer in Australia for Amanda (the mother) to heal.  We weren't sure when they would be returning but Emma seemed to take it all in stride.  She asked a few times when Sophie would be back and of course I didn't know.  One day we showed up at school and there Sophie was, running toward Emma.  The hugged so tight and when Emma looked at me she had tears running down her face.  I hadn't realized how hard it was for her to not have Sophie there.  It was really sweet to see the emotion in both of these little girls.

The next two photos are of the girls at one of the school assemblies.  They were showing the school their gymnastics unit and Mattie and Emma were both chosen to do som

The next few photos are from a baby shower that we had at our house for Shawn's boss Patrick and his wife Eeva-Maria.  She is from Finland so this was her first baby shower!  Bloom Cafe (mentioned earlier) made the cake.

Field Day arrived at ISPP and the girls did well in their various competitions.  They don't give out ribbons and such here, which in one way is a shame and another kind of good.  The kids had fun and that's what counts though.

Mattie and this little girl battled it out for the win.  I'm not sure who finally won, but at the finish line I think Mattie got squeezed out so to speak.  All's fair in love and field day I guess.

During the Units of Inquiry in the girls' classes, they are required to do an action.  The teachers teach the unit on something...water, the environment, simple machines etc.  and then if they can, they try to take an action.  On Emma's Water Unit, the kids decided that they wanted to put signs up at the river so that people wouldn't little.  The kids did this, but within minutes the police came and took them down.  It was a good thought though.  Emma's almost made it up, but at the last minute it was noticed and taken down too.  Wouldn't wnat to litter or anything!!

Phoebe also had a little party at her school for Chinese New Year.  It's traditional to wear red so she did and the children did their little performance.  It was pretty sweet.

Phoebe is the only one who is clapping like she is supposed to.  That is also a tattoo on her leg, not a horrible wound. 

One day when we had off school, the girls and I went and had our nails done.  Greta had a good time and didn't move a muscle as they were give her a mani and pedi!  It's like she was born to the good life!

Well folks, it was Superbowl Monday in our household.  There was a bar here that replayed the game, so we were all really careful not to see who won and had a nice evening at the bar!

I've mentioned Bloom Cafe a couple of times in this blog.  It's an amazing place, and we for fun we invited all the Bloom girls over to our house for Gumbo dinner and to watch Cake Boss.  These girls have all been at some disadvantage at some point in their lives.  Most of them are former prostitutes that were sold as children into the industry.  They were rescued by various organizations and then trained by Bloom staff to make the most beautiful and delicious cakes.  The loved the Cake Boss and  we all had a good time while they were visiting us.  There were about 7 more girls sitting in front of the couch, so I think the total was almost 25 girls. 
 If you are looking for another place to donate some of your funds, Bloom Cafe is on-line and a worthy organization. 
 

The following photo is from a dinner party we had.  It was a Murder Mystery dinner party and we all had a great time.  I looked like an idiot.

We went back to Les Manguiers with some good friends of ours and had a fantastic time.  These are just some pictures of that!

Charley, Ali, Eric, Kade, Coby Bergthold

Mattie, Emma, Coby and Kade

Emma had a publishing party at school and she volunteered to be the narrator as well as do a guitar performance.  Their unit was on "How We Express Ourselves"...with music, dance, art etc.  She did amazing and didn't seem nervous at all.

Mattie had a part in the assembly where she had to read in French.  She had a beautiful accent.

Phoebe had a Khmer New Year party at her school.  These are a few of her friends.

Greta decided to cut her hair.  It's hard to really see it, but there it is!  

Phoebe, Chenda and I got our feet washed by the priest at the Holy Thursday Mass.  Chenda was really  nervous but I think he was touched.  Phoebe asked me when Father Charlie was washing my feet if the water was cold or hot.  I said it was just fine.  She said "oh, then it's normal."  It was so cute.

We had a nice time on Easter Sunday.  We went to a friends house for an Easter Egg hunt.  Of course we dyed a few eggs first.

Hady and Shawn hiding the golden egg...it had $5.00 in it.

We would have taken photos of Mattie and Emma looking for eggs, but they were too fast.  It was madness.

So we're finally up to date.  Some of the photos may be a little out of order but it's the all there. 
Hopefully we'll be home some time this summer and will get to see everyone!