Karsen's CGA Blog

It is hard to think that after a year of preparing for this trip I am 8 hours away from it being over. I know when I get home I am going to wish I was still here in Cambodia spending my time at the school and orphanage. Cambodia was a prosperous country until it went through some rough times and the Khmer Rouge in the 1970’s. The country is still recovering from the Khmer Rouge takeover but it’s rebounding into a better country then it used to be…slowly. I see a bright future for Cambodia. The kids I worked with at the orphanage especially Sok Heng, Niron and Adia are extremely intelligent. If they use their knowledge correctly they will do great things in the future. In the school most of the kids worked really hard as they understood schooling and a second language could take them to a better life. All the kids I met here were extremely happy except for one very grumpy baby. The kids made the best for what they had and where grateful for it as well. Despite living in terrible con...

Sou s’dei, School in Cambodia is not enforced what so ever. Kids, babies, whoever, roam the streets all day and parents and other adults do not care one bit. Schooling might be the easiest way to a future in America but here in Cambodia school and education only takes a few kids to successful lives. So many parents do not see the need to send their kids to school, because it is not benefiting them to try for that slight chance. I have not understood this yet, and it really surprises me. Leading into my next topic, people in Cambodia need an incentive that will directly and absolutely affect them positively. That is why I also believe people here do not pick up trash. At the orphanage kids throw their trash everywhere except the trash can. When Meng, our lovely Cambodian chaperone, offered the kids a little money for one big bag of trash each, the kids grabbed a bag and dashed off. Lee Lee a cute little girl who hates picking up her trash, was the quickest one and all the kids ha...

In America...” love” is a strong word. It is rarely expressed and only used after a long time of knowing someone. In Cambodia, love has no barriers. Love was instantly shown to me through hugs and happiness. The first day I went to the school and orphanage, kids were hugging my legs, jumping up to me and on me. My dad used to always say he was not a human jungle gym… I always thought it was so funny until I came to Cambodia and became the human jungle gym. When the kids look up to you, you can see the love and hope in their eyes shining on you which makes me feel extra warm inside under the toasty Cambodian sun. For me showing love and trust first sight to a foreign stranger seems unreal. However…what kid does not want attention? All the hugs, and spins we give these kids might be more love and attention than they get all year. These kids are uncared for and neglected as they are surrounded by many people who gamble and use drugs. It makes me hurt to see the conditions these kids are...