21/1/2011
Going to work this morning gave me the opportunity to play Santa as I took in my lucky dip gifts and huge bag of stuff for the orphanage in general. I was a true local with a million things on one little moto.
Everyone was so grateful for the gifts and there was an almost endless stream of "Thank you teacha" and hugs until lunch. Watching the kids enjoy the things I had bought was wonderful. It was so cute one little boy was doing his sister's hair with the hair clips she picked out of the bag. Phan took my camera and was able to get heaps of photos of the morning. It was decided that Lauren and I would go back in the afternoon between 3.30-5.30 instead of 3-4 so that I could see the afternoon school kids one last time and have a big group photo.
After going back at 3.30 the majority of the kids then had to leave at 4 for some type of dance class so I ended up with 2 group photo's anyway. Eventually the time came for me to leave and Phan gave me a DVD entitled 'Good Luck for you Everyday'. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet but she said it has all the kids on it. On my way out I was swept up into a huge group hug in which I could hardly stand as it shuffled out the gate. My moto came right over and I struggled to get on with all the kids holding me back. A couple of them even sat on the moto so I wouldn't fit. I finally managed to get on the bike and one little girl stood behind me, one legon either side of the wheel, holding onto my waist and ran along behind the bike until she could not keep up. They all continued waving until I was well around the corner.
As I was late getting home Mummy fed me straight away, then I collected my washing and got ready for the VAC Boat Party. My driver dropped me off at the Night Market, which I didn't get much time to look around but it looked pretty good. I found the other volunteers out the front so stayed around to chat which is when Xanthe showed up. It was really exciting to see her again and we talked for almost the entire night.
It was easily the hottest night that any of us had had in Phnom Penh and we were all dying when we eventually set off for the boat. There were at least 60 people at the party so they had had to hire 2 boats, the fun part being that they lashed them together and we had to climb between the two (fun in a dress). OSH would have had a field day. The boat finally came back to port around 11.30 and I was one of the first to leave, not being much of a party person and having to get up early the next morning to catch my bus.
