Arriving in Phnom Penh

Korea

Now that was a long day. Left the house at 3:30 am to drive to Boise, then flew to Seattle, then Vancouver and on to Korea, and barely made my flight to Phnom Penh. So glad I had an aisle seat on the first leg, it was almost 11 hours and it was nice to stand up whenever I wanted to! Of course I couldn't sleep. Kat said DO NOT SLEEP on the flight to Phnom Penh or you won't sleep when you get here at midnight. Well then I had an upgrade and a chair that turned into a bed, so decided to take my chances! I slept fine both places after 28 hours of travel time. Kat was waiting for me at the airport with Burger King fries. I zipped right through the visa process, got my luggage and the customs guy didn't even stop me so I guess it was alright to walk right through! We were home and in bed before midnight. Not sure what midnight or what day it was.

On Friday I had my first moto ride. Never seen anything like it. The white lines down the road mean nothing, the lights mean nothing, and one way means nothing. There are 3 kinds of motorized vehicles on the road: Motos, Rickshaws/ Tuk-tuks, and Lexuses...Occasionally a Mercedes, Rolls Royce or Bently. It is such a country of extremes, no middle class that I can see. Poor or rich, filthy or pristine, not a lot of in between. We went to Kat's favorite cafe for lunch and then drove out to Svay Pak to Kat's work. There is trash everywhere, piles of it. People put it out but I don't think anyone picks it up. Dogs and cats everywhere. There will be a shack next to a villa. Chickens running everywhere, most without feathers. Everyone has a business. A shop set up on the street. Some don't even have much to sell. We were discussing if this was a third world country, and Kat said she was corrected that we don't use that verbiage anymore, it's a "developing" country or a developed country. Everyone here rich or poor has internet and a cell phone. I'm getting a sim card for my phone so I can have internet and it's costing me $2 for two weeks.

I wasn't sure what to expect when we went to Svay Pak to visit at AIM. It's back alleys and bumpy roads to get there. The street was just paved for the first time a few weeks ago and they were digging it up for utility lines. That's Cambodia for you! The street is full of little street vendors and there are several big warehouses. One houses AIM's sewing business. That is where Kat works. She had arranged a tour with one of the staff and we walked around the neighborhood. AIM owns several buildings along the street, probably 4 or 5. They house the employment centers, transitional housing, 2 schools and a church. The entire street used to be brothels including those which house AIM. A luxury hotel was built on the block so it would be more convenient for business men coming to the brothels. It was never used for that purpose, thank God, and it now houses AIMs administrative offices. Next to the hotel was a brothel where 30 children were kept for sex trafficking. They were walled in so they couldn't escape. It was lined with cells, one of which remains today as a reminder of what happened there. I wanted to avoid seeing it because I knew it would make me sick, but I walked by it and couldn't avoid it. The building now houses a day care for the children of the woman that work in the training center. It was a very sobering experience. AIM has brought hope to Svay Pak and the neighborhood. What was a very dark place now teems with business, the Lord's gym, a school and church. They have brought the love of Jesus to a very dark place.

We entered the warehouse and went up the stairs to where probably 60 women were busily sewing T shirts, screen printing them and cutting out new product with a scissor type gun. It was busy and bustling. Kat was greeted, hugged and waved to by many. I could see that they adored her. They wanted to know if I was her sister...I love these girls! They were so excited to meet her mother! "Your skin is so young" I was told many times, why didn't I come here sooner???! She has a nice little office with a cutting and design table with a view of the production floor. As soon as we walked in she had a million questions asked of her and everyone needed her. The first problem was that the new onsie didn't fit correctly after it was modeled on her nephew and God daughter. While we were there she drafted a completely new pattern, had it out on the floor to be cut, sewed and screen printed. I was blown away by her responsibility and her talent! She interacts with the girls and staff in Khmer which I think is amazing! It was her first day back from break as well, and one girl whispered in her ear if we had brought presents and were they from her or her mom. Pretty cute! And yes there would be presents!

When most fires were put out by my extremely talented daughter, we went next door to visit a friend she has made, Thoun. She, her sister and daughter sell coconuts. They took a hatchet, trimmed the coconuts, drilled a hole and put a straw in it. It was yummy! like no Costco coconut water I've ever tasted! We sat at her little table and visited with her, she too said my skin was so young. I love these people! She asked questions about my family and absolutely adores Kat. An adorable lady. She loves and supports AIM. I can't imagine her neighborhood before AIM. They are building a new school which should open by the end of the month. It has a library, Cafeteria, and multiple use classrooms. They are just finishing the play ground and parking lot. Up to 1500 kids will be able to use the building. School is not required in Cambodia and can be very expensive to to a poor family go to one. This will allow staff children, employment center children and neighborhood children to get an education for free. It will be also used as an event center and night school.

We met Kat's roommates Sarah and Ellen for dinner at a Korean restaurant. My first time having Korean food. It was cooked at our table. We went next door to a small market for a few groceries. It was really interesting, it looked like they had shopped at Costco and opened all the super sized packages and are selling them separately. Which may be the case since a lot of the brands were Kirkland. Kat bought me TP since I have not mastered the use of the "bum gun" in the bathroom. The place was crawling with employees, each aisle had at least two very well groomed and dressed employees and they were following us around. I thought it was weird then Kat explained to me that they hire as many people as they can to give them jobs. Starbucks may have as many as 12 behind the counter each doing a different job. The reason they follow you is not because they think you are shop lifting, but they want to give excellent service and help you when you need anything! Customer service is everything. They think it is rude if they are not meeting your every need while you shop. WOW what a concept! Well I bought out the Costco size cold pills (I'm sick as a dog, which is not good because they eat them here) and we motored home and fell into bed! End of day one.