You need to come experience Cambodia! The Khmers are a respectful, gentle, friendly people, who love family and love their traditions which have been passed down through the centuries AND who have 25 days of holidays each year!!!
At this time of the year, you can feel the excitement in the air, as the King's Coronation Day, the reigning king's birthday, and the 3 day festivities of Water Festival all fell within the same week. Fun!! This is the only holiday of the year when the country folks come to Phnom Penh to celebrate, as the rest of the year it is the other way around. 2 million people came to PP during Water Festival.
Let me back up start from the beginning. Last week, we taught classes Mon-Wed. Then the holidays began. One day, Bobbie rode to the market on a moto! Her first moto ride! Ask her about it...she loved it! On Saturday, Dot, Danah, Bobbie, Theavy, Samnang, their son, and I went to see the ship. This is a project of Partners in Progress that provides free medical and dental services to the people along the rivers. On the way back home, we stopped along the river and "had a picnic". You rent a mat in a hut that is over the river and buy your food from the vendors. It was so relaxing and fun! Theavy picked the food she wanted us to try and it was yummy!
Sunday was a wonderful day worshipping with the Christians across town and having a luncheon with them. Then we were off to the races, literally!!! Water Festival has boat races for 3 days! 391 teams from villages, etc competing! Sunday evening we enjoyed worshipping with the Christians and guests and then Bobbie and I walked with 4 of the CBI students over to the riverside where all the stalls were set up for the festival, along with concerts, fireworks every night, fountains on with colored lights! It is similar to a state fair with throngs of people. They block off the streets and the crowds just walk down the streets. (Over here, we walk and walk, and climb stairs, until you think you will drop-no wonder you don't see fat Khmers!) When we returned late that night, we fed our walking partners supper. Monday morning, we were off to take Dot and Danah to the airport. One of Dot's students came to see her off. These ladies both, have such tender hearts and fell in love with their students. I loved listening to the compassion they expressed as they would tell stories about their students. By Monday at noon, we were back at home preparing for a singing. We ended up with 62 or so in the house and another several outside. Wow! That was so fun! Ronda and Rich brought 18 in their van from the CBI school. We had another group from the congregation across town, then we also had some of our staff, and we invited the English Bible school students! We had old students and newer students. (Mohamath, Chetra, Phearom, Kunthea, Selak, Polaing, Vannak,....) We met at 3:00, sang, ate snacks (mostly fruit is the snack of choice here), and then all took off to walk to the riverside! At the riverside, we watched the parade on the river, the fireworks, etc until late!
This morning, Wednesday, I took Dale and Evelyn Lundy to the airport. They had been here 2 months, so it will seem strange around here without them. Since they have been here many times, they were always out and about and helping the other teachers.
Friday and Saturday will bring the arrival of 3 more teachers, with Bobbie still here. More on them next time!
Happy Water Festival!!!
PS I really wish you ALL could be here!
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