Who Will… We did!

The last weeks at Who Will Children's Village flew by for Carolyn and Paul, who were enjoying having a structure and purpose to their days other than travelling.Having got used to the heat, lack of electricity and sweating ALL the time, they thoroughly enjoyed their time living in Kampong Tralach. They even managed to create a hybrid drink at the local market by mixing an 'iced' hot chocolate and iced coffee to make an iced mocha! Very cosmopolitan in Kampong Chhnang province!

Carolyn assumed the role as one of the teachers in the Who Will school rooms. Her kids we're aged from 4 to 10 years old with a massive range in ability.Some could communicate a little in spoken and written English; some couldn't utter a word of English and looked at her as if she was totally loopy!

Carolyn and her new found Aussie mate Tam formed a timetable of lessons, fun classes and activities. The main lessons used a program called Jolly Phonics. This is the most effective system to teach children English as a second language. The fun activities included playing picture bingo, craft classes (making jewelry and paper hats) and games such as 'Simon Says' and 'What's the time Mr Wolf!

Paul meanwhile stormed through in the immense heat with his epic renovation duties, transforming the bland houses into colourful residences for the kidsEach house needed sanding down, waterproofing and painting, completing each house with a different colour finish.

Both found it really rewarding seeing a difference in their roles. Carolyn could see a marked improvement in only 3 weeks with the eager little kids, who would try to batter the door down to get in to class if you didn't run to time! Paul had a little following of helpers who did more harm than good getting themselves and everything around them (trees, flowers, bushes, clothes, hair) splattered in paint!

A week before their departure, they got to enjoy a special evening at Who Will. A long term volunteer who was leaving after 7 months threw a party for the kids.The children's' village was buzzing all day with the kids and carers busy cooking up massive pots of curry to eat that night.The kids excitedly discussed what they would wear from there extremely limited wardrobe!

As dusk came, they enjoyed a spectacular sunset, the burning red sky stretching for miles.After a curry feast in the starlight, the disco began, as did the bug fest! More gigantic flying bugs than they had ever seen before were buzzing around everywhere. Carolyn's bra doubled up as a hammock for the dead insects that made their way bravely inside! Paul's white t-shirt attracted the biggest bugs from near and far! It was as hot as being in a sauna which made dancing to the distorted sounds from the speaker stack hired in for the occasion very uncomfortable. Music interchanged between Western pop and Khmer classics which kept them all dancing until way past their bedtime. Definitely a night to remember!

Their last day was very sad.They couldn't believe how much the place had got under their skin. The kids showered them with pictures they had drawn for them and hung around clinging to their arms.When it was time to depart, they waved to the gorgeous group of kids as they left the dusty dirt track for the last time and out of the village they had grown to love, vowing to do all they could to support the kids in the future via CamKids (www.camkids.org) .

Back in Phnom Penh, they returned to the chaos and carnage this city produces.They had a fabulous night out at the televised Khmer boxing, totally entertained from their ringside plastic seats. From the live band that got faster and louder as the fight heated up to the little man shouting the updated scores to the bookies in to a board of mobile phones held on with elastic bands. Paul and Carolyn even made it on to National television looking very excitable on their front row seats, clueless as to what was really going on!

They enjoyed a great last night out with their gang of new friends (Chrissie& Franco,Tam, Elvey - all volunteers & Dom & Benita - family) when they all hired out a party boat to take them on a sunset cruise.Accompanied with a big cheese platter (a MASSIVE treat; the first cheese in months!) they cruised down the river drinking their Angkor beers and reflecting on the weeks gone by.Nights in Phnom Penh never finish early, so their last night finished as it should, partying in all the bars on street 51 until the early hours.

Paul and Carolyn will truly miss their time at the Who Will Children's village and the surrounding area in the Province, working with fantastic volunteers and spending time with the amazing kids, but now it is time for them to get on the road again and discover more of incredible Cambodia.

Speak soon,

Alan the travelling duck (P&C) xx