Day 4: Tabitha orientation, Killing Fields, S21 Prison

A day that was both moving and confronting as we started to learn the real reason we are here. We started the day at the Tabitha Foundation where we were introduced to a woman who had survived the Pol Pot regime and is now one of the women in charge of group orientations for Tabitha. She spoke about the ordeals she had faced during the war years and the help provided to her by the Tabitha Foundation. She also explained some of the rules that we have to be mindful of when we enter the village tomorrow. We have rules that include to remember not to handle the children, to finish everything we eat and not to make a fuss if we hurt ourselves as this is disturbing for the village people. She said "If you hammer your finger by accident, just stick it in your mouth, suck on it for 5 mins and then get back to work" (good in theory, but will it work for our kids?).

Our next port of call was the Killing Fields. Students were silent as they heard the tales of suffering and sadness that befell the people of Cambodia. There were terrible stories of man's inhumanity to man and many students were at a loss to understand it. Students were very repectful and asked our guide many good questions.
The next stage in developing an understanding of the experiences of the Cambodian People, involved a visit to S21 prison - a school that was shut down so that it could be used as a prison by the Pol Pot regime. Many students saw the similarity between our own school and the school that now holds the S21 prison. The main comment that was heard throughout the morning came in the form of a question to try to understand how a city could turn on its own people. Students will have many stories to share with you .
Due to the intesity of the morning's activities, the afternoon was spent relaxing by the hotel pool.

The extra money that had been raised (over and above the $6000 target) went towards purchasing 13 new bicycles for the children of the orphanage and after much searching around town, Braham turned up with the 13 bikes tied to the roof of the bus with string.

All of the bikes were lowered from the roof and once the students had packed them away, we spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying a boat cruise down the MeKong River.

After another yummy Ken Kosher meal, we headed out for a river walk where our boys managed to join a game of soccer with the local boys. We put up a good fight but unfortunately had to walk away defeated. Great fun was had by all!