A Big Day of Firsts
Thursday was a big, big day. We took our newly sponsored students shopping. We went through a local, hellishly hot, market with the kids, 15, 16 and 17 and their translator. Bought them jeans, shirts, belts, shoes, watches and backpacks. They had NEVER had anything new before. We then took them to the supermarket so they could buy some fun food to share with their friends. Never been in one before. They wandered through the aisles slack jawed. Chhana asked if she could buy shampoo. I had some money left from a friend's contribution. So told them to go crazy. Liz Wilson - They were over the top purchasing soap, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste. Thanks to you. Chhana was literally hugging her shampoo bottle.
We traveled back to school in an open truck and they went through the bags like it was Christmas. The boys kept checking the time on their new watches and Chhana kept squealing looking at her few t-shirts. Their enthusiasm was palpable. Rather than feeling like it was a rewarding experience I found it to be profoundly overwhelming in a way that is difficult to describe. Part of it was thinking of all the kids that didn't have this shopping opportunity. And knowing that these three will be returning and the others will see what they missed.
Mostly though, I thought of the Christmas mornings when my kids had a lukewarm response to some expensive gift and wonder which is worse. Children who are giddy with glee over getting a few market items or our kids who are so jaded by "stuff" that nothing is very special. Well we couldn't make a big difference for many but we did for these few. Channa bought and English/Khmer book and told the translator she was going to work hard to learn English so she could write to us. Mom and Dad - you will NOT be disappointed in your decision to participate in these kids' lives!
After this excursion we took one of my classes to dinner. It was a class of 8, which quickly became a class of 12 when dinner out was offered! For many it was their first time in a restaurant. We were entertained by their orders…ice cream first, then milkshakes and finally dinner. Hard to fathom not knowing how to order off a menu…
