Day 4 - Our first day at LaValla

After a rough day the previous day (see Sarah's post), we all seemed to have a broken sleep, perhaps disturbed by the images we'd seen the day before. Even though I did not go through Toul Sleng and Cheoung Ek - there is something ghoulish about visiting that place too often - I still had to fight the nightmares that wanted to come. For those who have been here, you will understand. For those who haven't - you should.

Yesterday was our first full day at LaValla. We had an early victim of the stomach bug so common with a south east asian experience, but she fought on to LaValla.

We arrived around 8am had our first activity was a quiet Mass with the twelve of us, Br Terry and Br Tony, and presided by Father Kevin Corrigan of Nelson's Bay. It was a nice way to start the day.

We then broken into our work activities of preparing a classroom for painting and some gardening. By recess we'd pruned half the school and watered most of the plants. Meanwhile the painting crew had learned a new skill how to fill holes in plaster walls.

By lunch we were all thoroughly exhausted - I'd been chipping away at some road base with basic hand tools and was in a world of hurt.

After lunch the students went to teach their classes - a mixture of prepared lessons, English teaching and PE lessons. These lasted from 1-3pm. Meanwhile I kept chipping away at my roadbase. Oh, how I hate that roadbase in the heat ...

We then went back to the hotel via the Russian markets. The students did some more shopping - including an outfit for dinner - before we all retired to the Cafe Yejj where I introduced them to Khmer Iced Coffee. Much to my amusement their reactions were entirely as anticipated and there was some protesting until I pointed out the copious amounts of raw sugar that could be added to combat the bitterness.

We wound up the day at Romdeng where we ate crickets, silk worms, buffalo jerky, and of course some tarantula legs. We also had some fairly normal fair too ... and the students enjoyed some great shakes and lassies.

Bed came early with most hitting the pillow before 9pm. They all appear a little tired today - perhaps a day to go gently. We'll see how breakfast makes them feel!