Day 38

Did anyone ever turn up to school with a deflated football on their head? Or wearing a plastic bag fashioned into a wrestlers leotard? . The kids do that here. I applaud their individualism of course, but it does put me off my times table a bit.

There is one boy who has the comedy timing of Les Dawson & the physical comedy of Lee Evans. Hi name is Guam & he has me in stitches every day. We somehow decided I was his barang (french/foreigner) older sister and before long, an invitation came through from his Mum to visit their home.

With a Khymer teacher to translate & a bag of big shiny apples as a gift, I cycled to their place. His mother, a beautiful widow with a smile so warm it probably gives off it's own greenhouse gases, greeted me & invited me inside.

Well, they live in a tiny hut with no water, electricity or loo. And can we talk about the floor for a moment: made out of the thinnest strips of bamboo with massive gaps between each one, the whole time I was there I prayed so hard, in 5 different languages at the same time, that I didn't go through it. Thank God I've lost some weight - that 10lb just saved me from the biggest indignity...

So, how bad do I feel about this: as the crowds gathered & little heads sprouted round the door & up the stairs to get a look at the visiting foreigner, I remembered I had left my little fanny-pack in the basket of my bike. s***! A schizophrenic conversation with my conscience followed whilst still trying to smile serenely at Mrs.Guam." What if someone nicks it" " Don't be ridiculous, no-ones gonna nick it, you're in someones' home, it's a community, that's just not the Buddhist way" Well you say that, but some toothless old hag could be half way to Phnomn Phen with your camera & cash by now" "Well, what am I gonna do, I can't nip out to get my bag. I might as well ask the translator to tell them I think they're all thieving b******s & I don't trust them as far as I can throw them" (Quite far. All v small.)

Of course, when it was time to go & we exited the hut for a photoshoot before cycling home, there was the bag still sitting in the basket , everything still inside (I checked). How bad did I feel? Quite bad. But in our time inside I had told Mrs Guam that I want to sponsor Guam's schooling & maybe sort out a loo or runing water or something, so not too bad in the scheme of things.

More soon - hope all is good with you all

TTFN

xxx