The End of the End

I belive I left off with the last night of the orphanage.  This was a tough trip in many ways for everyone - students, adults, and our friends in Cambodia.  After almost two weeks of hard work, we had a couple days with which to experience the culture of Cambodia more thoroughly.  I know that our students appreciated these much deserved rewards, but I could tell everyone's hearts were still at the orphanage.

Our last day in the country was Wednesday; all afternoon we packed and held our closing meetings with each student.  Towards 5 o'clock a few visitors arrived to say their goodbyes: Raksmey, Meng, and Sothy (two wonderful translators and Raksmey on the way back from a dental appt), and also a few friends of LM's from years past.  The plan was to meet "Mama" and "Papa" - the couple who run the orphanage -  and send Raksmey with them, as the airport is about half way between the orphanage and our guesthouse.

After a long goodbye at the guesthouse, our entire gang enters the van one last time for our journey to the airport.  As we pull up, Lisa Marie sees "Mama;" I am looking at the crowd at the airport and cannot see her.  What I do see is two heads peaking out from behind a large column.  All of a sudden the voices in the car are exclaiming in disbelief as almost half of the children from the orphanage come running out to greet us.  This was the best suprise one could have asked for.  It felt as though we couldn't exit the van fast enough - the excitement was boiling out and the door was a blockade between us and our suprise visitors.

Tears and homemade bracelets flowed freely.  We hugged and greeted all the children while "Mama" (Som Anh) presented Lisa Marie and the gang, as well as the previous group, with a certificate of appreciation for all the work that had been done at the orphanage.  I couldn't always read Mama's thoughts while at the orphanage, but tonight it was clear how grateful everyone was to have had us.

The mere fact that all of these children were there to meet us was a miracle; I kept asking myself how everyone got there - I asked a few of the boys, but everyone was too excited to explain such minor details to me.  It is still unclear to me how everyon arrived at the airport, but I can only think of two motos and a tuk-tuk that had to have been overflowing with happy souls the entire journey there.

This was the sweetest suprise, but then reality hit - Jenna it's time to be an adult and tear our students away from the hugs, as we still had a flight to catch - not an easy feat.  Jana had already gotten a few students inside, and I started asking as politely as possible for students to enter the airport one by one.  I didn't want to leave either, which made my requests for students to enter the airport seem even more rediculous.  We got everyone inside, checked in, and then the goodbyes started all over again through the window.  My heart was being ripped out of my chest once again.

I love people watching.  Throughout my 27 years I have determined that the airport is by far one of the best places for this activity.  Everyone has seen the heartbreaking goodbyes that happen at airports - the interactions that are so heartfelt they draw everyone's attention.  I have watched them many times, but never been under the spotlight so blatantly. People were moving out of our students' path for the window - seeming a bit upset at first, but then joining in the tears and taking pictures of the entire scene.  This was probably the hardest part of the goodbyes, as there would be no more hugs, etc.  The crowd followed our path on the opposite side of the window until we went up an escalator.  There was silence; only the occasional direction about the upcoming security line.  

Everyone was awestruck.  A goodbye at an airport does not seem like an extraordinary act in the United States, but in Cambodia this was amazing.  I re-played this scene in my head many times over, and so badly wanted to stay.  I am aware of this impossibility at this point, and have told myself how lucky everyone involved has been to have had this experience.  My grateful heart brings back nothing but positive thoughts towards the future and an open soul to welcome every opportunity in life.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and this effort over the past  7 months.  Your efforts have been utilized to their fullest potential.  This is technically the end of my Cambodian journey, but I have the feeling more words need to make their way out.   

Jenna Ileen