For more information on New Hope for Cambodian Children take a look at the website, and also my video channel for a taste of NHCC life.

Website: http://www.newhopeforcambodianchildren.com/index.html
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/fionabrown1234?feature=mhee

Going home or leaving home?

So my time here in Cambodia is at an end, and in just a few hours time I will step on the plane to go home once more: going to one home but leaving another. Over the 4 years I have been involved in NHCC this place has had such a huge impact on me. I have lived with 258 children for the last 4 months, and it hasn’t always been easy, but I have had the greatest time. From sunrise to sunset I am greeted by hugs, smiles, kisses and waves- everywhere I go there is someone who is happy to see me. There are a few children in particular who I am devastated to leave behind, especially when I see the look on their faces when I tell them I am going, but one day I will be back..... one day....

Sokchan: One of the first children I ever met back in 2007- it broke my heart to leave him after that year, and this time is no different. 

I love this photo with some of the boys, especially Utdom, who I have my left arm round. One of the nicest children I have ever met.

Nursery and Pre-School

One of my classes. There was a definite love/ hate relationship at times, but in the end we had a ball!

Boeun and Seiha.... another two great boys who I met for the first time this year, and have provided comedy solidly for the last 4 months.

NYE 2011

After Christmas it was time for a well earned break so we headed down to paradise aka the beach in Cambodia for New Year. It was a great few days soaking up the sun and sailing round the coast. On New Year’s Eve there was a huge Cambodian festival on the beach with about 80,000 people there, so the atmosphere was buzzing. There are bars and restaurants the whole way along the beach, so on NYE everyone was down there having a great time and letting off a LOT of fireworks. At midnight I was in a bar on one end of the beach, and looking down the beach and seeing all the fireworks flying out into the sea was a pretty special sight: for many reasons a new year that I will remember for a long long time......

The view at the door of our hotel room......

Megan and I reunited once more

Definitely doesn't do it justice, but just a taste of the beach at night .....

Christmas

It seems like such a long time ago now, but Christmas was great. Woke up at 5 in Phnom Penh with Megan, had a little dance to some Christmas songs as we dressed in our elf costumes, then it was off to meet Santa. We were quite a sight on the roads as we drove on the hour and a half journey out to the village: a bright red jeep being driven by Santa with his two elves in the back throwing out sweets! The children went crazy when we drove in, shouting and screaming and were so excited about the stockings. The giving out took about an hour, and much to my relief there was not a single child left out- job well done!! The rest of the day was taken up with playing with new toys, testing out new roller skates rounded off with a big Christmas disco in the evening. Here are a few of my favourite pics....

Starting my elfing duties

Boromey getting very excited about his new bike from Santa!

Dara getting her christmas present

Megan with the boys playing with their new action men

I decided that before I left, I wanted to get on one of these topiary birds, and what better day than Christmas day!!

Probably my favourite picture from the whole time I have been here. Sharing a joke with little Chris.