"TODAY IS FOR LEARNING; TOMORROW IS FOR CHANGING"
Given the task of heading into our surrounding community to identify social, health, environmental and economic issues, Team Polar Express went north, with a primary focus on two substantially different lanes. Down our first path, we entered a slum area that was home to many families and completely hidden from the main road (across the street from Liger).
As we entered the area, we wanted to ensure that we would not be perceived as "invading," so we worked closely with our Khmer speakers to introduce Liger and ourselves. At the top of the lane, on the main road, were some new developments (housing construction), as well as a more established business.
Further down the lane on the righthand side, we first interacted with two young girls, who were sitting outside this dwelling. They were eating a lotus fruit and were immediately receptive to us. After the younger girl summoned her grandmother (age 45), we were invited into the home.
Here is a view of the lane, as well as the water container for the home we entered. The house stood on thin stilts over stagnant, brackish water, which appeared to be about three to four feet deep. There were ducks swimming in the water, which was also apparently being used to wash the clothes that were observed on the lefthand clothesline.
Inside the home, Lita, one of our house parents, began to ask the woman about the health of her children. From the interview we found out that her children had contracted Dengue Fever and diarrhea, as well as more common fevers. She said that because the clinic was too expensive, she typically boiled water and added herbs that she either gathered or grew, in order to offer them relief. We also learned that the youngest child was her grand-daughter, and that there were six people living in the home. This family uses the pond water to bathe, as well as rain water. During the dry season, they buy their water from the neighborhood for three thousand riels (about seventy-five cents).
Here is the water container for the home, which costs from ten to twenty dollars. This particular one probably costs about twelve dollars. Below is an image of the firewood that had been collected to cook with.
A few meters down the road, we saw this a little shop (tob in Khmer), which was run by an elderly woman. She was the head of the family, as well as the grandmother to the children in the house. This shop also served as their home. Inside, we saw at least three small children, including a baby, a toddler and a child between the ages of 8-10. The grandmother claimed that they earn about ten dollars a day on her shop. However, there was some confusion, as the Khmer staff at Liger supposed it was too high an estimate, and perhaps the woman was saying that 10 dollars was the total income for all of her family members (some of whom were not present). It was predicted that most families in these areas are making between $2.00-$2.50 per day.
During our time in the slum, we saw children all over. This four month old baby girl, who was born prematurely at seven months, was taking a nap in a hammock while her mother prepared lunch. She only weighs four kg (about 8 pounds). According to our Khmer staff, seven months (premature) is a lucky number and means that you are clever.
After we left the slum, we walked back to the main road, turned right and headed toward our next destination: the road bordering the local pagoda. Here is an image of the trash on the side of the road, with the contrasting image of a Cambodian mausoleum in the distance. We learned that these are constructed by wealthy families and serve to store the bones of their deceased family members. These individuals believe that they will experience a "better" afterlife.
This is the barbed wire that ringed the entire pagoda. It was a striking contrast to the level of security and protection that was missing from the slum community.
At the end of the pagoda lane we were shocked to see a huge water source that was very clean and full of extremely large fish of all kinds. It was striking to us that only steps away from a community struggling to survive, there was a water source teeming with fish that were not being used for survival purposes. Instead, the area belonged to the monks, who did not eat the fish. It is known that to steal anything from the monks will bring very bad luck.
Outside the monk's "pond," we found a woman with a small cart, who was selling sugarcane drinks as well as different treats to throw into the fish.
Each sugarcane drink was 25 cents and was refreshing and delicious!
DELICIOUS!!!
After our neighborhood exploration, we ended up with a lot of questions. Who sponsors or funds the local temple? Is the government involved?
