Diary

2007-05-28 - Sopheak learnt to walk (and other things achieved)

Volunteer work here in Phnom Penh is hard. Not only have we got used to the rough circumstances of Cambodia, but we have also seen and learnt to tolarate the way the children are treated in the orphanage. It has not always been easy. Many volunteers are shocked realizing the degree of the disabledness of many children. Underpaid caregivers do not always have time or possibilities to guarantee anything but the basic needs of the children. Yet, the most difficult thing to accept has been the limity of what you can do. Even though you can never help everyone or be sufficient to everything, you can still do exactly what you can do. And that really is a lot and enough.

2007-05-02 - Volunteer's feelings

It’s a quarter to ten on a Monday morning. I’m lying on the sofa of our sizeable living room and pondering. Why am I not at work? I have a headache and I feel dizzy. Still I can’t stand missing work, because for the first time in my life I feel like I’m doing something meaningful every day.

2007-03-14 - Getting used to the daily life

I have now worked in the orphanage for a month. In the beginning I felt confused and unsure about everything. How should you carry seriously handicapped children, to whom should you give attention and how much, can you really ignore a crying child? The greatest concern was, however, what I can give to these children in these three months that suddenly felt like a twinkling of an eye. It also felt cruel that we are supposed to concentrate on the sponsored children, while I would like to share my attention and love to everyone.

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