Sot start technical school again

Jeg har fået en mail fra Saru som fortæller at Sot er kommet til Phnom Penh lørdag den 27/12 for at starte på teknisk skole, efter at skolens afdeling i syden lukkede på grund af manglende tilslutning. Vi håber at Sot får en god oplevelse på skolen. Skolen ligger desværre ret langt fra Saru's tempel men vi håber at de kan se hinanden alligevel.

På fotoet ses Sot foran Saru's tempel.

School results / Vutha

We got today a long Christmas mail from Borin, this is just a short part telling about the children, Ratha and Chanty:

You asked me the meaning o the names of the children.
In our language, Ratha means state or country and Chanthy means flower.

Now, the boy passed his exam to finish his level "beginner" and continue level one. He told me his teacher said she still needs to spend some more days to finish his old text book then they will start their level 1. You know, they had one week holiday after examination but now he starts his class as normal. He got number 7 among his 21 classmates, and there were 2 children who have to repeat level beginner again. For his public class, he got number 9 among his 25 classmates.

He told me he has to buy a marker and a hand board and maybes a new text book soon. I will give him money to buy.

I can see he is getting well with his studies, and both of them are ok.

Christmas 2008

From the left: Orly, Mette, Lene and grandmother.

Claus, Lene and Orly

Grandmother Mette and Claus

From the left: Hans, Lene, Anders and Mette.

Mail from Borin about the children

Dear Orly & Claus
Thank you for all your mails. I’m sorry that I’m late to reply.

I bought the biggest toothpaste for the children already. When I asked them about brushing teeth they told me they have just finished using their toothpaste that I bought for them last time, and their brushes are still ok for them. I also bought them some shampoo for washing their hair, some cake as well.

I paid for the boy’s transporting for this month already and after keeping money for other two months the money remains is 9.5 USD.

In fact the girl still wants the toy car but her aunt blamed her with this so I talked to her aunt already and I also ask the aunt to buy this toy car instead of me and I will pay her, so today they went to buy already while I was helping work at the hospital full of the morning. I told them that I have only 9.5 usd for her toy car but this afternoon they showed me this toy car and their aunt said it cost 14 usd. She said the girl loves this one so she can pay her money to complete my 9.5 usd to be 14 but I decided to pay all 14 usd. This toy car has remote control with rechargeable battery. Both of them love it so much.
For money of Hans’s parents, I spent it to buy medical instruments such as a very nice stethoscope, gloves, face masks, light to see the hole of throat like to find sore throat, tongue pressure, I bought one more doctor’s shirt so I can change when my old one is being dirty. I spent this money mostly on my English study, my English books, for medicine books. I have just made a copy of 7 medicine books from my friend that I have to pay about 25 usd. I can take photos of these things for them if they want to see.
You can put my mail that you want to your blog. For me, and also some of Cambodian people don't blame so much to those teachers. We can not only blame them because the condition of our country nowadays makes them to do that. If the government give them reasonable salary, I think they will not do like this. Our countries are very different, but we have sentiment the same. I can see your mind. Little stones make mountains, Little steps can cover miles, Little acts of loving-kindness give the world smiles. I am very please that I can join my little help with you. I am happy that I can do such a thing, and I am also getting experience from you, and from my work.
Finally, I hope you will have a wonderful time on Christmas Day and the New Year. I pray my best for you all to be always happiness and success with all your work. Have a nice time to USA. I used to know the state of USA called Florida, but I now I know more from you. Very thanks from the children to all of you.
Best regards,
Borin

Hello from Borin in Cambodia

Dear Orly & Claus
Very wonderful about your blog, I am very glad to see it even though I don't understand what the text mean. I continued to send this blog to a good friend, only one. I hope you don't mind about this.
Thank you very much for everything!!!!
About the children, thanks for all your idea, without you I can not do it as well. Maybe you feel happy with your help to the children; I also very happy with what I can do for them too. I can see their smiles. It makes me smile too.
You don't have to worry that the children speak so much about their sponsors in Denmark and this thing make his teacher wants to get more money from him. They don't do like that.
I'm sure the teacher asks him for 5 usd every month, not because he knows this boy has the foreigner sponsor, but this teacher demands 5 usd from all of his students in grade 5. Even though he know this boy is not a son of the rich family and he is staying at the pagoda like this, but this teacher still needs him to pay this 5 usd. I've already recommended the boy to talk to his teacher to get free of paying this 5 usd, but no result.
Anyways, his aunt paid already, and maybe I will not pay instead, I just keep the rest of the money for more drink next time.
Have a nice time!!
Best regards,
Borin

Hilsen fra Sot

Gennem Saru har vi fået en hilsen fra Sot med en god og en dårlig nyhed. Den dårlige er at den afdeling af tekniske skole som han gik på i byen Sihanouville har lukket fra den ene dag til den anden på grund af manglenede tilslutning. Eleverne har fået tilbud om at fortsætte undervisningen i Phnom Penh som ligger ca. 4 timers bus kørsel fra landsbyen. Det er lidt mere "bøvlet" og koster flere penge at studere i hovedstaden. Den gode nyhed er at han allerede har lært så meget på skolen at han kan tjene lidt ekstra ved at reparere maskiner i landsbyen. planen er at han arbejder i landsbyen i en uge eller to og tager derefter til Phnom Penh for at studere videre på tekniske skole i håb om at han kan afslutte studierne der.

Indkøb med Chanthy og Rotha

Borin har sendt en mail i går hvor han fortæller at han har været på indkøb med "de små". Det blev som I ser på fotos til sukker, kakao drik og 4 dåser mælk. Derudover en is til Vanthy. De synes at det var lidt dyrt med is til begge børn!! En kop kakao lavet på vand, med lidt mælk i er deres aftensmad. Så lidt kan man nøjes med i Cambodja.

Deres skole uniform er helt nye og er købt for penge som vi har modtaget i donation. Vanthy er fin med hendes ny armbånd og nye øreringe.