Today is the start of the Beijing Olympics Games, but my family and I were in Community Outreach Services-Immanuel (COSI), an orphanage located in the Ang Snoul district of the Kandal Province in Cambodia. COSI is an initiative of the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) of Singapore and is 45 minute drive from the center of Phnom Penh smack in the middle of a farming community.
An 8 km easy run from COSI to two surrounding villages in the Toul Prich province.
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As I was setting out, Vuth - our sponsored kid at COSI - came up and wanted to join me. I was a little concerned as he was in his jeans and slippers. But he said no problem, and seeing that he is a strong 17 year-old who loves and plays soccer (daily), I agreed.
As it turned out, Vuthy is a strong young man as well as a good guide. Our conversation (easy run, remember?) centered on life at COSI and his school. Vuthy aspires to be a lawyer, and his grades are pretty good. I encouraged him to study hard and to aim to pass grade 12 (high school) exam so as to get into a good university.
The run took us down dirt roads surrounded by padi (rice) fields. It had been raining for the three days we were there, and the padi plants were growing well. There was a light breeze and it was a good run.
We were greeted by some dogs that merely barked at us. At a village, several children waved and cheered us on. It would be quite a sight - a middle aged guy in bright luminous Passion Run singlet and a young Khmer in slippers pacing side by side.
This is Cambodian rural heartland. This is a farming community where the friendly Khmer villagers derive their livelihood from tiling the land. They take care of the land, that in turns take care of them. Nature and man - working together in partnership.
Earlier in the day, we were in Phnom Penh, and had lunch at the Foreign Correspondence Club (FCC) restaurant. It overlooks the Mekong River where the Singapore dragon boat team tragedy occurred last year.
View of the National Museum from Cafe Fresco at FCC:
See also:
COSI Angel Program 2008
1 comment:
awesome pictures and scenic run! keep it up : ))
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