April 5 update

As usual we had our monthly Skype visit with Soporn and SoPha. Hilary did the visit on her computer at school. Despite a bad connection the visit was pretty much as usual. We struggle to keep the conversation going because they are fine with answering questions through Yoen. Hilary was prepared with a list of questions so she was able to keep things going. Soporn signed something to Hilary. For some reason they thought she could understand and no one bothered to translate.

Hilary said she looked really good. As you can see she gets prettier and prettier. SoPha has bought her new clothes and if you look closely her nails are long like SoPha's. Soporn lost her mother when she was just three years old. I am thankful she has a mother figure in her life who respects and loves her. She is really enjoying her life at school and her home with SoPha and Dara and the other students. In fact, Charlie Dittmeier, the director of the school emailed me to say "Soporn seems to be very happy and fitting in well. She is one of the more animated students and more outgoing and seems to be right in the middle of everything. I'm pleased it has worked out so well for her."

The Cambodian New Year falls in the middle of April each year. It is not usually the same date from year because they base it on the weather. Typically as long as the weather is the way it is supposed to be there is no farming to be done this time of year. Therefore, the exact date of the new year is when there is nothing to do. The country shuts down for about two weeks. People in the city travel to the countryside to visit relatives. There are parades and celebrations throughout the country.

We received word that SoPha is not allowing Soporn to go home for the new year. At first I was upset by this. However, after speaking to Yoen this is not a bad thing. You see Yoen keeps in touch with SoPha, Dara and Soporn. Soporn told them that when she lived in the village she was beaten and pinched by her aunt and uncle. She hates them and has no intentions of going back. SoPha does not want her to return because she is worried about what will happen to her if she does. She has never gone home since starting school in January. Hilary and I were afraid she would be home sick. Boy were we wrong! Hopefully her uncle will not be angry about this. They will let me know when he comes to get her or "if" he comes to get her. I have a feeling it may be a showdown because she has made it perfectly clear she will not go. If she stays in the city, SoPha and Dara will happily include her in their festivities and visits to the temples.

There are no norms put into place in Cambodia to distinguish between discipline and abuse of children. Her aunt and uncle would have been young when the Khmer Rouge devasted the country. Most likely they were raised with terrible abuse all around for years. For a whole generation to be raised in this environment is devasting. I really can't blame them. The fact that they survived is a miracle in itself and I'm sure the damage is lifelong. It may take a few generations to get things in a better place.

Thank you all for your interest and support. Have a wonderful Easter!