In the past few week, we had done teaching, painting and many other intense things, so this was the day that we started the day in a more leisurely way. Today was the day of the AMAZING RACE.

Immediately after breakfast we were assigned teams (Mine was Jasmine, Hayley and Myself) and given the task of choosing a group name. After a VERY brief discussion, we settled on the name “losers”, in hopes of ironically winning. Next, each group was assigned an ICC student, before one-by-one, embarking on our majestic tuk-tuk adventure.

Each group was given their list of tasks and our first task was going to the markets to exchange money and buy ice-tea and rice. This sounded simple enough, but that was a wrong observation. Throughout this challenge, I experienced regrettably eccentric smells aromas that I would have loved to un-smell. The evil stenches and strange sights (such as chickens being slaughtered and pig’s heads), made the challenge considerably harded. To top that, our ICC student was not permitted to assist us at the market, no matter how hard we begged. Eventually we overcame this challenge and moved on to painting. My only comment on this is that there were kittens. After painting, we moved onto rock smashing, then flower folding, dancing and Cambodian historical quiz.

It took 1 or 2 days (I can’t remember which) for them to process the results and decide the winners, but the losers lived up to their title and weren’t even given a mention.

After a lunch, which was good, we were taken to be introduced to our sponsor children. I waited with anticipation to meet Thao. We were given a set of questions to ask and answer (Favourite Colour, Animal and Food), however it was difficult to maintain a conversation due to language barriers. When I ran out of things to ask, I resorted to taking a bottle, drinking most of it and then bottle flipping. This attracted attention and before long there were multiple people willing to take the challenge. Meeting my sponsor child gave me an even more personal connection with Cambodia, and is an experience that you don’t often get.

Later in the day, we ran another hygiene program, this time for the Light of Hope children. This time, I got to take the lead. I taught tooth brushing, running them through vocabulary, songs and finally getting them to try it themselves, I found it strange but good seeing the faces of children who found it amusing and enjoyable just to brush their teeth, a sight which I never expected to see. I’m still not sure whether or not they already knew how to brush their teeth and wash their hands, but it’s still good to have a refresher.

At the end of the day, after we had eaten an excellent dinner (I will miss ICC food), we went up for our bonfire night, with our marshmallows that had experienced a journey from Australia. The children were amazed by the marshmallows and my two packets were gone in no time. As well as marshmallows, there were people roasting damper which we were warned not to eat. I had to resist my urge to try it, and test my immune system, but I eventually did. By the end of the night I had eaten so many marshmallows I had started to feel sick, but it was worth it.

At the end of the day, we went back on the truck, back to the guesthouse, and just like the previous night, some ICC students sneaked on. We had another loud journey back, full of singing, but we eventually arrived back home. I will never forget today, just like every other day of this awesome trip.

I have been constantly amazed at this trip. I have loved the feeling that I’m actually doing something, and not sitting down idly at home. Even moreso, I feel as if I’m making a difference, even if it doesn’t feel like much. I would love to return to Cambodia. No matter how bad the place itself is, I can see God working, and I can see the happiness of the people there.