Dancing in the Rain

Dance in the rain. This is what I have been shown how to do so far in Cambodia. First it was literal. While I was still doing manual labor in the heat and the kids were just chilling on the stage it started to rain. At first the rain was light, like a drizzle. Just seeing the rain and thinking about the temperature dropping made me  so happy. My team and I decided that to escape the heat we could  crawl from under the stage and stand in the rain for a few moments. The second I felt the cool drops I knew that a few moments just wouldn’t cut it, it seemed that the other student volunteers had come to the same conclusion. Then the rain got harder and soon everyone looked like they had just jumped out of a pool. The kids started to join us in the rain too. Among others there were games of soccer, volleyball, tag, and monkey in the middle. Just playing with the kids was so much fun and the rain made it even better. I started to think about this too.  Not only were the citizens in Cambodia literally dancing in the rain they were also figuratively dancing and have been for a long time.

It started in 1975 with the Khmer Rouge. When Pol Pot took over and killed 3 million Cambodians it was obvious the storm had come. Many of the 4 million people who weren’t killed are still among us. These people have  learned how to live with what happened to them and their country. I have seen and met survivors of the Khmer Rouge and they are not only surviving, but thriving. Even though the “rain” is present, they are dancing.  The Cambodians I have spent the most time with have proven they can do the same. These kids we’re working with do not have hygienic living conditions. At the orphanage, there is a kitchen, a bathroom for the kids, a bathroom for the adults, a stage, a small farm, and two one room dormitories. The one room buildings surprised me the most. I walked in and within a matter of seconds was significantly hotter than  I was when I was standing outside. The building was made of wood and scrap metal and inside there were several bunk beds and mosquito nets. On either side of the door there are wooden cubbies holding the kids clothes. The girls’ one room living space fits 18 people and the boys’ fits 10. This was crazy to me, as sometimes I feel like my room is small and I don’t have to share with 17 other people. Seeing this made me realize just how privileged I am. As you can tell the living conditions are not ideal yet the kids all seem so happy. They smile and play as if everything were beyond wonderful. This is life and this is all they know. Despite their imperfect conditions they are perfect children who inspire me to dance in the rain.