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Hello, goodbye – Cambodia

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Sharon
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/></a>This is a bit over due. I wanted this to be posted a week ago, but as things go, I am not able to put any pictures in here, which is sad, so I debated not posting at all. I’ve decided to post and you’ll just have to wait for the pictures until I’m back in my homeland. In the meantime, you can learn a little about what my journey held.</p> <p>I am in love. Unfortunately I left my love behind after two weeks of meeting new faces, new thing, new foods and then…sadly…saying goodbye. In my short time there, I said way to many goodbye’s and quite frankly I’m tired of them. They suck. I can’t wait for the day when we are all together and this word, “goodbye” will be banished forever.<br /> Cambodia was full. There is so much hope among darkness and joy in the midst of emptiness. There is also corruption and evil that makes my skin crawl and I cringe each time I think on the history of this country and what these people have been through – and are still going through.</p> <p>My trip started off with twenty-four hours on planes and in airports. I arrived at the Phonm Penh airport exhausted and exhilarated for what the next few weeks held. Stepping out of the doors I was immediately hit with the familiar, humid, 34 degree heat. Scanning the crowd of welcoming family and friends I was elated to see a sign with my name and “welcome Sharon Barnes!” on it in big letters held by a group of some of the most wonderful people in Cambodia – partly because they came out to the airport at one in the morning to get me – but mostly cause they are just awesome! I don’t have to tell you how great seeing your name on a sign is after traveling 24 hours through foreign countries where you don’t know a soul. It is glorious. We jumped in a Tuk-tuk and I was immediately transported back to my time in Laos with the smells, streets, heat and motorbikes skimming through and around us. I spent my first few days at an orphanage with 30 amazing kids who have hearts bigger than I thought possible and infectious joy that never failed bring a smile to my face. I got to just be with them, we painted and drew and attempted to teach me some Kmher(didn’t work very well!). We learned to ride bikes, ate a lot of rice and made pizza (that never did actually cook fully in our little oven). We jumped, laughed, prayed and sung together. Watching them you just kind of get this unexplainable feeling that these kids hold the heart of God. I think I left pieces of myself with them.</p> <p>After a couple days I jumped on a bus and travelled five hours to Sihnoukville which is west of Phonm Penh and right on the ocean. A glorious day of a massage and pedicure ensued before heading up to a school/orphanage with about 100 kids. And for three jam packed days I photographed them learning, drawing and having fun. When we sat down to draw pictures I had a five year old girl who looked at me with a blank stare on her face and threatening tears. I quickly asked my translator to tell her not to worry, if she doesn’t want to draw she doesn’t have to. I was then told “she doesn’t know how”. I was shocked – she’s five…drawing is like sleeping for five year olds! With a breaking heart and a helplessness inside, we sat together and learned how to draw.</p> <p>On two of the days at the school I taught a photography class with cameras that were donated to us. The kids LOVED it. They were overjoyed to get a camera in their hands and create their own images. We learned composition, colour, point of view and then of course, just went a little crazy. After mastering technique and choosing our favorites, each photographer learned how to download their pictures and upload them to a site where they can share with other kids in Canada. We were all pretty stoked.</p> <p>I also have to tell you about Nan – I swear this little cutie was bitten by the smile bug. From the moment I saw him he was grinning with a huge smile missing all his front teeth. He’s an orphan who lives at the school with his sister. He’s four years old and is waiting for a sponsor so he can go to school. This little guy literally has nothing, yet the world is full of possibilities and a joyful place. I can’t describe the number of times I longed to scoop one of these beautiful kids up and keep them safe.</p> <p>Back on a bus and back to Phonm Penh, the plan was to fly out the next morning after I arrived. 6.30am and my new friend from the orphanage, one of the ten year olds and me jumped in their truck for my ride to the airport. Thinking my flight was at 8:20, we stopped for one last iced coffee and BoBo(traditional Kmher breakfast). An hour later, I had missed my 8am flight and was back in the truck on my way back to the girls house! It was weird missing a flight – I was so prepared to get on and go to China. My mind was set and everything was in order. I was surprised at myself for not double checking the time on my ticket and for making an easily avoidable mistake. But usually these things work out and often for the better, which was true in this case. I arrived back at the house, was greeted by surprised but happy faces and “what happened?”. It turned out I couldn’t get a flight for three days, which was actually amazing, because I got to do some more sightseeing and of course more bonding with awesome kids I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do.</p> <p>One of these days a few hours were spent at the slums. Cardboard houses with five kids and a single mom. A grandma who has lived through unspeakable war and now makes a home in a river of garbage. Family is redefined into a village of children wondering if dad will come home today, if there will be food today. A daughter who is slapped with a price tag so that her father can numb the pain of a life unspent with a bottle that will be empty again tomorrow.</p> <p>Cambodia sits in amazing glory while cradling hatred and pain. It was hot and sticky and tiring. There were moments to live for and moments that kill your heart. There were thousands of reasons to run away and forget – millions to stay and love just one baby. I had only a glimpse, a look, a second glance of life in another side of the world. Even seeing it, I can not be in it. I can not fix it (as if I could even try), or fully experience it. There are so many reasons I never want to go back home, and yet so many reasons why I must. Is it enough that we know they are here? Is it ok for us to go back “home” and live our lives as if nothing happened? Resume our responsibilities and jump back in to our cubicles? I have no answers – only questions. These things haunt my sleep and my waking moments.</p> <p>“The power to help others depends on a trampled life.”. A broken life. An open, messy, dirty, trampled life. Am I willing to be trampled? Are we willing to go hungry, break apart, take less, let go of comfort…in order to help others? Even if I can say yes today, I know tomorrow I will have to say yes again. Maybe this is one key…one small motion… towards changing the world.</p> <div style=

Posted in Vision | Leave a reply

an extra few days.

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After succumbing to exhaustion, not thinking straight and imagining the time of my flight was different than it really was, I’ve been blessed with three extra days in beautiful Cambodia. Below is the palace of the king right beside the Mekong River.

April 29, 2012 by Sharon
Posted in Photography Leave a reply

happy faces

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I have been neglecting you, dear photo followers, and I am deeply sorry. You see, things got a little crazy… there were kids everywhere and they needed me to hug them and help them draw pictures. And how could I say no to that? I’m sure you wouldn’t have be able to. And to make up for my tardiness, here are eight photos with some of their lovely little faces.

[inpost_gallery post_id=707]

April 27, 2012 by Sharon
Posted in Photography 2 Replies

My ace photography students!

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April 24, 2012 by Sharon
Posted in Photography Leave a reply

cambodia.

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Sharon
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(click to see larger)

Posted in Photography | Leave a reply

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Sharon Barnes

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