9th Day – Handover Ceremony and Checking into Ree
Hotel
Today is the day of the Handover Ceremony. We woke early to
help prepare sandwiches for the students of Bak Pka Primary School (approximately 240 students in total). While making our way to the school, the students were in good spirits and practiced their performance item
enthusiastically in the bus.
Morning sandwich making
Once we reached the primary school, we were welcomed warmly by
a gathering of students, teachers, Principal and villagers. The village chief
and commune chief were also present to witness this important occasion. We
officially handed over the classroom to the school in a simple ceremony. First was the ribbon-cutting, after which a
symbolic key was handed over to the Principal, who opened the door and entered
the brand new classroom that is furnished with little wooden tables and chairs. It was really a special moment as we sat in the classroom we helped built and
thought about all the hard work that went into it.
The classroom we helped built
The students who were present with us during this ceremony
We then proceeded to serve breakfast which comprised an egg
sandwich and a cup of hot Milo. We also distributed a bag of goodies to the
students which consisted of 2 kg packet of rice, a mosquito net, stationery set
and a pair of slippers. It was really wonderful to see the smiles on their
faces as they received these gifts.
It was an emotional farewell with both our students and the
children shedding tears. These were children who were with us every day for the
past 7 days. Despite the language barrier, they have grown close to one another
and were very sad when the time came to say goodbye.
Saying Goodbye
After lunch, we then checked into our hotel, the Ree
Hotel. Our students were really excited
about this!
We then went on to visit Artisans Angkor. It is a Cambodian
social business whose purpose is to create job opportunities for young people
living in rural areas, while reviving at the same time traditional Khmer
craftsmanship. As we were brought around, we had the opportunity to observe in
action craftsmanship like stone and wood carving, painting on statues and on
silk, lacquering, and silver plating. The patience and intense focus of the
craftsman was amazing.
The intricate work of a craftsman at Artisans Angkor
For dinner, we were treated to a performance which showcased
traditional Khmer dances, depicting the daily lives of the Khmer people in
different eras are performed. The costumes and dancers were beautiful and
elegant. With that performance, we ended our eventful day and returned happily
back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.
