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I have just arrived in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos after crossing the boarder from Nongkhai. It is great to be back in the world of internet and shops, a big change from a dust track and cows! But I now have to learn a new language and get my head around the new currency..kip! I can be a millionaire with about $40 in my pocket! I am meeting my sister Emma tomorrow morning at the airport and although I was upset to leave the orphange I am excited about the next part of my adventure.
The last few weeks have been an amazing experience I will never forget. The staff and children of the orphanges made me feel very welcome and I became part of a very special family.
I have had some very memorable moments with all of the children but one or two have really made a mark. A little boy called Phi Phi has been attached to my side (unless he is playing with animals or climbing trees) for the past week. He is gorgeous and going to be a complete heartbreaker when he is older. Like alot of the children he likes to sit on my lap and I have to cuddle him, if I take my hands away he quickly puts them back around him. If i kiss him on the cheek or head he rubs it off in true little boy fashion and then gives me a little sly kiss on my arm when no-one is looking. My most cherished memory of him is how excited he got when the children had a mini Songkhram (water festival). He was soooo excited, jumping up and down and flapping his arms around. Phi Phi is part of the naughty boy gang which always seemed to be pickeling about. Boys will be boys!
For my last few days at Sarnelli the children have been attending summer school in the mornings so I decided to help out with a mini project. Marita and I sanded down, primed and painted the outside play equipment at the House of Hope...my DIY skills where put to the test. We regularly had extra little helpers whom seemed to be fasinated with the paintbrush and how much mess they could make!
Marita and I decided to treat some of the girls to some nail varnish which cause a stir at Sarnelli. They loved putting on a colour, taking it off, putting on another colour and taking that off...etc, etc, etc. The little boys didn't want to be left out so all joined in. They all still have the remainders of the varnish a week later!
Just like in the weeks before there has been a party or two. Father Chuck had been in Nongkhai for three months and a big celebration was held to say thank you for all the work he had done. The children were very excited as they were going to eat pizza and ice cream! I have never seen so many dirty, chocolatey faces! Some of the girls and boys had learnt dances and he was wished good luck Thai style. The day after a big sponser from Bangkok visited so the children all got together and had lunch at Sarnelli. It is lovely to see how well all of the children interact, like a big family.
On my last day I brought the children water pistols as a leaving gift (so they were ready for Songkhram). Obviously I was the main target and ended up absolutely soaked through. They were all really excited, including the older girls and it is obvious they love Songkhram...five days of water fights! We had group photos before I left...and I made a promise to myself that I will return next year.
I have updated the last few journals with photos so take a look. There is just a small selection of the hundreds the children took!
Love to you all xxx
previous travel blog entry
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