Sak Saum Family Reunion

At Sak Saum's facility in Saang.

So, during one of my last posts, I mentioned I had been working more with Sak Saum. I thought I might give you a little more insight into the people there. Why? Because I enjoy them, and I think you would too. :)

As you by now know, I got to work on their Fall Catalog (awesome). What I did not tell you, is that I have also been teaching an English class there (also awesome). 2 days a week, I get to go and spend time with some very special people and help them learn a language that will help them grow.

Today, though, I got to help with a different project - a party! Jess and Theavy came up with an idea to have a party out in Saang to bring together the different Sak Saum guys and gals from Phnom Penh and Saang. Unity is good.

That pot is rice... and so is the one behind it... and the one to the left...

So what's in a Cambodian shin-dig? Well, for starters, rice... lots, and lots, of rice! We served a huge meal. We had Green Curry, rice, fried chicken (I got to hand that out), rice, and some sort of soup with lots of green leafy things in it.

...and rice.

Afterwards, once everyone had eaten so much that they were beginning to slip into rice-comas, we played games!

Explanations take a little while... translation and all that.

We started with Pictionary. Jess made a bunch of index cards with Theavy that had words in English and Khmai, and the players had to draw them while others guessed.

In and of itself, that sounds normal, but when you get a bunch of game-loving Cambodians in the mix, it goes to a whole new level. They all laughed and teased, and occasionally heckled the other team. I was surprised and delighted by how lively they were when it came to playing games.

Preparing for a game. That's baby powder.

It was also fun watching some of the preparations that went into these games. For instance, one game involved the use of balloons filled with baby powder. Watching them try to achieve this goal taught me something. There is a rule that is universal. It transcends boundaries and crosses even the thickest walls. That rule is 'When people are given balloons and baby powder to play with, they will inevitably begin coating each other with said baby powder.'

It's true! Ask anyone...

See?

After Pictionary was over, we all stood and prepared for the next game - three legged balloon races!

Don't worry - they didn't have far to go.

What's a three-legged balloon race? Well, remember the balloons I mentioned? We tie two people together at the leg, and send them running with a balloon balanced between the backs of their hands.


The object is to put the balloon in a trash bag, and come bag and tag the next person.


The reality, of course, is that everyone has a blast laughing at each other and having the balloons explode while trying to stuff them into the bag.


Oh, and someone got the powder balloons mixed up in there. Awesome! :)

We also tied their arms. More fun that way.

This is as hard as it looks.

By this point, the guys and girls were having so much fun, they didn't want to stop.





This worked out well, being that we had one more thing we could do with those strips of cloth.








What? Hey, I had nothing to do with all this. Just because I find it amusing to watch people stagger around with little powdery explosions going off, does not mean I planned any of this. All credit goes to Theavy and Jessica.

Classic. :)

What else can we do with strips of cloth? Blindfolds!!!

Yup!

Yes! We blindfolded them, and then gave balloons to pairs of two and sent them wandering around looking for a rubber-band clothesline to hang it on. What was the second person's job? To pop the balloon, of course! Don't you just love the smell of all that baby powder?

It's fun to stay at the YMC... oh, nevermind.

Finally, we ended with a 'lucky' raffle (remember, they love 'lucky' here, remember? lucky mart, lucky burger, lucky pho...). Several people won some cool gifts, and then we all chowed down on Cambodian snax and cookies. No, I didn't eat anything with 'Lobster' or 'Seaweed' on the front.

Yes, it was that much fun!

In the end, several things occurred. First, we all had a blast. Second, several people got smoother skin from all the powder. Third, and most important, everyone came together. Yes, these men and women, who equally share a number of tragedies and hardships in common, had the chance to fellowship and be with their 'family' from another area. It was heartwarming to see the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood being renewed as they all laughed and played.

After all, we're stronger together than we are apart, even if all we're trying to lift is each other's spirits.