Make it last forever

About two weeks ago, I embarked on a journey to Cambodia, and over the next few weeks I would get the experience of a life time.  Nothing can truly describe Cambodia's beauty and peacefulness.  I remember stepping off the plane, my first step into the thriving country, the humid air, the joyful atmosphere, and my heart wanting to explode of excitement.  From that day forth I had a spark of inspiration to give everyday 110% and give it my all.
Looking back to the first day we met the kids, it seemed like yesterday, because our time was limited and we had to make every second count. The thought of never seeing the kids again makes you feel down but at the same time pushed me to offer the most I could.  Everyday I think about how the kids have influenced me and how I was able to make a difference in their lives.  They taught me that your time is limited and to do what you want to do because you may not have tomorrow.  I love how the children would teach you such amazing life lessons without even realizing it.  Some of the most incredible learning experiences are the most unexpected.
On this trip I have grown so much due to the situations that I am put in.  At times I can be very shy, but this trip forced me to dive right in and get to know people. I'm finding it easier to put myself out there and not care what others think.  If I continued to care about what others thought of me, I would not have the courage to experience the new things that I have on this trip.  I now realize that breaking out of your shell is not scary but inspiring, because you are able to do things that you thought impossible.  I will miss Cambodia, but will never forget the memories that were made.

We leave Cambodia

All of our hearts filled with joy

To never forget 

Mission statement

My mission and everything I do is to inspire a world that listens and respects one another. This mission statement was written with the help of several soul searching questions.  I will explain how I plan to pursue this statement everyday and what each part represents.

The first part "to inspire a world" is meant to show that this world we live in is not perfect and to change it you need to inspire people to make the change.  If you can inspire people around you they will follow and inspire others around them, all it takes is one person.  Inspiration is like a virus because it spreads from person to person.  Everyday somewhere in the world someone is inspired to do something new.

The next part of my mission statement is "listens" which to me means hear what someone has to say before replying.  It's not easy, I still struggle with this everyday but I try my best. If even one person begins to listen they will inspire others around them to do the same. Listening is a very important skill to improve because with advancing technology people don't appreciate everything someone has to say.  All you have to do is start and everyone will be inspired to do the same.

The third part of my statement is "respect" because people tend to judge others too quickly. I really want people to respect others for who they are and not just appearance because we usually judge a book by its cover.  Before you judge you should get to know the person that way you know their story and can respect who they are.  When you hear their story, listen and absorb every word because they will appreciate you for truly hearing what they have to say.

The final part of my mission statement is "each other" because you need support to pursue your dreams and goals.  Your family will always support you no matter what and your friends will be with you the entire time.  In order to pursue my mission I need support from my friends and family.  When you put these four parts together it makes up my mission statement and each one supports the other.  Without each section supporting the other my mission statement would not flow smoothly.   This is my mission statement and what I hope to inspire in this world.

The power of imagination

Imagination is a very powerful skill.  Some people have it more than others, but everyone possess this skill somewhere inside of them.  The kids at the orphanage contain this skill unlike anyone else.  They all have their own world's specific to them.  No words can be used to describe their world's because they are so complex.  When you see the children playing with sticks you wonder if there is a castle and they are battling over who gets the gold.  I find it so intriguing that a person's imagination can take you places and show you things you thought unimaginable.   Everyday I see the kids I'm inspired again and again because they don't let anything get them down.
The two best parts of the day are arriving and leaving because these moment's surround you with happiness.  When you arrive at the orphanage the kids appear one by one.  When they come out one by one you have time to give a proper hello.  I enjoy this because you can strengthen your bond with that one person.  My other favorite part of the day is leaving and not because of the goodbyes, but because of the hugs.  Today when we left Heang came up to me and gave me a huge hug. When you hug the kids you feel as if your life is complete.  Each hug is strong and full of love so you never want to let go.  You also feel the positive attitude and wild imaginations bouncing off of the kids.  With only a few days left I want to make an impact on our lives that will never be forgotten.

The past few days have been very exciting, we finished the garden, reorganized the travel stage and have gone outside my comfort zone many times.  I'm very proud of these accomplishments because they took dedication, teamwork, and problem solving.  Sure everyone complained now and then but no one stopped working.  We started out as an uncoordinated team, but now we work together and get done what needs to get done.  All our team needed was a more motivation and a push to help us along.
Completing the garden was a very fulfilling moment because we finally had something to show for days of hard work.  This garden took dedication which we did not have in the beginning.   As each day went by we started to form stronger bonds with each other.  These bonds let us work more as a team instead of as individual's.  With stronger bonds we were able to complete the garden with time to spare.
Next we reorganized where the traveling stage is kept.  Instead of jumping in right away we came up with a plan.  This plan made everyone work fast and efficiently.  First, we had to remove all the metal and wood which took some creative thinking.  While removing all of the stuff we ran into many ant colonies.  This called for some creative problem solving ideas.  We decided to shake each board off then douse it in water.  This method was very effective in making the ants disperse.  After all the wood and metal was off we had to level the storage area.  Every time we saw a colony of ants you had to think of something happy and push on.  When putting all the stuff back it was very similar to a puzzle because each piece had to be put in just right.  As the last piece slid into place we stepped back to admire our work.  It's amazing what you can accomplish when you put work together to finish what you started.
During this trip I have gone out side my comfort zone many times.  I've been forced out or do it on my own.  This is important to me because it helps you grow.  Being forced out of you comfort zone is one of the best feeling in the world because you gain confidence in your self.  Our group has constructed strong bonds with each other and we grown together because of this trip.

Sal

This is a special blog because it will focus on one of the many amazing children at the orphanage.  I chose this child because of how shy and quiet he is, just like me.  You will usually see him standing and watching the other kids playing, and occasionally join.  This child is Sal and he is incredible.
Sal is 6 years old and has four siblings, only one of them is at the orphanage.  His sister, Srey is 11 years old and loves to sing and dance.  The other two siblings whereabouts are unknown.  As for Sals parents well, his mom died of a heart attack about a year ago and the dad disappeared after her death. Sal does not miss his parents because he is very happy at the orphanage.
If I had to describe Sal with only one word , it would be inspiration because no one else in the world can show every emotion through a smile.  Even though he may be shy he is one of the most outstanding  people that I have met.  If you just smile at him he cracks a huge grin that brings joy to your heart.  Sal is definitely one of the most intriguing people that I have had the chance to get to know.
During the day, Sal stays at the orphanage because he is not able to go to school yet.  Instead he plays with toy cars and rocks.  We also play this tickle game where you tickle the other person and then run before they can get you back.  This is one of Sals favorite games.  I truly admire Sal for his positive attitude, especially after what he has been through.
If you could ever meet Sal you would instantly fall in love.  Sal has had a rough spot in his life but does not show any emotion towards what happened.  Sal is a great friend and he always puts a smile on my face.

Living life like a flower

Life always has its ups and downs, today was an up day because I got to educate the children.  To me that is amazing because I was able to share my knowledge with others.  While I was at the school I tutored five kids about ch, sh, and th.  They absorbed everything I said like a sponge.  By the end of the session they understood everything.  It's spectacular how these kids don't see school as an obstacle but as an opportunity.  If everyone was able to see through these kids eyes, they would think twice about school and the opportunities they have.  We have everything we could possibly want in life and take it for granted.  These children struggle through everyday and make the most of what they have. 
The next part of the day consisted of games and gardening.  When you look at a garden and think about how easy it would be to build one, well its not.  In order to transform the land into a garden you must plow the grass, rake the soil, plant seeds and be able to grow and maintain the plants.  The garden will supply you with food and nutrition.  In the end it will be worth all the hard work. 
I also learned a new game where you have five rocks.  You throw them on the ground and pick one up.  Next, you toss it into the air and try to pick up as many of the other rocks as possible.  You have to do this until you have collected all the rocks.  You have to catch the rock you tossed up into the air or else you lose.  Even though this game is so simple it can keep you occupied for hours.  When you look around the orphanage and see no frowns and all smiles, it gives you inspiration and passion to keep that smile going no matter what it takes.

It's the little things that matter

WOW!  Cambodia is an amazing country and not just because of its landscape, but because of its culture, its people, and its language.  Everywhere you look, you find something new.  Everything you do is a new learning experience.  As you approach the orphanage, you can almost feel the joy in the air, and the adrenaline starts rushing through you.  When the kids come running out, the excitement and joy spread throughout the group.  As soon as you hug one of them, the happiness explodes from us all and creates a new atmosphere.  One of the children running out is Paa, he is one of many amazing kids that I have met on this trip.  He is always including everyone and loves to show you his stuff, from schoolwork to clothes to his bed.  Today, when we got to the orphanage, Paa ran up to everyone and gave them huge hugs.  Every hug you give and receive is special, because you connect with that kid and will never forget them.  Another amazing boy that I have met is Sal. At times he can be shy, which makes you want to engage with him and get to know him.  Today we had a potato sack race and Sal was standing in one, so I ran over and picked the sack up with him in it and swung him around.  His face immediately lit up with a huge smile.  Ever since that moment, I have felt amazingly weightless.  I can't wait to go back tomorrow to see all the kids.  These are just two of many amazing people that I have met so far.  This trip is truly special, but its the little things that make it one of a kind. 

Happy fathers day to my DAD  

"What you seek is already within you" Unknown

During this trip to Cambodia I hope to bring lots of happiness to the children of the Cooperation of Peace Organization Orphanage.  In order to accomplish this I am going to keep a positive attitude the entire time I am there.  While I'm there I will help the children develop strong reading and writing skills.  One day they will be able to go and learn about the world on their own.  I also hope to be able to form strong friendships with the children so if I get the chance to go back I will already be friends with them.  
From this trip I hope to take away a new understanding and perspective on life.  When I went to Nicaragua I realized how much stuff we had and how much we really needed.  So I hope to see the world through someone else's eyes and not just my own.  Im not going on this trip just to go but to learn and experience someone else's life.  This is what I hope to gain and bring to this amazing experience.   

"The only source of knowledge is experience" Albert Einstein

I have faith in Cambodia because of what they've been through.  I read about the Khmer Rouge, and it was scary, frightening, and sad, but it filled me with hope.  S21 prison was frightening for me, because people went in and never came out.  It's as if they fell into a black hole, no matter how hard you try to get out, it always has a grip on you. This is how I think of S21.  The Killing Fields are one of the saddest parts of Cambodia's history.  When reading about this, I felt helpless because there is nothing that I could have done.  Just trying imagining what these people had to go through is unimaginable.  The man that started it all was Pol Pot.  He had no limits, which scared me.  He killed whoever opposed him.  Cambodia has been through a lot and has gained valuable experiences.  Through all of this tragedy, they are able to learn from their past.

"Believe you can and your half way there" Theodore Roosevelt

We all have those days where you leave reality and travel to your own world created from your imagination.  Well how would you picture yourself?  At times I see my self as a platypus.  I'm able to walk on land and swim through the water, which gives me a new perspective on how one, sees the world.  Not only can I swim and walk but also I have a duck's bill, a beaver’s tail, and a sleek body for swimming.  With this I get to experience multiple animals all at once.  If I were an animal this is what I would be.

In you own world you have all your inspirations around you.  In my world there are many inspirations but the most important are people that have inspired me in life.  One of the greatest inspirations in my life is my grandpa.  He has been though so much including hiding from the Germans on a farm in Normandy during WW2. Through all this he came to America and began a new life.  Now he is an artist that travels the world.  In my world he has his very own statue.  Another incredibly amazing person in my life is my other grandpa who fought in WW2, Vietnam, and the Korean War.  He went into the air force as a tail gunner at the age of 17.  He became a three-war veteran and lived long enough for me to meet him.  He inspires me because he never gave up and always looked on the positive side of things.  The final great inspiration in my life is Lisa Marie.  Every time you see her she is happy and smiling.  She is always there when you need her and ready to help anytime.  She also is able to make such a positive impact on my life during and after these trips.  So this is the world I go to when I trail off.

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure" Bill Cosby

When you can experience an life changing event you change in ways you might not have though possible.  As this new adventure nears you feel a nervousness inside your stomach that slowly builds up until that moment that you have put all your hard work into has become a reality.  With that nervousness comes fears that you'll have to face, difficulties that you will discover, and change you never thought possible.  My biggest fear of this trip will have to leave the children at the orphanage.  As you leave you feel an emptiness that becomes filled with joy because you know that you have changed the lives of so many children that you barely even knew prior to this trip.  As this trip progresses you build strong bonds with the kids that you meet and this is why it's hard to leave them. Whats an adventure without difficulties, for me it's coming back home.  You see all that you have and remember how little the kids at the orphanage had.  Also you miss your group that you had spent months in advance preparing for this and then it's over.  Coming home from one of these trips changes the way you see your life and how you see others lives.  But with these incredible journeys my personality changes.  I become more aware of the world I change my perspective and gain a new one.  This is a change that helps me think more about me choices and how I do something now will effect me later.  This adventure is right around the corner and I can't wait for it to begin.