Senior outting

January 27-31
Sunday-Thursday

All this week I have gone on an adventure out in the jungle with the senior class. It was so much fun! I forgot how much I loved being out in the wilderness. I really do hate living in a city. I love waking up in the morning and seeing huge mountains in the distance. Ever since I left Montana I only see houses and people; nice, but nothing compared nature.
Prior to the trip I was not sure if I wanted to go because I didn’t want the class to make suggestive remarks about my size. So, a couple of day before I left I talk
ed to Sharon about it and she too has been having problems. You see, in the Khmer culture its not a bad thing to call someone ugly or fat. So, I really was struggling if I wanted to put my self in a situation where I can be susceptible to this kind of humiliation. Sharon talked to the senior class about our culture and just gave them a heads up from where we Americans are coming from. Anyway, so I was having a hard time deciding if I wanted to go and the time came when Sharon needed to know. I said yes and hoped to God I wouldn’t regret my decision.

The first day of our activities we did group things such as putting fifteen nails or so on top of one nail which was nailed to a block. Our rules: can’t use anything to hold the nails together and you only have one minute to so this. No one succeed in the activity, but the leader connected the nails together in a weird way and it worked. We were all pretty amazed. The second activity: we were given blue pipes cut in half and marbles. Our objective was to pass all the marbles (500 some) through each pipe and into a bucket with in one minute. Our first try failed, but we came up with another plan and it worked out nicely. Our time was 28 seconds; very nice. Third activity: the blind man walk. We were blind folded and had to follow a sting in to the jungle. It was really cool!
Fourth: I call it the dancing cables. There was one cable looped around one tree and tied to two different trees. So it makes a ‘V’ shape. Our objective was to balance with one other person, you on one side of the cable and he/she on the opposite side. You had to reach a certain point down the cable to pass the activity. I looked pretty easy at first, but when you actually got on it was quit hard. Your partner had to hold your weight and keep balance. I did it with Rithy and then Kham Phai. The further you walk the farther the cables spread. So you end up pushing (parterners) on each other to keep the balance.
After lunch we did activities that involved more cables. But first we all got on a long log and had to separate boys and girls without touching the ground. This was called the giant toothpick. I sometimes feel this activity is over used, but I guess it would be if it works in team work. The senior class succeed and we moved on to another one that involved more cables. Heads-up: After worship every morning we numbered off one and two, but I found that after lunch we ended up all being together. Our objective this time was to go on this course that involved balancing on a long cable that wind’s through trees and over cannels. We all had to balance each other by holding hands and moving from tree to tree.

It was a lot harder than it looks, but so much fun. I was standing between Porm and Sophie. Porm really helped me and Sophie out a lot. When I thought the course was over we had to jump from stump to stump. Some of the stumps were really far apart from each other and white people can’t jump. LOL! This one time I tried to jump and missed, but grabbed on to a vine and almost hit a tree head on; fun times. Everyone was like, “Are you ok?”, but I just gave them the big thumbs up.

The next activity involved a rope and two platforms. Their objective was to get from one platform to the next by swinging from a rope. Pretty easy, but all the class was on one platform and had to balance each other while one by one they swung. I chose not to get involved into some of the activities because this was not my trip and I already had my experience. There was one problem though. The class had to get the rope from the middle without touching the ground. Their first idea to get the rope was pretty good if they could aim right (throw a shoe). In the end Heoup jumped for the rope and it was a good ten feet. Fay and I were amazed Heoup could jump that far. Oh, one other thing Fay (older person) did the activity and it was really funny to see her swing from a rope. Tim, her husband was on the landing platform and almost couldn’t catch her. It was a sight to see.

On the second day we did activities that involved trust. Alright let me remind you, Asians are small people and I remember my senior survival. My class was not filled with weak people but I still had doubt. So you can only imagine how I was handling the fact of ten Asians would catch me. The activity was called trust me. Our goal was to trust the people to catch you and lead you up to the platform while blindfolded. Let me explain more. You were blindfolded and the people catching you had blue pipes. These pipes were held by them and you had to walk on the pipes like steps to the platform where you would fall. It was pretty scary stuff. I was really worried they would not be able to hold my weight. The class really wanted me to go, but I told them I was to scared. Kham Phia was trying to comfort me by saying your not that heavy and we are strong people. In the end I gave in and was pretty amazed how they handled the whole thing. The first step was the hardest, but after that I just walked right up to the platform and fell into their arms with no problem. In the previous years Rithy did this and they dropped him on his head.

Our next activity involved a log sticking straight out of the ground pointing to the sky and a tube. Our objective was to get the tube over the top of the log (20 feet or so) with out letting the tube touch the log and we could not let our knees touch the log either. The kids asked me if I had any ideas and I suggested having people stand on top of each other. We did this and failed several times because ironically enough the smallest kids in my group were the ones that could hold two people on top of their shoulders. Either way it was a good experience and I loved watching the kids work together.
Next, The Slippery Snake. We were challenged to climb up a log that was propped up against another tree at an angle of 45 degrees. Rules: no touching the log with our hands and no shoes. At first this looked really easy. I was saying, “Ok, I just have to walk right up and jump down. Easy.” NOT! When it came my turn I got all harnessed in and started to climb. I didn’t get more than three feet and lost my balance. I learned that it was called slippery snake for a reason. Second trial, I got a little father, probably about half way and lot my balance again and this time I grabbed onto the tree and slid underneath. Third try, I learned that I needed to give my feet some kind of traction. With that, I spit on my feet and rubbed dirt on them. I also decided that I just needed to run up the log. So, that is exactly what I did. I took no more that four steps and bolted for the top, I did however hesitate towards the top because there was kind of a hump, but then just jumped over that and ran the rest of the way. It was really cool to know that I can concurred my fear of heights and know that just because I am bigger doesn’t mean I can’t do the same as others. I was really excited!
Our final activity before lunch involved partners and sticks. We were to sit back to back and have one partner make a figure with the sticks and then verbally explain how to make the same object to the other partner without looking. I was with Kham Phai and it was good. Besides our language barrier I feel we did fairly well.

After lunch we did the giant swing. This was so much fun. You all know how much I’m afraid of heights, right? Back in fifth grade I went to a D.A.R.E camp and one of our activities was to climb up a tree and walk across to another tree. I didn’t even get ten feet off the ground before my knees were shaking and my hands all sweaty; never made it to the top. Anyway, I was really scared to do this activity. We had to get all harnessed in and climb up on a platform. Once there we were attached to cables hanging down from two trees on either side of you; making a swing type of deal, and also attached to a rope. The rope was pulled by the remaining students to get you to the top of trees. Once you were at the top you have to pull a lever which released you. I will try and get the video on here, but it takes forever.

That night we got to camp out underneath the stars. After dinner we got our stuff together and headed out into the jungle to our destination. We hiked about a mile or so. It was pretty exciting to be hiking around in the jungle at night. After setting up camp, which involved hammocks and mosquito nets we had worship. The senior class heard Katrina and I sing for Khmer church last Sabbath and asked me to sing for them tonight. Since Heather was there with me I asked her to accompany me. She was happy to and we did really well. The Lao boys and I just chilled out by the fire telling jokes and laughing. I didn’t realize how funny Porm can be. He had some funny one, or maybe I was just really tired when everything is funny. Hammocks did not turn out to be all that comfortable. I mean it was not to bad, but if I had a choice I would rather sleep on the ground. The next morning I woke up in a cocoon. Fay wondered if I couldbreath. None the less I really liked sleeping out in the jungle and would do it again if I had the chance to.

Our last day. This was the big shebang. I kind of knew this day was going to be the worst because everyday the actives got harder and higher. None the less I succeed in all. Our first challenge: to climb twenty-eight meters to the top of a tree and propel down the other side. OH MY! I took one look and didn’t think I could do it. I just kept thinking about my experience at D.A.R.E camp. As the students went one at a time down I knew I was going to have to do this sooner or later. I said a quick pray and asked God to help me climb the tree and make it down safely. I was not worried if I couldn’t climb, but rather if I looked down. As I reached the top I felt really sick to my stomach and wanted to throw up. There were four other people, and all to scared to go. I knew that the longer I stayed up on the top the more freaked out I would be. As I stepped of the platform I realized my whole body was shaking. The man on the top was worried I would be able to go down because of this. He calmed me down and said, “You won’t fall. I have you connected to this tree and you’re harnessed in. All you have to do is kick off the tree and give slack every time.” As he guided my foot to the knot in the tree he let me go and off I went down the tree. It was reallyfun and I got a hang of how to kick off the tree and give slack. Once I kicked off with to much of one leg and accidentally swung around the tree. LOL! As I touched the ground I could see shaking through my gloves. I stood there in shocking thinking, “Did I just climb up that tree and propel down? WOW!”

Our final activity was the zip line. After lunch we hiked to area and got the low down. It went something like this: Climb this tree (22 meters). Get to the top. Get hooked up to the cable. Either you can be superman/superwoman, or sit old man style. You will fly/sit for about six hundred meters. Climb down another tree. And finally hike back up through the jungle to the lift off area. I was so excited to to this! I knew that if i could climb the last tree I can do it again. I chose to be superwoman and fly through the air.

As I reached the top of the tree and got hooked up to the cable I had doubt, but knew that if I didn’t do now if would not happen. So with that I leaned forward over the edge and grabbed edge of the platform and launched my self off. It was so much fun. I screamed all the way down. If I could give you one word for what I felt it would be, exhilaration. Reaching the destination point was depressing; I wanted to do it again. So, as I hung from the cable (20 meters or so) Dream thought it would be fun to pull me back out from the tree. It was, but I was starting to hurt because the harness was not that comfortable. Climbing down the tree was another story. I had to climb down five feet and then jump to the ground. Don’t worry I was harnessed in and connected. The man who was leading the rope told me to jump and when I did I forgot that I was doing superwoman style, which means the rope was tied to my backend. I seriously thought I was going to fall fifteen feet, but the rope pulled and I slammed into the tree. If this was not enough, the guy didn’t give me enough lack to touch the ground so I couldn’t stand up. I was only inches from the ground, but couldn’t stand up, body horizontal to the ground. I ended up going almost around the whole tree before be gave me more slack to stand up. Everyone thought it was pretty comical, which it was. I loved it all. If I could I would do it again.

All around I loved the whole trip. I don’t think I told you, but on our way their and home we had vehicle problems. The tired were blowing out or our brakes gave out. First it was the tires then our brakes. On our way home we had to stop five hours from Phnom Penh and get taxi’s to take us the rest of the way. Other than this the whole trip was fun and I loved getting to know the entire senior class. They are already thinking about getting together again and hanging out. I hope I continue to be good friends with them all. This was an eventful week, and I’m really happy with my decision to go. Everyone was so nice and enjoyable to be around. I know that if I was in the states I would not do any of this stuff, but now I can say I have already done that while I was in Cambodia!