From a Cambodian Orphanage
By David Creighton-Pester
8 Mar 2008
In 2006 I, along with some friends, spent a few weeks living in a Cambodian orphanage. Cambodia has a violent history and many of the sights around Phnom Penh, such as Tusleng Prison and the Killing Fields from Pol Pot's regime, were incredibly moving. One of the most moving aspects of the trip, however, was living with the children in the orphanage. Despite the most horrible and despicable past lives these kids have experienced, they smiled the biggest smiles I've ever seen. Some of these children had been violently abused, or suffered tremendous tragedies, yet the joy they exuded far surpassed what I was used to seeing in the Western world. This was certainly an experience that has helped me appreciate the abundance of life that I encounter everyday in New Zealand.
