The 2005 adventure in Cambodia really began in 1991 when I (Lisa) travelled to Cambodia to bring home a then 11 month old baby boy. His name was Rath Dara, and he was living in the Nutrition Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Determined to bring home a second child, too, I travelled with documents and enough cash to make this possible. I was told that there wouldn't be any "baby girls" available, but if I was willing to accept a 4 or 5 year old, perhaps with a slight physical difficulty, I might be able to find a daughter, too. Upon arrival in Cambodia after a long and rigorous trip, I was overwhelmed when in addition to introducing me to Brennan Dara, they placed a 5 month old baby girl in my arms. Her name was Rath Kalop and she was about the most pathetic looking little creature I had ever seen.... but what a smile she had! She would become Kaley Ilene.
My time in Cambodia stretched to nearly six weeks. In 1991, Cambodia was still very much in recovery from the Khmer Rouge period. We stayed in a modest cottage type hotel, travelled on open cyclos around the city, and found a couple of restaurants to eat in. Mostly we hung out in our room, eating ramen noodles, and oddly enough, the ritz crackers & snickers bars that we could buy in one of the small markets. It was there in Cambodia that my passion for coca cola was born, but that's another story for another day. In the photo above, you see me and the kids just a day or so before we finally got to leave Cambodia. They look amazing! Within a few days of getting lots of love and plenty to eat, they were thriving. Now me, on the other hand, I had pinkeye, dysentery, etc., etc.
Ever since we left Cambodia not a day has gone by that I didn't at least for a moment stop to think about this haunting place. Nowhere else have I experienced such a complete mixture of tragedy and hopefulness. And because we don't have details on Brennan's or Kaley's actual birth families, in my heart I feel like this nation itself, Cambodia, gave me the greatest give that I have ever received in my life... these children.
And so this summer we make our return. Brennan will turn 15 while we are there. His 15th birthday will be spent in the same hotel as his first was spent. Kaley will be 14 and a half. I feel a LOT older than I did the last time around but the travel shouldn't be as rigorous this time. We had to pick from several hotels!! Accompanying us will be my husband & the kid's step-dad, Jim, and his good friend and world traveller, Derek. We will be meeting up with a number of other families with kids adopted from Cambodia to participate in a housebuilding project. These families all live in Australia so that will be another piece of the adventure!
I also felt like it was "time" to make the trip. Brennan & Kaley are mature enough (I think) to cope with what they see, but not so old that they are too busy to make this journey. Brennan, in particular, has expressed a desire to know more about his birthfamily if this is possible and we will attempt to find any available information while we are there. Kaley simply hopes to buy shoes from one of the shoemakers in the market to add to her vast collection. A princess can never have too many shoes! Jim would much rather be visiting Ireland or some other less exotic location, but he is going along to do what he can to help with this adventure. Derek has spent time living in India and "misses" Asia and looks forward to the opportunity to explore another place. I am going because I have promises to keep. When I left Cambodia 14 years ago I promised that I would be back.... to show my children their wonderful birthcountry and to show the nannies and government workers and cyclo drivers of Phnom Penh what great young adults "Dara & Kalop" are becoming. (Kalop translates as Rose.) I can't wait to see the looks on the nannies (nurses) faces from the orphanage when they see us!
We will be leaving on June 26th and will return home on July 18th. I plan to post updates to this site almost every day, adding pictures and notes so that you can travel with us. Look at the buttons to the left and you should see a date for each day that I post. If you would like to write to us, please use the guestbook on this site to do so. We would love to hear from you. Please keep us in your prayers that this will be a safe and very positive experience for all of us.
My time in Cambodia stretched to nearly six weeks. In 1991, Cambodia was still very much in recovery from the Khmer Rouge period. We stayed in a modest cottage type hotel, travelled on open cyclos around the city, and found a couple of restaurants to eat in. Mostly we hung out in our room, eating ramen noodles, and oddly enough, the ritz crackers & snickers bars that we could buy in one of the small markets. It was there in Cambodia that my passion for coca cola was born, but that's another story for another day. In the photo above, you see me and the kids just a day or so before we finally got to leave Cambodia. They look amazing! Within a few days of getting lots of love and plenty to eat, they were thriving. Now me, on the other hand, I had pinkeye, dysentery, etc., etc.
Ever since we left Cambodia not a day has gone by that I didn't at least for a moment stop to think about this haunting place. Nowhere else have I experienced such a complete mixture of tragedy and hopefulness. And because we don't have details on Brennan's or Kaley's actual birth families, in my heart I feel like this nation itself, Cambodia, gave me the greatest give that I have ever received in my life... these children.
And so this summer we make our return. Brennan will turn 15 while we are there. His 15th birthday will be spent in the same hotel as his first was spent. Kaley will be 14 and a half. I feel a LOT older than I did the last time around but the travel shouldn't be as rigorous this time. We had to pick from several hotels!! Accompanying us will be my husband & the kid's step-dad, Jim, and his good friend and world traveller, Derek. We will be meeting up with a number of other families with kids adopted from Cambodia to participate in a housebuilding project. These families all live in Australia so that will be another piece of the adventure!
I also felt like it was "time" to make the trip. Brennan & Kaley are mature enough (I think) to cope with what they see, but not so old that they are too busy to make this journey. Brennan, in particular, has expressed a desire to know more about his birthfamily if this is possible and we will attempt to find any available information while we are there. Kaley simply hopes to buy shoes from one of the shoemakers in the market to add to her vast collection. A princess can never have too many shoes! Jim would much rather be visiting Ireland or some other less exotic location, but he is going along to do what he can to help with this adventure. Derek has spent time living in India and "misses" Asia and looks forward to the opportunity to explore another place. I am going because I have promises to keep. When I left Cambodia 14 years ago I promised that I would be back.... to show my children their wonderful birthcountry and to show the nannies and government workers and cyclo drivers of Phnom Penh what great young adults "Dara & Kalop" are becoming. (Kalop translates as Rose.) I can't wait to see the looks on the nannies (nurses) faces from the orphanage when they see us!
We will be leaving on June 26th and will return home on July 18th. I plan to post updates to this site almost every day, adding pictures and notes so that you can travel with us. Look at the buttons to the left and you should see a date for each day that I post. If you would like to write to us, please use the guestbook on this site to do so. We would love to hear from you. Please keep us in your prayers that this will be a safe and very positive experience for all of us.
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