One week after the move to the new dorm, Bennett Gastle generously sponsored an Open House Party on Saturday December 13th. Bandol & I spent a lot of time over the previous week planning and organizing the event. We booked caterers, ordered a cake, arranged for a DJ as well as photographers to capture the day.
When Bandol & I arrived at the dorm on Saturday after picking up some things for the evening, we were pleased to find the dorm looking clean and organized. The students did an awesome job of getting it ready for everyone to see. As we discussed where to set everything up, the girls suggested we host the whole party on the rooftop patio. I had originally thought we would have the food served downstairs and the dancing on the roof but it is so much cooler up there that it made sense. So, we had everyone carry everything including all the caterers’ things and the DJ equipment up four flights of narrow stairs. We didn’t have enough tables and chairs for everyone so we laid out mats and cushions for people to sit on. While there are lights on the ceiling of the rooftop over the patio, the girls added a number of strings of twinkling lights. It looked great!
When Bandol & I arrived at the dorm on Saturday after picking up some things for the evening, we were pleased to find the dorm looking clean and organized. The students did an awesome job of getting it ready for everyone to see. As we discussed where to set everything up, the girls suggested we host the whole party on the rooftop patio. I had originally thought we would have the food served downstairs and the dancing on the roof but it is so much cooler up there that it made sense. So, we had everyone carry everything including all the caterers’ things and the DJ equipment up four flights of narrow stairs. We didn’t have enough tables and chairs for everyone so we laid out mats and cushions for people to sit on. While there are lights on the ceiling of the rooftop over the patio, the girls added a number of strings of twinkling lights. It looked great!
Tan Try and his wife, Vanna, arrived early with gifts of new bath towels for all the students. While we were waiting for the monks to arrive, Try told the girls about his time in Toronto in 2007 working for Chuck. He remembered Chuck asking how we could help people in Cambodia. Try had said that girls from the provinces needed safe places to live in order to study at university. Boys could stay at pagodas with the monks but girls had nowhere to go unless they had relatives in the city. This planted the seed which then became a reality when Chuck & I met Marnie & Ford in 2008 who were providing accommodations for girls from poor families in the provinces.
Blessing Ceremony
Given that the students are all Buddhist, it was important to have their new home blessed by monks. We bought an “Angel Castle” and “Spirit House” for them to keep the spirits in the house happy by making offerings. Bandol’s mother, Channa, arranged for two monks to come to the dorm for the blessing. She also brought everything we needed to have the ceremony such as a place for the monks to sit, offerings and flowers. Everyone else in attendance sat on mats on the floor.
The monks arrived around 4:00 that afternoon and then there were a number of preparations before the ceremony began around 4:30. A cooked chicken and fruit were laid in front of the spirit house. Incense was lit. Circles of jasmine buds were placed in a few areas including the spirit house.
I thought that I could just stay in the background and take some pictures. However, Try advised me that this was not possible because I am the leaseholder of the house so I needed to sit front and center. Bandol sat beside me so I could follow her lead. The grandfather of the landlord was there and he started things off with a prayer requesting the monks to bless the house. Somewhere in the middle of the prayer was my name (Try had written it down for the grandfather) which sounded rather strange as part of a Khmer Buddhist chant.
About half way through the ceremony, while one monk was chanting, the other one starting sprinkling water on everyone. I expected a few drops but it went on for quite a while and Bandol & I got quite wet. A number of times throughout the ceremony, my cell phone rang because people were calling me to ask for directions to the party. Fortunately, I think the chanting was loud enough that not too many people noticed. I just let it ring and then had to call everyone back after the ceremony.
Guests started to arrive as the ceremony ended. We had a great turnout with representatives from Plan, KAPE (Kampuchean Action for Primary Education), the Ministry of Commerce, two vice rectors and professors from RULE, as well as the Council of Ministers among many others. We also had 2 students & a teacher from New Hope for Cambodian Children which is an NGO across the street. In addition to our current students, a number of CLEW graduates also came out to celebrate the opening of the new dorm. I would estimate that we had about 80 - 90 people there.
Our landlord and his wife attended which was great. Although the invitation said 5 – 8 p.m., I told people that there would be dancing afterwards. I cleared it with the landlord that the DJ could play music until 10 p.m.
After the catered buffet dinner was served, we brought out the cake and I made a speech. Then the dancing began. As usual, there was a mix of Khmer and western music. It is interesting that although these students are from all over the country, they all know the same Khmer dances. I’m not sure if they learn it at school or community events or both but there is a really strong heritage here.
There was much dancing and fun until 9:45 when all of a sudden everyone went to one side of the roof and looked down onto the street. I asked what was happening and they said that the police had arrived. Yikes! I guess our music was too loud for the neighbourhood. About 3 policemen came up the 4 flights of stairs to see what was going on. I wanted to take pictures but decided that might not be the best idea. The girls talked to them and explained that we would be ending the party at 10. They said that was okay as long as we turned the music down. We decided to end the party at that point since it was almost 10 anyway.
Our landlord and his wife attended which was great. Although the invitation said 5 – 8 p.m., I told people that there would be dancing afterwards. I cleared it with the landlord that the DJ could play music until 10 p.m.
After the catered buffet dinner was served, we brought out the cake and I made a speech. Then the dancing began. As usual, there was a mix of Khmer and western music. It is interesting that although these students are from all over the country, they all know the same Khmer dances. I’m not sure if they learn it at school or community events or both but there is a really strong heritage here.
There was much dancing and fun until 9:45 when all of a sudden everyone went to one side of the roof and looked down onto the street. I asked what was happening and they said that the police had arrived. Yikes! I guess our music was too loud for the neighbourhood. About 3 policemen came up the 4 flights of stairs to see what was going on. I wanted to take pictures but decided that might not be the best idea. The girls talked to them and explained that we would be ending the party at 10. They said that was okay as long as we turned the music down. We decided to end the party at that point since it was almost 10 anyway.
Photos from the Open House Party
All in all, it was quite a day and a great way to open the new dorm. We definitely made a splash in the neighbourhood and with the many friends of CLEW!