As fierce as Cambodia’s water buffaloes may look, they are mostly calm and friendly. You can see this guy let me say “Hello” up-close.
I’m out of school a few days this week because of government testing in Puok High. The school shuts down except for testing, and I’m not allowed to monitor testing (I’m not sure why, but I think it has to do with the cheating that will undoubtedly happen).
So, this afternoon I rode my bike to Coat Tamay village to see my friends there and visit the school and our library. Two of the students who I’ve known since we started the library a year ago were on the road with their water buffaloes.
Believe it or not, I’d actually forgotten my camera was in my bag. But, the kids here always ask me to take their picture so they can look at themselves in the camera.
These two boys go to school every morning. Then, they spend several hours every afternoon watching over their family’s grazing water buffaloes (the buffaloes roam about a mile from the house to eat so they have to be monitored).
And, finding green grass isn’t so easy right now. You can see it’s very much the dry season.
I’m glad you get to visit the kids there. You have come to love the land and people there. It is going to be hard to leave. You will have to go back to visit. There are other places in just as much need that I’m sure you will make a difference in. We still miss you here in your home of Norman.
I miss you too Dianna.
You are deinitely getting exposed to many different types of animals! Why do they have water buffaloes? Do they raise them for food, or what other purposes do they serve? Just curious. It is so funny that the children love to see themselves. You are so good to them!
Love ya!
I’m glad you asked because it made me learn more too!
On first glance, the water buffalo is like a machine in Cambodia. It’s used to plough rice fields and haul other goods, even down the street sometimes. They are very strong. And, we don’t have a lot of machines here. All the families I know with water buffaloes do NOT use them for meat, but only as a machine and for their milk. The animal is native to this part of the world and 97% of the world’s water buffalo population lives in Asia.
Here’s what Wikipedia says:
“The water buffalo is the classic work animal in Asia, an integral part of that continent’s traditional village farming structure, and also used for hauling cotton, pumping water in Pakistan and hauling logs in Turkey. The domesticated water buffalo is often referred to as “the living tractor of the East”, as it is relied upon for plowing and transportation in many parts of Asia.”
And,
“Their dung is used as a fertilizer, and as a fuel when dried.”
Love you!
You have been so blessed to wake up each day, unencumbered by the many vices, conveniences and “toys” we have come to rely on to make our lives “easier”, “more efficient” and most importantly ~ “entertaining”! All “necessities”, we believe! Having your basic needs of shelter, food and clothing met (even if in some very primitive forms), has also probably heightened your awareness of all the other gifts God has given us ~ even water buffalos! While some may fear these creatures and/or simply see them as ugly “beasts” of inconvenience (especially if blocking a path or road), others see them as an integral part of their lives and others, even as companions of sorts! While many of us see what you are doing as a major sacrifice, selfishly on our part because we miss you, I know you continue to be blessed tenfold by the people who’s lives you have so deeply touched! Love you bunches, Travis!
I appreciate you saying that Becky! You are too nice. I actually do have some of the toys. I still have internet and my computer
And, cable TV is not hard to find. But, it’s easy to find people who don’t have access to those things as well. And, it’s easy to find people who don’t take these sorts of things for granted.
I love ya too. Alice-Anne and Robert are only a few days away now!
Travis,
I have been meaning to comment for some time, at least since I read your holiday memories. I loved those. You nailed Gaga. Great story about her favorite gift. Might of heard it before, but I do not think so because I would have remembered it. Congratulations on your short story being published. Your wanderlust set you free in the end. Remember that when you come home and re-enter the rat race. You are now on the home stretch. Only a handful of months left. Keep enjoying it. Need any books for you own reading?
Wildcat
Glad you are getting a little break from school and getting to visit the library. Hope things were fine there. The water buffalo was very interesting. We were watching some video from Africa and those wild water buffalo were not friendly at all. Weather here has been really nice – 75 today in Dallas. This time last year we had a blizzard (for Dallas). Guess it is going to snow on Easter at this rate. Love, Kaki