Dancing in the rain and other important lessons

Where do I even begin, we've done so much this week, learned so many things, and met inspiring people that have left a mark on my life...

It all started Monday, October 24th when we arrived at the Mea's Family Homestay where we met Paul. He had been living there for three years, as he walked by to say hello I had no idea the man we were about to meet would change my life. Paul followed every step in the book: he went to school, got a job, and started climbing the corporate ladder when he realized there was something missing. Paul wasn't happy, so he left everything behind and came to Cambodia where he became inspired and started changing not only his life but the life of so many others.

He started a company called Sonas which has different projects to help local women avoid factory jobs. Sonas gives them the opportunity to create their own products at the weaving center. As he kept telling, his story we learned how to make soap and also came to understand  that there is no right or wrong way to live. You don't have to follow a certain number of steps, all you have to do is find something you are passionate about, do it everyday and you will be happy.

Paul looked at every single one of us and said "you can't change the world if you are not willing to change yourself". Who would have guessed that was only the first lesson of a very inspiring week.

While we stayed at Mea's, we had a lot of free time to play games with the group. On Wednesday afternoon, as we sat in the common area, the sky started falling. It was a monsoon, and it was pouring. We sat there, bummed about the rain, and we looked at Kiana who was standing in the pouring rain dancing. At first we all thought she was crazy, then we realized that if you are not dancing in the rain in the middle of Southeast Asia, then you are not going to do it at home. So we all dropped everything, ran with her and danced because it's true what they say: don't wait for the storm to pass, but instead learn to dance in the rain... and that is what we did.

As I closed my eyes, put my hands up in the air and spun in circles I realized: I'm happy, I'm alive and I'm free. That was a moment I will never forget.

In that week I realized something else, it's not the places we go to but the company we're with that makes this trip so special. Everyday we learn, we teach, we laugh, we cry, we inspire, but most important we stand together as one so every night we can go to bed with a smile and wake up with a laugh.

We were having a great time exploring this new country, but it was are time to give back, so we taught English, cooked, played with kids, built houses, learned about the Khmer Rouge and danced with disabled people. In only one week. So it doesn't matter how busy you are because there is never a excuse not to help, everyday is a new opportunity to learn and help someone out it could be as small as a smile or as big as a house. It's up to you.

It was a week of lessons. It was a program full of relationships which have forever marked my life.