Report of a school opening ceremony

One March 16, 2003 The Saito Saito family traveled to their school, the Fumiko Oshima school, to attend the opening ceremony. This ceremony, as many others similar in nature, will likely remain the most memorable day of these donors' lives. Here is a description of their visit to Cambodia -- and this event, by Meng Dy, a member of our rural school staff who went along with them:

Dear Mr. Krisher and Mr. Thero, 

I am backed to Phnom Penh before yesterday. I would like to report to you about The Fumiko Oshima school ceremony hold on Sun, March 16, 2003.

Thursday, March 13:

Vuth and I went to welcome the Saito's family at Pochentong airport arrived by TG698: 18: 45 P.M, then escorted them to check in at club floor of the Inter-continental hotel.
 

Friday, March 14:

Morning: Vuth and I went to pick up guests at Inter-continental hotel at 8:30A.M escorted to the Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, visited each department of the hospital including the new wing building showed by Ms. Karen Jacques, public relations. Then we went to have school supplies shopping and Royal Palace visit.

Afternoon: Vuth and I went to pick up guests at Inter-continental at hotel 14. 00 P.M escorted to Toul Sleng museum, Russian market and the city town visit including Cambodian-Japanese Friendship Bridge and Wat Phnom hill. 

Saturday, March 15:

The Land Cruiser driver and I went to pick up guests at Inter-continental hotel at 8:30 A.M. escorted to Banteay Meanchey province. On the way we had chitchat and had lunch, then arrived Banteay Meanchey at 17:00 P.M. We checked in into Phnom Svay hotel, which is in the middle of the provincial capital town. After rested and took shower, we had dinner at a restaurant near by the hotel at 19:00 P.M. Then I touch Mr. Kasumasa a Cambodian song has title that "Arapiya" and overnight slept.

Sunday, March 16:

After breakfast at a restaurant near by, we went directly to school about 5 km away from town. We arrived school at 8:00 A.M with seeing many students, teachers and the local authorities wait to welcome us. After I introduced to know each other, then Mrs. Junko Saito received a bunch of flowers from two girl students and walked through the two queues of students toward the plate form. I would like to stress that the ceremony was a big ceremony (Mr. and Mrs. Saito couldn't think of happening like that), which has many people attended, the provincial governor, provincial chief of education department, provincial deputy governor, district chief, commune chief, village chief, monks, students' parents, local authorities and with many students. The program has been started as follow:
 

1/Monks wishing good luck and best wishes to the delegation.
            2/ Declaration- Introduced the delegations and guests who had attended.
            3/ Show respect (by standing up) when the National anthem is played.
            4/Welcome traditional dancing has been showed.
            5/ The school principal had a speech.
       
            6/ Mrs. Junko Saito had a speech by saying that "this school building's name is her mother's name and she said before passed away that I wanted to use my money I left to build a school building and to help the education fields. Then I heard about the school project, which is run by Japan Relief for Cambodia. So I decided to use her money to build this school. My mother also said that I wanted to come to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, but she couldn't come" After speech her two daughters played two Japanese songs with a recorder. And Mr. Kasumasa sang a Cambodian song as well on that time.

7/ A speech of the provincial governor by saying that "I am representative of the people, teachers and students here would like to thank to Mrs. Fumiko Oshima, who funded her money for this school building and educations here. So I would like to dedicate her soul to have good luck and have chance to help people in the whole world for next life. I would like to pass my message through Mr. and Mrs. Saito as well to Japan and Japanese people that there is only Japan and Japanese people who is the most helping Cambodia than other countries. I would like to thank Japan and Japanese very much. And I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Saito and daughters who spend times and money to build school and have joined the school grand opening ceremony today.

8/ The governor said he suppose to pin a medal for Mrs. Junko Saito and he already ordered from Phnom Penh, but it is not arrived yet. And he said he will send later. But he gave two certificates (of honor and congratulation) to Mrs. Junko Saito on that time.

9/ Mr. Kasumasa wrote a note on the school golden book.

10/ We all walked through the students' queue to cut the school red tie.

11/ Confer the school supplies to students and classrooms visited. I took many pictures and gave to Mr. Thero, he chose about six of good pictures for the Website.

The grand opening ceremony had finished at 11 A.M, we continued the trip to Siem Reap arrived at 13:00 P.M and had lunch at a restaurant in the town. After lunch we went straight to Angkor Century Hotel and met a local Japanese speaking guide arranged by NCT. I was there until guests checked in into Hotel, then I said by by to the Saito's family and wishing them to enjoy Siem Reap journey and have good trip back home. I arrived Phnom Penh at 11 PM. 

I think this is a magnificent of ceremony and a surprising trip in Cambodia made Saito's family happy and couldn't think of it. But this is just a report and I am looking forward to hear from you and Mr. & Mrs. Saito too.

Best regards,

Meng Dy