Chung was really in her element in her house. The low ceilings made her seem taller. As she bustled around efficiently taking care of her younger siblings and cooking supper for the whole group, including a separate meal for me, I forgot she was only 11 years old. The next time I saw her in town I wasn't sure if she was the same girl. I recognized her face, but dwarfed by the city and tall western tourists she didn't seem the same confident lady, but a little girl again.
All the children ate a small bowl of rice for supper and breakfast accompanied by a few bites of some green vegetables out of a communal bowl. She fixed me instant noodles with eggs she had bought at a stall on the way to the village. I felt guilty eating this huge bowl of soup while they ate rice, but I didn't want to offend them so I gobbled it up. When I left I bought a blanket from her mother for 10$ and she was very pleased! Then when I paid her a guide fee of another 6$ she seemed really shocked by all that money!