My second week here in Jumbok Haos has ended. On Monday cam a group of teenagers from Phnom Penh ready to experience adventure learning in Preah Vihear. It's quite different here when there is a group. While last week my day was spent leading worship in the morning then teaching English for about an hour and a half to the staff that works here then fending for myself for all food related activities and falling asleep right around 8 or 830 at night and trying not to get bit by my animal buddies, this week was different in almost every aspect.
So, first the good. Every meal was made for me!! Since there was a group here we have two cooks that make food for them. They're nice enough to know that I'm a vegetarian so I get my own little meal every time. And it's always ready for me when I get there!! So that's awesome. Also there's people here! Not only the group here to learn and do the activities but the whole staff come out here and live here for the week. So I got to better know the people I work with. By spending more time with people I've learned a lot more khmer than I did the first week. The activities themselves also provide a lot of entertainment. Something I was lacking the first week. Not just watching the kids overcome their fears and having all this fun but they all wanted me to try the activities with them. Some of the things we have here that are my favorite: The climbing wall, repelling, gibbon's swing and the 600m zip line about 18 meters up! Last but not least I had electricity for a couple hours at night!! So I'll admit I watched a couple of movies here on my laptop instead of writing the blog earlier but I'm here now so get over it.
Now for the cons. There were people here!! haha So I was starting to like the peace and quiet that came with this empty jungle. There were some times when I just wanted to go back to that for a couple hours but couldn't, privacy was sometimes an issue. Also we were busy all day! While it was a fun type of busy I wasn't able to do the reading and stuff I had gotten used to being able to do. This also meant that we cut our English classes shorter than normal, but I'm glad they still wanted to continue with them after the day was about over. The staff could have very easily decided that they were too tired to have class but I was encouraged to see how much they want to learn.
Mostly I enjoyed the week a lot. I like kids of that age so to interact with them and have electricity was really fun. I'm looking forward to the next time we have a group here, although I'm not sure when that will be. As always thanks for reading! I'll try to get some pictures up here soon. I don't know how yet and I haven't taken many pictures yet but I'll try. See ya
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
I don't have much time! Now that I've started to settle in here in Preah Vihear I am able to get internet from a little modem that connects me. But the problem is I don't have electricity! My computer is at 24%!! So I will tell you all about my first week here quickly.
My first night was a little, well eye opening. I arrived on Monday from Phnom Penh by bus then moto. My new place is small, no door, no windows, just openings. But thats alright, it stays cooler that way and no one gets here who shouldn't be here except for a few mostly frindly creatures. Its about a 10 by 12 feet space with stairs leading up to it, very cozy. I like it a lot. I have about a 2inch thick mattress thats on the floor that I sleep onand I'me covered by a mosquito net at nights when I go to bed which is usually around 8pm these days as there is nothing to do when the sun goes down except read with my headlamp. So after getting all my things in here I went to wash up because it was already getting dark. (battery at 19%) I go to the bathing area here, which is just a slab of concrete with to round things that hold lots of water. I brought my soap and did my think like a sauna but outside. The water was a little cold, but I didnt scream, I'm cool like that. Well I stayed cool until the ants started biting me. I hate those guys, I couldn't even see them because it was dark but it seemed as if they were everywhere I stepped!! I finally won the battle with the help of my water bucket, but they had struck some harsh blows to my feet. As I was finishing I saw a big snake, maybe 4 ft long with yellowish stripes slither about 2 feet from me. Later found out it was a Malayan Krait! Venomous snake, but God had my back. He probably had it in the battle with the ants too, but I needed to learn that lesson.
Anyway, I'm learning how to get arounf out here, I have a moto now I can drive to town. The teaching is really fun and next week we have a group come in whih means I get electricity for a couple hours at night so see you guys then!!
The people that work here who I teach English too have been great. Very helpful in every way
My first night was a little, well eye opening. I arrived on Monday from Phnom Penh by bus then moto. My new place is small, no door, no windows, just openings. But thats alright, it stays cooler that way and no one gets here who shouldn't be here except for a few mostly frindly creatures. Its about a 10 by 12 feet space with stairs leading up to it, very cozy. I like it a lot. I have about a 2inch thick mattress thats on the floor that I sleep onand I'me covered by a mosquito net at nights when I go to bed which is usually around 8pm these days as there is nothing to do when the sun goes down except read with my headlamp. So after getting all my things in here I went to wash up because it was already getting dark. (battery at 19%) I go to the bathing area here, which is just a slab of concrete with to round things that hold lots of water. I brought my soap and did my think like a sauna but outside. The water was a little cold, but I didnt scream, I'm cool like that. Well I stayed cool until the ants started biting me. I hate those guys, I couldn't even see them because it was dark but it seemed as if they were everywhere I stepped!! I finally won the battle with the help of my water bucket, but they had struck some harsh blows to my feet. As I was finishing I saw a big snake, maybe 4 ft long with yellowish stripes slither about 2 feet from me. Later found out it was a Malayan Krait! Venomous snake, but God had my back. He probably had it in the battle with the ants too, but I needed to learn that lesson.
Anyway, I'm learning how to get arounf out here, I have a moto now I can drive to town. The teaching is really fun and next week we have a group come in whih means I get electricity for a couple hours at night so see you guys then!!
The people that work here who I teach English too have been great. Very helpful in every way
Saturday, October 8, 2011
I'm Back!
Hey everyone, so lots to say but if you know me then you probably know that I'm back in Cambodia! It is Sunday morning here in Phnom Penh and I'm at "the Shop" to get some food and some internet. Over the summer I went home to Washington DC to see friends and family. I was planning to come back to Cambodia in late August to start my new position as a volunteer for ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). The idea to work for ADRA came when I went with the seniors from CAS to their senior retreat at Jumbok Haos. Jumbok Haos is a place groups from around the country can go and learn what " a little belief in themselves and in what they, together with their friends and community can do, then they can really do anything … " according to ADRA cambodia's website. (http://www.adracambodia.org/index.html) I had a lot of fun and one of the staff told me about how they've been looking for someone to teach them English, well, I can do that.
After the school year was finished at CAS I made my way back home. While I was home I broke my pinky finger playing american football. Who knew the pinky was so important?!?! 2 months later I'm almost completely healed and healthy enough to start working in Cambodia!
My church was/is awesome. My last Sabbath, my pastor called me up to the front and the whole church prayed for me and my newest adventure. After the service people started coming up to me and saying goodbye and stuffing money into my pockets. Money that has gone to good use so far, and if anyone from my church is reading, I'll go into more detail about that a little later...
I finally arrived in Cambodia late Tuesday night, Cambodia time. Over the next couple days I started to get to know the staff here in the main ADRA office. They helped me get settled, I now have a cambodian bank account, a phone along with an official contract that came when they gave me an ADRA shirt and hat. I've also been able to spend sometime with my former students at the school or at the mission, my old hangout places haha Seeing my students and the other missionaries and friends has been great.
Now, about that money... So the first thing I spent some money on was before I even left the States. I have a friend who now teaches music at an orphanage in Siem Reap, but she didn't have any instruments. Almost anything would help so my mom, the music teacher, and I went to the music store and bought 25 recorders for about $4 a piece to bring to the orphanage here in Cambodia. I hope the kids enjoy them!
After that I didn't spend much money until I arrived here. If some of you follow the international news closely you may have herd that Cambodia has experienced a lot of flooding the past few weeks. This has caused a lot of problems in the rural areas where agriculture is the main source of food and income for most families. Over 160 Cambodians have even died as a result either from drowning or from snakes. ADRA is working now to help in this emergency and in addition to the money they use to get rice to the families we've also been collecting donations from people in this area to help even more. So this was my next use for some money from my church.
Tomorrow morning I leave the capitol and go to my new home in Preah Vihear province, Rovieng district. I will be living at Jumbok Haos. My main job is to teach the staff that run the camp English so they can better communicate with the groups that come in who don't speak Khmer. I will also be leading worship every morning with them. Outside of the Jumbok Haos project I will be helping with other projects in the province with surveys and analysis. So I will be able to teach and use some of my statistics and economics background. All while living in the trees! I think I will have a great time.
Finally I'd like to thank all the people that have helped me get to where I am now. My parents, my brother, the rest of my family all over the country, my whole church family and all my friends back in the States as well as here in Cambodia, and of course Jesus for healing me and giving me the opportunity to serve him in this fantastic country. I'm not sure how often I will be able to update this blog, I'm not quite sure yet how available the internet will be in my new home, but I'll try!
After the school year was finished at CAS I made my way back home. While I was home I broke my pinky finger playing american football. Who knew the pinky was so important?!?! 2 months later I'm almost completely healed and healthy enough to start working in Cambodia!
My church was/is awesome. My last Sabbath, my pastor called me up to the front and the whole church prayed for me and my newest adventure. After the service people started coming up to me and saying goodbye and stuffing money into my pockets. Money that has gone to good use so far, and if anyone from my church is reading, I'll go into more detail about that a little later...
I finally arrived in Cambodia late Tuesday night, Cambodia time. Over the next couple days I started to get to know the staff here in the main ADRA office. They helped me get settled, I now have a cambodian bank account, a phone along with an official contract that came when they gave me an ADRA shirt and hat. I've also been able to spend sometime with my former students at the school or at the mission, my old hangout places haha Seeing my students and the other missionaries and friends has been great.
Now, about that money... So the first thing I spent some money on was before I even left the States. I have a friend who now teaches music at an orphanage in Siem Reap, but she didn't have any instruments. Almost anything would help so my mom, the music teacher, and I went to the music store and bought 25 recorders for about $4 a piece to bring to the orphanage here in Cambodia. I hope the kids enjoy them!
After that I didn't spend much money until I arrived here. If some of you follow the international news closely you may have herd that Cambodia has experienced a lot of flooding the past few weeks. This has caused a lot of problems in the rural areas where agriculture is the main source of food and income for most families. Over 160 Cambodians have even died as a result either from drowning or from snakes. ADRA is working now to help in this emergency and in addition to the money they use to get rice to the families we've also been collecting donations from people in this area to help even more. So this was my next use for some money from my church.
Tomorrow morning I leave the capitol and go to my new home in Preah Vihear province, Rovieng district. I will be living at Jumbok Haos. My main job is to teach the staff that run the camp English so they can better communicate with the groups that come in who don't speak Khmer. I will also be leading worship every morning with them. Outside of the Jumbok Haos project I will be helping with other projects in the province with surveys and analysis. So I will be able to teach and use some of my statistics and economics background. All while living in the trees! I think I will have a great time.
Finally I'd like to thank all the people that have helped me get to where I am now. My parents, my brother, the rest of my family all over the country, my whole church family and all my friends back in the States as well as here in Cambodia, and of course Jesus for healing me and giving me the opportunity to serve him in this fantastic country. I'm not sure how often I will be able to update this blog, I'm not quite sure yet how available the internet will be in my new home, but I'll try!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
My September and October and part of November make up post
August 24th. That was the date of my last post. I offer a gynormous apology to all 7 of my followers haha
Since then a lot has happened, The best month of the year came and went (October fyi), I got excited for Colorado, Minnesota and Vikings football. All of which have failed to live up to expectations. But thats ok, I'm in Cambodia. Time here seems neverending and independent from home. "Oh there's snow now?" "That's nice, I thought it was still August. Just check my last blog entry." I do miss seasons, it's the same thing everyday here. I mean it's November now and all the leaves in this country are still green!
Couple highlights of the last couple months:
One of my very best friends Kyle Tompane decided that while I'm out of the country it would a good time to get married. Kyle was my roomate for four years at CU. We were friends right away I couldn't of asked for a better roomate. Kyle asked me to be a groomsman in his wedding in December and at first I said sorry bro, I've got this whole living in Cambodia thing going on right now.
They set the date for Dec. 11th and asked me again if there was anyway I could make it back. I checked my calendar and it fust so happened that we had a 3day weekend for that weekend. The wheels in my head started rolling, the dreams of being in sunny San Diego were being visualized. The least I could do was ask the principle what the vacation policy was, I would need at least 4 days to fly 25hrs and back again right? So I did ask with little, yet some, hope. "You have 5 sick days, but you can't take them all at once" She said. Money, Money, Money, what about the money. It was my final obstacle in making this a reality. Aside from the craziness needed to take a long wekend trip on the other side of the world, but I've got that covered. Kyle offered to pay some, and my parents said they could help because this was really important to me and my birthday was coming up. All of a sudden I've got a flight booked to LAX for Dec. 8th coming back on the 12th. I can't even begin to imagine the reverse culture shock I will endure but it will be exciting I know that.
Oh yeah, btw, I went to Thailand haha I got to see another college roomate, Sam. Now Sam isn't his real name thats just what we started calling him when we couldn't pronounce his real name. He's from Bangkok and we got to hang out. He made sure I had a great time. We met at a mall that had american food (Dairy Queen, Subway, Burger King Krispy Kreme etc.) Could've spent the whole weekend there if you ask me ;) then he took us to an old king's residence then we went to a great show at a guiness record holding stage. It was amazing. I went on an elephant ride and a canoe looking thing ride around old Thai houses. Then there was a buffet that had a bunch of vegetarian food, then the show began.
The show took us through some of the history of Thailand and Siam. It was almost like a musical, all the dancing and music. Really it was quite good. Don't know how expensive it was because, like I said, Sam took care of me. Seemed expensive though.
We went to see some of the oldest temples in the world in Siem Reap. The Angkor Wat Temples should be on evryeones list. Pics are up on facebook. We took a bus up there, 5-7 hour ride costs around $4.25 one way haha Then we stayed in a hotel one night. It was almost heaven. I watched American football on TV and laid in bed in a room with air conditioning!!! It was alittle pricey though, double room for $15!! Travis and I split the cost :) The rest of the weekend we stayed at an orphanage run up there by some people we met while living here in Phnom Penh. They run a school and orphange and we teach 3 kids that were there and are now in school here. They all have some amazing stories. The sleeping arrangements were a little different from the hotel though... No american football, not even a TV, not even electricity haha there was, however a water pump outside if we wanted to bath or drink water. I enjoyed for a couple nights, not sure it would still be enjoyable much longer than that though...
Anyway, as for the future, I've been thinking a lot about it lately. Later this month we're going to Vietnam, then Dec there's the wedding, then for Christmas I'm hoping my family is going to come visit. (Dad's a little slow to pull the trigger on those tickets...) The plan for Christmas is to let the family see Cambodia for a few days then all go over to Sabah in Malaysia, look it up, it's a sweet place. After that we have the long cold winter months of January, February and March to look forward to... haha then in April it loks like we're going to India for the Khmer new year holiday. Hard to get excited about something so far away in the future but we found good deals for flights. Started the day thinking maybe we should go to China or something then by the end of the day had airfare booked for India. Kind of crazy and hectic day but I'm real glad we did it.
For the longterm who knows. I do love traveling, hopefully I can fit more in before going home whenever that will be, I bought a one way ticket here so I have absolutely no plans after this. It's a good thing but sometimes it really makes me wonder what the future will hold.
So I've updated everyone now, I even told you what I plan on doing so I don't really have to write another blog for another two more months, right mom? ;)
Since then a lot has happened, The best month of the year came and went (October fyi), I got excited for Colorado, Minnesota and Vikings football. All of which have failed to live up to expectations. But thats ok, I'm in Cambodia. Time here seems neverending and independent from home. "Oh there's snow now?" "That's nice, I thought it was still August. Just check my last blog entry." I do miss seasons, it's the same thing everyday here. I mean it's November now and all the leaves in this country are still green!
Couple highlights of the last couple months:
One of my very best friends Kyle Tompane decided that while I'm out of the country it would a good time to get married. Kyle was my roomate for four years at CU. We were friends right away I couldn't of asked for a better roomate. Kyle asked me to be a groomsman in his wedding in December and at first I said sorry bro, I've got this whole living in Cambodia thing going on right now.
They set the date for Dec. 11th and asked me again if there was anyway I could make it back. I checked my calendar and it fust so happened that we had a 3day weekend for that weekend. The wheels in my head started rolling, the dreams of being in sunny San Diego were being visualized. The least I could do was ask the principle what the vacation policy was, I would need at least 4 days to fly 25hrs and back again right? So I did ask with little, yet some, hope. "You have 5 sick days, but you can't take them all at once" She said. Money, Money, Money, what about the money. It was my final obstacle in making this a reality. Aside from the craziness needed to take a long wekend trip on the other side of the world, but I've got that covered. Kyle offered to pay some, and my parents said they could help because this was really important to me and my birthday was coming up. All of a sudden I've got a flight booked to LAX for Dec. 8th coming back on the 12th. I can't even begin to imagine the reverse culture shock I will endure but it will be exciting I know that.
Oh yeah, btw, I went to Thailand haha I got to see another college roomate, Sam. Now Sam isn't his real name thats just what we started calling him when we couldn't pronounce his real name. He's from Bangkok and we got to hang out. He made sure I had a great time. We met at a mall that had american food (Dairy Queen, Subway, Burger King Krispy Kreme etc.) Could've spent the whole weekend there if you ask me ;) then he took us to an old king's residence then we went to a great show at a guiness record holding stage. It was amazing. I went on an elephant ride and a canoe looking thing ride around old Thai houses. Then there was a buffet that had a bunch of vegetarian food, then the show began.
The show took us through some of the history of Thailand and Siam. It was almost like a musical, all the dancing and music. Really it was quite good. Don't know how expensive it was because, like I said, Sam took care of me. Seemed expensive though.
We went to see some of the oldest temples in the world in Siem Reap. The Angkor Wat Temples should be on evryeones list. Pics are up on facebook. We took a bus up there, 5-7 hour ride costs around $4.25 one way haha Then we stayed in a hotel one night. It was almost heaven. I watched American football on TV and laid in bed in a room with air conditioning!!! It was alittle pricey though, double room for $15!! Travis and I split the cost :) The rest of the weekend we stayed at an orphanage run up there by some people we met while living here in Phnom Penh. They run a school and orphange and we teach 3 kids that were there and are now in school here. They all have some amazing stories. The sleeping arrangements were a little different from the hotel though... No american football, not even a TV, not even electricity haha there was, however a water pump outside if we wanted to bath or drink water. I enjoyed for a couple nights, not sure it would still be enjoyable much longer than that though...
Anyway, as for the future, I've been thinking a lot about it lately. Later this month we're going to Vietnam, then Dec there's the wedding, then for Christmas I'm hoping my family is going to come visit. (Dad's a little slow to pull the trigger on those tickets...) The plan for Christmas is to let the family see Cambodia for a few days then all go over to Sabah in Malaysia, look it up, it's a sweet place. After that we have the long cold winter months of January, February and March to look forward to... haha then in April it loks like we're going to India for the Khmer new year holiday. Hard to get excited about something so far away in the future but we found good deals for flights. Started the day thinking maybe we should go to China or something then by the end of the day had airfare booked for India. Kind of crazy and hectic day but I'm real glad we did it.
For the longterm who knows. I do love traveling, hopefully I can fit more in before going home whenever that will be, I bought a one way ticket here so I have absolutely no plans after this. It's a good thing but sometimes it really makes me wonder what the future will hold.
So I've updated everyone now, I even told you what I plan on doing so I don't really have to write another blog for another two more months, right mom? ;)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
My Enjoyable (So Far) Dilemma
I was a very busy person on Sunday. I woke up before 4am to help the seniors bake banana bread for their fundraiser that started at 730am. They did really well by the way, some of them were up all night getting ready. They set up carnival games and sold some food. They sold some sandwiches that had some crab meat in them, which is not good for an Adventist school, the principle was pretty angry when she found out. They should have known better, but that's another story.
So once we were all ready I bolted over to the girls' house because our internet was out at my place. It was my mom's birthday on the 21st and this was my only time to try to call her. At 715am I knocked on their door, normally I wouldn't bother anyone at home so early on a sunday morning but this was an emergency and I knew that they always get up early. Annie was nice enough to let me use their internet, but my mom wasn't on skype. So I tried my brother's cell phone because I don't even know my mom's number. He was surprised to receive a call from a weird number but he right away told my mom to get on skype. When we finally got connected I not only saw my mom but the whole party at our house.
It was nice to see everyone and say hi to my mom on her birthday but I had to get back to the fundraiser, I had a job to do. I was chosen by the seniors to be the official DJ, christian music only. It was the best job available as far as I was concerned. I played Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, Thousand Foot Krutch and lots of others. I even played some 180 (my mom's old band) in honor of my mom's birthday. The party was over by 11am and I was exhausted. But I had to get some laundry done (minor underwear emergency was occuring) so I brought a load over to the girls' place because they have a washer.
As some of you may know it's rainy season here in Cambodia. It's been a relatively dry rainy season so far but that changed yesterday. It rained and rained and rained some more, in short, it's Monday evening and my clothes are still in the washer. No use in hanging them up when it rains all the time. So while waiting for the laundry situation to develop, we decided we needed to ride our bike's to a market. Best. bike. ride. ever. I was peddling thru puddles and each time I pushed down, my foot was in it's own world of wetness. So while my laundry dilemma continues, I had an amazing time playing in the rain.
Minor update since my internet wasn't working when I first wrote this. It's Tuesday night now and I just got back and my clothes are still wet! I brought home some essentials... but it would be nice to get some clean clothes back over here sometime.
So once we were all ready I bolted over to the girls' house because our internet was out at my place. It was my mom's birthday on the 21st and this was my only time to try to call her. At 715am I knocked on their door, normally I wouldn't bother anyone at home so early on a sunday morning but this was an emergency and I knew that they always get up early. Annie was nice enough to let me use their internet, but my mom wasn't on skype. So I tried my brother's cell phone because I don't even know my mom's number. He was surprised to receive a call from a weird number but he right away told my mom to get on skype. When we finally got connected I not only saw my mom but the whole party at our house.
It was nice to see everyone and say hi to my mom on her birthday but I had to get back to the fundraiser, I had a job to do. I was chosen by the seniors to be the official DJ, christian music only. It was the best job available as far as I was concerned. I played Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, Thousand Foot Krutch and lots of others. I even played some 180 (my mom's old band) in honor of my mom's birthday. The party was over by 11am and I was exhausted. But I had to get some laundry done (minor underwear emergency was occuring) so I brought a load over to the girls' place because they have a washer.
As some of you may know it's rainy season here in Cambodia. It's been a relatively dry rainy season so far but that changed yesterday. It rained and rained and rained some more, in short, it's Monday evening and my clothes are still in the washer. No use in hanging them up when it rains all the time. So while waiting for the laundry situation to develop, we decided we needed to ride our bike's to a market. Best. bike. ride. ever. I was peddling thru puddles and each time I pushed down, my foot was in it's own world of wetness. So while my laundry dilemma continues, I had an amazing time playing in the rain.
Minor update since my internet wasn't working when I first wrote this. It's Tuesday night now and I just got back and my clothes are still wet! I brought home some essentials... but it would be nice to get some clean clothes back over here sometime.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
My Life
The end of week 2 is almost here so I'm kind of getting into a groove in life. Unlike most other schools here in Cambodia, we only have classes Monday thru Friday we all need that day of rest on Saturday. The teachers all have worship at 7am, then the students join the teachers in their home room for worship. Classes actually start at 745. I teach 3 or 4 classes a day out of the 7 periods then I teach an after school class for some kids who failed last year. After all of that it's around 4 o'clock and usually I have a goal to accomplish not involving school. I need to get off campus at least once a day or else I feel like I'm not getting the most out of this adventure.
My trips off campus always seem to start with going over to the mission, that's where the church is and where the girls live. Even more importantly, that's where the washing maching is located. We were given pedal bikes to use while we are here so it only takes us about 5 minutes to get there. Even though its a short trip we still see some interesting things. I am just as likely to see a lexus drive by me as I am to see a cart pulled by a couple of oxen. There are some mansions in a lot right next to lots with nothing but trash and a few kids playing volleyball. The disparity between the haves and the have nots is shown on the same block and it is surprisingly very large.
Once we are at the mission we go to the girls' house and then we all find a tuk tuk to take us someplace into town. Whether we are looking for groceries or music or electronics or just exploring the last stop of the day is always at an ice cream place. It's become our thing to have ice cream almost everyday. I don't know why exactly. Obviously it tastes good, maybe it reminds us of home or maybe its just nice to have something cold when we've been sweating all day. Either way it's something we do and we enjoy, although some more than others...Annie....
I appreciate weekends way more than I used to. The weekend, to me anyways, is a time off from school work but it has become much more than that. It's a time where I can relax a little eat good food (instead of the stuff I make) and fellowship. But if I'm being completely honest, the best part is that I don't have to be up at 6 in the morning. But tomorrow I do, so I better get going... Juab khnia thngay kraoy
My trips off campus always seem to start with going over to the mission, that's where the church is and where the girls live. Even more importantly, that's where the washing maching is located. We were given pedal bikes to use while we are here so it only takes us about 5 minutes to get there. Even though its a short trip we still see some interesting things. I am just as likely to see a lexus drive by me as I am to see a cart pulled by a couple of oxen. There are some mansions in a lot right next to lots with nothing but trash and a few kids playing volleyball. The disparity between the haves and the have nots is shown on the same block and it is surprisingly very large.
Once we are at the mission we go to the girls' house and then we all find a tuk tuk to take us someplace into town. Whether we are looking for groceries or music or electronics or just exploring the last stop of the day is always at an ice cream place. It's become our thing to have ice cream almost everyday. I don't know why exactly. Obviously it tastes good, maybe it reminds us of home or maybe its just nice to have something cold when we've been sweating all day. Either way it's something we do and we enjoy, although some more than others...Annie....
I appreciate weekends way more than I used to. The weekend, to me anyways, is a time off from school work but it has become much more than that. It's a time where I can relax a little eat good food (instead of the stuff I make) and fellowship. But if I'm being completely honest, the best part is that I don't have to be up at 6 in the morning. But tomorrow I do, so I better get going... Juab khnia thngay kraoy
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Here I Am
So, it's August 8, Sunday night, and I'm finally starting this thing. After a summer tour around the western hemisphere, I took 3 bags and a backpack to Southeast Asia. Cambodia wasn't ever a country I dreamed of travelling to, and trust me there were a lot of countries i did dream of, but now that I've been here for 2 weeks I can't imagine a better place for me. I mean God sent me here, so there is no other place for me to be.
The first week I was able to relax a little bit and get used to my surroundings, the second week was a whole new experience though. I try not to guess why God has done things the way He has, I just keep the faith that everything He does leads me down the best possible path for success, however that might be defined. So it just so happens that my very first time teaching was this past Monday in front of 20 or so 10th graders more or less eager to learn Biology. See I lasttook or even just thought about a Biology class in 2002 when I took it in high school freshman year. So far I feel like I'm learning just as much, if not more (according to the kids' test grades) than my students.
I've met some great people here in Phnom Penh, I'm sure if anyone will continue to read this blog youwill get to know all of them in time. But for my first post I have to mention Tim and Fay Scott. Tim is the man I kept in contact with before leaving the states for good. Upon arrival here they let me stay at their place with my new roomate Travis. They fed us and showed us around town, don't know what I would've done without them. They're like the den parents to all of us and there's nothing they don't have a good answer for.
Well, how much do people usually write in one post? I feel like I could go on and on and on and on about my experience so far and what I hope to do in my time here and the amazing people that work so hard doing everything I've been doing multiplied by a few billion for a dozen years. Then there's my amazing family and church family that have made this whole thing possible. But, it's late Sunday night, a new week is starting with another Biology class in the morning...
The first week I was able to relax a little bit and get used to my surroundings, the second week was a whole new experience though. I try not to guess why God has done things the way He has, I just keep the faith that everything He does leads me down the best possible path for success, however that might be defined. So it just so happens that my very first time teaching was this past Monday in front of 20 or so 10th graders more or less eager to learn Biology. See I last
I've met some great people here in Phnom Penh, I'm sure if anyone will continue to read this blog youwill get to know all of them in time. But for my first post I have to mention Tim and Fay Scott. Tim is the man I kept in contact with before leaving the states for good. Upon arrival here they let me stay at their place with my new roomate Travis. They fed us and showed us around town, don't know what I would've done without them. They're like the den parents to all of us and there's nothing they don't have a good answer for.
Well, how much do people usually write in one post? I feel like I could go on and on and on and on about my experience so far and what I hope to do in my time here and the amazing people that work so hard doing everything I've been doing multiplied by a few billion for a dozen years. Then there's my amazing family and church family that have made this whole thing possible. But, it's late Sunday night, a new week is starting with another Biology class in the morning...
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