So I moved. I refrained from writing about it until the issue had resolved itself. Now, after two months, it finally has. As you all know, I really enjoyed the family I was placed with at my permanent site. There was just one big problem. My bedroom did not have real walls. Two of them were plastic siding that you couldnt even lean on and didn't even block out light, least of all noise. One of them was actually a curtain which separated my room from a drop off into the living room below. This also was not so great for sound proofing. While I loved the family it became more and more difficult to continue living with them with no means to get away and have a retreat from the constant noise of living with a large family. When I began realizing how much it was effecting my sleep and health, I realized a change would be necessary. This is something I felt a large amount of anxiety and guilt about. Not only did I want to avoid offending the family and be able to maintain relationships with them but I was also battling feelings of failure and selfishness that I just could not maintain my sanity, health, and happiness in that living situation. Slowly but surely I have come to make peace with the fact that I do have needs and that is okay. I don't need lush accomodation. I do not need running water or toilet paper. I can do without TV and internet. Etc...and so forth. But, I need to have space to think. I need a quiet space to get away to. That is not something I will ever be able to compromise and stay healthy. And that is okay.
I moved a few days before Christmas into a home with two yays (grandmothers) and a 2 year old boy. I live next door to one of my health center nurses and 4 darling girls (8-12). The space I have been provided to live in is large, clean, and lovely, and most importantly, peaceful. My new family has made me feel welcomed into their home. They even had a surprise "welcome to the family" dinner party for me my first night there. I feel so fortunate to finally have this issue resolved in such a positive way and feel ready to really dig in after the holidays.
My first Christmas away from home was spent with Jayne, one of my closest friends from the states. We spent Christmas eve with another volunteer at my site then headed into Phnom Penh on Christmas afternoon. We spent some quality time eating cheese and crackers watching really bad Christmas TV movies then proceded to meet up with some other PCVs for dinner and drinks. I can honesly say it was my first Christmas at a night club experience. As much as I missed my home and my family during the holiday it was a huge blessing to have Jayne here and it was great to finally have "lock down" over so that we could meet up with other volunteers for a few days of R&R.
Now back to the real world. Well until New Years :)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
“New information buy two give one”
I this week I decided to try something new. I gave an actual creative assignment to one of my classes. After they got over their shock and rage however, they turned in some great work. The assignment was to make their own advertisment. It has to include a title for the product, a picture of the product, price, and one persuasive "if...must" statement. The folowing is a list of some of my favorite quotes from the assignment:
1)" WElcome! Welcome! every body who is the customer that always want light teeth and beauty; dont forget number 1 special toothpaste for every body's tooths and mouth called "toothpaste herbal natural" it made frome nature really! really!...if you have bad smell in your mouth nobody want to near you, so you must buy toothpaste and that toothpaste is "herbal natural" that make you life to be happy, don't worry about problem of mouth and teeth.”
2)“If you have wedding or join the party you always need jewelry to make more your beauty.”
3)“...if you want your teeth have healthy teeth you must use toothpaste to recive what good in your life and future. It has polite cost for you. Moreover when you used toothpaste produce SARAHA you must get what good to others. And when you say with someone makes them like you because you have smell good teeth nice and they are interesting with you so much.”
4)“Wellcomes! Wellcomes! All of customers that have an attention to buy clothing...if you want to make your body so good and you want a modern or ancient clothing. You must buy them in our shop...”
5)“It have a good smell for you if you used it your hair must will smooth all time. Harry up hary up will not hopeless.”
and my personal favorite,
6) “New information buy two give one” (somehow not quite what I think this student meant to say)
While the english in these may be in need of a little help, I vastly appreciated the critical thought my students put into advertising their products :)
And here are a fwe assignment quotes from students of a fellow volunteer:
"If I met the president of the US, I would say “love.”
"If I was a bird I would fly to see your face every day and all night…”
"I wont take a bath unless you near me…."
1)" WElcome! Welcome! every body who is the customer that always want light teeth and beauty; dont forget number 1 special toothpaste for every body's tooths and mouth called "toothpaste herbal natural" it made frome nature really! really!...if you have bad smell in your mouth nobody want to near you, so you must buy toothpaste and that toothpaste is "herbal natural" that make you life to be happy, don't worry about problem of mouth and teeth.”
2)“If you have wedding or join the party you always need jewelry to make more your beauty.”
3)“...if you want your teeth have healthy teeth you must use toothpaste to recive what good in your life and future. It has polite cost for you. Moreover when you used toothpaste produce SARAHA you must get what good to others. And when you say with someone makes them like you because you have smell good teeth nice and they are interesting with you so much.”
4)“Wellcomes! Wellcomes! All of customers that have an attention to buy clothing...if you want to make your body so good and you want a modern or ancient clothing. You must buy them in our shop...”
5)“It have a good smell for you if you used it your hair must will smooth all time. Harry up hary up will not hopeless.”
and my personal favorite,
6) “New information buy two give one” (somehow not quite what I think this student meant to say)
While the english in these may be in need of a little help, I vastly appreciated the critical thought my students put into advertising their products :)
And here are a fwe assignment quotes from students of a fellow volunteer:
"If I met the president of the US, I would say “love.”
"If I was a bird I would fly to see your face every day and all night…”
"I wont take a bath unless you near me…."
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Things Cambodia Does Better...
So most of my blogs to date have been either random stories or updates on the daily occurrences of my life, or sarcastic musings about the ridiculous things I have encountered in this country. Thus, I think it is time that I provide a little insight into those things which Cambodia does better.
1)Fruit: Not only does Cambodia have a wealth of fruit variety unheard of in America, but the fruits we have in common are better here (with the exception of apples). Oranges are sweeter here. Bananas come in like 800 varieties and all of them are better than anything you can buy in America. Most significant, to me, is watermelon. I do not like watermelon in America. I think it is a nasty gritty substance that tastes like water trying to be something else. In Cambodia watermelons are about a 3rd of the size of watermelons in America and it is as though you took all of the flavor in a big American watermelon, multiplied it by 2, and jammed it into the tiny watermelon. When they go out of season I will be very sad (my host family has had a bowl of watermelon with lunch and dinner every day for a good two weeks now).
2)Naptime: In my experience, and it varies from family to family I am sure, Cambodians nap (in hammocks generally) every afternoon, usually during the heat of the day. It is really nice to come home from work and have a couple hours of relaxation before going back to work.
3)Rice: While eating it 3 times a day every day is maybe not better, the rice itself tastes better.
4)Bathroom floors: Ok so I would most definitely prefer to have running water, and no mosquitos, and a variety of other bathroom features. However, the bathroom floor design in Cambodia (and many other countries) is in my opinion, better. All of the floors are tile or concrete with a drain. This is convenient for many purposes (not just the obvious one of needing somewhere for the water from you bucket showers to go) that are as follows: 1) When ill you can vomit on the floor with easy cleanup, this is my most appreciated advantage to the floor drain 2) If you spill anything on the floor in general, no prob. 3) When you brush your teeth you can spit on the floor. I know this is not necessary if you have a sink, but it is still kind of satisfying in a weird way. 4) You no longer need things like floor mats to keep your floor dry. It’s not supposed to be dry. It’s a bathroom. A room for bathing.
5)Wedding clothes: Not only are they way better for making one feel like an 80’s rock star, but you also get to wear like 8 different dresses for your wedding. That is the feature I like best. When you get married (a 2 or 3 day affair here) you don’t have to pick that one perfect dress, you get to pick like 8 perfect dresses and play makeover for 3 days. Sweet.
6)Text messages: They are just better. As a whole, way more entertaining and they make far less sense. For that matter, use of english is better here in many ways. Or more comical at least. Like when my co-teacher asks me if he can say "rub it out" in place of "erase the chalk board" or when one of the female teachers at my school tells me that my hair looks "especially" today. And on that note the text of the week goes to either:
1) In response to a text I sent about rats in my bed.... "Just your Cambodian snuggle buddies... You know, compliments of the Peace Corps."
2) OR "I want to ask you some questions. The sentence 'this is the color yellow,' and this is the yellow color. Which one is correct or both are correct?" This is only funny because I got it from my co-teacher at about 10:00 at night and then again from another co-teacher the following morning around 5:45am.
1)Fruit: Not only does Cambodia have a wealth of fruit variety unheard of in America, but the fruits we have in common are better here (with the exception of apples). Oranges are sweeter here. Bananas come in like 800 varieties and all of them are better than anything you can buy in America. Most significant, to me, is watermelon. I do not like watermelon in America. I think it is a nasty gritty substance that tastes like water trying to be something else. In Cambodia watermelons are about a 3rd of the size of watermelons in America and it is as though you took all of the flavor in a big American watermelon, multiplied it by 2, and jammed it into the tiny watermelon. When they go out of season I will be very sad (my host family has had a bowl of watermelon with lunch and dinner every day for a good two weeks now).
2)Naptime: In my experience, and it varies from family to family I am sure, Cambodians nap (in hammocks generally) every afternoon, usually during the heat of the day. It is really nice to come home from work and have a couple hours of relaxation before going back to work.
3)Rice: While eating it 3 times a day every day is maybe not better, the rice itself tastes better.
4)Bathroom floors: Ok so I would most definitely prefer to have running water, and no mosquitos, and a variety of other bathroom features. However, the bathroom floor design in Cambodia (and many other countries) is in my opinion, better. All of the floors are tile or concrete with a drain. This is convenient for many purposes (not just the obvious one of needing somewhere for the water from you bucket showers to go) that are as follows: 1) When ill you can vomit on the floor with easy cleanup, this is my most appreciated advantage to the floor drain 2) If you spill anything on the floor in general, no prob. 3) When you brush your teeth you can spit on the floor. I know this is not necessary if you have a sink, but it is still kind of satisfying in a weird way. 4) You no longer need things like floor mats to keep your floor dry. It’s not supposed to be dry. It’s a bathroom. A room for bathing.
5)Wedding clothes: Not only are they way better for making one feel like an 80’s rock star, but you also get to wear like 8 different dresses for your wedding. That is the feature I like best. When you get married (a 2 or 3 day affair here) you don’t have to pick that one perfect dress, you get to pick like 8 perfect dresses and play makeover for 3 days. Sweet.
6)Text messages: They are just better. As a whole, way more entertaining and they make far less sense. For that matter, use of english is better here in many ways. Or more comical at least. Like when my co-teacher asks me if he can say "rub it out" in place of "erase the chalk board" or when one of the female teachers at my school tells me that my hair looks "especially" today. And on that note the text of the week goes to either:
1) In response to a text I sent about rats in my bed.... "Just your Cambodian snuggle buddies... You know, compliments of the Peace Corps."
2) OR "I want to ask you some questions. The sentence 'this is the color yellow,' and this is the yellow color. Which one is correct or both are correct?" This is only funny because I got it from my co-teacher at about 10:00 at night and then again from another co-teacher the following morning around 5:45am.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Cambodia is breaking me.
Not really. But there were a few significant events this past week that were just ridiculous, maddenning, hillarious, or some other extreme emotion.
#1) This week I was told I am fat for the first time in my life. I don't think I have actually gained weight here, and if I have, not much. But the other day I was sitting minding my own business eating breakfast when my host brother walked over pointed at my stomach and informed me that I had gotten fat after only 2 months here and would behuge by the end of two years. Thanks Cambodia.
#2) Yesterday I was walking down to take a shower when I get hit in the face with a bat. The animal not the sporting equipment. Thanks Cambodia.
#3) While in class earlier this week I got a phone call from an unknown number. I answered it. It was a strange man. I said "who is this." He said "I am the monk." I do not know how a monk got my phone number, but now he has it and is texting me often. I might go hang with him at a pagoda this weekend. We shall see. This brings me to the text of the week (just for you dad, since you requested that this blog feature continue):
"Hi ! Nice 2 meet u again ! Hope 2 see you anyday. ok? Because, I 1 2 make friendship with u. Because u a good person. The old wood is the best 2 burn, the old book is the best 2 read, The old wine is the best 2 drink, The old friend is the best 2 keep 4ever... G.Luck 4 U....OK....And successfully in ur life."
Seems like the kind of text one should get from a monk they have never met right? Right. Thanks Cambodia.
#1) This week I was told I am fat for the first time in my life. I don't think I have actually gained weight here, and if I have, not much. But the other day I was sitting minding my own business eating breakfast when my host brother walked over pointed at my stomach and informed me that I had gotten fat after only 2 months here and would behuge by the end of two years. Thanks Cambodia.
#2) Yesterday I was walking down to take a shower when I get hit in the face with a bat. The animal not the sporting equipment. Thanks Cambodia.
#3) While in class earlier this week I got a phone call from an unknown number. I answered it. It was a strange man. I said "who is this." He said "I am the monk." I do not know how a monk got my phone number, but now he has it and is texting me often. I might go hang with him at a pagoda this weekend. We shall see. This brings me to the text of the week (just for you dad, since you requested that this blog feature continue):
"Hi ! Nice 2 meet u again ! Hope 2 see you anyday. ok? Because, I 1 2 make friendship with u. Because u a good person. The old wood is the best 2 burn, the old book is the best 2 read, The old wine is the best 2 drink, The old friend is the best 2 keep 4ever... G.Luck 4 U....OK....And successfully in ur life."
Seems like the kind of text one should get from a monk they have never met right? Right. Thanks Cambodia.
Friday, November 20, 2009
"Cher, cher, cher...!" and sweet potatos
As much as I may have previously been disinclined towards the teaching profession I find it is growing on me in Cambodia. There is something oddly endearing about hearing "hello cher!" wherever you go, whether you know the individual in question or not. I am finding that I am getting increasingly attached to my students and enjoying time in the classroom more and more. The following are some good "cher"statements from this week: "Cher, you are not normal." This was a statement in regaurds to my appearance. "Cher, you read good, I have made you a friend in my heart." And "cher, thank you from my heart you praise me." This occured on a visit I paid to the former host family of the previous PC volunteer. After sitting there a while a congregation of 12th grade girls formed around me and this was the response one of them gave me when I told her she spoke english very clearly.
This week I started teaching english at the health center as well. Already I feel vastly more "in" with the staff. I have also found that I very much like teaching adult learners. They are far less timid than my high school students...not to mention I don't have to follow a specific curriculum. They do, however, all call me "cher" now as well.
Other interesting occurances since I last wrote:
1) Rats LOVE butterscotch. My aunt Diane sent me a lovely (and much appreciated) care package with all kinds of goodies in it. Among these was a bag of dumdums. Earlier this week I went to retrieve one of the dum dums and found that a rat had gotten into the bag. What was interesting was that it had attacked ALL of the butterscotch suckers and NONE of the others. So there you have it. Rats seem to really enjoy butterscotch dum dums.
2) While in town a couple of weeks ago we paid a visit to one of the tailors whome we had made friends with on a previous occasion. We were having her finish the ends of several Kromas (plaid multipurpose peice of fabric people use as a headcovering among other things). She had a large bag of fabric scraps and, as I love to sew random little things, I asked her what she did with the scraps, and whether or not she would sell them. She ended up giving me a large bag of various peices of beutiful fabric, silks and satins in many colors (and refused to let me pay her). I was beyond excited by the possibility of all the fun things I could make! One of my first projects was a fun silk hair flower to repay her for her kindness.
3) I got prank called by a police officer, I think he may even be my commune police cheif. Theother day I am sitting on a bench outside the teachers lounge at school, enjoying the slightly cooler weather and watching some students play soccer, when my phone rings. I answer it and no one is there...I say "Hello, hello...." then here resounding laughter and turn around to find several teachers and the officer laughing and holding up his phone. Would this happen in America...prob not.
4) The other day at school one of the female teachers started petting my arm and asked me if my arm hair was natural. Huh?
5) I went to my first funeral this past week. My co-teacher's father-in-law passed away so I went to the funeral with two other teachers. This was not only culturally facinating but also an amusing event in several ways. For starters the co-teachers I went with rode bikes since I cannot ride a moto (this was actually a really kind gesture since people tend to avoid physical exertion when possible). The funny part was this: we met at the private primary school near my house and they just randomly took some little kids bikes. So, not only were they riding bikes, but one teacher wrode a bike with tires literally a foot in diameter, and the other rode a pink "turbo fairy" bike. Following them barreling down dirt rodes (with mud pits deeper than the small bike itself!)on bikes stolen from children, was beyond funny. Now, I had expected to be going to the family home and paying my respects, then leaving. But I had in fact been invited to the procession portion of the funeral in which the family and all guests walk the body to the family's wat. Had I know this I would not have sported never before worn closed toed mary-jane shoes from the states (it was finally cold enough to wear closed toed shoes). After walking about 3 miles I had bleeding blisters on both my feet. My co-teachers FLIPPED. I believe the exact statement made was "OH Meghan, I am soooo sorry I have made this happen to you!" While I certainly appreciated their concern, I was also exceedinly amused by the level of concern shown for an occurance all too commonplace to any high-heel loving woman in America.
6) Favorite text of the past couple weeks: "I loath wedding season. And whoever brought stereo systems to Cambodia- whatn an ass-hole." I could not agree more.
This weekend we were fortunate enough to have our language IST in which about 18 of us (mostly K3s and a few K2s) all gathered in Battambang town. In a thoughtful gesture, Peace Corps planned this to coincide nicely with Thanksgiving. Thanks to the efforts of our two provintial town volunteers, we were all able to celebrate the holiday together at a local restaurant complete with American football, smoked turkey, mashed potatos and gravy, sweet potatos, string beans, pie and ice cream. It was a phenomenal mean by all accounts. What was most surprising to me however, was how entirely content I felt. I certainly miss my family and would have loved to be with them for the holidays but felt no lament or regret to be exactly where I was. There was something great about being able to celebrate an American holiday in a traditional way here with so many people sharing this common (yet varying) experience. I also find it amusing that my first experience with sweet potatos was in Cambodia.
This week I started teaching english at the health center as well. Already I feel vastly more "in" with the staff. I have also found that I very much like teaching adult learners. They are far less timid than my high school students...not to mention I don't have to follow a specific curriculum. They do, however, all call me "cher" now as well.
Other interesting occurances since I last wrote:
1) Rats LOVE butterscotch. My aunt Diane sent me a lovely (and much appreciated) care package with all kinds of goodies in it. Among these was a bag of dumdums. Earlier this week I went to retrieve one of the dum dums and found that a rat had gotten into the bag. What was interesting was that it had attacked ALL of the butterscotch suckers and NONE of the others. So there you have it. Rats seem to really enjoy butterscotch dum dums.
2) While in town a couple of weeks ago we paid a visit to one of the tailors whome we had made friends with on a previous occasion. We were having her finish the ends of several Kromas (plaid multipurpose peice of fabric people use as a headcovering among other things). She had a large bag of fabric scraps and, as I love to sew random little things, I asked her what she did with the scraps, and whether or not she would sell them. She ended up giving me a large bag of various peices of beutiful fabric, silks and satins in many colors (and refused to let me pay her). I was beyond excited by the possibility of all the fun things I could make! One of my first projects was a fun silk hair flower to repay her for her kindness.
3) I got prank called by a police officer, I think he may even be my commune police cheif. Theother day I am sitting on a bench outside the teachers lounge at school, enjoying the slightly cooler weather and watching some students play soccer, when my phone rings. I answer it and no one is there...I say "Hello, hello...." then here resounding laughter and turn around to find several teachers and the officer laughing and holding up his phone. Would this happen in America...prob not.
4) The other day at school one of the female teachers started petting my arm and asked me if my arm hair was natural. Huh?
5) I went to my first funeral this past week. My co-teacher's father-in-law passed away so I went to the funeral with two other teachers. This was not only culturally facinating but also an amusing event in several ways. For starters the co-teachers I went with rode bikes since I cannot ride a moto (this was actually a really kind gesture since people tend to avoid physical exertion when possible). The funny part was this: we met at the private primary school near my house and they just randomly took some little kids bikes. So, not only were they riding bikes, but one teacher wrode a bike with tires literally a foot in diameter, and the other rode a pink "turbo fairy" bike. Following them barreling down dirt rodes (with mud pits deeper than the small bike itself!)on bikes stolen from children, was beyond funny. Now, I had expected to be going to the family home and paying my respects, then leaving. But I had in fact been invited to the procession portion of the funeral in which the family and all guests walk the body to the family's wat. Had I know this I would not have sported never before worn closed toed mary-jane shoes from the states (it was finally cold enough to wear closed toed shoes). After walking about 3 miles I had bleeding blisters on both my feet. My co-teachers FLIPPED. I believe the exact statement made was "OH Meghan, I am soooo sorry I have made this happen to you!" While I certainly appreciated their concern, I was also exceedinly amused by the level of concern shown for an occurance all too commonplace to any high-heel loving woman in America.
6) Favorite text of the past couple weeks: "I loath wedding season. And whoever brought stereo systems to Cambodia- whatn an ass-hole." I could not agree more.
This weekend we were fortunate enough to have our language IST in which about 18 of us (mostly K3s and a few K2s) all gathered in Battambang town. In a thoughtful gesture, Peace Corps planned this to coincide nicely with Thanksgiving. Thanks to the efforts of our two provintial town volunteers, we were all able to celebrate the holiday together at a local restaurant complete with American football, smoked turkey, mashed potatos and gravy, sweet potatos, string beans, pie and ice cream. It was a phenomenal mean by all accounts. What was most surprising to me however, was how entirely content I felt. I certainly miss my family and would have loved to be with them for the holidays but felt no lament or regret to be exactly where I was. There was something great about being able to celebrate an American holiday in a traditional way here with so many people sharing this common (yet varying) experience. I also find it amusing that my first experience with sweet potatos was in Cambodia.
Friday, November 13, 2009
So health makes a big difference...
So it turns out that being healthy makes a big difference in how everything in life works out. Since getting back to site (after my long absence due to various illnesses) things have begun to pick up a lot. I am finally legitimately teaching (not just observing) and have actually been enjoying it quite a lot. I am still such a novelty that it is not difficult to get my students to pay attention, and fresh rediculousness abounds daily. My favorite was probably when, on my first or second day of teaching, the school's "crazy lady" came into the room and started yelling (I presume about politics) at the class while I was going over pronounciation of new vocab.
There have been several occasions of note in the last couple of weeks:
1) I discovered recently that I am turning into my mother. I have always mocked the woman for her obsession with holiday decorations, and the other day I found myself sitting in a hamock outside making individual thanksgiving table name cards for all of the volunteers I will be sharing the holiday with. The next day I made a trip to the market where I managed to purchase red and green fabric with the intention of sewing stockings for Christmas (since Jayne is coming to see me for the holiday!). I had a great time trying to explain to the group that gathered around my why I wanted to purchase this fabric. I ended up exaplaining that there was an important American holiday next month and that I wanted to make stockings (which I drew a picture of with a little present and an arrow going into the stocking). The tailor proceeded to measure from my heel to my knee. It would seem that the concept of stocking was relayed, but the concept of a stocking for decoration was lost in translation.
2) I found a tutor. She is the younger sister of one of my co-teachers and also tutored the K1 that was at my site before me. I am very excited about this. My Khmer needs help.
3)The other day we did not have school because it was Cambodia's independence day. One of my co-teachers invited me over to his house to meet his family and eat lunch. This turned out to be a big holiday lunch celebration complete with tons of food, lots of other teachers, and beer. My favorite part of this event was probably watching my co-teacher's wife killing a bag full of recently caught fish. She literally had to chase their wriggling bodies through the yard while wacking them with the back side of a large knife. It was an experience.
4) Random observation. The other day I was on the way to school on my bike, and was faced with an all too common brush with almost certain catastrophe. I had a huge semi rushing by me on one side and a team of slow going bikes on my other side. Then out of no-where I got cut off by a horse drawn cart. This is just a beautiful example of the odd contrast between modern and old-school so prevalent here.
5) I will begin teaching english at the health center next week. I have no idea how I am going to go about doing this but am sure I will figure it out before Wed. On that note. While at the health center last week one of my students showed up with his friend to install a tv so that patients could watch Khmer music videos (always epic) while waiting. They proceded to sit down and try and translate the songs for me. IT was hillarious. By the end of this session this boy stood up and said "Cher, I like you a lot. Do you like me?" I could not help giggling a little. BTW "Cher" is what comes out when Khmer students say teacher, in case that was not clear. Things like that remind me why I am here.
6) Awkward class moment. My co-teacher comes in and says to the class "you all look very nice and ready to learn today since you are wearing your name tags" not sure why they all had name tags but they did. He followed this up by saying "And students, look at sister Meghan, she looks very pretty today doesnt she?" There was resounding confirmation and I have rarely felt so uncomfortable. This was probably because I was looking especially Khmer that day. Complete with a collared shirt with large fake diamond buttons.
7) Best text message I have recieved to date: "Hi. MEG GEN. How a u to day, about your fell this time? U eat rice yet? What food? I can eat with you te? U remember i te? I'm _____. I hope u well health na but i not well te. Please u pray for i. GOD in u 4ever na. Bye"
I am sure I will have pleanty more updates soon!
There have been several occasions of note in the last couple of weeks:
1) I discovered recently that I am turning into my mother. I have always mocked the woman for her obsession with holiday decorations, and the other day I found myself sitting in a hamock outside making individual thanksgiving table name cards for all of the volunteers I will be sharing the holiday with. The next day I made a trip to the market where I managed to purchase red and green fabric with the intention of sewing stockings for Christmas (since Jayne is coming to see me for the holiday!). I had a great time trying to explain to the group that gathered around my why I wanted to purchase this fabric. I ended up exaplaining that there was an important American holiday next month and that I wanted to make stockings (which I drew a picture of with a little present and an arrow going into the stocking). The tailor proceeded to measure from my heel to my knee. It would seem that the concept of stocking was relayed, but the concept of a stocking for decoration was lost in translation.
2) I found a tutor. She is the younger sister of one of my co-teachers and also tutored the K1 that was at my site before me. I am very excited about this. My Khmer needs help.
3)The other day we did not have school because it was Cambodia's independence day. One of my co-teachers invited me over to his house to meet his family and eat lunch. This turned out to be a big holiday lunch celebration complete with tons of food, lots of other teachers, and beer. My favorite part of this event was probably watching my co-teacher's wife killing a bag full of recently caught fish. She literally had to chase their wriggling bodies through the yard while wacking them with the back side of a large knife. It was an experience.
4) Random observation. The other day I was on the way to school on my bike, and was faced with an all too common brush with almost certain catastrophe. I had a huge semi rushing by me on one side and a team of slow going bikes on my other side. Then out of no-where I got cut off by a horse drawn cart. This is just a beautiful example of the odd contrast between modern and old-school so prevalent here.
5) I will begin teaching english at the health center next week. I have no idea how I am going to go about doing this but am sure I will figure it out before Wed. On that note. While at the health center last week one of my students showed up with his friend to install a tv so that patients could watch Khmer music videos (always epic) while waiting. They proceded to sit down and try and translate the songs for me. IT was hillarious. By the end of this session this boy stood up and said "Cher, I like you a lot. Do you like me?" I could not help giggling a little. BTW "Cher" is what comes out when Khmer students say teacher, in case that was not clear. Things like that remind me why I am here.
6) Awkward class moment. My co-teacher comes in and says to the class "you all look very nice and ready to learn today since you are wearing your name tags" not sure why they all had name tags but they did. He followed this up by saying "And students, look at sister Meghan, she looks very pretty today doesnt she?" There was resounding confirmation and I have rarely felt so uncomfortable. This was probably because I was looking especially Khmer that day. Complete with a collared shirt with large fake diamond buttons.
7) Best text message I have recieved to date: "Hi. MEG GEN. How a u to day, about your fell this time? U eat rice yet? What food? I can eat with you te? U remember i te? I'm _____. I hope u well health na but i not well te. Please u pray for i. GOD in u 4ever na. Bye"
I am sure I will have pleanty more updates soon!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Cambodia Massage Update...
OK so a couple of the other volunteers happened upon a massage place on a random side street in Battambang called "Seeing Hands Massage" or something like that and had a positive experience so I decided it was worth another go. Mind you, last time I took other people's word for a "good massage" I got kicked repeatedly in the V. So anyhow I went with another volunteer to this place run by blind individuals (hence the "seeing hands" title) and have to say it may have been one of the best massages I have ever had. So, SUCCESS. I have found a massage place in my provintial town and I feel like a whole new woman.
PS: Do not attempt to get a bikini wax in Battambang town (advice from an anonymous source)
PS: Do not attempt to get a bikini wax in Battambang town (advice from an anonymous source)
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