Hard at work. So thankful for manipulatives!
Life here is so good. Teaching is way easier the second year! As is living in Cambobo. It's such a relief not to be wondering about everything all the time. It's been great seeing friends from last year and making new ones. This weekend, I went to two restaurants I frequented last year, and both places remembered my order! I'm probably the only person who orders a cheese pizza with no basil (pesto at the other place)...but still. It's nice to be remembered and welcomed back.
It's also nice not to feel like I'm going to melt into a puddle at any second. I have definitely acclimated to the heat and it feels so nice. After a very cold summer in Louisiana, my body is happy to be back in the land of no AC. We have it at school, though, thank goodness!
As thankful as I am for technology, I oftentimes find myself wishing for the time before computers, iPads, and all the other gadgets that are life-consumers. When people still knew how to speak eloquently and pour their hearts into beautifully written letters that took a really long time to arrive. When time was spent reading books, knitting, and building sleighs (just finished reading a Little House book).
I've been watching a lot of Dr. Who lately (almost done with David Tennant's episodes...I don't want to talk about it), and I keep waiting for the TARDIS to show up and whisk me away. Just like in the Don't Blink episode where she wakes up in 1907 or whenever. I shouldn't talk about that episode because it gave me nightmares.
Moving on.
My housemate Kim just posted a blog about the Khmer language, so I'm now inspired to share some of what I've learned, as well. Prepare to be impressed. These are all things I can say from memory:
"Som nom donut muy?" [Can I have one donut?]
"Som kichi pradupcup?" [Can I borrow the stapler?]
"Knyom kle-in" [I'm hungry]
"Jake" [banana]
"Ah-ha" [food]
"At dey ah koon" [No thank you]
"Knyom ak me-in" [I don't have]
I'm practically fluent. Reading Khmer is a whole nother story. Sinuon and the kids will occasionally try to teach me some things, but I know I'll never catch on. Appreciate the alphabet, people.
A few weeks ago, I had plans to meet Sarah for dinner, and we wanted to try a new pizza place near Russian market. We met at 6 and I asked my tuk tuk driver to come back at 7:30. Welp, we ordered our pizza (cheese for me, BBQ chicken for her) and we waited. About an hour later, the manager person came out and said, "Um, we're out of BBQ sauce so would you like something else?" We just laughed because, of course, an hour after you order food here is when you find out you need to change it. Anywho, we got our pizzas at about 7:25. Touen was already there to pick us up, and I didn't want to make him wait because he doesn't like being out late. It was amusing because in our dinner conversation, we had talked about how tuk tuks need tables or something so you can work or eat whilst riding. It was time to go, so we got our pizzas take-away and hopped in for our first-ever tuk tuk dining experience.
This week was also Meet the Teacher Night at school. It feels like 5 years ago, and it hasn't even been a week! I don't know what I'd do with out my wonderful TA, Sinuon. I just love her!
I keep thinking about a Khmer song that translates to "God is good all the time." I can kind of sing it, but I'm not going to attempt to spell out the words because I know they'll be way off!
Anyway, God is good. All the time.
Peace and blessings,
M
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