Into Cambodia

Anyu

2009-06-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

Anyu accompanied by his mother and Sen headed back to Phnom Penh yesterday. He went to the hospital today to begin reconstructive surgery.

Pharmacist Failer

2009-05-26T22:57:00.000-07:00

I'm in Phnom Penh for the week. One of our Khmer staff has debate at university and needed a hand. I'm the hand! I've been helping with medical clinics by day, and teaching her classes by night. I definitely have the clinic bug and am loving it! The last couple of morning I've hopped in a van with a few other Khmer at 6:30 a.m. headed out to villages. The clinic Saturday was in a church. I was instructed to take blood pressure, but failed at both hearing and seeing blood thumping. I refused the job and switched desks with the distributor of meds. The last 2 mornings I've stuck with the pharmacist position. I can even tell the patient how many pills how many times for what length of time in Khmer with them understanding! Yesterday we headed to a village built on the outskirts of clothing factories or otherwise known as sweat shops. It was quite interesting to see the large development of housing wound between and about the kilometers of factories outside of Phnom Penh. We even had a puppy infested with worms drop by for a pill!

Pelted

2009-05-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasantly overcast day as I peddled toward the lake to teach this afternoon.
By the time I reached the school boat, my clothing testified otherwise!
Not only did I lack any sign of dryness, but also evidenced mud streaks on my backside.
I think it looked slightly artsy on the abstract side. My students love it when I show up in the above pictured state. Chuckles filled the atmosphere.

Rainy season, welcome. I'll embrace your cooling agent, even via pelting rain.

Jeep's Flat Tire

2009-05-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Jeep, my bicycle, developed 4 holes in its front tube yesterday. I took advantage of the opportunty to take a romuk motto back to town!!! Vehicle complications seem to not be as big a deal here in Cambodia compared to home for me. I would be stressed in continous contact with mi pawdre if I had a flat in Daytona. Here in Cambodia, however, no worries! Grab a tuk-tuk and then roll the bicycle to the closest mechanic on the side of the rode! One of the great things about being here!

Laughter is an International Language

2009-04-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

LaUgH

Today's Highlight Sounds

2009-04-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

.
Phone Alarm 5:55am
Watch Alarm 6:00am
Friendly Voice Greeting 6:15am
English Tunes in Parking Lot Inspiring Jazzer-Size Moves 6:20am
Spray Paint Can Used on Cement to Identify Accident Location 11:22am
Baby Crying 11:50am
Greetings from Students after 3 Week Break 12:11pm
Breeze Scattering through Tall Grass across the Canal from Boat 1:50pm
Woman Laughing at Me...Began Light (h.h.h.) and Tickled Deeper (ha.haa.haa.) 5:36pm
Light Conversation of Day with Familiar Voices 7:30pm
.

One Flap Caught on Film

2009-04-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

I ended up in a van load of friends from India along with Carol and Simon headed to Soonan Village last Friday. My thoughts went something like this, "Sweet! Can't wait to see another village." Those thoughts quickly changed as I was informed I'd be sharing. Such is my life. Life! My life was greatly enriched later that afternoon at the sight of a butterfly touchdown on the head of the red toothed woman sitting beside me on our palm weaved mat.

2009-04-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

I accompanied Carol to Takam Village to check up on Anyu yesterday.
Anyu's mother gave Sine a bird. It led us on a couple chases! Anyu is in the attached video. His face is healing. Open holes in the middle of 2 of his wounds closed!
Only 2 small areas which have yet to grow skin remain covered.

As we sat and chatted (more like listened to the villagers chat), I sat on the second rung of the latter to Anyu's home. Anyu's mother came over and stood with her arm rested against me. I love the comfort and familiarness between us. I have made friends in Takam Village!

2009-03-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

It was fantastic! Almost 600 Khmer children from local public schools were the hub of it all.

They carried their puppets along the riverside and concluded with a native dance in a hotel's riverside garden front. The parade was the result of a joint effort of many NGOs. Talk about a cooperative effort! It was amazing and a delight to watch!!!

Parade by Local Children :D

2009-03-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

The clip available to view above was the opening puppet of a frog man dance followed by a shuttle in outer space.

Anyu Home (sidenote)

2009-03-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

Anyu has returned home to Takam Village!!!
Praises!!! Praises!!!
After over 3 months in Phnom Penh he finally reached the point of recovery where he is able to live in his rural home village. His family and friends were excited to see him,
and vice-versa.
We have a nurse, Carol, volunteering for 3 months. She's going to help with his check ups and medication now that he's home.

Side-Saddle: Day 12

2009-03-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

My exposure to land village life has been confined to one, Takam.

The differences are as massive as the similarities between it and the floating village,

Choang Kneas, on which I teach. Although both are stricken by poverty,

the floating village seems to be more productive with the supply of fish and water life.

Side-Saddle: Day 11

2009-03-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

At times, dance results in laughter!

I am delighted that song and dance are part of our existence!!!

Side-Saddle: Day 10

2009-03-02T08:45:00.000-08:00

First, I would like everyone to acknowledge my success on making it through one third of my thirty days of Side-Saddle blogs!!! What an accomplishment for the month of February. By the time September shows itself, I might have the whole blogging thing under control. We'll see.

Last week I taught the children the letter T. One of the words they learned was telephone. So of course, we made telephones. We had a blast taking turns calling each other. I'll confess that our conversations were bilingual, however.

Side-Saddle: Day 9

2009-02-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

Take a peek at the older class comprised of supposedly 7-12 year old children. A few of them are a couple years older than that which I discovered 3 weeks ago when they learned basic conversation on age. Truthfully, some of them don't even know their age right along with their parents. Age and time are not the pressing matters of their lives. This second group of students come to school in the afternoon from 1:00pm-4:30pm. All of them greet me by name.
"Hallo Na Crew Jame!"
We've not made it to the N sound. For now, I'm Jame to half of them!

I jumped on the opportunity to teach PEOPLE along with the letter P last week. We talked about all types: Asian, African, American, short, tall, large eared, slender, fat, old, young, etc...

These 2 friends were pulled out to deeper waters last week.
They showed up for class, and next thing I know they hopped over board onto their homes
as they were being tugged out farther into the lake.

Recess :D

Side-Saddle: Day 8

2009-02-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

It's about time you meet some of the children attending PCL Preschool! Let's begin

introductions with the morning class comprised of 3 - 6 year old children. School

starts at 7:00 am for them. So you need to be headed out to the lake about 6:00 am.

It's a little early, but includes the benefit of a gorgeous sunrise over the rice fields!

Side-Saddle: Day 7

2009-02-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

You're thinking jerky, right? Possibly even fish jerky...yummm!

Think again! Yes, those are water snakes. So I finished tutoring some secondary students in English and happened to glance over the second deck of the small boat before my descent down the flight of stairs. Indeed, that was the moment my eyes encountered a boat load of snake. I didn't previously realize the red drying meat on roofs was flattened snake. Vanna, one of the Khmer men with whom I teach and is resident small boat care taker, continues to insist on purchasing snake for snack for our preschoolers. Unfortunately ;) , we have to stick with fruit because snake is out of our snack budget! Fine with me.

A son is gathering dried snaked off his parent's roof.

Side-Saddle: Day 6

2009-02-02T09:01:00.001-08:00

Hundreds of flags appeared on the road to the lake this morning. All right, hundreds may be an exaggeration, but one-hundred is by no means not even a stretch. I didn't understand their meaning. There was some connection with the pagoda to the south-east of the road, but that was the extent of my knowledge before inquiring a friend who told me they were raising money.

On my way back from the lake, these monks were pushing this large float toward a tent which I'm sure was filled with people within hours of passing. Below is a clip of the float as I passed it.

Side-Saddle: Day 5

2009-02-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

I snapped this clip on the way to the lake this morning. These children were headed home from school. Many primary schools have 2 sessions, morning and afternoon, with different children attending each. Most secondary students go for the full day. Anyway, this will give you a better picture of the amount of persons who ride one vehicle. Mind you, it's not just with bicycle riding, but also on mottos and the back of trucks. Man oh man, they pile on and in!

Side-saddle: Day 4

2009-02-02T08:32:00.001-08:00

The animal for which I most sympathize is the well bred dog. No, I am obviously
not speaking of a good breed, but rather of birthing scores to many of puppies.

Side-Saddle: Day 3

2009-02-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

Exactly at this location 4 weeks ago is where our large floating clinic/school boat was anchored to the road in the previous clip. The several meter deep water has now been transformed into rice fields. Before being tugged to this location, it was about a kilometer south by the phnom (mountain). Now it's a half of a kilometer even farther out and about to move a few more "blocks" this week. The Tonle Sap River actually reverses directions twice a year. The combo of reversal and dry season equals great recession in the lake water. The road continues to grow as it makes more of an appearance every day. The people move right along with the road. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonle_Sap if you want to read up on the Tonle Sap Lake and River.

Side-Saddle: Day 2

2009-01-27T07:41:00.000-08:00

This was taken back on December 15, 2008. It was opening day for PCL Preschool on the Tonle Sap Lake. Registration simply took place, and school began the next day. This is the boat you're cycling out with me to Monday through Friday if you're following this 30 day posting venture of mine. One of the challenges which we're facing is the receding waters. Our boat has already moved out at least a kilometer. Some of the families already are out further in the lake then we are. Because of this, the student population is comprised partly by different children than when we first began 6 weeks ago.

Side-Saddle: Day 1

2009-01-22T08:53:00.001-08:00

Kites-a-Flying

The arrival of December ushered in gusts of air. Suddenly kites appeared behind rushing children in effort to air born their plastic cut wind flyers. The last 2 months a day has not closed without passing at least 1 child enjoying the challenge of a kite. That's a solid 2 months now. I love the luxury of kites here. It's one of those things which all children (more than poor, poor, not so poor) have access and use in their free time during this season.

Side-Saddle to Tonle Sap

2009-01-20T10:25:00.000-08:00

I don't have to convince anyone that I've not quite been the best blogger. Apologies my friends! So with this new year, 2009, I've resolved to better my correspondence via BlogSpot and e-mails. My blogging will be more general relating to the way of life here in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I'll begin this new year resolution with a series of 30 blogs focusing on descriptions so you may better picture the sights, sounds, smells, feelings, and tastes about this place. These first 30 posts will pertain mostly to the happenings on the Tonle Sap Lake and the ride to and fro.

There I am. Proof...I'm among the living!!! I know y'all were wondering about the matter the last few months. The last week and a half has been Florida winter weather. Low 60s at 6:00 am when hopping on my bike for the 50 minutes cycle out. Yes, what one cycles out, one must also cycle back! The scarf about my nose and mouth is quite normal. It filters some of the dust out of my breathing. Yea!!! The one about my ears is solely due to the chill hanging in the morning air. Behind me you see the large PCL boat. It's there we began a preschool for children who receive no formal education. So hop side-saddle onto the back of my bicycle and enjoy the ride as you balance out to Tonle Sap Lake!

2008-12-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

2008-12-01T12:27:00.000-08:00

Dining in Takam!

2008-12-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

2008-11-22T07:34:00.000-08:00

Singing at Night

How high can you jump?

I'm thankful I'm not a dragon fly in Takam!

The next morning we rose with the sound of roosters strutting their voices. It was a very long night. I was relieved to hear them crow because it meant dawn was close to appearing!!! Marja and I trekked to the field for a bit of privacy for our morning refreshment of selves. This day's breakfast was the most difficult of all for me to stomach. It was the leftover soggy and strung together soup noodles which were hard to swallow. It was something about the texture and black dots of bugs which had accumulated in them through the night which did not settle nicely with my mind. The lemon grass dressing was all right. (F.Y.I. If you ever find yourself in a village without electricity, do not take noodles. You may have to eat them next morning! Rice is much more delicious and readily available.)

After breakfast, we along with 4 others including our little mom widow we were staying with began our work of finding the poorest of the poor to receive rice from the donation received. We began by heading out past the temple on the main road. Mid day we stopped at a hut belonging to a friend of our host to rest. We hiked out through rice field to make contacts with more families in the afternoon. Probably covered about 6 kilometers of land this day. I recorded all their names and a brief, very brief description of their stories. There are even single moms in the middle of rice fields for one reason or another. Our cultures are literally half a world apart, but so similar in other ways.

The evening closely resembled that of the previous one, except for everyone talking for 2 hours after dinner in the kitchen, we all sang! I love music. It does something to the soul no matter location, situation, or condition. When Majra and I occasionally recognized a song, we would follow their course in English. Take in the view: 15 or 20 so people gathered about a lit lantern in the open kitchen area. It's been by far one of my most sweetest experiences. I will cherish that memory forever!

It was another long night of cycling through sleep, waking up, turning in attempt to find a comfortable position on the wooden floor with a thin woven mat between myself and it, and shutting my eyes in preparation for sleep to overtake me yet again. In the morning, we freshened by the well. It was a long morning as we waited through the early afternoon for the van to arrive with the rice donation. Seventy plus flip-flops were also donated for the children.

I'll attach a few pictures of the games the children played. One game was the opposite of the limbo in which they saw who could run and jump the highest. They calculated the highest jumper by a rubber band like rope held by 2 children. The ones competing would take turns running, jumping, twisting around 180 degrees mid air, and attempting to hook the rope with a foot to the ground. The children also loved playing with nature, in particular horned beetles, birds, and dragon flies. I think they find the sounds and sticky feet of the beetles amusing. The birds they like to chase around from hut to hut as they land. So much for the birds having time to rest. My favorite of all was their interaction with dragon flies. After catching one, a child would tie a long piece of grass or rice stalk around the dragon flies' tail. He when then proceed to throw it in the air, chase after it and then pluck it by the grass attached to its tail out of the air. What fun! I could not believe it at first. So this, my friends, is how your children or brothers and sisters might play if they lived in a village submerged in rice fields in the middle of Cambodia.

Arrival in Takam Village

2008-10-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

Monday, the 13th of October, marked a cultural submersion of Khmer life for me unlike any figment of imagination upon which I thought I would ever converge. It was on the afternoon of that sweat producing day when I found myself in the heart of Takam Village outside of Seim Reap. There I was with a Dutch friend, Marja, who I had met 3 years prior in Zambia. She had decided to take her holiday to a distant land from her own, the Netherlands. What a pleasant surprise it was to arrive to her welcome in Seim Reap! She thought it would be a grand cultural submersion for me to stay a week or 2 out in the village to better understand the culture and jump start on the language. The idea was discussed and reshaped into a 2 night, 3 day stay by both of us. It is quite easier to be courageous and adventurous when accompanied by a friend. Also a man named Sine who works at the children's home came with us and translated. He grew up in an orphanage in the same village.

Upon our arrival in the early afternoon, we had a gathering of natives about us becoming accustomed to having 2 "tom tom" ladies in their midst. Every time we heard "tom tom" we knew we were the topic of discussion. Tom means large, and large we were in every respect in comparison to the villagers. Our little mom, a me mi (widow) named Lua, who we stayed with stood about 4 feet in height and no more than 70 pounds. Some of the older boys from the children's home built her hut which sits on stilts about 6 feet off the ground. I was relieved to find out that her home would be our residence. No lie. Some of the huts would not be able to support 2 "tom toms"! It was one of my greatest concerns before arriving. I had no desire to crush any ones home to the ground. My mind pictured a new version of the 3 Little Pigs/Goldy Locks...The first hut was too short for the tom toms. The second was not long enough. The third hut was just right until it came crashing down in the middle of night when one of the tom toms turned over.

We unloaded our water and climbed up the ladder into mom's hut to deposit our backpacks. Then we were off by foot to meet the village chief. You don't come empty handed. We came with gifts of household value like bowls, spoons, towels, and soap. The chief was hacking at a banana tree trunk of which the shavings would be fed to his 2 cows. With the much needed help of Sine for translating, we shared about our desire to build a friendship with his village and the work of People for Care and Learning. We took pictures together before parting. We explored part of the village including finding chickens and walking around the central temple before heading back to our hut. The chickens along with the rice, nuts, and spices we brought were handed over to our mom. She and a few of her neighboring friends took care of cooking the food we brought (slaughtering chickens and all). While they were preparing dinner, we made our way to the washing well. The washing well is a deep dirt hole with a log embedded at ground level to keep it from eroding during use. A bucket with a bowl inside was by the well side. You simply dipped the bucket into the water. Then you use the bowl inside the bucket to pour water over yourself. Mind yourself because there are no walls posted about the well. Huts, water oxen, and children were easily visible from the washing well. You simply bathe with a shatanga or large piece of fabric secured about yourself. I did not brave the well water because I was warned about scabies before entering the village. We were refreshed just in time for dinner. We climbed into the open sided, self standing kitchen. The floor of the kitchen hut is also serves as the table. You sit Indian style within it. When facing the front, the stove area is to the left which is not different from the right side where everyone eats. The platform is a meter off the ground. Coal is burned under the stove area. Any food that drops is swept through the cracks between the limbs dropping onto the ground where chickens and dogs are able to savage the edible. Many villagers gathered around the kitchen area once we were done eating. (Hopefully I can upload some pictures with this. You won't believe me until you see it, but they eat every part of animals. The bowl of chicken included gray intestines, char grilled feet and a head! yummm!!!) From 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. the people just talked and laughed about us. It was comfortable to feel that they were easy with us in their presence. We hit the matt literally around 9 p.m. They sleep on thin matts weaved together by tree like strips.

To be continued...

A Half of a Day Ahead

2008-10-02T02:40:00.000-07:00

So here I sit in a local's internet cafe' connected to the front of their home in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. I'll be traveling 6 hours away on Saturday to Siem Reap where I'll take root for the next year of my life!

After over 24 hours (21 of them in the air) traveling west, I was relieved to set foot outside an airport. The longest strip was over the Pacific. I do believe I was racing the sun for daylight. Stars blanketed the aircraft every time I cupped my hands to the window of seat 41A. Once in Taiwan I was set a good part of a day ahead of home. The time here in Cambodia is 11 hours ahead of the east coast of the good old USA.

Overwhelmed is a perfect term to describe my feelings between the time I landed and the time I crashed 12 hours later. Besides losing 11 hours of my life in time zone difference which probably contributed more than anything else, the mere essence of being surrounded by life of unfamiliarity almost demanded a few tears. This is when I found it worthy to induce self-talk. "Why should I feel instantly at home in a place so far from my homeland, family, and friends?" I questioned. It would be insane for me to think that I would. It's all right not to fit. Meshing is a matter of time and effort. I allowed myself a few deep inhale and exhales. The life bouncing about me will become familiar in due time. Even now I hear multiple upon multiple horns of chaos in order type of driving by motorbikes. They never stop or obey traffic laws. They're in a continual push and shove into each other to get to where they're headed. It's amazing, and I mean absolutely amazing, that accidents aren't occurring every 1/100th of a second. That is no exaggeration!

So I look forward to the days of near future when I may honestly write of feeling comfortable or at least accustomed with the new sounds, smells, tastes, sights, and textures of this Cambodia.