I am looking forward to the day that I don't have remind myself, and the other SMs that we live in Cambodia. But seriously, I LIVE IN CAMBODIA. It's just strange.
I'm starting to form routines and habits here. Which is comforting. m
I wake up around 5:45. Get dressed and turn on the computer. That is 4pm home time and there has been someone on Skype pretty much every day. It's been nice to start my day with a home connection. I ride my bike to school, it is a little more than half a mile. The first few times were terrifying! We have to cross this five way intersection and then a busy two lane rode. And the way people drive here it if often a six lane rode. I get started at, honked at, and sometimes yelled at. It's just another day.
I teach ESL. I am the only teacher that has kids all seven periods during the day. I have 28 students from 2nd to 8th grade. It's like I am a teacher in a one room school. Except they leave my room for math, english, and khmer. So my lesson plans and what I am doing when looks different each day and there is often more than one thing happening at once. The other teachers are assigned to come in and help me when they don't have classes but I am still often shorthanded. But we get by.
The kids LOVE when I ask what a word is in Khmer. [Which you pronounce Kim-ear by the way] And during lunch today they taught me about 30 words. 5 of which I can remember now. The phrase I use the most in class is, we speak english in ESL! And when I use a Khmer word because I know it they say to me-- Cha! We speak English is ESL! I'm still working on learning names. These are not American names and it is taking a little longer, but I am getting there!
There are four SMs at CAS this year. Travis and Phil live at the school and Olga and I live at the mission. Olga and I came from the same social background... You know what I mean? Friends with everyone. And the first couple of days we had a conversation about the only girlfriends we have now are each other. It's been a transition, but having someone that understands what I'm going through is huge. Her first language is Spanish and we tease her about being our own little ESL student.
This last Friday we had vespers at the school. The sun goes down aroud six all year here. As Olga and I rode our bikes onto campus it started pouring. POURING. And it did not stop. It was so loud, overpowering. I don't know how to put it into words. Vespers was outside under the picnic area and as vespers was happening we could see lightning coming down and hitting outside of the school it was pretty amazing. The funniest part though was when the thunder was loud enough to set the car alarm off on Tim and Fay's car a number of times.
Sabbath is probably going to be my favorite day of the week. Church is at 9:30, it is translated but it hasn't been anything special so I usually have just been drifting off and reading my Bible. There is potluck every other week on the mission at someones house. On the off week someone has potluck for just a small group, and I feel like that is mostly to make sure the SMs eat something good at least once a week. haha. This week it was at Tim and Fay's. There was a large number of people there with people from all over the world. It is pretty amazing to hear some of their stories. I feel so blessed to have the chance to meet and know the long term missionaries here. They are some good people. After lunch the other SMs and I went with some of the ADRA people to a house church outside the city. It was AMAZING! To watch these people be drawn in by the story of Jesus was just... It is an experience that can't be measured. I think that is how I will be spending my Sabbath afternoons this year. Looking out the window during church about 15 ox ran by and a boy maybe age eight driving a tuk tuk went by. There is no one adjective that can do this place justice.
Sabbath evening we have english vespers. It is always something different. And I really like closing the Sabbath all together. After vespers is always dinner and games at Tim and Fay's. There is always a big group and always Rook. It reminds me of weekends in Walla Walla and I like it. I get teased a lot because I never know what is happening in Rook, and dumb mistakes have now been coined "pulling an Annie". We laugh a lot. And I feel bonded by these inspiring people who have given up a life of monetary wealth for something that is much more valuable.
There is so much I want to share. I want to talk about my students and specific people on the mission. And I will. There is just a lot to take in. I sit down to write and I realize I am overwhelmed by all that is happening here. How can I even put it into words that can be understood? And as I wander my way into the honeymoon phase and begin to fall in love with this place, I am thankful for the people here that will truly make it home.
The view outside my window is vastly different than it was a month ago. My friend circle is different, my priorities are changing. What I think about when I fall asleep is different.
I struggle with change.
But I have a bruise the size of my fist on my knee, and I fell up the stairs at school today, so I guess not everything has changed.
OH my goodness. I laughed and I cried. I cried because I miss you and you inspire me with your words and wisdom, and I laughed because it makes me happy that you are still you even on the other side of the world. :) Love and miss you friend.
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