Kids, kids and more kids!

After 15 years in the commercial real estate industry, I left the Washington, DC area to accept a teaching position with Heritage International School located in the Beong Keng Kang I area of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

I am now responsible for educating 48 Khmer kindergarten students in the basics of the English language. Talk about stepping out of a comfort zone!  I'm in completely new territory.  Volunteer tutoring and assisting in computer literary course work is nothing like teaching 2 classes of 24 wiggly, snotty, squirmy little bundles of joy!  These little ones are dependent upon me to guide them through learning to read, write and be responsible little people.  Since becoming a teacher, I have even greater respect for those teachers who care and take the extra step to ensure the students are learning.  It really is a under appreciated job.

I've found so far in my brief time teaching that you're constantly "on".   I'll be completely honest, those first 2 days of teaching, I came home so frazzled that I wondered if I'd made a huge mistake.  All I wanted to do was sit in complete silence.  I could no longer be the grumpy, don't talk to me until after 10 am, I haven't finished my coffee, unsmiling face.  Those kids don't deserve that person and I refuse to be that person.  I've never talked or smiled so much in my life.

Kids manage breathe life into the gloomiest of days.  They also manage to breathe germs onto and into you as well.  I'm recovering from what I'm calling a cross between a cold and sinus infection. I was torn between banning the kids from ever touching me again to realizing I'd miss out on one of the best parts of my day!  The hugs!

The first weeks of teaching you're establishing rules and boundaries so these little people can have structure.  In addition, you're wiping noses, singing songs and passing out hugs.  The hugs and story time are by far the best parts of my day.  I'm trying so hard not have favorites but there is this one absolutely adorable little boy who gives the best hugs daily!  He's quick to curl up in your lap or surprise attack you from behind with a leg hug.

This past week, he gifted me with a rumdul flower necklace.  Talking about learning to woo early!  Rumdul flowers have a very lovely fragrance and are the national flower of Cambodia.

New place, new space.

This new place, space that I'm in is not like any other place I've ever lived.  

Despite having all my windows closed and constantly burning incense (which by the way, you can add to the list of things to send me, all I've seen here are the stick kind for temple) I wake up every morning to strange smells.  From someone's breakfast that smells like dinner to what smells like coals being burned.  

Since I'm on the topic of smells, let me inject about the air pollution. It's horrible!  The air pollution is insane and I carry around a handkerchief and face wipes.  The grit that finds its way onto your skin is unbelievable.  I have a love hate relationship with the rain.  I love it because after it rains, it's the only time the air feels clean yet the steamy sewage smells will catch you off guard and curl your toes.   

I only have hot water in my bathroom and you have to flip a switch to get it going 15 minutes prior to taking a shower.  Not that you even notice the water's not hot since it's so hot everywhere else.  Only having hot water in the bathroom also means either boiling water to wash dishes by hand or hauling it from the bathroom.   Oh and let me not forget having to hang my clothes to dry.  Boy, do I miss the having a dryer.

The most recent and latest discovery that is the lizards (geckos) popping up out of no where! Oh and the ants!  I had no idea.  I feel like I need to put my trash in tupperware!  The ants are amazing in hunting down one iota of sugar.  

I put insect repellant on daily like it's lotion.  Side Note: Thank goodness for great friends! My girl hooked me up with this all natural botanical stuff that is amazing! Doesn't even smell like repellant.

It's been over a month since I left the US and I've managed to lose weight (although, this has not been proven, since I don't have a scale.  Assuming this is true do to the looseness of my clothes) without even trying.  Winning!  In addition to the weight loss, I've turned what feels like, 3 shades darker.  I've gone past the golden red hue, to golden brown on to a deep mahogany.   At least, in my mind, this is what I see. 

I've embraced those bygone years of my twenties, where cereal and a piece of fruit has turned into lunch and coffee and granola bar is breakfast.  Dinner?  What's that? Dinner consist of another bowl of cereal or dinner out when I just need a real meal or a beer.  Can't beat dollar beer!

I have never appreciated bottle water more in my life.   Having to walk to buy and haul liter bottles up a spiral staircase has cured me of being water wasteful.  No more half empty bottles of water sitting around to be poured out.
   

After reading what I just typed, it sounds like I'm having a terrible go at it and I'm not!  Let me interject some of the wonderful aspects of being here.   Khmer people are very warm and friendly.  I've made some really good friends who made this transition into this new space painless along with my sister, Nik who helped see me settled in this new space.  I've been completely pushed out of my comfort zone and forced to embraced life again.  Karaoke anyone?  How about roller skating? 

The food is just lovely.  It's a very simple fair with complex flavoring influenced by French, Thai and Vietnamese. Oh and did I forget the best part, it's super cheap!  I typically have Khmer food for lunch.  A full lunch for only $2.50!!!  I may never cook again!  I love visiting the markets and local spots for fresh fruits and vegetables. 

The kids...oh the kids.  I'll have to save the kids for a separate post.  Lets just say the kids breathe life into you amongst other things.

Some of the tasty treats of Phnom Penh.

Sweet and Sour Beef Stew with French bread.

My new favorite vegetable.  Morning glories with garlic and chili. 

Fish Amok, Tom Kai and Stir fired veggie with noodles.

Can't forget dollar beer! 

Temples of Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor, in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom.  The architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level of social order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. Angkor is therefore a major site exemplifying cultural, religious and symbolic values, as well as containing high architectural, archaeological and artistic significance.  (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668)

Temples such as Angkor Wat (poor lighting but if you look really closely Angkor Wat is in the background)

The Bayon (touching Buddha's nose)

Preah Khan (see first picture) 

and Ta Prohm

are examples of Khmer architecture, and are closely linked to their geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance. (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668)

Visiting the temples is a must should you find yourself in Cambodia.  It's well worth the trip.  Give yourself enough time to visit as many of the temples as possible (there are over 50 temples)!  The architecture is amazing and the views are outstanding.  Remember to dress appropriately for the warm weather and to wear comfortable walking shoes as you'll be doing a lot of walking and climbing.  After a full day of temple combing, Siem Reap has a wonderful nightlife and shopping. Tons of great deals can be found at the night market as well as reasonable priced food and drinks.  

Night Market, Siem Reap.

I had a great time exploring the temples with my sister, Nik and of course, Pooks.

Cambodia, I'm here!

Independent Monument, Phnom Penh

The first few day in Cambodia was interesting. My first impressions of Phnom Penh was that it weirdly reminded me of Puerto Rico until I woke up and went exploring the next day. The heat was overwhelmingly oppressive and the air pollution from all the moto bikes and tuk tuks is outta this world! You feel constantly gritty. The hotel I was first in was not too far from the Royal Palace and not in an area with other foreigners (expats). 

Moto bike. 

I moved to Beoung Keng Kang 1 area on day 2 and found it to be a way better environment.  My sister flew a few days after my arrival and has been helping me get settled.  We've really been playing tourist and trying not go get on each others nerves. 

Scenes from around the city.

 Food cart selling roasted chickens.

Fruit stand at Central Market. 

Lovely fresh flower at Central Market.

We popped down to Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand for a few days. The flight to Bangkok was only an hour BUT the midnight train to Surat Thani and bus to Phuket was grueling but all and all an adventure I'll remember.  

Hello Bangkok, we're here!

Waiting on the midnight train to Phuket.

Even Pooks thought the train ride was the longest!

Surat Thani train station.

While waiting for the bus in Surat Thani, I somehow managed to get interviewed by 3 school girls about what country I was from and what I thought of Surat Thani.  I must say it wasn't much of an interview as I had just arrived into town.  

Bangkok was fun and getting around on the metro is easy peas.  I'll definitely go back.  I only got 1 day in Phuket but plan to go back before I depart from this part of the world.  

Let the adventures begin...

My journey to Southeast Asia began with a 14 hour non stop flight to South Korea's Incheon airport which I somehow managed to stay awake by watching non stop movies.  It's my trick for avoiding jet lag and actually works!  After arriving in Incheon, my mom and I took a 45 minute bus ride to my family's house in Seongnam. 


According to Wikipedia, Seongnam is the second largest city in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province after Suwon and the 10th largest city in the country. Its population is approximately one million. Seongnam is a satellite city of Seoul. It is largely a residential city located immediately southeast of Seoul and belongs to the Seoul National Capital Area.
Despite the language and cultural differences (my native language is English) Seongnam and Seoul always whispers to me, "welcome back".   My family is always a pleasure to see and manages to fill every minute of my day with activities.  During this visit, eating is a big part of my trip.  Feeding my inner fat girl is always a top priority and apparently a priority for my family as well.  Every morning consisted of a typical Korean breakfast (rice, assorted veggies, kimchi, fish and/or a dish with meat (in this case both)). 

Breakfast

I'm such a lucky girl that my cousin owns a sushi restaurant that serves a fusion of Japanese sushi with Korean flare.  The amount of food consumed is unbelievable.   Nothing goes to waste, all the left over sushi is put in to a stew for us to take home.  Of course, let me not forget, Soju, the ever accompanying drink of choice for evening meals.

 Front of the restaurant.

The spread. 

The drink.

I even managed to try a few new dishes.  I must say chicken feet, blood sausage stuff with noodles and toad fish stew is a first for me.  

We went camping for three days.  My mom is hilarious. She is not a camper for sure. 90% of the time she was sitting with her feet in the water trying to stay cool. She hates the heat and complained about it non stop! Why this is all so very hilarious is because we weren't roughing it at all, we even had electricity at the camp site.  

Campsite.

The rest of my visit included a trip to Hwaseong Fotress in Suwon and tons of laughs with my young cousins. 

My younger cousins had a blast and even talked me into trying my hand at archery. I actually managed to get 2 of the arrows on the target!  Yay, me! 

Archery Field

Cousins enjoying ice cream!

My visit with family was a great start to my new adventures in Southeast Asia.  On to the next leg...

Travel Companion on Life's Next Adventure

I find myself in a new space, a new place as life pushes me in a new direction.  This blog is to document my adventures over the next phase of my life.   I'm lucky enough to have the world's greatest travel companion, on loan from a wonderful friend in the US.

Let me introduce you all to Pooks also known as Pookie.  He is an older dude from southeastern North Carolina and my current road dog on my next life adventure.