The essence of Cambodia



This field is soon to be turned into an apartment building

Previous to arriving here, I imagined and envisioned Cambodia to be dirty, and war-torn, and extremely poor, only to find when I got here that that is not so. Cambodia is developing faster than a flu virus. The government is a benevolent dictatorship which allows for the people to create business(literally anywhere and doing anything) and to be as capitalistic as their hearts desire.
It really is beautiful here...yes, there are still parts of the city where you see the remnants of the Khmer Rouge but they are isolated and actually much cleaner than they once were.
At the same time, don't think that its a sparkling metropolis that tourists flock to...Cambodia has a certain charm that some say it's losing but the heart of the country and its citizens is slow to change. The people love their king and they seem to love eachother. There's a definite spirit of comraderie among the natives as if they can all relate to one another and so they do. I find it very hard to dislike anyone or anything because their smiling faces emanate true happiness and appreciation. These people know what brokeness and depravity really is, so now that they are beginning to experience prosperity and even surplus, they realize what a gift it is. Being on this side of it, I see how spoiled and ungrateful America is. Maybe we need to experience want so we can be thankful for wealth.

Its a truly unique city because you could have a $200,000(thats alot here!) villa next to an abandoned lot. Wealth and poverty are almost a beautiful contrast in some places. Its as if its symbolically picturing where the country has been and where it is now going.

Even though it looks dirty and depressed here, people have businesses and are able to at least support their families.

This is the view from the top of my apartment

"Motos" are ALWAYS everywhere.

Cambodia's first overpass.

Government building.

A Labour of love

I made it through my first week of school!Today marked the last day of the first week of school and all I can say is,"I love my job." It really only feels like a job in the sense that I have to get up at a certain time and dress according to certain standards, otherwise, its really just good plain fun.
This week, we let the kids enjoy themselves. We had endless coloring-but educational-sheets. They played games and everyday we had a set movie time in the theatre. They really just got to know the surroundings of our campus and get familiar with their peers. As for the teachers, we each had a group made up of different age groups and grades which made for a diverse array of personalities and stages of childhood.  We got to get to know the kids. We were able to evaluate them throughout the week based on their responses to the different activities that we did.
I may be biased when I say this, but I had a group of 11 angels. I would just look at them and smile because they are so stinking adorable. When I looked at them, I felt truly content. I didn't dread the long hours of the school day, I looked for ways to fill them for the enjoyment of my students...because when they enjoyed something, I was happy. It was an amazing feeling and like I said, it didn't feel like work. I t just feels right, like its where I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing.  I'm truly blessed to be here.

There's a verse in the second chapter of Philippians that says, "Offering the word of life; that I may have glory in the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was not without effect." and it popped into my head this week on numerous occasions, because I realized that throughout these nine months, my life will be touching the lives of each student. In fact, I believe it already has.

One of the students in my class was Vibol(pronounced, we ball) and he, I'm sorry, had to have been my favorite. He has this adorable smile and his eyes almost disappear when he giggles. He's the kind of kid that you wish EVERY kid was like. He has this litle voice that just melts your heart and a sweet, innocent heart and impeccable manners. Really, he is just an angel in a school uniform. Anyways, I had the chance to talk with his father about how smart and advanced Vibol is for being a five year old in second grade. His father thanked me and smiled but then he told me,"Vibol always encourages me to pray about everything...All the time."
That as the highlight of my week. Its just amazing to me that a five year old child could very wel be responsible for the salvation of his parents and family and all because he attends a school that teaches him how to love God. And I just so happen to teach at that school. God is just so good.
The whole concept behind our school is to educate(and hopefully save) the wealthy children of Cambodia(who have parents in influential positions) that will grow up into the leaders of this country and Vibol's story obviously proves that my work, OUR work, has an effect. I pray that all of my students lives are changed and they change the lives of their respective families.

As I said, this isn't a job to me...at least its not dreadful like a job. I'm having fun and falling in love at the same time. I love what I do and I love Cambodia. #trulyblessed.

Missing Home

I've been in this beautiful country for two weeks now...It really feels like I've been here forever but maybe thats because I've adapted to the culture and life-changes very well. I do miss home but I really try not to think about it. If my mind wanders to my parents or my siblings...or even my adorable nephew, I try to think of something else right away, not because I don't want to think about them, but because if I do, it may be unbearable to stay here for the nine months I've committed to.
This week has been alot of preparation for the school year. School begins on Monday and I know that once its underway, I'll have little time to think or wonder about whats going on back home. Don't get me wrong, I love it here and I know what amazing things God will do through my hands but this year was a great sacrifice for me and something is only a sacrifice it its difficult to give up. Right now I'm feeling the difficulty of giving up my family and dear friends at home....But that's why God gives grace, so we can do the things He has called us to do. When they're inconvenient. And sacrificial. And sometimes crazy. He will never give us more than we can handle. He hasn't given ME more than I can handle. I'm excited for the days ahead when I get to meet the seventy beautiful students that will be like my little siblings for the next year.
I thank God for this opportunity because I know, afterwards, my life will never be the same(and I'll have some great stories to tell!)
Pray for me, please. As I said, its not easy being away from my family. Miss you guys<3
Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."

Check out the food

So, before I came here, I heard literal horror stories about the food. Veterans of my beautiful Campuchea told how everyday, rice would be served with a mysterious sauce covering it. They told how the smells and sites would turn ones stomach to the point of nausea. Well, I'm here to set the record straight...durian, is the ONLY thing that will do that to you. Ok, maybe not the only thing but I'm biased. I've been eating in the best western and most safe -from the "smells and sites" I spoke of previously-Cambodian restaurants or in my gorgeous apartment with a top class, cook(my roomie:), so I guess I'm really not authority on the issue....but one thing I know for sure, if you want to eat well here, you can. Here are the pictures to prove it:]

My first breakfast here...it was supposed to be a vegetable omelet but instead, I got vegetables on the side of my omelet...Let's say something got lost in translation.

The restaurant we ate at is called"One More"(don't have a clue why) but its very popular for breakfast. Cambodian tradition is to go out to breakfast with your family. Take the hint, America!

It's a really neat setup at One More...there are little cabanas lining the walls and the center-which you're seeing- is set up like a normal restaurant.

Fresh bread, served with breakfast.(To all you Pittsburghers- it wasn't quite Mancini's but it WAS good:)

This would be at "Shop Too"(again, I don't know the reasoning behind the name) which is a quaint, organic western restaurant. This has been my favorite place,  thus far.

This is a chicken and guacamole panini...it was absolutely delicious.

Bubble tea!!!

Rice....served with just about every meal.

Cafe Frappe from my second favorite restaurant, the S Cafe.(good news, its right down the street and they deliver to my apartment!!)

Shrimp fried rice from the S Cafe.

Self explanatory and a chorus in my heart...American food!!:]

"Waikiki burger"(it had a slice of pineapple on it) It tasted as good as it looks...I did,however, miss Heinz ketchup.

I ordered apple juice, and thats exactly what I got, a juiced apple.

My first Cambodian pizza! I had mine with pineapple and ham...and chili sauce. Residents put chili sauce on just about everything. All in all, it was pretty good. Even better, Tuesdays and Fridays is buy one get one free at Pizza World!


So doesn't it look good? Told you.
Tonight me and my roomie are making shrimp fried rice...I'll let you know how it goes...or maybe I'll show you:]

And so the journey begins!