Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Frogs

Lately the number of frogs in my house has increased. As a result I have started playing a new game, which I have fondly named "Find the Frog". The goal of the game is to find the frogs in the room before they jump and scare you. It can be played by yourself or with others. When people visit and play I have a home team advantage because some frogs have regular hangouts. For example the frog that hangs out on the shower head that doesn't work, or the frog that lives behind my movies.

Tonight I thought I would share the game and post some pictures of the frogs whereabouts right now.












This guy always impresses me with his balance.













I have bamboo growing in cut off water bottles around the house, its Cambodian decor.













I usually have a few little guys lingering in my kitchen.













There are a couple of regulars in my bathroom, tonight it was just this guy hanging out on some piping.

Stay tuned for more frog fun!

Monday, March 14, 2011

I am getting a visitor!

The countdown has been ticking away for months and it is finally almost here... my mom is coming to Cambodia in TWO WEEKS!

I am so excited I can hardly sit still. She will be getting in the night of Monday the 28th and staying for 2 weeks. Two full weeks of quality time with my mom!

As much as I have been looking forward to my mom's visit so is everyone else in Tany (my community in Cambodia). As her visit gets closer I have gotten more and more questions about her. The questions are typically Khmer and somewhat blunt in nature. The conversations usually go like this...

Khmai: What day is your mother coming?
Me: In two weeks!
Khmai: What date?
Me: The 28th.
Khmai: What time?
Me: Night time.
Khmai: Oh very late...

Khmai: Does your mother eat rice in America?
Me: No, she eats food.
Khmai: Will she eat rice in Cambodia?
Me: Yes, but maybe only one bowl of rice.
Khami: Only one bowl..? Oh.

Khmai: Does your mother know how to dance?
Me: No, but maybe she will learn.
Khami: Oh yes, she will learn.

Khmai: How old is your mother?
Me: I forget.

Khmai: How much is your mother's salary?
Me: I forget. *(sometimes I switch it up and say "I don't understand" for this question because i get it a lot)

Ming Own (my neighbor) is having a festival on the 2nd of April, when my mother will be in country and she is very excited about having so many foreigners at her party. At first I thought maybe I would try to save my mother from a Khmer party but that conversation went like this...

Ming Own: Your mother visits on the 28th?
Me: Yes.
Ming Own: Where will you go?
Me: First phnom penh then maybe Siem Reap...
Ming Own: for how many days?
Me: Maybe 5 or 6 days.
Ming Own: Then you will be here on the 2nd.
Me: Umm, yes.
Ming Own: Yes.

At least now my mom will get the whole Cambodian experience. Can't wait to see you mom, bring your sweat rag because it's is getting steamy!

North Korea

A few weeks ago I was in Phnom Penh and I went and ate at a North Korean restaurant with some other volunteers. We had stuffed eggplant, fried leaves (forget what kind of leaf), dumplings, and cold noodle soup (super spicy).

Then there was a propaganda show. All of the waitresses danced, sang, and played instruments, while pictures of country northern Korea showed on a tv behind them.

Then during one of the final acts the waitresses picked a person from each table to join them up on stage... And yes I was picked from my table. So I danced in a circle holding hands and fake flowers with the performers.

Overall, yet another unique experience in Cambodia!