New Furniture

When I returned from Vietnam my host family and neighbors were very excited to have me home, not because I had been gone for so long, but because there had been a new addition to my house... Furniture! For the past 7 months I have lived in this house seating has been limited. My seating options were 1) wood plank that's outside 2) my blue plastic chair 3) hammock. Not bad options and all relatively comfortable, but now I have the Cadillac of seating options.


Furniture in Cambodia is made from wood and made for more looks and status than for comfort. And now my house is all kinda of status with two chairs, a love seat, and a coffee table. Granted you have to be a little careful with hardwood furniture in a small space (there have already been incidences of stubbed toes and bumped knees), but it is a fun place to sit, read, eat breakfast, and do occasional work.




My host family, neighbors, Bpo, and Niza, were all quick to tell me the cost of my new furniture (which will stay in the house when I leave, and belongs to my host family), $600. A big hit for any rural Khmer family.


In honor of the month of May (the hottest month I have ever experienced in Cambodia) there has been one other addition to my life in Cambodia... a new fan! Appropriately named Big Blue, he has been a loved new companion.


Unfortunately, Tany just switched to getting its power from Vietnam instead of Cambodia (it is cheaper) and our new power source has been a little unreliable. Usually the power turns off around 8am and does not come back on until 6pm. Thus leaving Big Blue out of commission for hot o'clock (hot o'clock in Cambodia is 11am til 4pm). Here's hoping this will not become a habit!

Vietnam

After Mom left, I had one day to do laundry and then I was off for Vietnam with my friend Ben. After a $40 Visa and 6 hour bus ride, we were in Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam. It was truly a city, with tall buildings, shopping malls (with food courts!), and movie theaters.

We walked all around the city. Visited the Fine Arts Museum.

















We went to the movies. In total we saw 8 movies in the two weeks we visited Vietnam. 3 we saw at a movie theater (Rio in 3d, The Roommate, and Big Momma), the others we saw at a restaurant that had a movie theater on the top floor.

We went to the food court in the mall and had Fried Chicken and Cheese burgers.

We walked around town and saw big buildings...

After a week in HCMC, we took a night bus to Nah Trang. It was my first night bus and it was an experience. The seats were small bunk beds.

















We spent the next few days in Nah Trang. It was beautiful. There are mountains and white sandy beaches. The weather was perfect, not too hot with a great breeze.


In Nah Trang, we found a brewery and restaurant that had a pool and beach cabanas. We ate great food, played a lot of connect four, laid on the beach, and read a lot.


Overall, my Vietnam vacation was wonderful. It was really relaxing and it was good to get away from Cambodia for a little bit.

Mom's Visit Recap

For two weeks my mom was in Cambodia. It was an amazing time having her here. The days were full of traveling, talking, swimming, touring, sweating, and most importantly... eating!

First we visited Phnom Penh. While in Phnom Penh, we went to see the royal palace. The royal palace is made up of many court yards and buildings. We decided not to pay the extra money for a tour, and instead me and my friend Ben made up what the different buildings were for (i.e. "this building is the royal bowling alley").

We ate at my favorite Chinese restaurant Chinese Noodle. Where they make all their own noodles, and are famous for their dumplings.

After a few days in Phnom Penh, we traveled north to Siem Reap. The home of Angkor Wat.

It was here that mom got to try her first Cambodian barbecue. A Cambodian barbecue includes a variety of meats which you place on a metal grill as you eat. We had chicken, beef, squid, snake, and alligator. Mom was a little nervous, but she tried everything! But her and Mrs Lynda (my mom's friend and neighbor who had always wanted to travel to Cambodia, so she decided to travel here with my mom) mostly stuck to the beef and chicken.


For some reason, we decided to visit Angkor Wat at sunrise. It was very beautiful, but it was too early in the morning for me to be awake.


We visited two of the many, many temples.



























After Siem Reap we decided to visit southern provinces, but first we went back to Phnom Penh for a night. This time I took them to my favorite Korean restaurant. We had hot Bipbimbop and Kimchi pancake, my favorite. As we say here, "Chnine Na!" or "Delicious!"





Then we started our travels toward Kampot town. It was then that Ben and I started introducing my mother to things us volunteers eat while we are not staying in hotels. Yep... they are grasshoppers. And yes, they are well seasoned just a little leggy.














On our way to Kampot, we stopped to visit Ben's site, Chim Kiri, to give mom a look at what Cambodia is really like (a.k.a a lot hotter and a lot less foreigners because we are the only foreigners).










Then it was time to visit my site, Tany. We went for the afternoon and had lunch with my host family. After lunch my mom and Lynda gave my host family thank you gifts. I think Bpo and Niza got the best end of that deal! Their favorite gift?... a bubble machine.


Mom was able to see my house for herself and not just pictures. She was even able to play "Find the Frog", but I won by finding 3 frogs and beating her 2.



























After visiting Kampot, we visited Kep. Both were very beautiful and relaxing, however I don't have the pictures becuase they are in America.

I only posted some of the pictures here, but all the pictures from mom's visit are on Picasa.

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!

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!