1st week of Training!

Hello!

That is probably the only word of English the little Cambodian kids know in my rural village (Traing), and they make sure to scream it at the top of their lungs any time we pass by. All of the volunteers were split up into 2 groups and placed at 2 separate sites with host families, and Traing is the more rural of the 2 sites. Traing is absolutely beautiful! To get to my house (which is probably one the most rural of all the houses), I bike down a dirt road through the rice paddies. I live in a small house with my host mom, dad, 3 sisters (15-18 yrs old), a 23 year old host brother who is a teacher, and lots of chickens, cows, dogs, and bugs. We don't have electricity, running water, and my bed is a thin mattress on the floor. When I go to bed at 7 or 8 every night (that's when the sun sets), I feel like I'm on a camping expedition as I lay under my mosquito net (seriously my best friend here).

Although I'm a little jealous of the volunteers placed at the more developed site (which is where I am today using the internet cafe and visiting some friends), I am so glad I was placed at a rural site. I've already learned so much about myself and that I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was. I have learned to appreciate the simple things, such as the special times spent with my host family and all of their valuable help with my Khmai. Everything I do is amusing to them, and there always seems to be a new neighbor over to check out the weird stuff I do (how I am unable to properly do laundry by hand, how I don't eat enough rice (I eat rice with EVERY meal), and how I am just funny in general. Last night, I was feeling pretty awful from being extremely dehydrated, and myhost sister came into my room, under my mosquito net and gave me an hour and half massage to try and make me feel better! Then this morning, my mom boiled hot water for me to take a "shower"" with because she didn't want me to get sicker. They are just the sweetest, kindest family ever and I feel so lucky! They are also super patient, as I still have the vocabulary of a 3 year old.

During the days, I get up at about 5, get breakfast with the other PCV's, and then go to our Language Facilitator's (LCF) house for language training for a few hours. My group (6 of us) is awesome and we get along really well! At one, we bike to the village for lessons on teaching, gender stuff, and cultural stuff til around 5. I am learning Khmai, but it's not easy! I'm doing my best. It's also difficult because I can't study once the sun goes down, because I would have to use a flashlight (pain in the ass). But everything is really great! I am enjoying learning about Cambodia and myself every day. I feel very lucky to be here. I have to get going to lunch, so I will update more as soon as I get a chance!

Love and miss you all!

Jacq