School Year #2 Begins

My sincerest apologies for the lack of updates. I haven’t really been in the writing mood, plus I was busy with Steph’s visit, the new volunteers, materials development stuff, and a little vacation time.

Steph and I in front of Angkor Wat

At Ta Prohm

I have now been at permanent site for over a year, and am entering my 15th month in Cambodia! The past month has been a whirlwind, and now the new school year is here. Steph’s visit was incredible; we packed in every sightseeing thing possible in the allotted time, and had a great time! One of the things I am not looking forward to about finishing my service and going home is that virtually no one will be able to understand this chunk of 2 years of my life; but having visitors actually see my life and experience it for themselves (albeit briefly) provides me with more of a support system for when I get back. PLUS, I think it’s great that many of my friends/family members are taking an interest in a country that they may never have even thought twice about had I not been here. Check Peace Corps Goal #3 off my list (sharing knowledge of Cambodia with Americans).

Banteay Srei


All the goodies Steph brought me!

Steph with my host fam

Last week was the swear-in of the new volunteers in PP. 5 of the new volunteers went home before they even swore in; guess squatty-toilets and profusely sweating wasn’t for them. Out of my group, we’ve had 11 people quit already and I foresee more in the future; we started with 45 and are now down to 34 volunteers. Peace Corps definitely isn’t for everyone and I completely understand leaving if your heart’s not in it- no reason to be miserable for 2 years.

Svay Rieng with our 2 new volunteers! (minus Kristin)

I went to Kampong Som (more commonly known as Sihanoukville) over the weekend with Keiko, Kealan and a few other Peace Corps volunteers. I’ve heard mixed reviews about this beach town; some love it, some think it’s trashy. But I thought it was really beautiful, especially this private section of the beach that we only had to pay $1.50 to hang out on and not be badgered by the ever-present “Lady, you want manicure? You want bracelet? Buy from me, buy from me!” I always enjoy my little getaways from site, especially anything involving the beach. Despite being such a tiny country, Cambodia really has a myriad of landscapes to satisfy almost everyone; beaches, forests, flat lands with never-ending rice paddies (eh hem, sounds familiar), mountains, waterfalls. There are so many places I have yet to see and am trying to figure out when I can squeeze in some more sightseeing. There just never is enough time, even in this land of languor.

Sokha Beach


Keiko, Kealan and I in Kampong Som

School supposedly starts tomorrow. I’m pretty sure this involves some boring opening-of-school ceremony which will take 30 minutes, after which we’ll just go home. I’m not sure why we are even wasting time pretending we are starting school tomorrow because there is a major holiday next week; oh wait, I do know why. This is Cambodia. And I say this only with love and affection. It’s just the way things work around here. Like I mentioned, next week is Pchum Ben, a celebration on behalf of the dead and for one’s own salvation. Before it begins, people are supposed to accomplish a seven-wat duty to please their ancestors. This involves worshipping at seven wats or performing seven moral good deeds (or a combination of both). This also involves going to the wat at 4 am, which my family is trying to convince me to do with them. Sorry guys; been there, done that. I’ve been to the wat enough to know that it probably isn’t that different at 4 am than it is at 10 am. So, we shall see when the students decide that school starts. After all, we can’t start having class until the students start showing up.

I’ve finished the test-making portion of my materials development. Next is the EFC- made easy part, which is basically developing lesson plans for one of the books. I need to have this complete by December because I am presenting at a conference in February with the other volunteers I have collaborated with. The conference is the same one we went to last year- CAMTESOL. It’s basically a conference for anyone involved in education in Cambodia, and has different workshops that are useful for Cambodian and foreign teachers who are teaching here. We will discuss what we’ve put together and how it can be implemented in the classroom and are hoping to distribute some of the books to those participants interested.

I’m sure I’ll have much more to post once school starts (your guess is as good as mine). Hope everyone is healthy, happy and staying cool (that’s for all you Los Angelino’s)!