This is what it's like.

What does Siem Reap TASTE like?

gritty dirt.  illy coffee.  fanta.  chicken fried rice.  hawaii pizza.  coke light.  Lucky ice cream.  muesli and yogurt.  banana pancakes.  sautéed vegetables.  brown rice.  iced coffees.  fried crickets.  spiciness.  coconut.  pineapple.  green and red “capsicum”.  sugar cane water. 

What does Siem Reap FEEL like?

sticky skin.  sweaty backs.  a permanent sauna.   skeptical.  Air Cons.  windy rides on motos. chaotic. cold rides in the truck.  nosy.  rubber handles.  humid.  grainy.  dirty.  plastic helmets. fatigue.  an oven. itchy mosquito bites.  wet hair lines.  casual.  unorganized.  cold showers.

What does Siem Reap SMELL like?

body odor.  rotten fish.  random over-sprayed cologne.  dirty water.  floor cleaner.  spice.  pizza.  sweat.  baked goods.  tiger balm.  menthol.  sugar scrub.   salt water pools.  incense.  dust.  fried crickets and tarantulas.  garbage.  gasoline.  coffee.  soap. 

What does Siem Reap SOUND like?

weddings.  busted speakers.  TUK TUK LADY!  Adele.  saws.   hammering.  chopping meat.  cappuccino maker.  laughter.  cheap price for you.  ahkun cheran.  broken mufflers.  horns.  more horns.  lots of horns.  bicycle bells.  squeaky horn of the rubbish collector man.  Khmer music.  Pub Street.  foreign accents. 

What does Siem Reap LOOK like?

brown water.  unpaved roads.  potholes.  colorful motos.  low power lines.  fancy hotels with bright green grass.  skinny people.  brown people.  white people.  idols.  red string.  lights on trees.  natives with finger socks and flip flops, turtle necks with scarves.  foreigners with short shorts strapless tops and burnt skin.  weird looking dogs.  chickens on the back of motos.  naked babies.  smiles.  men sleeping in their tuk tuks.  children collecting plastic bottles.  blue skies.  rain clouds.  DUST.

the Month of May

Something about the month of May sends me into a fury of nostalgia.  I love this time of the year.  Besides it being my birthday month, which by the way-loses its excitement more and more every year, it’s such a great month.  Warmth finally comes… the days last longer… school ends… the Kentucky derby is raced… graduations are held… and all of the vacation talk is thrown around anywhere from cruises, trips to Hawaii, or enduring the extreme heat of Disney World.

I love it because there is Joy present in everything.  Although we are always preached at to not let our joy be based on circumstances, sometimes it’s just hard.  Yes, it’s hard to find joy in the dead of winter, stuck in a snow storm, when it gets dark at 5 p.m.  And not to mention all the heavy clothes you have to wear and 10 extra pounds you gain.  But It seems God gives us joy in the Spring and Summer without having to look too hard for it. 

My first class I ever taught (in Nashville) graduates(d) this year.  I have a t-shirt with all of their names on it and it says “Class of 2012”.  I remember that feeling of terror with those kids and being petrified because it was my first teaching job, and also thinking that the year 2012 was so far away.  They were smart, awkward, full of life little 6^th graders and I was supposed to help nudge them into the beast called “middle school”. 

Maybe it’s understanding now that they have grown up and become young adults that reveal such joy to me right now.  Kids will survive.  They will make it.  They will thrive.  They will screw up and they will let you down but most of them carry on and it’s nice to know I had a very, very tiny hand in that.  I may not find joy in circumstances, but I do find joy in seeing His will fulfilled in all shapes and sizes.

Life in Color

I'm not a photographer. At all. I wish I was that cool and artistic but I don't believe I would have the patience for it. But, I did just recently discover the app "PicStitch" (I know... I'm probably way behind!) and I had a lot of fun making some of these little collages.

This is what we do during our Khmer class breaks... Stephen usually falls asleep in an instant and we play games with him.  Uhh... or rather... put random objects on him and in his beard while he snores.  

In honor of my Sri Lanka trip... all three of these shots represent its beauty.  

The randomness of Cambodia!  People carrying whatever they can on a moto... the beautiful upstairs of the Blue Pumpkin... and the colorful fruit.  The fruit tastes as good as it looks!

Sweet babies I get to teach every week!  

The usual crew.  We laugh a lot... sweat a lot... eat a lot... work together a lot... and sometimes might gripe at one another but the usual evenings or events wind up with us laughing our heads off.

Ohhh... meet Magenta the Moto.  She's pretty snaz!  She has a tiny basket on the front, a small container to hold my rain poncho (under the seat) and at least one hook for a grocery bag.  

What I've Learned So Far: Final, Part III

Teaching has prepared me for more than I could ever have imagined!

Wow!  Has it ever!  There are so many facets to teaching, and I’m sure I handled some of those well and others not so well, but whatever the case may be, it sure has allowed me to flex my muscles in many areas.  Dealing with kids, dealing with adults, having your plans messed up, paperwork, organization, timing, planning, creating, sustaining, executing, energizing…. You name it!  It has all helped me tremendously and I’m so grateful that those are a few characteristics that don’t quite throw me for a  loop.

Books = BFF

It's amazing how books still continue to take me to another place!  I love it love it!  It doesn't matter where I travel, who I'm with, the heat or the cold... books continue to stimulate this little brain and they make me feel so at home.  Aside from the Jesus being my constant, mentioned in the previous post, Books might come in second place.  That's the reason I read anyways.  To make me think, ponder... and pretty much remove me anyways from my current place.  I love taking a mental break.

I'm spoiled, shallow, and selfish.

Ohhh myyy.  The never-ending personal battle of figuring this all out.  Every moment of discomfort and feeling of difference reminds me of how I've always had everything I ever needed and pretty much wanted.  I can't figure out my feet on this.  Was that wrong that I was provided for?  Was it wrong I've always had food, clothes, shelter, and all the extras?  And specifically.... Air Condition!!!  Should I feel guilty about the 28 previous years of being provided for and essentially, learning how to provide for myself?  None of that changes the situation here though for the Cambodians.  Is me learning how to deal in sweltering heat really doing any good?  Is that going to make me more understanding?  Relatable?  Level-headed?  Christ-centered?  I don't know!  Right now, at least I can tell that I am learning a new culture that reveals so much about the Lord and what it truly means, "For God so Loved the World...."  NOT just America.  =)  

I could probably add many more things to this list but I'll take a break for now and probably re-evaluate in a few months.  There is no telling what else will appear!

What I've Learned So Far: Part II

I have a few more items to add to the list.  Here we go…

I’m more flexible than I thought.

All those left in America were concerned about my personality of schedule and sense of planning and how that would fit in over here, but honestly, it’s been fine!  Living here means you come with the attitude that you have a plan and hope that it is executed, but if it gets changed a long the way,  it’s not that big of a deal.  I will never lose my sense of order but it’s been really nice to actually go with the flow a little more. 

Communicating home with friends and family has a whole new meaning.

I hope I can explain this well because I’ve been simmering on the whole concept a while now.  This is it basically:  EVERYthing in my life has changed: food, transportation, language, house, job, music, shopping, etc. etc.  EVERYTHING!  THE ONLY THING that has changed for everybody else at home is ME not being around.  Therefore, I have an entire new life and schedule so fitting people into it via facetime or email is just part of the job for me.  BUT-for everyone else, it’s much harder to change your whole schedule just to be able to talk to me.  BUT-It’s absolutely crucial for me to be able to make it over here.  Sometimes, when no one answers a facetime call or responds to an email I want to THROW MY COMPUTER AGAINST A WALL!  I know I’m not the center of everyone’s life, but it’s not like I can just call another friend across the street to hang out. For most people, you'll hopefully see a good friend every few days out and about so an unanswered email etc. is no big deal, but I don't get that option.  I have to communicate this way with ALL of my people at home while I’m probably the only one this far away for everyone else to talk with.  Making sense?  Honestly, a random email or facebook message means TONS to me and I don’t know if I can ever explain it. (don't send me a message just out of guilt now!)  Just to know I’ve not been forgotten.  And that life is kind of boring without me… haha.  Ok.  That’s terrible… but seriously guys…

HE is my constant.

After reading the above paragraph, and understanding how everything is different for me… the one thing NOT different is Jesus and how I’m still able to communicate through prayer and read His word.  I love it.  It’s the most comforting time and moment where I feel “at home” because it never changes.  It’s the same Word and the same sense of peace here in Cambodia as it is in Tennessee.  He is faithful, never changing, and a comforter.  Amen for that.

What I've Learned So Far: Part I

Three and a half months in I thought it would be wise for me to stop.  Take a moment.  And really think about what I’ve learned so far. 

I’ve adjusted to the heat better than expected.

Alright, I have to admit it.  When thinking about moving to Cambodia I reaaaaaally had to ponder what the extreme heat would be like from day to day. I didn’t know if I could handle it.  And some days-I do a really bad job.  While other days, I actually function.  But it’s a whole new mindset.  I set different expectations for what “cool” really feels like and have actually gotten comfortable with sweat dribbling down places I didn’t even know sweated.  It sure can put ya in a cranky mood, but luckily, we’re all patient with one another. 

I can’t get as much done in a day as I normally would!

Wow!  It’s really amazing how different it is.  At home, I could make a list and run around town in 2 hours and have been to 10 different stores, but it’s just not like that here. Traveling is more tedious… scary… and slow.  Buying items is random… sporadic… and somewhat uncertain.  There is a language barrier as well and not to mention the not so fun concept of being able to bargain which honestly, I hate.  Just set a price and I’LL PAY IT!!! At Wal-Mart you can get groceries, shampoo, a new shirt, oil for your car, fabric to make a pillow, and a paper shredder.  But in Cambodia… you go to the light bulb store to find a light bulb… then the paper store to buy some paper… then the hanger store to buy some hangers… then the toilet paper store… anyways.  You get the idea.  After two errands in 100 degree weather, I’m done.  Call it a day and go sit in the aircon.

It’s kind of a rollercoaster.

My emotions can swing heavily here and I have to be really mindful of it.  Not in a moody type of way or even in front of people usually but rather a OH MY WORD!  WHAT HAVE I DONE! Kind of way.  Praise the Lord, those feelings are actually disappearing and I’m settling in to the idea of this really being a place for me the next year and a half.  I have days of pure glee where I just want to freeze time because I’m blessed to be living such a captivating life… and then I have moments where I realize how FAR, FAR, FAR away I am from so many people and it feels like I’ve been punched in the gut.  I try not act dramatically on either emotion, mainly the latter.  I usually take a few moments to process it all… pray and ask for guidance… and then sleep on it.  After a good night’s rest (and usually a decent Skype call home) things always level out and before I know it, I’m up and at it again.