tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10631905260634724902024-03-13T13:11:18.468-04:00Khmer musingsStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-64780332661403442932012-05-26T05:30:00.001-04:002012-05-26T05:30:29.864-04:00Weekend! (Sat. & Sun.) Saturday a non-work day for the most part, yet I still often wake @ 630. I almost always will play tennis early before the mid-day heat sets in. Jess and I used to often go on a bike ride on the weekend to enjoy the SR countryside. We would get lost but always find our way back home. Some interesting sights we'd see. We would come across 'Khmer mansions', very big houses always surrounded by a tall stone or concrete wall. One would be by small wooden houses or thatched roof homes which were dwarfed by the monstrosities. Another could be out in the middle of nowhere without any neighbors nearby. I thought they always just seemed so out of place. We would come across partially built structures, in fact there are quite a few of these even in town. We speculate that when the economic downturn happened money dried up and these places were abandoned. There are commercial/housing projects sprinkled around SR that are mostly empty. Though I have noticed some of these seem to be getting tenants lately. Perhaps a sign of the economy improving. Occasionally we would come across folks selling food that we were not familiar with, like 'cookies' or prepared foods. Or we would discover someone selling a fruit we haven't tried yet. After almost 2 years I still find a new fruit I haven't tried. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting my bike washed at a moto cleaning place</td></tr>
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I enjoyed those rides, but unfortunately shortly after Jess got her moto the weekend rides ended. I suppose I could get on the road solo. But I miss <i>those</i> rides, it was fun even if we got caught in the rain. It was fun doing something physical with Jess, I miss the shared experience. In Vermont we always said we would get out and ride our bikes when the weather got nice, but we really never did. I kinda knew once Jess got the moto her bike would sprout cobwebs, it has. Change happens. <br />
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So Saturdays can vary in what happens after tennis. It can include visits on our balcony from friends, both Khmer and Western. Or just a mellow day computering or reading. A nap can be a part of Saturday and often is. Like in Vt. it's a day to play catch up doing errands not able to get to during the week. Evenings we may eat at home or meet friends for dinner. There seems always to be a new place to try or we'll go to a tried and true place. There are also a fair amount of social events in SR, I think we go out more often here that when we lived in Vt. And there seems to be a goodbye party (leave do's as the Brits say) for somebody every other week, well that's an exaggeration but they do happen on a regular basis. It could be for folks we know well or casually. There is a joke among ex-pats here that when you meet someone new in town one of the 1st questions asked is 'how long will you be here?' The thought is if someone is here let's say less than 6 months is the effort worth it only to be sad once again when they leave. Like I said it's a joke so I think we all risk the potential future pain of saying goodbye to short timers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the balcony or now known as 'the porch'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">favorite place with favorite people</td></tr>
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I try to catch live music any night of the week and probably more happens on the weekend. Opportunities to see live music is somewhat limited. However there are some good acts here. One band, my favorite to see, is called Cambojam. They have some original songs but do quite a variety of covers. The band members seem to be a expats and perhaps a Khmer guy. I've met a few and know one's American, another from Singapore, and one is from France. Others not sure, perhaps Australian or Belgium. They play anything from a song from the play 'Hair', to old rock tunes to 'Don't Worry be Happy' to Marley tunes. There are some jazz players here including a woman with a very good voice. There's also some folks in town who play acoustic material in a folk/rock vein. On guy in particular from Austin who plays with various folks and usually plays weekly with a woman singer. He's had at least a couple of different female vocalists. He's the 'pool guy' here, he has a biz cleaning the hotel and guest house pools, nice guy. And there some blues players here and they seem to fit the part of old grizzled musicians who have seen better days. Well it's the blues after all, but they are pretty good. Just like in Vt. I just don't get to see as much live music as I'd like. That's what happens when you're beat by 9pm. But here going out and drinking doesn't break your wallet, that's the good thing and not a deterrent as at home. <br />
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Sunday is much like Saturday, a non work day. It's a day off for lots of folks and no school for kids, Sat. is a school day here. I again usually play tennis in the morning. So another day of reading, errands, nap, and eating, drinking and being merry. We do have cable tv here for the whopping cost of 5 dollars a month and we do get quite a bit of channels. ESPN, lots of other sports channels, BBC news, CNN, Discovery, Natl' Geo etc... oh and movie channels. But I really only watch sports, we get a lot more tennis here and of course, futbol or soccer as us Yanks say. But I don't even watch sports that much. We discovered that we can download almost all tv series, cable and otherwise and movies also. <br />
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Let me end by talking food. There are items here that I should eat more of. More greens, spring rolls (fresh and fried), nutella crepes which Khmers sell from carts, also these Vietnamese 'pancakes' which are huge and tasty. They are a combo of meat and veggies and herbs and lettuce. Love them. And these baguette sandwiches that Jaz used to get. Ok some non-descrip meat in them but they look good. They remind me of the sandwiches I used to get from the Viet markets in Burl. Lately during the week I've been going to the same place to get lunch, take away lunch. It's a little Khmer place that has pots of food and grilled foods, perhaps I've talked about this. But one item they sometimes have is eggplant with minced pork. It's a popular dish here and I love it. Sometimes it's smoked eggplant and those are the best, one place in particular does a great one in that way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a 'picnic' feast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just yum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">quesadilla bites at a tex/mex plae</td></tr>
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One more thought. I've talked about how food and drink is so cheap here. But other expenses can be cheap also like clothes, shoes, socks, caps, getting some things repaired for example bikes. I never liked spending money on clothes so it's ideal for me and I still, as in Vt., go to the used clothes places. <br />
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Ok one corny joke to end: I realize my bike is like the Amex card jingo "I don't leave home with out it." That is pretty much true except when I get lazy and ride w/ Jess on her moto. But that's rare as I don't like motos. Looking forward to the visit to the States and most likely will not blog for the month. Ciao!<br />
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<br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-88769616096959480002012-05-19T01:19:00.000-04:002012-05-19T01:19:34.704-04:00TGIF as they say Ahhh Fridays, end of the week, start of the weekend! For a time I had Fridays as a 'catch-up with work at home day'. But a few months back I started at an NGO teaching teachers at noon on Fridays. So I played tennis in the morning. When that noon gig ended I was able to increase my work at the NGO where I work on Monday mornings. You may recall it's the well run Italian NGO ( been here 10 years). It's an orphanage/school and I have been teaching the teachers there about childhood development/education. I very much enjoy my work there, so I was glad to add the day. Lately I've been teaching about positive discipline the past few weeks as the director there said it was urgently needed.<br />
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So as with Mondays I am up around 6am and leave by 715am. It's a 40 minute pleasant bicycle ride. There is often still cloud cover and the intense heat of the day has not arrived yet. And I have yet to face a head wind which bothers me more than the heat. I am afraid with rainy season starting I may be riding in the rain, well what's a little water and I have a raincoat. The translator there knows I bike and offered me a ride out, but I truly do enjoy biking out there so I declined. I think she was perhaps more concerned with my ride back at 11 or so when the heat can be intense. But I make stops on my way back home and I like the heat. I stop for lunch usually at the same place. A friendly little Khmer place where I met a Burmese guy working on a golf course and a Khmer who works at the International Hospital in SR. Lunch is just a couple of items, often fish soup served with rice. Sometimes there are veggies in the soups I don't recognize and sometimes meat I'm not familiar with. The soup is very tasty though, and today the veg seemed a cross between green beans and okra. There is always warm tea on the table and they bring a glass of ice for it. I will have a beer also. It's quite inexpensive easily less than 2 dollars including the tip I give which is always met with laughter. I've never seen a Westerner there. <br />
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And to break up the ride further I stop at the hotel where I play tennis. I lay by the pool (where I am now) after a quick dip to cool off and wait a couple of hours for my tennis partner to show up. It's the same routine as it is on Mondays I'll read, write and/or nap. A great way to start and end the week. And in fact I did just nap but now awake and I am hoping for some clouds to roll in for some shade on the court. <br />
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On one Friday training session I ask the teachers to brainstorm on what they think children need in order to be ready to learn in school, to be successful. I am looking for skills and characteristics. I've done this exercise dozens of times in the States with parents as well as pre-school teachers. I have never gotten the answer one of the Khmer teachers gave me. She said "enough food to eat". In fact it was the 1st answer. It just highlighted for me one of the stark differences it is to be a child in Cambodia compared to the US. Yes I know there are hungry kids in America but it's rare for a child to die of starvation or be extremely malnourished. For the most part kids get their basic needs met. Perhaps that statement can be disputed but I've never seen a child as emaciated as I did one time when I did some work at the children's hospital. I've never seen kids dressed in virtual rags as I often see here. The States certainly has it's health care issues and if you've read Jess's blogs it pales in comparison to here. It makes me realize that although I grew up on welfare, in poverty and that I may have been hungry at times I was never in danger of starvation, I had decent clothes and medical care was readily available if needed. For children here that danger is a reality. I've always considered myself lucky not realizing that just being born in America was part of that luck. <br />
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There are times I am shaken here by an experience, shaken out of my comfortable state. I won't ever get used to people begging, men, women, children, moms with infants, elderly. handicapped it happens daily. The elderly and handicapped I will try to give to. There are no or limited safety nets for that population. Why I give to those folks is a topic that is controversial and I won't address here today. Recently we were having a late lunch at an outdoor place and a man about my age was limping and begging. I zoned in on his eyes which seemed sad and telling. I was hoping he would stop at our table but he did not. I started thinking if he was my age where was he when he was in his twenties? When I was protesting the covert bombing of his country and then partying it up afterward was he hiding in the forests, being worked almost to death, witnessing man at his worst, watching people being slaughtered, perhaps he was KR and doing the killing out of fear for his own life, did he see his family members killed or disappear? When I was worried about finding the right apt. or suffering the loss of love and thinking it was devastating for me was he clinging to life, acquiring the limp and who knows what other health problems? It's difficult to articulate the feelings, I just know I would not be contemplating those thoughts and looking back on my childhood and early adulthood in the same way as I do now if I did not come and live here. Seeing up close the consequences of Western foreign policies and the lasting effect it has on people is eye opening. What I will do with that I don't know. So the old Khmer man and this old American man continue with our lives, he with a limp, no doubt health problems, and probably hungry and me with my tennis, good health and deciding on the meatloaf or club sandwich. What has changed really? I am still lucky.<br />
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I guess I had to get that out once I started. Back to Fridays because the past is unchangeable. So after tennis it's home and perhaps a meet up with friends either at our place or out and dinner. Can't write anymore, enjoy. Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-65835028821561498382012-05-05T02:04:00.001-04:002012-05-09T02:59:06.908-04:00Thursdays in SR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thursdays begin as Tues and Wed do (refer to previous posts). So strangely I still read news from Vt. through a few websites: BFP, Vt. Daily Briefing, Vt. Digger, 7Days to name a few. Perhaps I'm a news junkie as I have the Portland, Ore. alt. weekly as my home page (because my daughter lives there) and read everything from the NY Times, NPR, Slate to Al Jazeera English and more. And of course the Phnom Penh Post. As usual I'm off to the pre-school at 730. <br />
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This program Lotus Kids Club (LKC) I have been with since last July. I helped set up the space, supplied and suggested materials and equipment for the program. I help maintain the space and continue to teach the teachers about Early Childhood Education. Now I feel my role should change. The point is to work my way out of a job as they say, for the project to be able to continue without me. Sustainability is the mantra here. It makes sense for the Khmers to sustain a project without Western input, as most Westerners in NGO's leave eventually. The Early Childhood training at LKC should continue I believe however I do not think my being there during the program is necessary. The teachers are doing a good job setting up and working with the children. They have some basic knowledge of how young children learn and child development. There are a few weak spots but generally we have developed a good PS program. <br />
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Please understand the teachers have little if any formal training in teaching young children. They are caring and willing to learn and as I said do well with the children. Teaching about early childhood and issues related to that should continue I believe. If I spoke the Khmer language I could see working directly with the teachers and children. But as their English is limited also I can't be modeling or be helpful in a 'teaching moment'. So I believe my time and energies should be with more in depth teaching. Also I believe I could be helpful if I was able to do supervision with the teachers. This has not happened at all and I think it's needed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with a couple of parents before the parents' meeting</td></tr>
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One of the teachers, Ratha, is also the designated Social Worker, though with very little training. So just a couple of weeks ago I started teaching the basics of Social Work. And this feels a more productive use of my time. Fortunately Ratha seems to have a natural affinity for Social Work. What I mean by that is that his sensibilities and demeanor seem to be in line with Social Work principles. He seems to gain rapport easily with parents and appears non-judgemental in his manner. He is great with the kids, caring, calm and gentle but firm. So you may wonder how do I know this considering I do not understand Khmer. Well communication is about 90% non-verbal. Also I see him interact with parents and kids, the kids especially just appear to trust him. At the monthly parent meeting/rice giveaway he always seems to get the parents laughing at the start of his talk. You can learn some of those basic Social Work skills but it's good to have some naturally. Again the most efficient use of my time would be some in depth training in Social Work practice. This is the direction I hope to move in with LKC. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kids helping Ratha with snack</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ratha playing guitar, he's good and sings</td></tr>
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Thursday mornings are dedicated to the LKC PS program. This includes a teacher training session also. Thursday afternoons are a staff meeting and additional training/planning sessions. Once a month on Thursday after the meetings we have a parents' meeting and rice/food giveaway to the parents. It is usually an hour to one and a half hours long. The director and teachers speak about the programs and the progress the kids are making. I do a short talk with a translator of course. My talk usually consists of the following: Apologies for not speaking Khmer or Vietnamese (you may remember 1/2 the kids are Vietnamese), thanks for the opportunity of working with their children, lately I've talked about Heart Start, and an invite to come play or watch their children play during programming (no one has accepted yet). These are interesting meetings even though I don't know exactly what's being said. But there is laughter and questions and comments. We've passed out playdough (they made all kinds of things) and talked about the benefits of play, and there was a time we took puzzles out and the parents were so engaged they delayed getting their rice. We have been talking about other ways to get the parents/community engaged/involved. At some point we may do a Family/Community open house/dinner similar to the Family Room shindigs. In some ways LKC parallels my former work at the Family Room. And being the non native speaker here I think I get a good sense of what it must have been like for those New Americans at the FR. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parent meeting though now we sit on mats</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rice giveaway</td></tr>
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I miss my FR fellow workers as I am the only Westerner in the LKC program and I always think what would they think or do with this situation, or am I making the appropriate decision. No one to give me feedback or good supervision, miss you Toki also. It's so very clear to me more than ever before that the FR staff and supervision improved my professional skills over the many years working with them. Thank you. <br />
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Thursdays I do not usually play tennis, I try to cook a meal but we may also go out or have delivery (we just heard about a place that has good burgers and delivers). Some Thursdays I, not usually Jess these days (quite the homebody of late), will go to a Trivia Quiz Night at a bar that will benefit an NGO. The bar is called Warehouse and is partially owned by a guy with Vt. connections. It's fun and there is always some team I can join. Haven't ever come in 1st (2 free pitchers of beer the prize) but more than a few times 2nd. Fortunately never last as they have to down garlic infused vodka shots. After losing I pedal home politely refusing the offers to sell me drugs or women. Ah Cambodia I love ya, good night. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at a great new Tex-Mex place with fellow Vermonter Dr. Bob on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warehouse bar (Superbowl at 5am)</td></tr>
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<br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-24231696446834610962012-04-28T23:29:00.000-04:002012-04-28T23:29:29.979-04:00Wednesday in SR Much like Tues and Thursday I wake at 615. Unlike Tues I do not make playdough. I do have pb toast, banana and tea and check for email, facebook messages and read the news. Then it's off to work at the preschool program, Lotus Kids Club (LKC). I've mentioned how much I enjoy the the PS, it's mostly due to the children. So let me tell you about the kids. Half the children are Vietnamese and half are Khmer. The teachers are aware of this and it appears to not make a difference to them, thankfully. And of course the kids could care less. One of the teachers is in fact Vietnamese. I believe however that she's always lived in Cambodian as have the Vietnamese children and possibly some of the parents too. I think I can tell the difference between the kids physically but I could be fooling myself. There is talk among the kids in Vietnamese so it's helpful to have a Vietnamese speaker. For the most part the V. kids understand Khmer but some are not entirely fluent. Part of the reason they attend the program is to learn about Khmer culture and the language. This is important in order to attend public school. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Body drawings at LKC PS</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water play at LKC PS</td></tr>
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There are 2 sisters, Khmer, in the program and the younger one found it difficult to separate from older sis when the school year started. Some of the older kids have a short session on learning more formally the Khmer alphabet. We had a meeting and plan in place to address the issue. More quickly than we anticipated she separated as she discovered the play materials and playmates. Also support from the teachers was helpful. The older sis, a bit quiet and shy, took readily to doing puzzles, her younger sis followed suit and both are masters of the puzzle area. I like that the older sis has also been freehand drawing, drawing often Khmer princesses, Khmer wedding dresses, she's getting good. Most of the kids will draw but often like tracing or just coloring pictures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all love this puzzle LKC PS</td></tr>
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It's been most interesting watching the kids' play become more mature and complex. When the school year began it seemed like all the kids would be at the playdough table. Now days may go by without the playdough being touched. Dramatic play (pretend play) has increased. And lately hairdressing is the rage with both the girls and boys. Once again 'tools' brought in are used in a different way then intended. Water spray bottles were intended for coloring with colored water. The kids did that for awhile and then decided to clean the walls and water plants. A few days later one of the kids spayed and combed his hair. This spread like wildfire and lead to the kids doing each others'. And then the 'hair salon' happened and they started doing each other's hair complete with mirror and a sheet covering the designated recipient in a chair. This continues and has spread to the afternoon program with older kids. They all seem very concerned with their hair these days. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one hair station LKC PS</td></tr>
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After the morning PS program ends with the kids I do a short training session with the teachers on early childhood development/education. Then I head home for lunch, which may be leftovers or I'll stop at a stand I like to get grilled fish or meat sometimes. But it can also be a simple stir fry or soup and of course rice. Usually cost 1 to 2 dollars and is filling. Some days I will get in a nap even for just a half hour or so. A beer at lunch helps facilitate this, in this heat a beer goes down easy. <br />
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The afternoon program for kids of all ages runs from 2-4. Wed is the designated sports and games day. This means some simple board games, frisbee, ball play, skipping rope, hula hoops and some Khmer games. How quickly the kids learned how to hula hoop, play frisbee and understand the board games. Even the Western game Sorry was learned quickly. To learn Sorry was an interesting and initially challenging process. If you know the game there is quite a bit to remember so coaching through the game was necessary at first. The afternoon program is growing and evolving nicely. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LKC Aft. Prog.</td></tr>
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After the program ends I most likely on Wednesdays go to play tennis for a couple of hours or so. I'm hot, thirsty and hungry at this point (it's in the 90's these days). Dinner could be purchased on the way home at a Khmer food stand/open-air restaurant. I'll sit and have a beer while I wait for a stir fry with noodles or rice. Dinner for two 12,000 riel (3 dollars) and a beer for 4,000. I usually leave a 1 to 2 thousand riel tip, big spender that I am. Or I could stop and get a delicious and filling falafel and hummus pita from a newly discovered place run by an Israeli. That will put me back 7 dollars for 2. And also a modest tip. As a side note many people do not tip, even Americans who should be used to tipping. Sometimes I get odd looks but I was in the biz and received my fair share so this is payback. Or is that pay it forward? We do have a variety of cuisine options (though not a lot of variety within those cuisines) for dinner also. Almost everything is available from pizza and mex food, to steak and Guiness pie, a Brit/Aussie thing and very good especially with onion gravy mash potatoes. Pizza and usually mex food can be delivered and we've gotten marguritas in a bag delivered as well. It's a tough life here. I/we do try to cook at least 3x a week though not always successful. Difficult when the food here is so cheap and good. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the courts have been repainted since this pic was taken</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">frog legs w/ onions</td></tr>
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Usually my day ends on the balcony in altered states of consciousness unless there is a social event or possibly live music somewhere. We have discovered how to download cable tv shows and movies so after perhaps watching a show sleep comes at anywhere from 930 to midnight. Goodnight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we have many more plants now</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ahh sleep</td></tr>
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-14122902202866982692012-04-12T01:52:00.000-04:002012-04-12T01:52:50.958-04:00Tues. S.R. Happy Khmer New Year! It's tomorrow, Fri., so I have off for a week. Also I have to mention how pleasant the weather has been comparatively speaking. Mornings especially seem to be so. April is known to be oppressively hot and humid. This April so far has been actually like last April which was uncharacteristically pleasant also. Who knows what's up!?<br />
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On Tuesdays I wake at 615 or so, have my usual breakfast: toast w/ peanut butter, bananas and tea. I say bananaS because of the many varieties of them here I like the sweet like candy, very small ones. A Khmer called them "monkey bananas". They are delicious! Another kind of banana I like are green yet ripe and also delicious, these are regular size. So after reading my email, facebook and checking a variety of news sources on the internet I leave for work around 730. Tuesdays begins 3 days of work at my main job. Oh and Tuesday mornings I make playdough for the week for the Lotus Kids' Club (LKC) preschool. I have taught the teachers how to make it but for now I am the designated maker. <br />
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At LKC I am the consultant for the programs. I've helped set up the space and have been teaching the teachers about early childhood development/education. I originally wasn't the main consultant for the afternoon all ages program but I am now. I'm learning more and more about school-age kids. I've talked previously about how great and dedicated the teachers are and willing to learn from this crazy old barang (term for foreigners) with his unusual ideas about children. The main teacher, Chantheurn, is on maternity leave, a govt. mandated 3 months off. Her husband, Ratha, is the teacher/social worker and there are 3 young woman, 24, 20 and 15, who are the other teachers. Teachers and social workers are terms used loosely. Some get some formal training and the quality of that is often questionable. In any case I am impressed by what I see and hear considering the circumstances. None of the teachers speaks good English, the director translates and his English is good but not great. I have to say though that their English is improving much more rapidly than my Khmer. Ratha of late is 'feeding' me Khmer words. There is a lot of gesturing and 'sign' language. I communicate with the kids in the same way. I imagine it would be pretty amusing to watch our interactions. <br />
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I certainly interact with the children, there are 21 in the PS program. I make a point though of not being in the role as the primary teacher. I act more as the manager of the program, somewhat similar to my role at the Family Room when I worked in Vermont. The program is from 730-11 M-F. Of course the children are wonderful. I've watched so many of the children grow and learn. On her 1st day one girl just stood by the door and sobbed. The next couple of days she gradually moved closer observing the action. By week's end she was cautiously participating. In the next several weeks she would mostly play alone, eventually she joined others in play. She didn't seem to talk or smile though. This gradually changed after a few months and now she's made friends, she'll sing songs, and often will flash smiles. She's bloomed. She reminded me of Jaz a bit, as Jaz was a stone faced observer when she attended pre-school. <br />
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There's one little guy who was a challenge not wanting to participate in activities, starting conflicts with other kids and generally vying for attention with negative behavior. He seemed to have a face of anger and sadness. It took a little time but this is the kid now who is the 1st to help clean up at program's end. And I love his boisterous laugh. He's still a bit of a wiseguy though now it's not mean spirted but joyful. It reinforced my beliefs about young children and how they gain confidence and make appropriate choices if they are in the right environment with caring support. <br />
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I think about the 2 little guys who were in conflict it seemed constantly. After weeks of appropriate support and intervention these 2 guys are the best of buddies, of course with occasional conflicts but usually easily resolved. They are the 2 kids that are constantly on the move and together find ways to use materials and equipment creatively. I wish I knew what they talk to each other about, they seem to be always jabbering about something as they play. These kids have shown me that my ideas may be ok but they have their own agenda. I brought in pieces of hose and funnels for the water table thinking they'd be great to pour the water through. They used them as a telephone line talking and listening to each other through the hoses and funnels and laughing hysterically. They both can be focused on an activity for long periods also, one prefers building w/ legos, the other likes puzzles. They are fun to watch.<br />
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At 11 after the program ends we talk about the kids, child development/education and plan. I leave at around 1145 for lunch and a nap. This is typical here for schools and some businesses to take a 2-3 hour break. Our landlord downstairs usually comes home for lunch with his family and will often nap in a hammock before returning to work. Needless to say it's hot mid-day. Lunch for me is leftovers or food from one of the many stands. There is grilled fish/meat, soups, stir-frys, and various pots of food. I often get fish. And lunch can cost a dollar or two and I'll be quite full. Lunch will sometimes include a beer, helps with the nap-taking. Sometimes Jess is home for lunch. <br />
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I return on Tuesdays to LKC for the Afternoon Program at 2. All children are welcome to attend, so we have kids from under 2 to teens, anywhere from 15-30+ kids. It has taken a while but we seem to have a good system now. Mon and Tues arts and crafts is the focus, Wed is sports and games, Fri is music and movement (Ratha plays guitar). Thurs is staff mtg. and once a month rice/food giveaway and a parent's meeting. In this program I've discovered the joys of working with school age kids. My former workmates in Vermont will laugh as I resisted efforts to include older kids in programs at the FR. Oh you guys would be shocked to see what I have to let slide and how tolerant and flexible I am here out of necessity. <br />
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I am truly impressed with the older kids. Their creativity, intelligence and talents are a wonderful surprise. There are several kids that show real artistic abilities. We've recruited a few of those kids to help lead activities for the kids. One young girl around 12 or 13 has lead a craft project bringing in her own idea. We are trying our best to support and encourage these children as they all live in challenging conditions and live hand to mouth with the real possibility of not having enough to eat. Yet these kids are thoughtful, caring and still have a zest for life. I think and hope we are providing a way to express themselves or at the very least learn about who they are and what potential they have. I'm talking about all the kids not just the artistically talented ones but the kid who masters the hula hoop or completes a complicated puzzle. I hope we provide experiences that boost self confidence and lead children on a path to success in whatever they endeavor to accomplish. In any case big kids <i>are</i> fun.<br />
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I head home around 4 and usually don't play tennis on Tuesdays, gotta take at least one day off especially considering I've probably played Fri-Mon. If I didn't get to nap at lunchtime I may try for a snooze. Sometimes Tues I make dinner and it's usually Western type food. You can get good Asian food here so it's what I make the least I think, perhaps the opposite of my cooking in Vt. All kinds of Western food is available here but not a huge variety and sometimes more expensive. Or we'll get take out or eat out on Tues. <br />
A couple of Tuesdays ago we attended a event called Nerd Night. It's a fun get together at a different restaurant/bar every month. There are 6-8 speakers, each talking about a passion or interest for 6min 40sec with 20 slides changing every 20 seconds (00:06:40). It's always an informative and fun evening attended by mostly Westerners but also Khmers and usually one Khmer will present. It's been happening for several months now and I presented at the 1st one. I had a weak and slightly drunk moment when asked to present and said yes. My talk was on my passion/obsession with food. A mostly 'tongue in cheek' talk. I hit the sack anywhere between 9 and midnight, reading or watching some show on the computer.<br />
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I hope my next blog entry is more exciting regarding my Wednesdays. <br />
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-75089131795696352402012-04-01T20:16:00.000-04:002012-04-01T20:16:28.074-04:00No April Fool.... ........this is a blog entry after a long absence. Why that is I'm not sure.<br />
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Perhaps just laziness or maybe all the days just seem so routine so what's there to write about other than myself and who the hell wants to hear about the mundane pace of my life. I'll try then to focus on Cambodia and the Khmers, remember I said "try". <br />
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It's Monday early afternoon and I just finished teaching at an orphanage/school. I started there a few weeks ago teaching the teachers about child development etc.... It's a well respected Italian NGO in Siem Reap, been here 10 years. So every Monday I bike out there, a 40 minute easy ride. I have been enjoying the sessions there, it's a wonderful setting. Lots of space and well maintained. And the teachers have been great. Most do not speak English, so I apologize to them for not being able to speak Khmer. The translator is very good. I invite them to ask questions at any point during the teaching. I also tell them they can ask me anything about the USA. They surprise me with their level of participation and their questions. <br />
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The questions concerning children and their development were very similar to what I've heard asked in the US. I guess shouldn't be surprising as all parents face the same challenges worldwide. The questions about life in America are more challenging. I was asked if people who live in the countryside all have cars. I said that most do have a vehicle. One of the teachers stated that her belief was that a every family in the US has at least one car. I had to explain that there is a level of poverty in the US. Not comparable to Cambodia of course but that there are homeless people. I was asked if children have to beg for food in order to eat. How does one explain the disparity between the very wealthy, the middle/working class and the very poor. It's true that it's a rarity for a child to die of starvation. I explained that there are places that the poor can get food (food shelves, soup kitchens etc...). Then to explain our healthcare system, this has been a challenge to explain to anyone outside the US. So I explained: "Well let's see if you are rich you can pay, if you're very poor the govt. pays, but if you work you have to pay and it is very expensive and sometimes working people can not afford to go to the doctor". Yes challenging questions but I look forward to more. The teachers truly want to learn and do a good job with the children and are willing to listen to the old barang and his crazy ideas about kids. <br />
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After I leave there I bike to the hotel where I play tennis, about a 30 minute ride. However I have made it a habit to stop at a little Khmer place for lunch on the way. The place has very limited choices, usually a fish soup and maybe a meat and greens dish, sometimes grilled or dried fish. Oh and of course steamed rice. All quite tasty and free tea. I usually have a beer also. Hey it's almost noon, it's hot and I don't play tennis for at least 2 hours. Total bill is 6000 riel (1.5 dollars). I met a guy there who's from Myanmar (Burma) and we've chatted a few times. He's been coming to Cambodia for a few years helping in the construction of a golf course (a Nick Faldo design). They just had a tournament and a Korean- American from Calif. won. We've had some interesting talks on a variety of topics including the "slow changes" happening in his country, Myanmar. Very nice guy and he gave me some tips on where to go and what one can do in Myanmar. I would like to visit there especially now as the country moves through a transition to hopefully more openness and freedom.<br />
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After lunch I head off to the hotel for tennis. It's usually a couple of hours till court time. So I take a dip in the pool and grab a lounge chair and often get in a few winks. Most often I will nap but I'll read or prepare lessons also. After a few hours of tennis and a shower I head home around 530-600. Mondays we'll either eat in or go grab dinner somewhere as is the case of course most nights. This particular Monday is a monthly meeting called Casual Collaboration. CC is a time for NGO workers to get together network and share experiences and eat, drink and be merry. The event rotates between restaurants for meetings. It's fun and a great way to meet folks. <br />
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That's a typical Monday. So next entry will be my Tuesday day. Enjoy.<br />
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.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-26322131016511261232011-11-28T08:24:00.000-05:002011-11-28T08:24:09.551-05:00November coolness That "coolness" means it's in the low 70's in the morning, low humidity and pleasant nights. Halloween came and went and we did not do anything related to it. We talked about going to Pub St. to see folks in costumes but we did not. It seems like lately we've become more homebodies. I think partly because we really have settled into routines and we are working more. So after a workday and sometimes a 2+ hour tennis match we're content to stay in. Of course when Marissa was here we ate out a lot but didn't take in too much nightlife. And I took more tuk tuk rides with her than i have a year probably. It was great to have my oldest daughter here ( at least someone has paid us a visit). <br />
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It was mostly the evenings we tuk tuk'd, Otherwise Marissa really enjoyed going bike riding all over and getting lost then finding our way back home. It was a blast, it was something Jess and I did till she got her evil moto and that was the end of bike riding for her and me. Marissa caught on quick to the unwrittten biking rules of the road here. They can be tricky and I was getting a little concerned as she was getting a bit cocky in traffic. But all went very well. <br />
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We did celebrate Thanksgiving this year, totally ignored it last year here. It was just another day. But this year we got together with a lovely American family on our road. We each cooked a turkey, and divided up the rest of the meal. We invited a few other American folks and even a few Brits showed up. It was at the family's home. It felt so good to have the gathering and we're still eating leftovers. A great time.<br />
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I do miss being home for the holiday season. It's of course family and friends I miss, sharing meals, having drinks together, conversations. I am not missing however the unending in your face crass commercialization of the season. They will be some Xmas trees put up here and there in Siem Reap but we are far from being overwhelmed by all of it. I believe we have plans for a Xmas party this year, we did so last year and it was fun mix of Westerners and Khmers. This year should be interesting as we know many more folks and will invite all. <br />
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I'm missing home in general, missing friends and family. I miss talking to all the good folks back in Vt. And I miss all the things we can't get here. Certainly not a hardship at all being here. In fact it's pretty easy to live here and there is not too much that we can't get. It's just that occasionally some things here will drive you up a wall. And then you think well that could happen at home too and certainly there were things back home that drives one up a wall also. So not going anywhere soon and we're still trying to figure out how can we divide our time between Vt. and SR? <br />
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Well still playing a lot of tennis and still very much liking the work I'm doing here, challenging as it is. And I have to say thanks to all my former work mates at the FR, I am forever saying to myself what would Nell think about this?, how would Sarah react to that?, what would Anne do? how would Linda change this? They and others I haven't mentioned come to mind often as well as the families. I wish they were here to help me. <br />
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I barely got my monthly blog in for November not too exciting but here it is. <br />
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-69233419609638784722011-10-17T06:03:00.001-04:002011-10-18T01:36:34.032-04:00October Floods- still here! Well I ended my last post with "the rains will pass", hasn't happened. Perhaps gotten worse. Out and about today I saw and rode my bike through many roads that had not flooded previously but are now. On the last stretch of the road to work, now flooded, the main road Rt. 6 on the way to where I play tennis now many parts flooded, the tennis courts under 6 inches of water, never happened before. No I didn't play. It appears to be getting worse. I almost lost my shoes in the mud a few times when I had to get off my bike to walk through the muddy water. How many times can I wash my feet/legs in one day? Hearing from folks it's the worst in at least a dozen years perhaps much longer. Countrywide I believe it's approaching 300 dead, almost 15% of rice crop lost maybe more.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flooded streets</td></tr>
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We went to Phnom Penh over the weekend and the ride there was a bit surreal. It at times felt like we were riding through a lake. Water on each side of us, vast areas. Animals and people on the edges of the road, their houses flooded and surrounded by hip deep water or deeper. Shades of 'Waterworld'. And just read that PM Hun Sen just cancelled the celebrations for the annual 'Water Festival'. How ironic. It's normally a huge national celebration. He said resources are needed for the flood victims, perhaps he and his cronies could sell off a few of their mansions. I'm sure they each could let go of a few of the many they have. Won't happen. Kinda like in the States where the burden is on the working class and poor. Only here many people will go hungry, starve and die. It's not a pretty picture.<br />
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Of course we personally are fortunate, we are not flooded out. Though many ex-pats along with Khmers are in fact flooded out of their abodes. For us it's just a pain to ride through the flooded streets, minimal inconvenience compared to what some folks have to endure. Life goes on however, another struggle for the Cambodian people.<br />
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I celebrated my birthday (Oct. 1) by staying overnight with Jess at the fancy hotel where I play tennis. With tennis membership I got a night's stay, massages and breakfast. We went the the night of Sept 30th. We had a halfway decent dinner, wonderful massages and a great breakfast buffet. And we just had a relaxing time. Jess even got to languish in a bathtub. <br />
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And I am continuing the tradition of getting sick on my birthday, started last year with pink eyes and flu type ills. That lasted the month of Oct. This year just a stye in one eye and weak/achey for just a week or so. I should be thankful because otherwise I've been healthy. Turning 60 I was beginning to feel old, mostly because I was sick. But then I lost a tennis match badly and thought 'alright I am old.' The next week I beat handily my most fearsome and talented young (34) opponent. So after that I felt perhaps I've got a few years and matches in me. Sad how my emotional state and ego are tied to my tennis matches. <br />
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I do in fact feel I'm in good shape, though I've lost 5-10 pounds in the last year. It shouldn't be surprising, I ride my bike everywhere, play as much tennis as I can and most likely eat less in general (the heat) and less junk food. Sixty did however feel like a big b'day year, similar to when I turned 30, which seemed like yesterday in some ways. For the past year I thought I was 60 anyway but when Oct. 1 rolled around I felt the full impact. I hope I'm not going anywhere soon and I have another 30 in me. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">poolside lunch</td></tr>
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Many schools have not opened because of the floods. The place I'm at is accessible so we started on Oct 3 with 14 new kids and six returnees. I was surprised how almost all the kids had a smooth transition to the class. Only one girl cried the 1st day and by week's end she was comfortable being part of the class. The teachers are doing a good, a very good job with the new class. And the teacher training session went well. There are challenges , quite expected, yet I'm feeling good about my work. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Ooblick' play, a 1st</td></tr>
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Well the rains have stopped for now, I certainly hope it's the beginning of the end of rainy season.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-58486722416523555512011-09-24T01:03:00.000-04:002011-09-24T01:03:30.570-04:00Sept rains I heard and saw footage of the floods in Vt. It sounded pretty rough for some folks and I know there is still a big recovery effort underway and fundraising to help communities. We have been getting lots of rain in SR, that's an understatement, many streets are flooded. I don't want to minimize the devastation in Vt. yet I can't help but think of the folks here who are affected by the flooding and the comparison with Vt. This happens almost every year here to some degree though this year seems particularly bad and early. There have been several deaths related to the flooding. Unfortunately here there is no FEMA, no emergency relief, no food shelves, no Phish to raise a million bucks. The people with dirt floors who get flooded out I can't imagine where and how they get help. Yet life goes on, folks ride their bikes and motos through ankle to almost hip deep water, outdoor markets open in spite of streams running thru them. It's impossible to avoid flooded streets if you want to go anywhere. <br />
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And we are lucky, our place has only a bit of water in our yard, many ex-pats along with Khmers have been flooded out of their homes. We squegee our balcony, put on rain gear and venture out. We wash our feet/legs when we return, don't want to think of what's in the street water. And with all the rain tennis gets cancelled, not so much a hardship. So we are fairly comfortable. <br />
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Lately I've been missing home, Vt. Maybe it's the time of year, Fall in Vt. is the best. Crisp apples, the Fall leaves, Octoberfest micro-brews, the cool evenings. And of course really missing our good friends and family back home. Though at this point not in a hurry to return, just a bit of homesickness. Perhaps a cheeseburger will help.<br />
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And in spite of the rains I have been playing some tennis. I've been having some great matches, sometime winning and sometimes not. I finally took 2 of 3 sets from a guy I play who's very good. I didn't think it was possible for me to accomplish that. But I feel my game has improved and feel I'm in great shape for an old fart. Watch out when I do return to Vt. <br />
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And work has been very satisfying. I am having fun and being challenged in my work of teaching the teachers. Not only is the language a factor as one of the teachers has very limited English and the other is only slightly better. So when we do the training their supervisor has to translate for the most part and his English is good but not great. In any case we are all committed to having the program work so it's been good and interesting. I am still looking forward to teaching several teachers at another place so this is good practice. I was also approached by a woman wanting help setting up a PS program, virtually from scratch. Sounds like it could be exciting, we'll see what develops. <br />
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All is well and wet. The rains shall pass as all things do. "All things must pass." -G. H.<br />
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-92177472088542554112011-08-14T07:25:00.000-04:002011-08-14T07:25:43.036-04:00One Year Yes we're approaching one year of living in Cambodia. I believed we arrived the 27 or 29 of August last year. Our thought last year before we left was that 'a year will go by fast and it may take us that long to figure out what we'll do here' proved to be true. And that 'we would most likely know by year's end if we were happy about being here' also was accurate. We have found what we can do here and we are happy to be living in Cambodia. <br />
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Which makes me think why do I like being here? I am going to list those reasons that come to mind. <br />
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<li>I like no rather love that I am riding my bike everyday and don't have a car. It is an adventure every time I get on my bike and have to negotiate the traffic. It's a game it's a dance it's hard to explain. There are rules but not comparable to our traffic/biking ones at home. And it's not just the traffic that needs negotiating the roads too, both paved and dirt/rock. Staying alert is key.</li>
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<li>I like that I can play tennis outside year round. I absolutely think I have improved my game, I've been playing some very good players here. I'd be kicking ass back home, ha ha. </li>
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<li>I like that I am meeting and talking to and making friends with Khmers as well as folks from all over the world.</li>
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<li>I like that it's a young crowd here, both Khmers and ex-pats. The vitality and energy of the young is wonderful. There are certainly some of my cohorts here and I do miss at times that dynamic.</li>
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<li> I do like the beauty of the Khmers, ok I'm talking about the beautiful women here. 'Nuff said.</li>
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<li>I like being able to go out to eat whenever because it can be so inexpensive AND good.</li>
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<li>I love the open air food markets. The fresh produce. The fruit. The fish. I could go on but let just say it's been great trying new and delicious fruits, greens, fish, vegetables. I eat so much better here, fish often.</li>
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<li>I like my big kitchen, our balcony, being outside almost all the time, as we 'live' on the balcony.</li>
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<li>I like seeing the fruit bats in the night sky off our balcony, hundreds of them pass by.</li>
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<li>I love seeing so many kids here and being able to work with some of them and seeing them learn and discover.</li>
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I'm sure there are other factors contributing to being comfortable here, perhaps some that are difficult to articulate. For example I feel that my brain is being challenged in new and different ways: figuring out Khmer culture, trying to understand accents (around the world accents) is a challenge for me, the language, and more. Gotta keep that brain active as a way to avoid 'oldtimers' disease (Alz.) as my kids used to say. .<br />
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I just discovered how delicious passion fruit is, it's got that sweet/sour mix I love. And they are @ 6 for a buck. How could I have been here a year and not found this out sooner? Well many new fruits here is my excuse. How many more out there?!<br />
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So a year has indeed come and gone and it's been fabulous. No thoughts yet about returning to the States, though lately I'm missing and thinking about friends and family back home, just looking forward to the 2nd year. <br />
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</ul>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-24172747479189003032011-07-11T21:14:00.000-04:002011-07-11T21:14:15.829-04:00Happy Indy Day I hope folks back in Vermont are enjoying the Summer months, a great time to be in the Green Mountain state. People are going to be crowding Waterfront Park and the shores of Lake Champlain for the fireworks in Burlington on the 3rd. I'll miss them, they are great. I remember some years wondering 'how much longer can they go on?' (Yes I started the entry a few days back, but I liked my opening) Going to try to at least write a blog a month, so far so good.<br />
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We've been back here just over a month after our trip back to the States in May. And it seems like a lot has happened. I am much clearer about how I can help here. I mentioned 2 places in my last entry that work with children. I've been going to the preschool that has @ 15 3-5 year olds. The 2 Khmer teachers there seem very caring and I've been impressed by their skills in working with the kids, especially the male teacher, it's a husband and wife team. I've brought materials ( I still make the best playdough) offered suggestions, and advice. I spend a bit of time with the kids but make sure the primary caregivers are the teachers. Hardly any English teaching. Which is how it is set up at this school. Half the kids are actually Vietnamese, all poor and so the Khmer language and culture is emphasized. <br />
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There of course are challenges. The husband has almost no English and the wife's is ok. The director speaks pretty good English, it's me that has such a hard time with accents. Not surprisingly children spending their time playing is not seen as learning. Fortunately 2 Australians involved are both educators. A young woman, 25, oversees the program but is busy with other programs within the organization. That's why the other Australian and I have been recruited. The young woman is very bright with such a great way about her. The org is well run and respected. So this is such a welcome change from the mismanaged (to put it mildly) NGO I was at previously with 50-100 kids. <br />
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I've only been here there a few weeks and have been involved in the room design and will be doing a weekly training. I've already talked a bit with the teachers (with a translator) about the importance of kids playing and moving when they are 3-5 years old. They looked a bit like they thought I was crazy. This should be very interesting. I'll also be doing some teacher training at the orphanage I mentioned in the previous post, the woman in charge of that program is returning this week. Looking forward to working there, the woman is actually an Early Childhood Educator. Both places also seemed interested that I'm a Social Worker indicating a possibility for me to contribute some of that knowledge down the line. I most likely will get a stipend from the school! Enough I hope to pay for my tennis obsession, more on that later.<br />
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And I've been trying to help the children's hospital here get in place a Social Work program. They have a Home Care program at the hospital mostly with medical folks, though similar to the VNA's home visitors they do some 'social work'. Yet no trained Social Workers are on staff. They only recently graduated the 1st class of Social Workers from a university in Phnom Phen. Some question their skill levels. In any case I was able to go on a home visit, an hour's drive out in the country to a poor village. And actually considering, NGO network, the situation of families here and the challenges I thought they did well. There are so many NGO's here that it's hard to get a handle on who offers what. So I've been meeting with some and trying to get a feel for where the hospital can refer: and give info on Time consuming.<br />
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So I've been a bit busy but still have time for tennis and social gatherings. There seems to be an explosion of social and other activity here among expats. New facebook pages: including classified ads, book swap, NGO network, happenings. Just a general vibrancy and we're making some good friends and connections. Tennis has been great. Iwas rained out a couple of times but the rain has been holding off for the most and I've been getting to play 3-4 times a week and have a standing 6am time weekly. <br />
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Still loving it here and if I was asked the best time of year to visit I'd be hard pressed to give an answer. It seems to be just good weather and hard to predict when it would be most pleasant. However there are less t tourists certain times of the year. And we are moving towards being here a year. <br />
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Some folks may have heard but my son Skyler is moving back to Burlington, and most likely will start work at the Trat. He has plans to open a place of his own with a chef buddy. He'll need all the luck he can get on that endeavor. He's traveling this week, driving with his girlfriend, Jenny. Safe travels guys.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-22882031556493186172011-06-12T01:35:00.000-04:002011-06-12T01:35:53.363-04:00Home is Where the Warmth is Well it's been over 2 months since I last posted, if anyone cares, apologies. No excuse other than feeling busy and being a lazy blog writer. I was also in the States for a month and it didn't make too much sense to blog and we were so busy there (a year's worth of social engagements in 3 weeks). The trip to the States was fun and it was great to see folks. A BIG thanks to family and friends who put us up and put up with us. Folks were so very kind and generous to treat us to meals out and home cooked. And let us borrow their cars so we could get around in the rain and cold. The weather could have been a bit warmer and drier. In any case we had wonderful and precious times with family and friends. And we saw our son Dylan get married in the Bahamas, a relaxed mellow 3 nights there. Congrats to Dylan and Alanna! Difficult to say to say when we'll make it back to the USA, we hope we convinced some folks to visit us in Cambodia. <br />
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And going 'home' to the States and coming back to Siem Reap really made me feel like SR is home now. It's been a little over a week and it is just so good to be back. Nothing against Vermont, it is such a very beautiful state, and I do genuinely miss seeing my friends and family. Yet as I said I'm home. I can ride my bike again, eat grilled fish, mangoes and other tropical fruits, lay in the hammock, drink cheap beer, (but oh I miss the microbrews), and sweat. I realize I like to sweat and much prefer hot to cold weather. Perhaps it's my southern Italian and Puerto Rican heritage. Good also to be back hanging out with Jaz and Sovann. And the US is so damn expensive, it's good to be back to the 3 and 4 dollar entrees and 50 cent drafts. <br />
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Shortly before we left for the US I had pretty much made the decision to leave my morning work at New Hope. I am surprised I was there for so long, I just fooled myself into thinking some change would happen, eternally the optimist. It became clear that would not happen and in fact things were getting worse. I'm including in this post my resignation letter. So my work there ended last week. It was definitely the right decision. This was reinforced when 50 more kids were added to the program a week or so before I returned, doubling the numbers, in the PS/K class I was in. As usual this was done without forethought as to the impact on kids or staff. There was no planning or discussion with staff. And of course no registration of the kids. I know this because I asked the 'director', teachers and volunteers. Unfortunately it's pretty typical as to how they operate.<br />
<br />
I've come to realize I should rethink the work I do here. I've recently talked to folks who have been doing work here for a number of years and have also read some insightful pieces about volunteering in 3rd world countries. <a href="http://goodintents.org/orphanages/hug-an-orphan-vacations">http://goodintents.org/orphanages/hug-an-orphan-vacations</a> Working with young children is my passion and I can understand why folks want to help. However it should be well thought out. For example is it necessarily a good thing when someone volunteers for a couple of weeks or even a month? One can form attachments to kids and more importantly the reverse happens and then one suddenly leaves. And this can happen to a child over and over. Think abandonment issues might be in play here? Those issues are already at play especially when talking about so called 'orphanages'. I was naive as the next person, but I'm learning. <br />
<br />
So I've been encouraged to use my knowledge and experience in a more useful way and with more thought towards sustainability. In other words for example teach and support the Khmer teachers and impart information where needed. Which means avoid direct teaching/caregiving. I'm still trying to figure out what this means for my work here. However there are 2 places already where I may be able to help the teachers. Sangkheum Center <a href="http://www.sangkheum.org/">http://www.sangkheum.org/</a> has been in Siem Reap for 10 years and has a good rep. I am hoping to do some teacher training around child development and childcare. Another place, a new school with 15 3-5 year olds has asked for some advice/support from me. I've already ready brought them some preschool materials and books. Which made me think about the 'toy van' that was in place in Burlington. It would go to childcare centers loaning toys/materials on a rotating basis. I have lots of 'stuff', perhaps I could start a 'toy bike' thing. Hmm I'll have to bounce that idea off Jess.<br />
<br />
There is also the possibility of supporting the Social Work program at Angkor Hospital for Children. Both Jess and I are talking to them, it certainly would be fun to work with Jess again. I am still volunteering at AHC, working directly with kids. What's up with that after all I've stated? For now I am justifying that because the kids I see I usually only see once as they are waiting to see the doctors and I'm just relieving their boredom. Khmers work with the in patient kids. Like I said I'm still struggling with what is best for me to do here. <br />
<br />
I am back to enjoying the great fresh food here but have only been able to play tennis twice. I got whopped both times. My game suffers when I take a break, stamina goes and I'm just off a bit. And I gained weight in the States. Nevertheless it was great to get on the court, I only played once in the USA, thanks Ted. Unfortunately I don't have my membership at Raffles anymore. I will most likely join another hotel that has courts <a href="http://www.angkorpalaceresort.com/">http://www.angkorpalaceresort.com/</a> Nice courts and I'm hoping to find a 'partner' to join with as a couple as it's much cheaper. I miss playing already. <br />
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Thanks again to all back in the US for everything. COME VISIT, you'll love it! Below is my letter of resignation. <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">To whom it may concern,</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> To make it simple I am leaving New Hope because of the poor management and lack of knowledge regarding the education of children displayed by Kenneth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> For those interested I want you to know why I’m leaving New Hope after 8 months of volunteering 5 mornings a week. From the start it was apparent that there was a lack of knowledge of what is effective in teaching young children. After a few months it was obvious that Kenneth’s autocratic and poor management style and a lack of knowledge of education in general was hampering any efforts for changes. Input from teachers and staff is not valued and communication with staff is poor at best. I respect and like the teachers and the support staff at NH. The relationships I was forming with the children made it difficult to end my work there. I struggled for months over whether I should stay or leave but now I find I can no longer tolerate these deficiencies and any hope for change seems even more remote. It is not a place I can take pride in being a part of. Below is a sampling of events leading me to this decision. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">As recent as last month I was told children as young as 3 should be in chairs at tables to learn (young children learn best through child directed play)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘Weekly’ meetings with teachers happen once a month at best<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Teacher and volunteer concerns about student registration, assessments and placements have continually been raised but never adequately addressed <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Class sizes doubled or increased by 1/3 overnight without any discussion before or after as to the impact of the increases on students or teachers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Two special events happened combining all the classes without discussions or planning with teachers ( it would have taken little effort to avoid the chaos that occurred)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A teacher who has been there 6 months has been assigned to 3 different classes with 3 sets of students (consistency and a relationship between teacher and student is key to learning, any decent educator knows this)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve had children pulled randomly from my class to move up to a higher grade without consulting me or my fellow Khmer teacher as to which child is the most ready to move up<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 28.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> No effort is made to have activities for the girls and younger children when the older boys play football on Fridays ( many volunteers over the past 8 months have made doable suggestions)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 28.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Months ago a good feedback survey was developed by a volunteer for volunteers to fill out after the end of their stay and was never distributed ( apparently input and feedback is not wanted)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> I’m writing this to clarify why I need to leave. I want to thank all who have been helpful and welcoming to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Steve Mojica</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-74650064281813836312011-03-27T03:34:00.000-04:002011-03-27T03:34:27.837-04:00Beaches, mountains and scamorza We finally visited a couple of other regions/provinces in Cambodia. We took a wonderful trip with 2 couples from Hungary for a week. One couple is our good friends Andras and Eszter who we've known just about since we arrived here. The other couple we met on the trip, their friends, who were great folks also. Oh actually the woman is from Latvia, living in Hungary. <br />
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So we 1st spent a night in Phnom Penh which I haven't seen much of. And now have no great desire to revisit. It just seemed too big and so different from SR. Though I did want to visit the Kingdom Brewpub, a recently opened 1st ever micro-brew pub in Cambodia. I do miss the microbrews of the US especially Vt. pale ales. We searched out a Mex place, I know weird but it's what we did with the couple in SR, and found a good one. Though before we went there we entered another place that served mex food but found it also apparently served up women. As we walked in we realized it was filled with Western men and flashy Khmer women. It was obvious that the women were 'professionals'. We kinda got odd looks and decided perhaps we were in the wrong place and quickly left. Then we noticed on that street the bars were named Pussy Cat Club, 69 Club and the like. Not too discreetly named as the place we entered. An odd experience.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLB7MZmtcTQ/TYVmVS-nCBI/AAAAAAAADS0/MLtYOebdLRw/s1600/P1000375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLB7MZmtcTQ/TYVmVS-nCBI/AAAAAAAADS0/MLtYOebdLRw/s320/P1000375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phnom Penh</td></tr>
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Mondulkiri is one of the provinces with mountains we visited and had a great time. It was cooler and seemed to not have mosquitos. They are really not that bad in SR but they are present. The highlights of our days there were riding elephants and washing elephants. And going to see these impressive waterfalls. It's a town and region that will most likely see a lot of growth, tourism, soon. A road there was just built last year and it makes it so much quicker to get to and accessible in rainy season when everything turns green, like Vermont. We also had great times talking to some local folks there.<br />
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From Mondulkiri we headed to the beach! We went to an island Koh Rung Soloem off of Sihanoukville. Specifically Lazy Beach www.lazybeachcambodia.com What a wonderful time we had there being lazy. The beaches were white sand and the water was crystal clear, and virtually no one on the beach that stretched out a long ways. The bungalows were sparten but clean and with showers and hammocks on the porch. Only 14 of them spread far apart and all overlooking the water. What added to the enjoyment of that was that the food served at the restaurant, the only food available, was excellent. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_r8uQtvzvk/TXybEOua7FI/AAAAAAAAClg/EiuntA7-mmw/s1600/P1000892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_r8uQtvzvk/TXybEOua7FI/AAAAAAAAClg/EiuntA7-mmw/s320/P1000892.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spicy Shrimp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUUXbM6djZY/TYMg1u-3-CI/AAAAAAAACu4/bBUumOdp-aQ/s1600/P1010023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUUXbM6djZY/TYMg1u-3-CI/AAAAAAAACu4/bBUumOdp-aQ/s320/P1010023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calamari</td></tr>
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We spent our few days there not doing a lot, well it is Lazy Beach after all. We did take a hike through the forest, 25 min walk actually, to another deserted beach. And we did have a few games of Uno. We ate, drank, talked and I got maybe the 4th sunburn in my life. Not bad at all but I did peel. So it was great to see other parts of Cambodia and now has us itching to see more. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lazy Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNr_Kx7auvE/TXyit2A1bjI/AAAAAAAACrY/hqjcYQFwvzM/s1600/P1000981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNr_Kx7auvE/TXyit2A1bjI/AAAAAAAACrY/hqjcYQFwvzM/s320/P1000981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Lazy Beach down there</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Bungalow</td></tr>
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So we left there and headed back to Phnom Penh to say our final sad goodbyes to our Eastern European friends. We did promise them that we would visit them in Budapest. I've always wanted to visit Easter Europe and now we have friends to show us what I believe is a beautiful city. We will go at some point. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess, Andras, Eszter, Olga and Gabor , me</td></tr>
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Back to routine of SR. And there is a routine now firmly established here. I like both the gigs I'm involved with as I've stated previously. And it seems like we still need to visit some eating establishments here that we've heard are good. We did go to a fairly new Italian place. Though a bit pricey, for here, the food was fantastic. We especially liked a dish that we loved to eat at the Trattoria Delia in Burlington, Vt., scamorza alla griglia, (smoked mozzarella with grilled veggies). We stared at each other elated as we took our 1st bite as it tasted just like the Trat's dish. The wine was good and Jess loved her gnoochi with porcini and cheeses and my spag Bolognese was delicious. Then the true test, panna cotta! Wow it was fantastic! Don't know how much we'll make our way there but it's great just knowing it's there. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teacher Srey Mien, Makarai, me, Eli from Portland , Ore., kids</td></tr>
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We met one of the owners, an Italian who has restaurants in Italy but said it's nearly impossible to open places there. So they decided to open a place in SR. Lucky us. And I understand one of the owners plays tennis with a Belgian guy I play. Another potential partner on the courts! <br />
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Weather has been surprisingly pleasant and also surprisingly it rained a few days in a row. Not typical for this time of year. Normally it's hotter and no rain, so we're enjoying the oddity. Folks keep telling us just wait, and we have been here in April so we do know it will get hot and humid soon. <br />
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Just a thought about foods and eating here. I am eating more fish and fruit here than I did at home. I think significantly more. And more pork and less chicken, but maybe more meat in general, beef also. Veggies about the same perhaps though maybe more greens. More beer and water and less wine. I have lost a bit of weight. Maybe because of riding my bike so much, have I mentioned I love riding my bike, or maybe I'm just getting old. On the other hand I'm still holding my own on the tennis courts beating 'youngsters' in their 20's-40's. Ha ha. <br />
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We'll be heading to Vt. in May and very much looking forward to that. I'm very curious as to how it will feel to be back in the states, back to an American/Western culture scene. And then to return 'home' after almost a month 'home'. We'll see.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a great dad and kid pic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-33010160804691020902011-03-17T04:09:00.000-04:002011-03-17T04:09:26.268-04:00Winter warmth It seems to be getting warmer and more humid as the days go by. Though at times it may be 90 but low humidity and that feels fine. I've been busy. Busy in the mornings at the NGO and busy in the afternoon at the children's hospital. I've also been busy playing tennis, on average 3 times a week, which is great considering there was some doubt about me being able to play at all here.<br />
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The past week and a half has been lots of fun as we have guests from Vt. It's wonderful to have folks here who have 'fresh eyes' and enjoy us showing them around Siem Reap. Our friend Alison is here with her 2 kids Willa and Julian. A girl, 13, and boy, 10, respectively. They are lovely kids as is mom and it's been a pleasure having company. I get a kick out of the boy as he very much reminds me of Skyler when he was his age. For example he's obsessed with soccer/futbol, though Sky played soccer I think baseball was more his obsession. In fact might still be. <br />
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I am still at the NGO that treated Jess so poorly. Why? The kids of course. I have tried to justify my position on this, weak as that was, I just can't bring myself to leave. I don't deal with the bullshit there, I just concentrate on the kids. I have lots of materials, many thanks to all back home who were involved in sending the much needed supplies. Everything is being put to use. I also have somewhat of a budget to mostly buy consumables, clay, flour for playdough,water colors etc... We have a good daily routine and one of the Khmer teachers is especially good. As I've stated in the previous post the class is split for the 1st part of the morning. Higher level kids in the 'hut' doing more formal learning, though still with play and fun involved. And the 2nd group of kids outside involved in preschool type activities. Though recently we've been introducing more learning or at least giving exposure to numbers, letters, colors etc.. to many of those kids. <br />
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Most often I am in the 'hut' but not always and I do often float between the 2 spaces. Which reminds me of my work at the FR. The 2nd part of the morning we are all together which is good because I get to interact with all the kids still. Well here's one reason I am sticking with this gig: a few of the kids who have moved up to the next 'grade level' have come to me showing me what new words they are learning. Yes I do see progress, the kids are learning and not just learning but there is a confidence I see in them and enthusiasm <i>for</i> learning. I'd like to think I had a part in that. I am still very much enjoying my time with these kids and there are new kids all the time which means new challenges. This I like and need actually. <br />
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The hospital work is very different, which is good. I see different kids and parents every day and interact with many parents. There are some repeat folks as kids I imagine have to come in for treatments and/or follow-up care. Let me see if I can articulate what I do there. I sit on a kid's preschool chair at a low table with kids also sitting around it as well as parents. Wait a minute that sounds like the FR scene! Ok it's a bit different as few speak English, hmmm that was the case often at the FR also with so many refugees/'new' Americans. Well in any case there is the occasional kid or parent that does speak English. And of course I am the one who doesn't speak the language of the country I'm living in so the onus is on me to understand. <br />
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Ok so what I'm doing is trying to relieve the boredom of them having to wait to be seen. So mostly the kids are drawing and coloring and often the parents too. But I have also brought in books and small manipulatives. I had an especially good day there today. The kids and sometime parents try to teach me words, mostly animals and fruits. Three girls, about 9yrs. old were there today and they got a kick out of me trying to say different words they were trying to teach me. The best part of my time there was when a mom brought over her baby @ 9 months old, maybe a bit older. I gave her a flower drawing and she started coloring it. Of course the baby wanted attention so at that point I wasn't tied up so I offered to take her. And she gave her to me!!! I got to hold a baby, it's been a while. Before she started coloring I was amusing the baby and she had no problem with me holding her. It was great. <br />
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I interact and 'talk' with parents almost as much as I do with the kids. And the parents, moms and dads, like to draw and color also. One particular dad, and I've seen him twice, traces pictures of vegetables/fruits and writes the names in Khmer and then tells me and I write it in English and tell him. Some parents ask where I'm from and ask how long I'm here for. One rather interesting interactions I've had is 20 something moms asking me if I could help them find a Western boyfriend, mostly so they could move out of Cambodia. One mom said she was married but would leave him if she found a European husband. <br />
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It's been over a week since I started this blog so I'm going to finally post it and start a new one.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-13893619767804270312011-02-06T00:58:00.000-05:002011-02-06T00:58:06.281-05:00Belated Happy Chinese New Year! Time seems to be going by quickly, yeah what's new? It was a good month at the school I would say mostly because of some key volunteers. One was Eli the 13 yr. old daughter of a Portland, Oregon family who will be here till April and we had an actual kindergarten teacher from Australia, Jacqui, who was here for 3 weeks. A woman Jan, Australian, has been great to have part of the class also. Adding to the goodness are Care packages sent from home and from a former volunteer, Carol, from Australia. The Portland family who've we've gotten to know, are like minded folks. It's been wonderful to hang out with them, it feels like they're old friends.<br />
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The family is here volunteering. The dad is a Doc who is working at New Hope clinic part time and also doing some work with I believe a women's health organization. Mom is doing some outreach work as a public health education advocate. Their 18 yr. old son is working with an NGO installing wells. Both kids are bright and mature. And I've played tennis with dad! What a bonus. They live just blocks from Skyler in Portland, so when we live there we'll have some ready made friends. Lovely folks.<br />
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It was so good to have a K. teacher who fully understood what my philosophy is, play-based, and what the work with the kids is all about. And she had some wonderful ideas that we were able to implement. Specifically an assessment of the kid's skill levels was done. Eli as well as the Khmer teachers, Srei Mien and Chenda, were up to the task, long overdue. I feel I should have done this earlier but just didn't have the support I thought I needed. You would think the admin./mngmnt. folks would take the lead on this, not some lowly volunteers. But alas it's not what happens here. In any case we now have 2 groups almost evenly divided. We'll be able to concentrate on each group's abilities and have more appropriate activities and lessons for each group. Always challenging and fun but now more manageable.<br />
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That's what I do mornings, M-F. In the afternoons now I go to the Angkor Hospital for Children and help the kids relieve the boredom of waiting. It's fairly easy, mostly the kids color pictures I trace. I also bring in some small manipulatives and books. I love it as there are obviously new kids/parents every day. Some kids I see repeatedly as they are in in-patient care I guess. Few kids or parents know English and my Khmer is much less than minimal. So I mostly communicate through gestures etc... I realized I am somewhat used to that after working so many years with pre-verbal kids and new-English speaking refugees in Vt. So I have met some wonderful kids and parents. And some do have English. One particular girl,10, had great English and helped me communicate with kids and parents. An incredibly bright girl. I hope that brightness brings her a good life. It's hard not to think about lost potential of so many kids I interact with here. The barriers and lack of resources for kids to succeed are enormous. Such a shame.<br />
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I've also met parents at the hospital and that's always fun. The conversations often include questions of where I'm from, how long I'm here for and a thank you for being friendly and talking to them. I ask them about their home province, their family and thank them for talking to me. It's all so interesting and fascinating. I wish I could articulate better the interactions I have. I love it. <br />
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There is a chance also of doing some Social Work at the hospital too, a doctor/tennis partner friend told me last week that the head honcho, an American, wants to talk to me about some work in that area. We'll see what happens. I think it would be great to see if there is a possibility to do some parenting education. That's quite a fantasy I know but as they say 'you never know'. I've met several dads at the hospital and school and of course I can't help but fantasize about a group for dads, yeah crazy thoughts. But.....<br />
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The weather here has just been wonderful lately low 80's and breezy during the day with low humidity and no rain. Mornings and nighttimes are cool, low 70's. Sorry Vt and whereever else the weather is bad. We are still meeting folks both Khmer and Westerners and discovering new places to eat. We seem to cook in and eat out equally. And I've been finding new foods to cook and fruits to eat. I've been playing tennis often enough and still am joyous about riding my bike daily. Jess and I have gotten into riding our bikes out to the countrysides, so much fun seeing new areas of Siem Reap. Have I mentioned how lucky I feel? <br />
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However I am so looking forward to being in Vt. and seeing folks in May. PICS:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whew, most of the kids there I think.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TU4v3RJoewI/AAAAAAAAB9g/ZTZNr-uX874/s1600/P1000091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TU4v3RJoewI/AAAAAAAAB9g/ZTZNr-uX874/s320/P1000091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jan brought balloons. Chenda and Srei Mien</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very cool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">joint effort ? and Kvai</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theda likes the blocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soth has moved up but we have his brother now</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sopal learns fast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go girls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the white shirt/ blue pants tells me she attends a Khmer school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-12889209061549898962011-01-02T00:39:00.000-05:002011-01-02T00:39:28.255-05:002011 in Cambodia Well 2011 what will the year bring? I'm very much looking forward to this coming year in Cambodia. My biggest hope for the year is that we'll have many friends and family visiting us from the states Especially our kids. Jaz has a friend here now and it's been great having a test run for future visitors. I look forward to showing folks around town and letting them see what a great place this is to be living. I know some folks back home think we perhaps have 'lost a few marbles'. And if you think about it we quit good paying jobs and became unemployed in the midst what some folks call the the worst economic times in many decades. But we were not about to lead our lives in a direction dictated by the ups and downs of the economy. We had plans. Luckily I can make those statements. We have no regrets so far and for people contemplating a trip here, you've got time, we'll most likely be here for 2 years at least. <br />
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It's been just over 4 months since we arrived and I at times comment "another day in Paradise". Certainly at times it feels a bit like that, warm weather, cheap restaurants, cheap beer, wonderful kids I work with, no car, bike rides daily, mid-day naps, meeting new friends, the best fresh fruit and veggies available, the Khmer people and new experiences often. Of course I miss friends and family back home terribly. And certainly some foods not available here I miss and I miss the variety of wines at home. And the great Vermont micro-brews especially pale ales I miss. But overall there is not a lot I'm dying for that is not attainable here.<br />
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In fact I am even able to catch some sporting events on TV that I thought I would miss, including the World Series, some college f-ball/b-ball, pro f-ball and there is plenty of soccer and tennis. Much tennis that I would not catch at home. I don't watch much TV, usually sports and news. It was a bit odd to watch the Pats and Packers Sun. Night Football on Wed. afternoon, but I am getting the College Bowl games live. Most likely will catch the Australian Open in the next few weeks. OK enough sports talk. <br />
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Work is still challenging but fun. Right now I work only mornings at the school but starting this week I will be doing some afternoon work with kids at the Angkor Children's Hospital. A change of scene and something new will be good I believe. I should mention that I would not so easily be able to do the work with the kids at the school as I do without the generous 'gifts' sent here from folks back home. I can't list the many items but know all are being put to good use in helping the kids to learn and grow and have fun. It has made my job so much easier and fun. MANY THANKS!<br />
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Sometimes I think I'm re-creating a Family Room here. We have 45-55 kids and a lot more kids closer to 3 years old, some are @ 7 yrs. old. So we have 2 'spaces' for the kids now, so we split them up. We have a set up for outside which looks more FR like with blocks, paints, watercolors, clay, books, and manipulatives etc... In the 'hut' we work on small motor skills and numbers, colors, abc's and the like. I try to get both spaces ready and find myself sharing time between both spaces. If volunteers are plentiful or at least 2 it's much easier, if not which has been the case lately it's a bit crazier. Nevertheless I love it. <br />
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Yesterday, Jan 1, Jess and I had a most wonderful start for the new year. Slept in and woke w/o hangovers. ( It was a fun NY Eve). We started off happily with a cheese omlette. Then we took a long bike ride, cheerfully getting 'lost' and discovering new areas. We then stopped for $1.50 mango margaritas, $1 tacos and people watching downtown. Got $5 foot massages which included more than our feet. Returned home and shortly thereafter left in the tuk tuk with Sovann, Jaz and her friend Jeffery for an interesting ride outside Siem Reap. We went to the 'mountain' in the area, it's pretty flat here. We grabbed sandwiches on the way there. Returning back home we napped, woke had a late pesto pasta dinner and settled in watching Dexter on the laptop, a Showtime series that is done well. The weather was great and I must not forget the chocolate we had after dinner to end the day. A good start that I hope continues for 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!<br />
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-84215749654330630332010-12-23T18:59:00.000-05:002010-12-23T18:59:13.535-05:00Happy Holidays! I want to wish a Happy Holiday Season to all!<br />
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It's Xmas eve morning and it could not feel any different than it does here in Cambodia. It will be the 1st time in forever that I've worked and haven't been thinking about the 7 course, 10 hour seafood fest that I should prepare, (it's an Italian thing). I'd be anxiously waiting for the arrival of friends and family. In fact I'd be anxious for days, planning with family, especially Billy, what we should prepare. Not to be this year as the weather is warm and there is lack of family and old friends. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> I am always thinking of my family and good friends and especially today. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! (please pass my holiday wishes on). Love, Steve<br />
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PEACE and GOOD HEALTH<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TMgC95CEepI/AAAAAAAABRg/x_RjP8rYdMo/s1600/P1210902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TMgC95CEepI/AAAAAAAABRg/x_RjP8rYdMo/s320/P1210902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-2948275501531226162010-12-10T13:09:00.000-05:002010-12-10T13:09:18.058-05:00A few more pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIRW-jTk8I/AAAAAAAABv4/3NV9V1a01oc/s1600/P1220632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIRW-jTk8I/AAAAAAAABv4/3NV9V1a01oc/s320/P1220632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIQHm7WSTI/AAAAAAAABvg/nFYe_u6BlW4/s1600/P1220628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIQHm7WSTI/AAAAAAAABvg/nFYe_u6BlW4/s320/P1220628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIQUDG5w5I/AAAAAAAABvk/CRhFSd7Nr00/s1600/P1220629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIQUDG5w5I/AAAAAAAABvk/CRhFSd7Nr00/s320/P1220629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-24466494541035715952010-12-10T11:06:00.001-05:002010-12-10T19:29:14.569-05:00Gifts and tennis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> This past week was exciting for at least 2 reasons. We received a few boxes from home filled with needed and desirable items. Some great books, blocks and other needed supplies for the kids in my class. They have already enjoyed them within a day of getting them. And also 'tons' of chocolate which is expensive here. And some household items etc... THANKS to all the parties involved. And I understand more kid stuff is coming probably by next week from FR folks. I'm so excited!! MUCHAS GRACIAS. <br />
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And I think I played tennis 3 days last week. And with 2 challenging players on a regulation very nice court. And under the lights too. I feel a bit decadent having a membership at this fancy expensive hotel. But I got a good deal, much cheaper than what I would pay in the States, and I rationalize/justify the expense, "it's for my mental and physical health". It also has a great pool, though I haven't even dipped a foot in yet, a workout room and I discovered steam and sauna rooms. I am hoping Jess can cruise in with me sometime to swim. <br />
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So here I am playing tennis as I did at home, for all you skeptics who doubted I'd find a court 'where there's a will there's a way'. Always liked that saying. Jaz thinks it's funny that we have fallen into familiar activities recreating what we did at home. She walked into the kitchen as I was cooking and listening to NPR on the computer. She commented it was just like at home in the USA. And as I did at home I was sipping a little whiskey (sometimes I indulge in the hard stuff) given to me for my B'day by a new friend here who's from Hungary. It's a Cambodian spirit and reminds me of Bourbon, which is what I'd be having at home. <br />
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<i> </i>Jess and I both have commented more than once how we sometimes feel we've changed locations but not our familiar life so to speak. That's somewhat true but also of course not entirely the truth. Some things I am doing different follows. I ride a bike every day. Back home it seemed like every Summer and Fall we would say that we needed to get out on our bikes more. We hardly ever if ever rode them. I cook different kinds of food. And I believe I eat fresher foods and more fruit. Right now at least I only work half a day. So I read more and cook more. We're meeting folks from different parts of the world on a weekly basis. And adjusting to the prevailing culture here. I'm playing tennis outside in the Winter. Let's face just living here is very different. And perhaps I'm already getting so used to it I can't think of what else to mention.<br />
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And I'm living outside most of my waking hours, we've stated before that we 'live on the balcony'. Which of course is where I am now waiting for another exciting thing that has happened this week. We met an American family that will be here for 5 months and they are coming over for a drink and then we'll go out for a bite with them. They are from Portland, Oregon perhaps living blocks from Skyler, my son. Jess and I have talked a bit about moving to Portland some day, a great city, who knows maybe. In any case Dad is a Doc and will be working at Jess's former Clinic workplace, mom most likely will work in Outreach there as a health educator. Their 13 yr. old daughter has already worked with me and the kids. And their 18 yr. old son will be doing some environmental work I believe. They seem like very down to Earth lovely folks. Funny how we crave some American contacts. Jaz is excited to meet the teen boy, a potential American friend! So looking forward to getting to know them. <br />
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Here's some pics of the kids exploring the new 'stuff'. <span id="goog_1281191238"></span><span id="goog_1281191239"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TPx7_82KGnI/AAAAAAAABs0/G1y0Cu42ogk/s1600/NH-SR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TPx7_82KGnI/AAAAAAAABs0/G1y0Cu42ogk/s320/NH-SR.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pic from <a href="http://www.coopsnpeps.blogspot.com/">http://www.coopsnpeps.blogspot.com/</a> 3 bright kids in my class</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQINhia_rvI/AAAAAAAABu0/5XZe2YfnPaw/s1600/P1220616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQINhia_rvI/AAAAAAAABu0/5XZe2YfnPaw/s320/P1220616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIORyk7G_I/AAAAAAAABvE/rvwwffQ37BQ/s1600/P1220621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__SkVeZK9AI4/TQIORyk7G_I/AAAAAAAABvE/rvwwffQ37BQ/s320/P1220621.JPG" width="320" /></a>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-87381605360401302002010-11-29T19:20:00.008-05:002010-11-30T01:38:31.743-05:00That Holiday Feeling....well no.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Thanksgiving has come and gone and I was sorry we didn't search out a Turkey Day dinner, we did hear you can find one. There is a possibility that we can find a place tonight that serves one. Although it's not ever as satisfying to celebrate a holiday on the day that is not actually 'the' day. And it is difficult to 'get in the spirit' here anyway. We did have a great time on T-Day however, saying goodbye to 2 Dutch nurses that worked at the clinic. We bid farewell at a Cambodian BBQ place.<br />
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(We did not have a Turkey dinner.)<br />
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I imagine most folks know that Jess is having some challenges at 'work'. Jess says at times I am the master of understatement, that was an example. If you are signed up as a 'follower' you know the gritty details of her struggles as she inadvertently sent email drafts of her thoughts to all 'followers'. In any case the whole mess has colored the last couple of weeks and that color is uncertainty. I feel very bad for Jess. She at 1st didn't seem that upset, (angry, sad, frustrated, furious, confused), about how she's been treated, but now I think it's getting to her. Not surprisingly considering how much time and effort she devoted to the clinic, not just there but on her off hours too. She loved the work and the people of the village and was seeing progress. All this done strictly as a volunteer and I know some out of pocket money. I think I'm more pissed off than she is. Fortunately I know Jess will 'land on her feet'.<br />
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And I have had the same thoughts Jess has had to face. Are the kids better off with me there or am just enabling a bad situation? I don't know. Or is it really all about me because I very much like what I am doing, I'm having fun and love those kids. And I do feel like they are learning and having fun, I do see progress. But I have more freedom than Jess has/had. I've been given somewhat free rein on what I can do with the children and I've taken advantage of that. Jess didn't mention the following because she's very kind. When she was getting her one of her 2 'poundings' (as an Aussie put it) it was emphasized what a good volunteer I am. I don't remember exactly what was said but clearly I 'tow the line' so to speak and don't make waves. Perhaps that's true in a sense mainly because I got my way and we haven't had our weekly teachers' meeting in well over a month. I really don't know how it's going to feel working there once Jess is done. <br />
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Jess and I have had discussions and she has stated often the question: why are we here? There are many reasons for me: the desire to live in another country/culture, the need to work directly with children again, the weather, the need for change and lastly to play tennis outdoors in January are among the reasons. I have somewhat found that I think. Jess seems to be still asking herself that question, I sometimes also, but she is clear about at least one reason. And that is to immerse herself in the culture as much as possible and get to know the people here on a personal level as much as possible. Yes this is a lot cooler than wanting to hit a little yellow ball around. <br />
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That is why Jess has made an extra effort to realize her above desires and in a relatively short 3 months she has been I think very successful. You may have noticed that I have not joined her for some of these experiences, my loss of course. This is partly due to being kinda sick for all of Oct. but also because I don't seem to have that social energy that I had at home in the states. And Jess seems to possess the energy that I lack. This is a switch from how things were in the states. I often wanted to go out and socialize and Jess's arm had to be twisted a bit to go out. But this I guess goes back to why Jess is here and also perhaps my aging body. She is a youngster after all. I am sorry I missed some of her experiences and have told myself to get off my ass. <br />
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Random thoughts following.<br />
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The father of one of the Dutch nurses that Jess worked with came to Siem Reap in her final days here. We had many conversations on a variety of topics, very nice and interesting guy, I liked him. We're about the same age. On our last get together with them he said unsolicited that he had not met many Americans but now he can say the Americans he met in Cambodia were very nice and pleasant people. I was very happy to hear this as I know Americans are not always seen in a favorable light by folks around the globe. I do see myself as being conscious of this and make an effort to change opinions. It was funny though when I first met him and asked him if he has visited the states he said no and he had no desire to visit. I never did press him about why. Next time. <br />
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I saw a strange sport on tv: a 3 man or woman team and a small 'volleyball' and net and they were using only their feet to serve and hit the ball. Soccer volleyball?! I pretty much only watch sports and news on tv. Lots of tennis and soccer, occasionally football. But I briefly checked out badminton and that is serious over here, they slam that birdie. I have seen another odd sport: it involved a basketball type court but a smaller ball and the goals were made by shooting or bouncing the ball into a field hockey like net. Yeah I know??!! I feel I've seen other odd sports too. <br />
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On the bug front: after a rain last week these funny looking inch long worm/snail type things were coming in the back door. It was an invasion, they didn't move fast so it was easy to sweep. Weird and yucky. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a different bug</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another</td></tr>
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I've been trying to cook more, both Khmer and Western food. I made pasta and meatballs, stir fry pumpkin curry, pork ribs with ginger that were just hanging in the open air market, ( no, no one got sick). Jess says we'd more likely to get something form a meat factory than from the pig that was killed most likely that morning. I made quesadillas. Can't seem to find good avocados here. ? I make morning glory occasionally, still perfecting w/o overcooking it. I've always loved greens and morning glory is becoming a favorite. Fish cakes are delicious also, that's ground up fish cooked like a pancake. <br />
And I finally made pesto pasta, there is great sweet basil here so I don't know why it took me so long to make. I had to use almonds, didn't think I could find pine nuts. I have to say as I write this I realize we are for a large majority of the time eating fresh local foods. I especially love the bread lady who comes by on her bike every morn selling warm baguettes. We are lucky.<br />
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Last night a Khmer family Jaz became friends with on her rides to Chey school came over for dinner, a Western dinner they requested. We've been to their home for a meal, previous post with pics and text, it's the coconut family. Jaz bought coconut drinks from their store. Anyway I made garlic bread, penne Bolognese and green beans w/shallots & garlic. They did eat the meal but only after they added fish sauce, spicy type catsup and maybe oyster sauce. They did seem to like the bread. It was a fun evening in spite of the fact that the mom and youngest daughter, 8y.o., speak very little English. Dad's English was limited, fortunately the older daughter, 10 y.o., speaks excellent English. Very bright kid. And Sovann was there also. <br />
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So for at least 2 hours we had interpreted conversations on a variety of topics but mainly the weather at our home in America. The dad especially wanted to know about living in snow. How do we walk in it, how do you stay warm and your ears especially? He asked if we had 'warm conditioning'? My explanation of burning oil in a furnace elicited perplexed looks. When we showed them photos of Vt. during the various seasons they asked interesting questions, for example do the colored leaves stay on the trees. A very lovely family. <br />
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Tennis wise I am bummed. A woman I play tennis with thought we could get a couples membership at 'the' fancy hotel, Raffles, at a discount because we work at NGO's. She knows the children's hospital employees get a discount and thought we could also. They have 2 great courts w/ lights! It was not to be. Well not giving up yet. It gives me more incentive to volunteer at the hospital, ha ha. Well we'll keep playing on the one court that has limited space from the baseline to the fence , not to mention potted plants at the fence also. Weird but better than nothing. Well.........never mind while writing got a call and the tennis place changed their mind, it's a 'Khmer thing'. <br />
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I have to mention the kids again. I colored some elbow macaroni so the kids can make necklaces. Unfortunately, or fortunately as you will see, it was difficult to string them because the holes were rather small. Almost impossible. I did bring some penne too, but not a lot, which was much easier. However that did not stop the kids from trying...........and being successful. At first they persevered with some success but then a little girl used a tiny stick to push the string through. Pretty soon the kids were using the same method and voila, necklaces. The perseverance and ingenuity/creativeness of the kids continues to amaze me. <br />
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When I'm riding my bike or we're out and about there are many interesting sights and happenings I want to relate to folks. But I forget so maybe I need to carry a little notebook with me.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-12514346344309807582010-11-12T02:35:00.000-05:002010-11-12T02:35:41.188-05:00Morning musings Friday morn and I have the day off. Once a month is Rice Drop day, sponsored families get free rice and it happens at the school. There does seem to be a lot of 4 day weeks for one reason or another, though Dec I'm told no holidays so we'll see. I woke this morning knowing no school and I felt bummed that I wouldn't see the kids today. I miss them. This is a good sign, I enjoy my 'job' apparently. I have been having fun with the kids and though there are 45-50 now and I'm struggling to keep up with their names and ascertain who needs extra encouragement things are going well. We split up the kids now with some outside mat time and some class/hut time and then all together time with mats in the hut (not enough room or table and chairs for all). <br />
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On the mats I've been able to set up 3 separate choices for the kids: water colors, books, and 'blocks' (which mostly consist of empty plastic medicine containers from the clinic). Oh and if needed I pull out a few frisbees to encourage cooperative play. I love seeing the kids pour over the books, talking to each other about the pictures. One little guy, Soth, opens one book and starts naming the colors to me, in English, yes! Other kids make designs and explore the water colors taking pride in their drawings. The block builders call me over to show me their towers. They move between the mats and couple kids get bored so we play frisbe, I'm amazed at how quickly and well they learn to throw and catch. The Khmer teacher also likes the water colors, once coloring a kid's face and another time doing his own 'painting'. He's young @ 20 and perhaps never touched water colors. <br />
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After outdoor mat play we go to the hut and the other group switches to the mats. Luckily there are some great volunteers who are able to help. In the hut we'll sing the alphabet song, often. Then we'll generally work on making letters with whatever works: paper/pencils, pipe cleaners, clay, playdough, string, tongue depressors. We'll do the same regarding shapes or numbers. When we all come together and the kids are on the mats we sing, read books, work on learning colors in a variety of ways. <br />
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If it sounds like I'm in a groove and feeling good about being at the school it's true. I have other ideas about what to do with the kids (paints next week!). This is thanks to my memories of my former workmates at the FR, they are imaginative and creative in their work with kids. I dig up those memories and think 'what would so and so do'. The internet is helpful also but inspiration comes from the FR. Thanks, I miss you all. I am hoping to find some more 'work' as I don't go in the school in the afternoon. It looks like I may be able to volunteer at the Angkor Hospital for Children. There is a Vt. doctor who has contacts there, so I'm excited at the possibilities. <br />
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Ok you snowbound people don't want to hear this but it is so pleasant here right now weatherwise. Mid seventies with 'cool' breezes. It does get in the eighties but not humid. I hope this lasts a while. It's great weather for bike riding, so Jess and I did take a 2-3 hour bike ride a few days ago to explore other parts of Siem Reap. I find the different homes that people live in very interesting. You have the thatched huts, wooden structures and concrete homes among others. Some of the homes look like cute cottage type homes and some places actually have lawns. And the above are interspersed amongst each other. Some places are neatly kept and others seem to collect garbage. No matter what kind of home as you pass people often they smile and say hello, especially the kids of course. Jess and I went to a different area with shops mostly frequented by Khmers. I may be wrong but it seems like a middle-class area. Interesting, and there were also small outdoor food markets. It's great to have good, fresh local foods so available. <br />
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I finally tried to make a curry from scratch, which means the mortar and pestle routine with fresh tumeric, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal and more. It's in the fridge and I will attempt a dish soon, maybe with squid and pumpkin. I did make a pumpkin ( it's a greenish looking one yet orange inside) stir fry which Jess and Jaz said was good but I wasn't entirely satisfied with. Especially after Jaz's Khmer teacher Yeaun said it was good and I asked if it tasted like a Cambodian dish and he said "no". Gotta love the honesty here sometimes. I have to start buying and making some fresh fish. Most often I buy it cooked for lunch. It's delicious and cheap. I have made what I call fish cakes. Which is ground up fish, fried into pancakes. But I will add maybe ginger or something else to give it a different flavor. Many possibilities to explore with the foods here and hopefully I will.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-28236011688904923412010-11-05T07:01:00.000-04:002010-11-05T07:01:05.225-04:00Culture shock and a cool 74 degrees Ha ha don't know why I titled this the way I did. I guess I'm blaming being hit with pink eyes on Oct 1 (my b'day), followed by a fever, cold, bad congestion and general body aches for the month on culture shock. At home in the states I rarely got ill with anything. So I am not used to being incapacitated. I felt like I had no energy, therefore I couldn't cook, didn't feel like going out, didn't work at the school in the afternoons (only missed one morning), couldn't blog and was generally miserable. I was beginning to think Cambodia and I don't mix well. And I was losing faith that Jess had any nursing skills. Try as she did nothing she recommended was working. Finally she gave me some allergy med a few days ago, perhaps it was this med or the timing of it was right but I'm feeling 95 % better. The month of Oct, usually my favorite month, well sucked. She and Jaz were very kind putting up with this miserable wretch, thanks.<br />
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So I still like Cambodia and do love being here. It was really the kids that kept me from jumping on a plane. Of course where would I have gone? The comfort of my home and wonderfully comfortable bed is being enjoyed by Jess's brother. And could I have imposed myself on my kids in Portland? To do what? These thoughts did cross my mind, but as always little kids I work with pull me out of those weak emotional moments. These past few weeks those kids helped me more than I them. <br />
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Ahh the school, the hut, the teaching, what an experience. I was feeling bad physically but I was feeling good about the progress I saw the kids achieve. And felt like I was getting a handle on how best to work with them. I was getting a little freedom regarding my methods, which is have them have fun and learn at the same time. The rote-teaching and them parroting what I said without really knowing if they understood anything was not working for me. I got lucky as usual as a friend of the director returned to the school and we met and talked over dinner. She turned out to be an educator (teacher/principal) and supported my ideas. In fact she wants to write a grant so New Hope can start a program for children 0-5. Whether and when this even happens who knows? But I did get her ear and she advocated for some outside movement/activity time for the kids and other suggestions I had.<br />
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So we were able to split the class up part of the time and have them be more manageable. At about the same time Meda, Jess's mom, and friends of hers sent a package with some much needed 'supplies'. Included were new books, the few I had had to be getting boring for the kids. This was a great help, THANKS. I saw the kids actually start to learn their colors, begin to recognize the alphabet, cooperate with each other, have a bit more self-control and start to request songs we'd sing. And foolish me I forgot I'm in Cambodia this would not continue, another challenge would be presented. <br />
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The class has about 25 kids most days sometimes more, not often less. It was working well to split them up for part of the time and then bring them all back together. I've tried different things with them and some have worked better than others. I felt like I was getting on a roll and they were enjoying the ride also. And I was learning most kids names. You'd think learning names wouldn't be so difficult but it's not like there's a Mary and a Tommy, familiar names. It Sokum, Srei Nit, Kvai, Chamda etc...., it's new words to pronounce/remember and attach that to a face. In any case I was doing pretty well finally getting their names down. <br />
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Here's the challenge: a slew of new kids from a different village have begun at the school. By the way the little girl Lea who I mentioned in the last post has returned, yea! So w/o any warning, no that's wrong we were told the day before they arrived that there would be more kids. So now the class is pushing 45-50 kids. Yeah I know why?!! Ok I can complain that not much forethought was given on the impact of this. And that there are not enough Khmer teachers to help or sure we have volunteers now but that won't last necessarily. I can complain that I was getting a system and 'lesson plans' in place that seemed to be working. Kids who were learning will be set back and the new kids may not get anything of quality either I could complain. I can complain, complain but I doubt if it will do any good. So I have been trying to convince myself to think of it as the Family Room's 'drop in' time. FR had a time when a family with kids could come and play in our space. We would never know who or how many kids we would have. I actually liked that..... a lot. Of course we were set up to deal with that. Well I better deal with this I guess. New Hope is very caring and really wants to help folks, but sometimes it's better to help a certain number of people well instead of many more people not that well. I think we even had that challenge at the FR. So I'll go with the flow and be happy that I have some energy now to perhaps direct the flow a bit. Whatever that means but I like that I wrote it. For the record there are some very lovely kids in this new batch , though some look like a deer in the headlights. Below the class before the infux and the road to school.<br />
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One thing that was ok when I was sick was that I still pretty much had my appetite. So I was still eating well and I did try something different, dog. Don't know what to say about it I only had a bite, and it was sauce laden. But it was good though I won't go seeking it out. Jaz said she had to go to a shakey part of town to get it. I hope to start cooking again and I did still do a bit of cooking but can't remember anything except the usual morning glory that we all love. <br />
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The cool 74 degrees refers to the weather here. It has cooled to the 70's. It has been extremely pleasant. Sorry cold weather folks but not really missing the cold, rainy/snowy weather. And it is odd but as I came out on the balcony to write this there was a breeze and I went back in to put on long pants and a shirt, our temp said 78. Weird to me too that that can feel cool. <br />
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I hope to post more pics soon.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-4858247405121856042010-10-15T07:39:00.000-04:002010-10-15T07:39:52.957-04:00Hokey Pokey and what is it all about? I have a new and deeper respect for teachers of older children. By older I mean above age 5 as my experience has almost always been with infants to 5 years old. I know it's complicated by the fact that I don't speak their language, I do work with a Khmer teacher. Well he's never really taught and his English is not that great. You may recall I was working with a Khmer who had good English and some experience. This is the morning class I'm speaking of now. The biggest challenge is to get the kid's undivided attention or at at least their divided attention. They like to talk, poke, play and stare off in any direction but the teachers'. And they like to leave their seats. I am trying through my fellow teacher to impose some rules and to have rewards for appropriate behavior. I think I'm having some success but I am impatient and want results quickly. I have to chill out and realize the morning kids have most likely not been in a classroom ever or been to a daycare/preschool where they could have experienced some structure. Add to that that there seems to be a new kid every other day and kids gone from one day to the next.<br />
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It sounds like I'm complaining and not adjusting and not enjoying my experience. It's certainly frustrating at times and challenging me in new ways. I feel stymied and confused often and keep trying to figure out what approach I should use but I am enjoying the experience as a whole. And the kids are what keep me going back, because I do wholly enjoy them and they seem to eat up the classroom experiences once I get their attention. I do see progress in what we're teaching<i>, </i>I do see they are learning. <br />
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What is most difficult is when kids who we've worked with and you can see progress happening, suddenly they are not in class anymore. One particular girl, Lea, who came out of her shell is gone. What happened to her, where is she I wonder? <br />
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So now I am struggling with how to make learning fun for them and make sure they are actually learning. And as they are learning how do I teach them social skills and build in them those characteristics that will benefit them in the long run. Yes FR folks I'm talking Heartstart, others can google Heartstart to know what I'm referring to. I'll get there and keep telling myself that patience is a virtue. <br />
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I have to say I am doing what I hoped I could which was work more directly with young children. In my job in the states I got away from that a bit by doing more managerial work and group work for the past several years. I enjoyed doing that and glad I did but I did miss the more direct, sustained contact with children. So I've been introducing and singing many different songs with the kids. I think it's a great way to learn English. And the kids remember the songs requesting them in both the morning and afternoon classes. Hokey Pokey is a favorite and the Khmer teachers seem to get a kick out of it also. It always makes me think of my FR workmate Sarah who had a bumper sticker that said 'What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about?' And the kids love books read to them, I just don't have enough. Hey FR you've got tons! Can you spare some Eric Carle type books? <br />
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So I've been preoccupied somewhat with my 'job' at the school but we certainly get social time with folks here, both Cambodians and expats from different places around the world. I feel lucky and am still excited and loving being here. I am also eating well but unfortunately no tennis playing, I played once and did find a cheap place to play. I just have to light fires under the folks here who have said they wanted to get on a court. I guess I'm back at telling myself 'patience my son'. <br />
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-29439406425431638272010-10-06T23:57:00.000-04:002010-10-06T23:57:22.549-04:00sticky rice I'd like to post something but I'm a little unclear of what. I could write about my struggles with pink eye(s), but not really very exciting. When I don't feel well I can get whiney and have a low frustration level. Jess tolerated me and left town. Hmmm. Suffice to say I'm recovering (been a week) but it's still hanging on ever so slightly. So it seemed like a lot of time went by when in fact I only missed one day of school. But I didn't go out much. Jaz and Jess got the pink eye also but my seemed more severe or maybe I just whined the most. I'm just not used to being 'sick'.<br />
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I could write about the very kind folk here and sticky rice. It has been a kind of holiday here the past several days. Kind of a Day of the Dead type thing, folks go to the pagodas and give offerings and rememberances to their ancestors. Often sticky rice is offered. So the folks downstairs gave us some of their sticky rice they were preparing. And Jess went to Battambang with our friend Rithy, to his family home. And he gave us some sticky rice also. It's not Jaz's favorite but I think Jess likes it. I do like it. It's sticky rice very tightly wrapped with palm leaves or banana leaves. With the rice can be banana or beans and I couldn't figure out what else. In any case Rithy suggested we eat it with banana. The more beany ones I like with a little sweet and spicy sauce. Very filling. <br />
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Continuing with food, last night we went to a locals BBQ place, not touristy. It's Cambodian food that's inexpensive, very good with the added bonus of cheap pitchers of beer. We started with grilled duck with red ant sauce. It was very tasty, though I'm kinda glad my eyes were still a bit cloudy with pink eye as it was difficult to see the ants. We had rice of course though it wasn't just white rice but a veg rice. And beef salad and veg salad. I loved the grilled squid, simple but cooked perfect. Strips of tender beef, still red/pink that gets dipped in a black pepper lime sauce. Oh and grilled frogs which were also meaty and tasty, mostly the thighs and calfs. They also served a most interesting corn dish. Kernals toasted I believe, very good. Some folks said it reminded them of kettle corn but I didn't think so. Everyone was well satisfied with food and drink. I tried to save a dish for my scraps/bones but Jess pointed out the Khmer way was to throw all that under the table. Couldn't bring myself to do that. Lest I forget dessert, we had honeycomb fried with bee larvae. Jess and i seemed to be the only ones who liked it. Definitely a different kind of taste, good but a watery consistency. that's the only food pic. I need to take more food pics. <br />
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I could mention the weather. The weather here has 'cooled' a bit (low 80's/high 70's) and it doesn't rain every day. Very pleasant and it does in fact seem cool in the morning at 77 degrees. I'm surprised myself at this. We don't always use the fans as there are cooling breezes and rare if we turn the air on, mostly if the humidity is high. <br />
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Perhaps I should talk about my feeling that I haven't changed my life as much as I changed location, in other words have I changed my life or just locations? Jess and I have talked about how it feels like we've recreated the lives we lived at home. And did we come here to change our life or to help people in need. Probably a combo of both and more. Of course it's very different here and the work we do and the conditions we work in are vastly different. I don't think we'll understand much and get a handle on our feelings until we are here for much longer period of time. Well that's my prediction at least.<br />
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I wonder if there is a subtle, gradual change in our thought process, our perceptions. For example I seem to be aware of the use of certain words/phrases. When I say I need something, like a middle sized pot, ( I have a lg. and sm.), I don't really 'need' it I want it. In a world of so much dire need the word's meaning changes. In a way this kinda gets back to our motivation for moving here. I and I think Jess wanted to simplify our lives. Did we simplify or do we 'need' more cushions for the chairs? Sure we don't have cars and don't have to mow our lawn but we still like the creature comforts. I guess it's difficult to leave what feels comfortable. <br />
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I could also state that I really miss our good friends and family, and I know Jess does also. We miss getting together with folks and just talking, bouncing ideas around. I terribly miss sharing meals and food with friends and family. I'm already looking forward to getting together with people when we return in May for Dylan's wedding. <br />
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Well we have off for a few days and will have the house to ourselves. Jaz is going to Battambang with Sovann for a few days. I hope Jess forgives me for being in a not so good of a mood. Luckily I don't get sick often or Jess would have 'hit the road' years ago. She's a very tolerant and loving person. Ha ha Jess, you reading this? Hopefully we'll relax and not do too much related to work. We are going to 'trivia night' tonight with some friends. And we are also going to Battambang on Sat. We're taking the slow boat ride there. We've done that before and it's just a fascinating way to see people who live along the lake and river (Tonle Sap). We'll meet Sovanns family and return Sunday by bus with Jaz. A city to the West where they are known for their huge rice production. It's nice to have some time off. Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1063190526063472490.post-57609677369056392902010-10-03T01:10:00.000-04:002010-10-03T01:10:12.153-04:00Rain, tennis and market food Ok, like Jess I start a blog and have to pause. So this is most likely a mish mash, I wonder how that would be translated in Khmer.<br />
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It's 7am and I'm a year older. That would be 59 or as my very good friend Peter will remind me I'm in my 60th year. I've always been convinced that I was born under a lucky star and being here further confirms that. I am indeed lucky, good health, wonderful kids we have and of course there's Jessica. It's difficult for me to ask for more. Well actually some building blocks and books for the kids would be great. <br />
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As I was writing this I had a pleasant interruption, my oldest Marissa calling to wish me a Happy Birthday. Wonderful but I'll have to finish this later, I'm off to the kids. <br />
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Well I did get off to the kids and I couldn't think of a better way to start off my b'day. I uncharacteristically didn't go in in the afternoon as a torrential downpour was happening. Fortunately I found out later school was cut short owing to the rain, that is rain in the classroom. I had a fabulous b'day. The 7 candles family insisted on coming over and celebrating my day. How could I refuse, well I couldn't. They and some other folks came, including our landlord, (the Khmer family from downstairs), Lori and an American young couple here volunteering and a few more Cambodian friends. <br />
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The family brought delicious spring rolls, rice and a cake. Our landlord brought a case of beer! I made potato/leek/garlic soup (no cream) and tomato bruschetta. We had a wonderfully interesting time. We ate , drank, talked and played games. And the family gave me a cool picture made from bamboo. I'm lucky.<br />
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A few days ago Marina brought me to a new market, just a few minutes away on the bike. It's small but packed with fruit, veggies, meat, fish and prepared foods. I've been there a few times since, both for fresh food but also prepared food. Oh yes I did buy grilled fish for the b'day party also. Bargain price as always and yummy. Ok sorry enough about cheap food, I just can't get over it I guess. I like this market, smaller, not as hectic and close.<br />
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I had faith that I could find a tennis court to play tennis here, and I did! I did get on the court and had a great time hitting that little yellow ball around. The court is not ideal but it's affordable. The process of finding a court was interesting. Jess has a funny bit on her blog about my phone calls once I found the few big hotels that have courts or at least advertise that they do. So I went to the 3 big, fancy, pricey hotels that I knew had courts. Two of them were more expensive than my membership in the states, 800-1100 a year. I lucked out with the 3rd one. 300 a year if I sign up with another person as a couple. Or 5 dollars each visit with use of the beautiful pool, workout room and 20% off food and drink. I'm there, there are a few folks here that are ready to play. Yes I'm excited to get back out there. <br />
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The oppulance in some of these huge hotels amidst the crushing poverty here is mind blowing. Yet here I am putting money in their coffers. One of the many inner moral struggles one faces here. <br />
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I am very much enjoying the school. Unfortunately the Khmer teacher I've been working with, Ratha, is going to be teaching another class. It's good for him as he likes teaching the older students. A bummer in the sense that we worked well together and were getting better everyday at it. The replacement teacher, I'm not sure he's taught before. I'm told his English is not that good so I would be helping him learn also, hmmm. He has a sponsor so that he can attend University. I guess the good thing is it feels like it's my class. So I can teach how I want to, ah the power of it all. I better get my shit together though cause with power comes responsibility. I have to be prepared. So here comes mistakes, risks, trial and error and hopefully fun and learning. Wish me luck. <br />
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So that's the morning class, the afternoon class I'm just getting used to. The teacher a young (21) Khmer, Channa. She's easygoing and seems to want suggestions from me. These kids are a bit older and I think we can work well together, her English is very good also. Looking forward to what develops.<br />
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There is one dark cloud over me now, late on my b'day i got the gift of pink eye, conjunctivitis I believe. In both eyes, it sucks but at least thru blurry eyes I 'll get this post off. Till next time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814399479663482038noreply@blogger.com0