Hi everyone!
Today Peace Corps gave us a treat and we all went on field trips. Some people went on a hike, some went to a zoo with dancing elephants and boxing orangutans...but we went on a boat trip and to a temple on an island. It was great! Once I get to Phnom Pehn I will be putting up pictures..but that might not be for another month...
i've been thinking a lot about the cambodian people recently. it's insane to think about what this country went through 30 years ago. this year marks the 30 year anniversary of the liberation from the khmer rouge. considering my host mother and father are in their 60's, and the fact that my host father was a high school chemistry teacher means that they both endured the nightmare of the genocide from 1975-1979. and as a teacher, my host father was a target of the khmer rouge (since they wanted to execute anyone with an education and especially those who were educators). i think that the genocide in the 70's to the current youth in cambodia is like the vietnam war to our generation. something that our many of our parents dealt with but that we can't really relate to.
once of our teachers spent five years of his life in a refugee camp in thailand. to think about where he has come from, and then coming back to a country with a education system that was destroyed and is slowing being rebuilt, then seeing what an accomplished intelligent man he is now...is really incredible. his passion for his country is so inspiring.
anyways, life here has been amazing. i have no complaints. i eat ridiculously well, i spend my days learning a new language and hanging out with new friends, i am outside all day, the weather is beautiful, the fruit is delicious and exotic, and everyday from class i am greeted by at least 10 smiling family members and just want to chat and play and make my life and comfortable as possible. i hardly notice not having electricity and running water...although i'm still getting used to not having toilet paper.
the only real annoyance i have are the mice in my room that terrorize me everynight. they crawl around my room and squeek and eat my soap and my notebooks and steal my things and move them around my room so i can't find them in the morning. the other night i woke up disoriented by the sound of mice feet, for some reason i thought there was a mouse in my room so i SCREAMED really loud. and i live in a wood house with 6 other people. i woke up the entire house at 2:30am....they all got out of bed and were knocking on my door and were like ""keiko! keiko! what's wrong keiko?"! and i had to attempt to explain to them in my broken khmer that i had a bad dream and everything was find and i was so sorry for waking them up. anyways the next morning at breakfast they just laughed and laughed at me...and apparently it's the village gossip because cooper (a volunteer that lives next door to me) said that over dinner his family kept saying my name and fake screaming and laughing...oh boy. i will never live this one down. that will be my legacy in the tramkak district of cambodia.
what's new in everyone's life? keep the comments coming! i love to read them!
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LOL! Oh man that's great. I'm in the outer banks with my family and I shared this story - so the gossip continues from Cambodia to North Carolina. They all got a good laugh out of it!
ReplyDeleteKeep the blog posts up - it's so great to hear about all of your random life experiences on another planet. Miss youuuuu.
Keiko...
ReplyDeleteSo....you are not scared of mice but a mouse (big Ben) you scream your lungs out at...I wouldn't be able to sleep with these things hanging over my head - mice/roaches/rats/no toilet paper...you are one tough lady, unlike your dad. He went and worked out for an hour two days ago, he was still moaning and groaning this morning everytime he got out of his chair...'I can't lift my arms'...I thought he was a 'karate man, only bruise on the inside!'
You travel the world and you see how wonderful and great we have it here in the USA. When I was living in Seoul, the city was kinda getting to me, so hectic, chaotic - started not making sense - all the noise of the city, everyone running around. Then I went to Mubai/Kandla, India on a biz trip...after I got back to Seoul, I dropped my bags, I walked out of my apartment and sat down on a bench and realized how peaceful and beautiful downtown Seoul was...after a week that feeling was gone, but it was nice while it lasted.
No toilet paper tho? Can't get over that one.
Keiks!
ReplyDeleteI love love your blog entries. That is insane about your host father being a teacher during the genocide. After reading First They Killed My Father, it's hard to believe that people actually experienced and lived through it!
We missed you at Seafair! I busted my chin open but in my drunkeness I didn't know so Will Spear had to patch me all up! I also have officially become a cougar (NOT wsu cougar, but because I am in love with a younger man), but he goes to Harvard so I think it negates the age difference, or at least that's what I tell myself! haha
Expect a package in the near future! If you could go ahead and send over a little mouse. I think it's time for me to get a pet. Miss you!!
~CHAFF
Hi from your cousin in NJ...Love your blog Keiko, you are so amazing. I can't imagine living with the mice situation every night, not to mention the no toilet paper! I cringe when I hear the mice in my attic in the wintertime. Glad you are enjoying this wonderful experience and look forward to seeing your pictures. Would love to send some homemade cookies and toilet paper. Will find out from your Dad what your favorite cookie is! Stay well and have fun! Cousin Maryann
ReplyDeleteI loved your mice story. I was thinking of the "Cinderella" the Disney movie when I was reading your blog. The "Cinderella" was your most favorite movie when you were a small. The Cinderella was living with the mices and the mice helped her to meet the prince. I also impressed your educational story about the Cambodia history which we should not ignored it. I am proud of your experience and telling us real your story. Keep up!
ReplyDeleteI will send your next package before I am leaving to Japan. Love mom