On living with a host family, visiting ODOV, chickens and lizzards (my first impressions), and the "honeymoon phase"

Dear friends and family,

 I am sure you have all been anxiously awaiting my first post from Cambodia. Sorry it is so long in coming. I suppose I have only been here for a week days, but it feels like so much longer already.

Warren and I arrived in Cambodia safe and sound Sunday around noon. We had lunch with the MCC Cambodia program supervisors, and then jumped in a car and headed to Prey Veng city. MCC has another office here, and this is where we will spend 2 weeks learning the language, visiting some of MCC’s partner organizations, and learning about the history and culture of Cambodia. We started language lessons after being in the country for less than 24 hours, but despite the jet lag, I have been able to absorb most of what we learn in class. I have a host family here in Prey Veng for 2 weeks; they do not have much English, so the little Khmer I have picked up is useful! They are very good at helping me practice, and teaching me the names of objects, plants, and animals around the house. The house is raised up, and underneath is where people spend most of their time cooking, eating, and talking. It is also where the chickens, ducks, cats, and dogs hang out. I eat supper with my host family every night, but I go out for breakfast and lunch with the other MCC’ers. It is quick and inexpensive to stop at a little restaurant or in the market for meals. So far, I love what I have tried of Khmer food. It seems like I try a new fruit every day!

Earlier this week, we drove out to visit one of MCC’s partners, the Organization to Develop Our Villages (ODOV), where I will begin working next month. They have so many awesome programs there, including a Village bank that provides micro-financing, vocational training in high schools, support and capacity building for local grassroots organizations; research on climate change; education about food and nutrition, collaboration with a research group from UBC on integrated farming, and a demonstration farm to teach about sustainable agriculture. I am super pumped to start working there and get involved in all of the great work they do! I also had a chance to meet my future host family. They live in a lovely house close to ODOV, so I will be able to bike to work every morning. The only negative side of our trip was the road there… the dirt road was fine for motos and bikes, but not so fine for our 10 passenger van! We could scarcely go 2m without hitting a pothole.

Me at the ODOV!!

 

And for those of you wondering… YES, it is very hot here. It is a big adjustment for sure, but there are many ways to cope: tea on ice with every meal, houses open to the outside, lots of fans, and multiple cold water showers a day!  Today we were sent to the market to buy snacks for the afternoon, on our own. I got some dragonfruit- it is my new favourite. My host family laughs every time I tell them “I don’t have this in Canada!”

For your interest, I compiled a list earlier in the week of new experiences for me since coming to Cambodia:

-ate Khmer BBQ (cook meat and veggies on a grate over coals, or in hot oil)

-rode a bike while wearing a skirt… in 30+ degrees all afternoon

-rode on the back of a moto

-ate rice with breakfast… in fact, I eat rice with every meal

-slept under a mosquito net… on a wood bed covered with a reed mat

-took a bucket bath and used a squat toilet

-had a chicken jump at me while eating dinner outside

-turn the lights off around 9 at night, and rise before 6.

-tried a new fruit almost every day

-drank coconut milk from a coconut with a straw

-visited a wat while learning about Buddhism

-went to the Prey Veng Christian Centre (church) today and worshiped the Lord with Cambodians… I had to make up my own words for the songs in Khmer, but it was a great experience!

-and the list goes on!

Typical outdoor Khmer restaurant near the market

 

During orientation before coming to Cambodia, we discussed the stages of cultural adjustment. I know I am now in the “honeymoon” phase, but I can’t help it. Everything IS so new and exciting. I am absolutely loving my time here. Even getting caught in the rain, or having lizards as company while I took my first bucket bath, or having little kids laugh when I try to say hello… these are all still fun and exciting. It is not that I think everything is perfect here; I know there is still healing from the past that is ongoing, and corruption and poverty. But my first impression is of a welcoming and friendly people, rebuilding and moving forward to a more hopeful future.

Please pray for the other students and I that we will absorb the language quickly, taking full advantage of our host families; and that during this time of excitement and newness, our focus is on God and we draw our strength from him.

Yours,

Rebecca

On the importance of many stories, dutch blitz, and the dangers of playing soccer with bare feet

As a follow up to my previous post, I am pleased to report that I can now say many other useful things in Khmer, such as:

Are you hungry?
I want to eat Khmer noodles.
I have a nose.
I like bananas.

 If most of the new phrases I learn seem food oriented, it is not because I am obsessed with food or anything. It is just that we need something to make conversation at breakfast and dinner, and it is a great time to learn and practice new things.

                                
               Me in front of Asia house at the MCC welcome centre Akron PA during orientation.

 On another note, I am happy to say that Dutch Blitz has become overwhelmingly popular here over the past week. It started with us all playing a giant game of Dutch Blitz on the first day. And when I say giant, I mean that the cards were half a bristol board each, and the "table" was the lawn. Those more experienced (such as myself) have instructed and mentored others in the art of competing and winning. For those of you still wondering "What is Dutch Blitz?", it is a very highly competitive card game commonly played in Mennonite circles.


With respect to playing soccer with bare feet: I received my first injury of the year yesterday, albeit a minor one. The Cambodians and those of us going to Cambodia were having an intense three-on--three match after supper on the lawn. But in the midst of the excitement, I managed to bend back part of my big toenail L As they could find no one to take my place, we had to abandon the match. Instead, we picked up a couple of decks of dutch blitz and invited others to join in what evolved into the largest game I have ever played: 7 teams of 2 people playing at once! It was crazy and loads of fun :)

 On a more serious note, we had a great discussion today after watching a TED Talk together called "The danger of a single story", in which a Nigerian woman Chimamanda Adichie talks about how if we just see one side of the story, we are unable to understand the full depth and beauty of another culture. We discussed how it is important to listen, learn, and experience different stories from other countries and cultures in order to dispel prejudices and stereotypes. All the students going to other countries, and those that have come to stay in North America for a year, will encounter people with a single perspective. But through our time abroad, we can hopefully continue the process of breaking down stereotypes, connecting people, and sharing with our friends and family when we get home. And maybe we will help make the global community just a bit stronger. The first reaction many people had when I told them I was going to Cambodia was "Is it safe?" This is the only view of Cambodia that many people, including me, know at first. Join me on this adventure as I discover in greater depth the beauty, hope, and the works of God that are present in Cambodia's story. Pray that God will open my eyes and my heart and watch over me as I leave my home to make God’s work in Cambodia a part of my own story.

 Sincerely yours,

 Rebecca

PS. Dad, you will be happy to note that I found the game Pass the Pigs in the cupboard here and immediately taught it to my friends. But unfortunately it has not gained the same popularity with the students at large as has dutch blitz.

On counting to 10; why I am in Akron; and the tragic side of recycling.

Hello from Akron Pennsylvania!

I am here for one week with 50 SALTers for orientation, and we are joined by almost 30 students in the IVEP program who are coming from around the world to spend a year in Canada or the US. The buildings are lovely, and all of the students are grouped into houses with other people coming from/going to the same part of the world. My only complaint is the heat and humidity- but I guess I might as well get used to it! It has been a great time of learning, preparing for our placements here and overseas, and getting to know one another. My roommate is Cambodian; it has been great to have a chance to ask her about her country. It was an unexpected surprise for which I am very thankful! She is also an excellent and patient teacher- I can now greet people, say "I want to go to the market," and count to 10 in Khmer!

We have learned many things this week as part of our orientation. Practical things such as the program objectives, challenges associated with living with host families, and what to do if you break a tooth overseas. We have also had more interesting conversations, such as why the MCC main office and meeting place is in Akron PA of all the places on earth (who knew it was a story of death, romance, faith, and hope?).

We also had a chance to visit the MCC materials resource centre. It is a large warehouse where they do everything from school kits, to meat canning, quilting, to recycling. We all split up to help with some of these projects one evening. I decided to do the environmental thing and recycle. It turns out this involves cutting the bindings off of old textbooks and paperbacks, ripping the covers off, and collecting the paper to be sold for recycling. It was painful, even heartwrenching at times to chop up biology textbooks and old unloved novels- I wanted to give them all a new home. But then came the algebra and government policy textbooks and suddenly I didn't feel quite so bad.

More to come later (including pictures) of my orientation week in Akron. Until then!

Rebecca