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

9 Sleeps and Counting!

Sorry for the long delay between posts... As some of you know, I was busy working at a summer camp this July. And when I say busy, I mean it. I had an awesome time working at the Shad Valley summer program this past month- it was a rich and rewarding experience as always. But as a result, I hardly had time to think about my upcoming trip, let alone write about it! But now I am back at home with one week left to pack, prepare, and spend time with my friends and family.

There is lots to think about. All of the things I will miss about this great country, including snow, fall colours, endless forests, and soaring Bald Eagles. All of the people and community I will miss: my family, church families, and friends. I've been thinking how by the time I get back, my littlest sister will be getting ready to go to high school. A year seems like such a long time to be gone, especially for someone who shies away from change like I do. But I KNOW that this year will bring about great  change in my life, and I will embrace it, though it seems scary at times. I look back and see all that God has done to prepare me for this year: my spiritual growth from my years at The Meeting Place Church, the financial and prayer support of my Family and Friends (especially those at River of Life), my passion for the environment and helping people that sprouted in high school, and the encouragement of close friends and mentors. I am amazed at how perfectly and 'coincidentally' everything fell into place for me to get this placement in Cambodia. But perhaps I shouldn't be surprised.


I have attached a link to a video created by MCC that will hopefully shed some light on the kind of work that I will be doing this year. My degree in environmental biology should help me contribute to the work that is going on in Cambodia, but I know that I will learn much more this year than I have in the past four years at university.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZWgk6vfJlU&feature=youtu.be

To all the people that have supported me financially, I do not have the space here to list you all by name, but know that you have my heartfelt gratitude. Please continue to support me through prayer as I finish my travel preparations this week. I fly to Akron, Pennsylvania early in the morning on August 9th for a one week pre-departure SALT (Serving and Learning Together) orientation. I then fly from Pennsylvania to Cambodia on August 17-18th with one other SALT participant. There we will be meeting two more students who are participating in the YEMEN program for one month of cultural and language education.

Look forward to my next post in a week and a half from Akron!

Yours Truly.

TV, families, and getting ready to go!

Well, my pre-departure preparations are well underway. Still trying to find clothes appropriate for the climate in Cambodia (where does one find conservative clothes suitable for above 30C in Canada?).  I've been busy learning about the country and culture, and have even watched part of a Cambodian soap opera; it is amazing what you can learn about the environment, culture, and language from TV! Even though I can't understand a word of Khmer, the story is surprisingly easy to follow. Boy likes girl, girl likes boy... you know the rest. But I'm guessing pretty much everything else (besides the  cheesy TV plot lines) will be very new and different to me when I arrive. And for someone not normally a fan of change, I am very much excited! 57 days and counting!

I'm told that the search for my Cambodian host family is underway. I requested a family with children, thinking that it would be less lonely and more exciting with lots going on, but I'm starting to wonder if I'll have a moments time alone once I arrive. Being the only foreigner in the district means that EVERYONE will know my name. Normally it is my goal to stay OUT of the centre of attention. Writing a blog about myself is bad enough... :)

Thank you to everyone who has supported me financially so far! The donations are anonymous, so if I don't thank you in person, please know that you have my heartfelt thanks. Anyone who hasn't had a chance to support me financially and would like to do so, the link is below!

https://donate.mcc.org/registry/rebecca-standen-cambodia


Yours,
Rebecca

Welcome to my Cambodia blog!

Welcome to my blog, where I will be documenting my adventures and experiences in Cambodia! I will be heading off to Cambodia in August 2012 as a part of the Mennonite Central Committee's Serving And Learning Together (SALT) program for a one year volunteer position. Situated in the rural agricultural province of Prey Veng, I will be working with a local NGO (the Organization to Develop Our Villages) to promote sustainable agriculture and do climate change related experiments using different plant varieties. I greatly appreciate your prayers and support as I prepare to embark on this life-changing experience! I will be posting regularly once I arrive in Cambodia, but check back for updates before August!
All the best,
Rebecca