This is Just to Say

No updates for two months makes me a pretty crap blogger. Forgive me-- that should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me!

For anybody who doesn't already know, I developed a huge crush on Cambodia as soon as I arrived in Phnom Penh. I decided to stick around for awhile and applied to be a Leadership Resident here: The Harpswell Foundation Dormitory and Leadership Center for Women

Lucky for me, the directors were convinced that I could do a good job and I was accepted! I initially signed on for a one-month residency, but thankfully I've been able to extend my visa and I'll be teaching here until October 20th. The students who live at this dorm are really incredible young women. They were warm and welcoming to me from the first day. They are all very intelligent, quick to make me laugh, and very committed to their education. Everything that I do centers around strengthening their English language skills, whether I'm helping with homework, teaching classes, or just engaging students in conversation. I'm teaching a creative writing class and tutoring students for the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), a test that some of my students will take in a just a few weeks. I'm also organizing a few cultural events and showing a movie once a week. I'm not a particularly religious person, but I honestly feel blessed to be here.

Now that I'm settled in, I am starting to go through my Cambodia photos. My students had a holiday last week, so I traveled out of the city and stayed with a couple of my students' families. Pictured here is Leaphea Yang (or as Cambodians would put it, Yang Leaphea). Her family is of Chinese descent, so their cooking style mixes Khmer (Cambodian) and Chinese traditions. This lunch was absolutely amazing and hands-down one of the best meals I've had on my trip.

From Harpswell

Sweet and sour pork, mashed pumpkin mixed with green onion and pork, and vegetable soup. As you can see, Cambodians usually place a mat down in the room for everyone to eat on. Each person gets their own bowl of rice, and you take a spoonful of this, a spoonful of that at a time until you are full. Parents here are like many others around the world-- they will offer guests far more food than one can possibly eat. Much was leftover after I was happily stuffed.