The Last Couple of Days…

ជំរាបសួរ មិត្តភក្តិនិង គ្រួសារ!

Time to catch up on the last couple of days (AGAIN, lol sorry!)

Sunday

I know Sasha already wrote about Sunday-day, but after she finished the blog, we ended up going to the Cambodian Circus with our friend from upstairs, "other-Sasha". She had two free tickets along with a 20% off voucher for any additional purchase, so Sash and I split the last ticket for only $7.50 each (they are usually $18 a pop). That might seem high, but the Circus is actually a non-profit that gives Cambodians from impoverished backgrounds free education and training. All of the money made each night is used to give the same opportunity to other young Cambodians or sent back to the families of the performers. 

After 8 years of high intensity training, the performers were simply incredible. Within the insane tricks, there was also a story told about a disabled man who wasn’t accepted by anyone. The show took us through his relationship with gods, curses, and fitting in. Both Sasha’s and I were left speechless at the end of the show, wanting nothing more than to go again and again.

Their great work has also been appreciated worldwide, giving many of the performers a chance to travel! This show is actually traveling to the USA (not sure where) and France next year!

How?? We don't know..

Just jump roping fire

Monday

Monday morning we both woke up super tired. I could feel myself getting a little sick, so I drank vitamin C and told myself it is all in my head. Playing with children is difficult when your tired and feeling icky, but their smiles and energy made it way easier. 

We had lunch at the local place down the street again (the name is in Khmer, so we will continue to call it “the local place”). After ordering the same plate of $1 noodles in our horribly pronounced Khmer, the woman smiled and said, “same, same.” She brought her baby (I’m guessing around 4-5 months) by our table later on and damn she’s so cute! We can’t wait to continue eating there and build a relationship with the family, who lives right above the eating area:) (reminds me of Nick’s!!) 

Finally remembered a pic!

Pat joined about halfway through our lunch and we ended up sitting for a while learning all about her marathon running and the two times she has biked across THE ENTIRE USA… needless to say we have a new role model. 

After lunch Sasha worked with Kea, one of the scholarship students who just got promoted at JWOC, to record attendance into a database. I stayed in the library with Nesa and made snakes out of pipe cleaners and beads with about 40 children. It was mayhem but such a blast. From 4-5, David had me observe an older, but less advanced English class taught by a newer teacher who needs assistance. It was really awesome. She let me lead the class in some activities and used me a lot as an example for pronunciation. I will be helping with Teacher Nga with this class for the rest of our time here at JWOC:) 

Later that night Jane and Pat treated us to dinner at a fabulous non-profit restaurant called Haven. Monday was its first night open after closing for a couple of weeks to train new students. The food was absolutely incredible (I got veggie curry, something I could really go for again right now actually!). We started with a pomelo salad (soooo good!) and finished with rice dumplings in an incredible coconut-milk and ginger sauce. 

Jane and Pat should write a book. Their experiences living in China and Japan as well as traveling to what seems like every country in the world make my mind swell with jealousy. We also talked about the Davis Farmers Market and life in California-- a life I can’t wait to start next year (hopefully with frequent get togethers with Jane and Pat who are only 20 mins away)!

Even though we have just met them, we’re so sad that they are leaving on Saturday:( 

Thanks for an awesome dinner, Jane and Pat! 

Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of all four of us, but Jane snapped one of us two

Tuesday

Tuesday’s are usually our days off, but JWOC will be closed on Thursday for ទិវាប្រកាសប្រើរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ (Constitutional Day), so we decided to head in since we didn’t need/want 3 days off. Our morning started as usual— playing, reading, and jumping rope with the children in the library. After our local lunch and coffee, Sasha did more work with the database and I got the pleasure of assisting three classes. One kindergarten, one 8-10 English class, and lastly Nga’s English class. It was amazing. I mostly just observed and corrected homework since teaching is still so new to me, but as time goes on I will be doing more and more. I already knew so many of the kids from the first two classes that day, which was icing on the cake. I think I might find my calling in the next couple of months… but who knows!? 

Some pics from the library

We got home just after 5 and went up to other Sasha’s room, where we just kind of bummed around and hung out for a while. At 8 we all realized we were hungry for dinner so we went into Old Market/Pub street for more of Il Forno’s pizza (I don’t know why but I’m craving pizza like everyday, ugh! I think I miss Nick’s a little…)

Wednesday

Sasha and I woke up at 11 today and have literally been in and out of sleep since (it’s 5:30pm). We left our room only for breakfast. Pathetic, we know, but we will take sleep when it comes, and it feels greaaat. All the locals nap, so why can’t we?

Today is other Sasha’s birthday, but she won’t be home until 8-ish. I’m sure we (us three and Victoria) will all do something fun tonight to celebrate:) 

Love and miss you all back home, of course, but Siem Reap is starting to feel more and more like home away from home as we make friends, learn our way around, and (slowly but surely) learn some of the beautiful language!

Five of the 9 cats here at V&A

Love, 

Us