It's My Birthday!!

Well, it is my birthday today. Wonder what kind of trouble I can get myself into. Fat chance at my age!

I spent two days "observing" at my new school. He only told me I had to be there one day, but talk about "throwing me in the deep end of the pool." I honestly thought that I would only be teaching only English classes - but I am their full-time kindergarten teacher. Now, what in the heck do I know about that?? So, I went back another day to observe again. I would keep going back until I actually start on November 4th but the school is on holiday for their annual water festival (whatever that is), but it is a big deal here. So I will be doing a lot of studying an praying between now and then.

I cannot believe my good fortune to have been hired at American Pacific University. All of the teachers have to be native English speakers to even be interviewed. For some reason the principal hired me right away. I think it had to do with the fact that I have small grandchildren, so he knew I knew something about children,

I think he was also impressed that I raised a handicapped child as long as I did. He told me his brother also had a handicapped child and the brother told his wife that "It must be something on HER side of the family, because there is nothing like this on HIS side." I nearly threw up. Then he tells me the brother held that child once in 13 years before she died. I wanted to cry. So many times I just want to get down on my knees and thank God that I have been so blessed in so many ways.

I am still looking for an apartment and it is quite discouraging, Found one that could have worked, but by the time I made up my mind, they rented it to someone else and it really was too expensive for as small as it was. Looked at another this morning. Would be perfect if I had a roommate, but hate to spend that much money on rent by myself. I can live in the hotel for about the same money, but no kitchen and have to spend at least $2 a day getting to and from work everyday and the moto drivers never know where they are going even though they say they do.

You are not going to believe this!

So there I was the other day feeling sorry for myself and crying in my root beer (okay,my Pepsi) and wishing I could go back to my comfort zone. I am on my way to my interview and I didn't even want to go, and (I think) even hoping that I would not get the job so it would be my "lightening strike" to tell me to go home. I meet the principal. He is probably a few years younger than I am. He is Canadian and he is single. He takes Lorna and me around the school. It is brand new private facility that will only hire women who are native English speakers. (Lorna is from the UK).

I leave the interview and have the tuk-tuk driver let me off at the Russian market so I can walk the rest of the way home (about six blocks) and I cried all the way. By the time I got home, I was over the emotionality of it all. I fell asleep and when I wake up and check my e-mail - I was offered the job. I mean - who'd a thunk? The oldest in the class and the first to get a job. The school is called American Pacific University and I will be a kindergarten teacher.

Cheryl

Tougher Than I Thought

It has really been hard for me. Cambodia was what I expected, and the school was pretty much what I expected and even the food was what I expected. I just didn't expect to feel this way. I feel so inadequate and stupid and insecure, which is not like me; so, maybe I needed this experience to knock me down a few pegs and show me I am not as brave as I thought I was.

I just did my last job student teaching today. I would like to stay here in Cambodia and work for awhile, I am just not sure about this teaching thing. But I asked for K-5 aged kids, so I should be okay. Those are the ages I have been teaching the last two weeks.

I have changed my mind 100 times whether to stay here or go home. I really would rather go home, but I hate to be a quitter and everyone keeps telling me that I need to give it a chance. So, okay, I will see how the next couple of weeks go. I actually have an interview tomorrow, but I am not the only one interviewing for it either.

The reason my stomach has been in knots since I got here is because I feel so alienated.. . . like I want to live in a third world country by myself not knowing the language ? At my age, it is a whole different story than the smart-ass 20-year-old somethings I went to school with. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Cambodia only gives you a month visa for tourists - so I had to go down to get it renewed. Had to go through three security screenings. Then they kept my passport and I have to go pick it up at the American Embassy tomorrow. Then when I get a job you have to get a business visa which means you have to leave the country and re-enter. Is that stupid or what? I will have to take a bus to Thailand and then re-enter Cambodia.

I tried to send my son-in-law some pictures to put on the blog, but I gave up after a couple of hours. I have been frustrated 85% of the time since I have been here.

More later, Love, Cheryl

Finally Student Teaching

I finished my first week of student teaching. It was only for an hour a day for five days. I loved the kids and they were bright ESL students. It was an orphanage school. When I left I gave them each a stick of gum. Get this - they didn't know what it was. The teacher had to explain to them that you are not to swallow it but chew it until the flavor is gone and throw it away. (I can't help but wonder just how many of them swallowed it anyway.) It never crossed my mind they would not know what chewing gum is.

This week I am student teaching at another orphanage. It is a lot poorer and the kids are not as nearly advanced. It's down by the Mekong River and you wouldn't believe the poverty. Families living on small boats. It never ceases to amaze me the things I see.

Cheryl

Transportation in Cambodia

I was riding in a tuk tuk (a motorized rickshaw) yesterday with other student teachers from my class. It is interesting to note that I was the only one from America. One was from England, one from France, one from Ireland, one from Burma, and our driver was Cambodian. One of our instructors (who is from Canada) insists on referring to this country as Kampuchea; which I guess was the name of it before they changed it to Cambodia.

There are not a lot of cars or trucks on the streets. Everyone rides a motorcycle which they call a "moto." It is not unusual to see three or four people on one motorcycle. Of course you can ride one the year around here. If you are walking alone, you are constantly being asked, "Ma-damn, you want moto?" Then you haggle over the price and if you agree on one, you hop on the back and off you go. I have to close my eyes sometimes because I KNOW we are going to get hit or someone is going to hit us; of course that rarely happens. I was told they REALLY do not want to hit a foreigner because then they have to deal with all kinds of legal issues, red tape, and the American Embassy. I hear tell that if there is a minor accident, the one at fault just pays off the other right then and there and that is the end of it.

There is no end to the differences between America and a third world country, and of course that is why I am here - because I am sure not having (yet) what one could call "fun." I miss the little conveniences like crushed ice, garbage disposal. I don't even have hot water in my bathroom - so I use someone else's to take a shower.

And while I really do not want to miss these experiences, I want to go home to America when the time comes for me to go. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Fun With Nature

So I am taking a shower this morning and this 2" cockroach (okay maybe not that long) crawls across my foot. I let out a screech and kicked it off and it went down the drain. Then this lizard crawls across my mirror. I am too old for this much excitement!

THEN today I am student teaching and the false tooth under my fixed bridge falls out. CRAP! Now I have to find a dentist. Do you think I could just super glue it back in? Ha Ha.

Movin On Up

(Written 10-9-09)

I spent the whole day alone today. All the other students went to the countries they signed up for - Thailand, Viet Nam, or China. There are only about 6 of us that are staying in Cambodia. I am moving tomorrow out of the guest house that I have been staying since I got here. I will be in a building that Language Corps. owns. The only advantage is that I will not be walking up 3 flights of narrow steep steps every time I go in and out. I will not have a TV in my room or my own bathroom. But I think it will only be for two weeks.

I doubt I will ever learn to type of this @#$^&*( laptop. I WANT MY ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD.

-Cheryl

A quickie...

Our class is splitting up tomorrow. Everyone is going to the place they signed up for - Viet Nam, China, or Thailand. There are only 6 of us staying here. Then we will start student teaching, resumes, etc.

This one guy who is the most friendly to me is staying here, so I am glad of that. He kisses me on the cheek and gives me a hug. I think he misses his mom.

Actually I have felt better today (about everything) since I have been here. I just may make it after all.

I will be so excited if you and Lisa do come over. We will see what happens in a few months. I am not even sure how long I will stay here. It is amazing and is what I expected. The Camodians are very nice - all the ones I have come in contact with anyway.

There is this place I can go that has free internet and also a phone hooked up to magic jack and he lets you make calls to the US for free. I called your dad on his birthday and the big turd was having coffee, so I didn't get to talk to him. And it is not really convenient with the 13 hour time difference to call anytime I want. I will see if I can get through to you sometime.

Our class took a two-hour boat ride on the Mekong River tonight. No big deal, but it was fun to get out. It was rather uneventful. The kids had a good time. They were all drinking.

I love you all, Cheryl

Lightening Strikes

We spent the weekend in Siem Reap. It was a horrible bus ride. The roads were so bad and of course I had to pick the worst seat on the bus (over the tire) and I was cramped up all the way there and back. The heat was unbelievable and everyone was sweating like they never had before. I finally got some Cambodian clothes - very light cotton. I could not believe the difference in comfort. What was I thinking - wearing those heavier clothes? Took us seven hours to get there and seven back.

HOWEVER - Angkor Wat was something to see. It is the longest temple in the world. I am surprised that it is not on the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is not any less of a wonder than the Pharoah's Treasury in Petra, Jordan.

I had been having a terrible time deciding whether to go on to Thailand (as I had planned) or stay here in Cambodia, as I think I will be more comfortable. Every day they kept asking me if I was going to stay or go. I said I was waiting for lightning to strike me and tell me what to do.

So last night I overheard one of the young men say how he wanted to go to Thailand (he had signed up for Viet Nam). I told him he could change his mind if he wanted, but he said that the Thailand quota was already filled up. I could see how much he wanted to go and I knew the other kids who were going to Thailand would much rather have him go with them than me, so I told him he could have my spot and I would stay here in Cambodia. And I really am okay with that. I can always go to Thailand later if I want to. I definitely will go to Thailand, but probably not to teach.

If I had this to do over, I am not sure I would do it by myself. I really feel like a fifth wheel with 27 students in the class and most of them are in their 20s. I am by far the oldest. I told them I would be their mother and keep them in line. One guy is 27, one lady from Australia is 54. One of our teachers is 73. About 5 people are from the UK and one from France and one from Burma (now called Myanmar) which borders Cambodia. Most of the students are 20-something and all college graduates. Talk about feeling out of place. I guess it was this or not come at all. Who knew?

I am not sure how long I will stay here. The humidity is something else, but my room is air conditioned and the school is air conditioned, so one can survive. I hear tell that the public schools are NOT air conditioned, do if I don't get a private school, I may only stay a few months. I hear tell that the hottest months here are January and February - oh goodie!

Once I get an apartment and a new keyboard, I hope to get a blog going so I can put my pictures on it, etc. (Greg will moderate a blog for her in the meantime)

Send mail. I am already homesick.


Love, C

Hello From Cambodia

(From E-mail originally sent 9-26-09)

The humidity is stiffling. Took 25 hours to get here.

Went to two museums yesterday that were monuments to The Killing Fields. Had to walk away a couple of times when the guide was describing the tortures that went on.

Reminds me a lot of India.

My room is small, but the bathroom is so funny. It is only big enough for a toilet and a sink and you have to move sideways to close the door. The shower is a hose hooked to the wall and the water just goes over the toilet and sink. The stairs to my room on the third floor are so steep and narrow. By the time I get there I have to take a rest before I can do anything else.

There are 26 people in my class. I am by far the oldest. My own kids are older than they are. Oh, well. I told them if they needed any motherly advice to come and see me; I would set them straight.

When/if you answer, please do so on my gmail account so I can get all the addresses transferred over. travelingcheryl@gmail.com


Later, Cheryl