Day 9- May 7, 2009
Saying goodbye was way worse than I had anticipated. We got up early to catch the orphans before they went to school. We just stood and played with them for a little while, but when the time came for us to catch our bus, the tears came. I think their cook was the first one to start crying. She was awesome and had hung out every time we were around, but I was surprised she was so upset that we were leaving. As the orphans realized what was going on, most of them became really emotional too. It was so hard to leave them.
Our bus left Battambang at 7:30 a.m. I had been extremely worried about getting sick for this 5-6 hour bus ride and not having anywhere to go to the bathroom! But God was so good and kept Eric and I very healthy. The bus was an old charter bus and was actually really nice. It stopped several times, and it was kind of confusing because everyone knew when to get on and off and where to go, etc. Luckily, there was a really nice lady who spoke English who guided Eric and I through the pit stops! The bus had a TV in the front that played cheesy music videos and stuff the whole way to Phnom Penh, haha, it was great!
When we got to Phnom Penh we were surrounded by moto drivers who wanted our business. It was kind of overwhelming. Savorn picked us up, though, and we finally we got to the Phnom Penh guesthouse. We had several hours to just rest and it was really nice and really needed. Unlike Battambang, in Phnom Penh we don’t have as much freedom because it is a lot more dangerous.
Savorn picked us up in the evening to take us to get groceries in the “supermarket.” It really is a big mall, with a grocery store on the frist floor. It is really nice and looks a lot like a mall from the States. They had a lot of American fashions all throughout the mall. Really expensive brands, like Levi, Hollister, Gucci, etc were everywhere and extremely cheap! They are very skeptical of people stealing in their mall, however, and no pictures are allowed inside at all. Also, before we were allowed into the grocery area, we had to leave our bags at a bag check!
When we got back to the guesthouse, Eric and I made a spaghetti dinner w/ sautéed mushrooms and dragonfruit! Mmm! Srey Mao, a 24 year old student employed my Asia’s Hope, teaches English at the Christian School and lives at and cleans the guesthouse. She got home while we were eating and joined us for some dinner. We spent time together last time I was here and it was really good to get to see her again! She is so crazy J
Our evenings will be spent inside for the most part. Phnom Penh is a huge city compared to Battambang. Although Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia, it oly has about 30,000 people compared to Phnom Penh which has over 2 million. Savorn told us that in the past 5 years it has grown from 1 million to over 2 million due to rural people moving to the city looking for jobs.
It’s a very big, crowded, and noisy city. From our rooms in the guesthouse, we can always hear everyone around us- their talking, music, TV’s, construction, animals, everything! It is a very noisy place.
Day 10- May 8, 2008
Savorn picked us up from the guesthouse at 9 this morning and took us to the internet café so we could make sure our tickets were all ready for our flight to Chiangmai Sunday. While we were there, and in the middle of emails (that monk emailed me!!!), the electricity went out. The electricity goes out all the time in Cambodia, usually because of the overloaded use in the extreme heat. It goes out at the guesthouse all the time too (once while I was in the shower!). Luckily this internet café had a generator that kicked on after a few minutes, but usually life has to be put on pause until the electricity comes back on.
We visitied the Asia’s Hope Christian School today. The children had a few songs that they performed for us when we got there, and then we just played. I recognized many of the orphans from my first trip to Cambodia and it was incredible to see them again! The school had also moved locations since I had been there last, and the new one is so nice! Battambang doesn’t have a Christian school, and the orphans told us that they get persecuted for following Jesus. It is such a great thing that we have one in Phnom Penh.
We went to one of the Prek Eng orphanages for a big Khmer lunch! It was so good. I really am starting to get the hang of how they eat. There are just big bowls of Khmer food in the middle of the table and each person is given a bowl of rice. As you eat, you just take little bits from the center plates as you eat. You never fill your plate completely at the beginning and work your way through your plate. You take little by little from the center dishes. Also, America goes way overboard with their food rules! In Cambodia, the chicken eggs are never refrigerated and no one ever gets sick! This is one among many things that are not necessary in America. The food is delicious here.
After lunch we went back to the school and taught in one of the younger classrooms. They wanted us to teach them a new song, so we taught them “I love you Lord.” We explained what the words meant and taught them the melody with motions to go with it. Then we played bingo!
Shortly, we left. We went back to the guesthouse to wait for Srey Mao. When she got there, we got a tuk-tuk and went back to the mall for some shopping! It was really fun to look at everything, as well as just hang out with Mao. She is so hilarious! She told some of the workers that Eric was her boyfriend and flirted with him the whole time- always telling him how handsome he was J haha.
Then we came back and all three of us made grilled cheese sandwiches (yuuuummmm), sautéed white mushrooms, spiky looking lychee fruit, fresh mango, and leftover spaghetti! The electricity went out for a pretty long time after dinner, so we just played guitar and sang until bed.
I love Srey Mao. I hate how you just start to get close to someone and then it is already time to move on.
I thought I was starting to pick up on some symptoms of culture shock… I started feeling very tired all the time, even when I knew I was getting a lot of sleep, and wanted to go back to the guesthouse rather than stay with the kids at the Christian School and things like that. I know that excessive sleeping and wanting to retreat from the people a lot can sometimes mean culture shock, so I checked myself. But hanging out with Srey Mao has been a really nice shift. I absolutely love the children with all of my heart, but being with someone our own age has been really refreshing! I think I’m fine J
Ah! Culture shock - excessive sleeping, retreating from being social, thinking about home! Its horrible! But it passes!
I love you!
HI Jocie,
Glad to hear you are working through the fatigue and withdrawal. Don't under-estimate that you are shining the incredible light of God's love in a very dark country and the enemy doesn't like it and will try to disconnect/discourage you! Stay in prayer and in His Word - especially as you are so busy impacting these lives!! I will be praying harder for you and Eric!! Been there and understand that emotional/physical/spiritual wall you hit after being there for a little while!! In our weakness, HE is strong!! AMEN!!