New beginnings

So who else is still trying to get used to writing and saying 2012? I am sure I am not the only one having that issue.  The turn of the calendar has given me a nice boost of energy.  The difficult Christmas season is over, and I am extremely excited about the next 6 months here in Cambodida.  The beginning of 2012 has also become a period of transition.  I am currently living at the MCC Guesthouse getting ready to move into a new host family.  What, what, what!  That's right I am switching my host families.  My host father from my first host family recently left for Malaysia where he will be working for the next 8 months.  This past Sunday I moved out, but not before my host brother took me to wade through some lotus flowers on piece of land that the family owns.  Not sure why he waited this long to take me there, but I was glad he did because it was a lot of fun.  After multiple goodbyes, and promises to meet up again for dinner I made my way to my new home.  

The family with a lot of motto hair going on

As disappointing as it has been to move away from a place that had been my home for 4 1/2 months, I am looking forward to meeting my new host family.  Right now the plan is for me to move into my new host family in early Februaury, right around the time I start my second semester at RUPP.  It is funny that all of this is happening around the same time.  It reminds of my early days here in Cambodia, when I was living at the Guesthouse and waiting for my job to start at the university.  

On another note I was able to experience my first Khmer wedding last weekend.  One of my Khmer colleagues at MCC got married in her hometown of Kratie.  A crew of us from MCC rented a bus and headed out to Kratie Friday morning.  About halfway along we picked up our Prey Veng workers, and then continued on to Kratie.  We arrived for lunch which was the quiet part of the wedding.  In the evening we pulled up to music that could be heard blocks away.  The way it works at a Khmer wedding is that you find a table and once the table is full they start serving you food.  Our table took a while to fill up so we had to wait awhile as the other MCC table got their food.  After the food (probably the best beef I have had in Cambodia) a number of us partook in the dancing, both traditional Khmer and Western style.  My traditional Khmer still needs a little work, but it is coming.

The scene from our table

The next day Michael, Lisa, Ryan, Daphne, Grace, Mok and I all went to take in the famous Iriwatti dolphins.  I would love to put up a picture of them, but unfortunately all my attempts failed.  Because of that I have a whole album of  beautiful water photos.  There were some really neat moments when 3 or 4 dolphins came out of the water at the same time near our boat; It was certainly worth visiting.  That afternoon we all climbed back into the bus and made the trip back to the big city.  At that is my story of my first Khmer wedding.

Tip of the week:  When students ask whether you are married or not the right answer is always married.

Happy New Years

Well It is now nearly 2012 across the world.  I hope that you had a satisfying 2011 and can look back at the highlights and be happy with the year that was. 

Over the past couple days I have been trying to think how to define my 2011.  Often you hear people say if you could sum it up in one word what would it be.  I have been trying to do that, but it has been tough to pin point one word that could some up the entire year.  This morning I got up and the word Faith popped into my mind.  A year abroad had never really entered my mind as something to do.  I certainly would not have done if it weren't for God poking me and prodding me to sign up. 

So I signed up for SALT in February 2011, and specifically requested placement in Africa.  After about a month I was told that the African spots had been all filled up and that I would be placed on a waiting list.  Shortly there after I received a call that there was a position in Cambodia and that MCC Cambodia was interested in me.  This was another instance where I had to put my faith in God.  I can distinctly remember telling Eva, the SALT coordinator that I felt that God was calling me to Africa, and only Africa.  I could have easily used this as an excuse to back out and say no thanks but no thanks.  I quickly realized though that maybe it was just myself who was calling for Africa and not God.  I emailed Eva back the next week and told her that I was interested in Cambodia, and within a couple weeks it was settled. 

These past 4 months here in Cambodia have been full of ups and downs, and I think I will experience similar things in the next 6 months.  It isn't easy entering a new culture, and having create new relationships (at least not for me), but it has been a challenge that I have embraced and enjoyed.  I have learned to take joy in the little things like fighting through conversations with my neighbors or students, learning new Khmer words and actually remembering them, and making new friends.

With that in my mind I have some sad news.  My host father has just taken a job in Malaysia and will be moving there in a week, and my host mom is moving there at the end of the month.  That means that I will be moving out and will have to find a new host family.  It is sad because I have developed a good relationship with my host dad, as well as with my host brothers and one of our neighbors.  I am really going to miss them and it will be tough to move out from a place that had felt like home for awhile.  That said there is a bit of excitement when it comes to change.  I will be moving into the MCC guest house for awhile during the transition, which will allow me to have a little more alone time.  After that I will get the chance to meet a whole new family, which like I said is a little bit exciting.  I ask that you keep me in your prayers in the next couple weeks as I go through this transition.

Thing to remember this week:  God works in mysterious ways.  On Thursday my computer cord went missing, which basically renders my computer useless until I can find it.  In the last few weeks I had been spending a lot of time in my room on the computer, and I think this was Gods way of  saying "you have a week left with your host family spend some quality time with them."  So I am trying to listen to him and spend as much time as possible with them. 

Many of you may have already read about my Christmas on facebook (thanks to those who filled out the quiz), but for those of you who do not have facebook here is a look at my Christmas weekend.

1) Washed my motto(car)
2) Got a hair cut
3) Got pulled over by the Police 

4) Paid a $2 fine;) to said Police
5) Ate Indian food for Christmas Eve
6) Went to a Candle Light service
7) Sang Silent Night (unfortunately not in German)
8) Went to Church on Christmas morning
9) Ate Khmer/Thai food for lunch on Christmas day
10) Exchanged gifts with friends and acquaintances
11) Had the worst excuse for a steak for Christmas dinner

 Thanks for reading!