Still Alive!

Hello from Siem Reap Province!!





Happily, I made it to the internet a bit sooner than I imagined I would. School begins on the 23rd so we decided to book it to the big city before we were tied down to business!



On April 4th was our big swearing-in as official Peace Corps volunteers. This was a big event with the amabassador and director of peace corps world (see pic above) who gladly stopped for pics with all of us. We had a great time at the ceremony (and got some new PC paraphanalia...see pic above with PC hat) but unfortunately were not able to enjoy it too much as we all left for our sites immediately after stuffing some food in our mouths and changing into traveling clothes. After a 5 hour bus ride, I finally arrived in Siem Reap Province.

Things here are going well but have been extremely busy. My first week was full of funeral celebrations for various family members. Khmer religious culture holds celebrations after someone dies one week, 100 days, and 3 years after a person's death....that means constant ceremonies. The ceremonies are always different and always fun....one involved a late night of cards, kids games, dancing, and men getting drunk....interesting for a funeral! :)

Most of my time here has been spent on my bicycle! In the 10 days I have been here, I have been on several 20k+ bike rides on very bad dirt roads (this means I have constantly had a sore bum!). The day after I arrived we took a ride to one of the many pagodas in my district where the family was offerring food and prayers up to their ancestors. This trip also involved a stop at a local swinging bridge (see pic above...my friend Luck and my host brother). Another day we rode to visit some family friends in another village and to buy some mangoes. Little did I know these friends of the family were also crocodile farmers so I had a nice tour of the farm and crocs. :) Another bike ride just 2 days ago took a few hours and brought us to a beautiful lake district for some fresh water swimming, lunch and a long coulpe of hours hitting several jack fruit farms to find the best ones (see pic above....tying the fruits onto the back of our bicycles...my hot sister is the yellow sweater and host brother in red and gray shirt in the front right side). Jack fruit has quickly become one of my favorite fruits!

Highlights of some events:
- Screaming and running away from a mouse that entertained my host family.
- Chasing a chicken out of my 2nd story bedroom
- Mopping out of my room after an unseasonal rainstorm
- Watching the neighbors waist deep in mud pulling fish out of their pond they drained
- Visiting some family whose baby stared at me so long she started drooling
- Having a conversation with my district education director about how I can get enough skills to work in a hotel and stay in Cambodia after Peace Corps (his idea...not mine)
- Playing Khmer traditional games all night that left bruises on my knees
- Finally getting to chill in Siem Reap town at the Blue Pumpkin (mentioning the name because I know Krystal, Priscilla, and Christa will recognize it!)

Non-Translatable Khmer word for this update: Dal Laang
- This phrase, literally translated means "walk for fun." However, the phrase can mean, "let's hang out, let's go for a walk, let's go visit someone's house, let's go shopping...." So when some asks "neak chong toe dal lang?" or "do you want to go walk for fun?" it can mean many different things....always ask for details before agreeing!!!

Temperature of the day: a balmy 95 degrees (cool wave). The hot season is definitely here....all we do is lay around with fans in a pool of sweat! Trust me....not enjoyable.

Sorry for the bullet points but time is limited as my fellow volunteer and I are sharing a computer and have already been at this cafe for several hours! My love to all!! Keep the e-mails coming....when I do get to e-mail, it's nice to hear from home!!!!

Leighie Howie!!!