Giving Thanks

Whelp... I have officially been in Cambodia for four months and at site for two; I have started co-teaching with my counterparts, slowly but surely working on blending our styles and methods. Last weekend, I spent some time in Phnom Penh with another PCV during the Water Festival holiday. Apart from eating way too much ice cream and Western food, we didn't do much, contenting ourselves with meandering around the city and a few markets. It was a nice getaway completing the first two months of integration and work at site.

Since Thanksgiving is coming for everyone in the United States this week, I wanted to make this post deliberately reflective about what I am thankful for...

1. Family and Friends: My family and friends, both back in the US and around the globe, have been so incredibly supportive as I applied, prepped, and set off on this crazy Peace Corps adventure. For every doubt, sad thought, and worry I have had, there have been several people encouraging me with letters, emails, messages, and phone calls. I am so grateful for all the love and support I have received over the last year.

2. Khmer Host Family: While I consider my host family here in Prey Veng my family now, I wanted to recognize them separately. Over the last two months, they have been caring, patient, and just plain wonderful as I worked to find my place in the community and in our family. It is a work in progress (just like my Khmer is), but they have been so helpful and gracious since I arrived. When I felt sick two weeks ago, my Bong Sray rubbed me with preng kola, brought me my favorite fruit juice, and made me stay in bed to rest. I absolutely hate being sick, but she did all she could to help me feel better.

3. English Teaching Counterparts: As I have gotten to know my counterparts (Khmer teachers that I teach English with) over the last few weeks, I have realized how lucky I am to have such great people to collaborate with. They are both open to trying new techniques and methods, sharing their classroom and students with me wholeheartedly. I hope to continue building relationships with them built on mutual respect and a willingness to learn.

4. Fellow PCVs: The other PCVs I have met since staging began in July have been a wonderful source of comfort, wisdom, information, and advice. Many people that work for Peace Corps in the offices here and in Washington are RPCVs (returned Peace Corps Volunteers), so I have met a diverse range of people who have served all over the globe. Additionally, the other PCVs here in Cambodia inspire me, listen to me, and help me when things get tough; the other PCVs in Prey Veng are especially awesome. And I can't wait for our first Prey Veng Thanksgiving next weekend!!

5. This Opportunity: I am extremely grateful for the wonderful opportunity Peace Corps has been thus far. It has already pushed me to experience new things, grow, and change, which I think will only make me a stronger, more intelligent, and reflective person. I cannot wait to see what will happen over the next two years.

So, while I don't always love the rats I hear at night or every food I try, while I sometimes want to lock myself in my room and watch movies, while I miss my family terribly, while I live in dread of the heat of the dry season...

I am extremely thankful this Thanksgiving.

Until next time,
Carissa

The Calm Before the Storm

Well, it is officially November, and while friends and family in the US are enjoying the chilly weather and changing leaves of Fall, it has actually gotten a bit chilly here in Cambodia. By chilly, I mean 70 degrees, but after months of sunny, hot 90 degree weather I am almost tempted to put on a jacket. 

A view of the lake during Water Festival

Along with this time of year comes the beginning of the school year, and I am excited for it to get started with my primary assignment: teaching at the Provincial Teacher Training College in my town. Over the past few weeks, I have had the chance to get to know some of my students and a few teachers and staff. On the 1st, we had a welcome back ceremony, full of speeches and wishes for a good year. As part of that ceremony, I, along with the other new teachers, had to introduce myself, to the 200+ students gathered for the ceremony. While my students have already graduated from high school, they still wear the typical uniform of white collard shirts and black or dark blue pants and skirts and act like the younger students I have interacted with: standing and often bowing when speaking to me (a teacher) and cautiously trying out the standard Khmer questions in English. Normally, it is "what is your name?", "where are you from?", "how old are you?", and "are you married?” in that order.

Freshly squeezed sugar cane juice

Following closer after, I am usually asked if I have eaten rice already, which is to ask if I have already had whatever meal is temporally closest. “Nyam bye” (eat rice) is the standard way to talk about food in general, whether you are actually eating rice or not. Walk into any Khmer home and the first thing you will hear after hello is the question about if you have eaten already “Nyam bye haej?” (eat rice already?) which is often followed by an insistence to eat something with the residents of the home. It’s little wonder rice is such a big part of Khmer culture and daily life; it’s usually eaten three times a day, and many PCVs often joke that if there isn’t rice at a meal, you have not really eaten in the eyes of Khmer culture. When I describe the food in America and my daily eating habits there, Khmer people are shocked by my answer that I only ate rice a couple times a month, usually opting for potatoes or bread instead. When I told my host sister this, her eyes got really wide and she shook her head in amazement, declaring she didn’t think she could live in America because she wouldn’t be able to eat without rice.

First festival "parade" I've seen going down our street

I am not sure how I got on a rice and culture tangent, but there it is. It turns out that my actual classes won’t start until Monday, so the past few days have been an unexpected respite from the craziness I am sure will come. I am often struck by the juxtaposition of the importance education has in Khmer culture and how many holidays and cancelled classes interrupt the school year; many students take extra lessons during the lunch hour or before and after school in order to get a better education, spending precious time and money. I am sure it is something I will continue to think about over the next two years. 

 

 

Next weekend, I am also headed to Phnom Penh with a fellow PCV for Bon Om Tuk (Water Festival), the first time I will have left the province in two months. I will definitely be stocking up on peanut butter, new books, and other exciting things while in the capitol! 

Until next time, 

Carissa 

A lovely wat (pagoda) in town