GET EXCITED. Another list…
YOU’RE IN CAMBODIA WHEN…
–
The donkeys from Haitian streets become elephants.-You’re dizzy from all the burning incense.
– Preferred fruits taste like warm raw squash, onion, and garlic.
-You accidentally touch a male friend on the arm and you think he might have a heart attack. (pretty sure I’ve taken out two or three fellow teachers…whoops.)
– You perfect your sense of balance when you use the restroom and often wonder why there are dishwashing utensils next to the
toilet instead of toilet paper.
toilet instead of toilet paper.-You can’t sit in chairs if you weigh over 150 lbs. without the risk that the four legs will fly out from under you.
– You’re suddenly everyone’s sister. (pronounced sis-TUH)
– You see monks walking around town with one of the following: a cell phone, neon orange toga, man purse or cigarettes.
– Fruits can be used as weapons or stink bombs
– When crossing the street, you’re supposed to “be the rock and let the water flow around you…”
-You receive the delicious snack of grasshoppers and baked beetles.
-You drink coffee (aka liquid crack) out of plastic bags. (Just be sure to finish it before the ice melts or you’ll probably get sick)
– The porcupine in your grocery sack is actually the fruit portion of your lunch.
– Ramen noodle flavors include: seafood, chicken, and dog…no joke.
I ate a beetle today. Oh yes, and a grasshopper. The beetle was bearable and easy to swallow. The grasshopper was chewy and required at least 25 seconds of chewing. Have you ever had a grasshopper in your mouth? Well, if not, I assure that you 25 seconds is entirely too long unless you’re trying to gag. Liz did gag. Ashley just threw it up. Sick. When in Rome though, right?
So, we’ve now arrived at our ministry location in Cambodia. We’re serving at New Hope Christian School. We’ll mainly be teaching English classes, holding a bible class, and serving in nearby slums. I’ve been horrified at the thought of teaching English classes. The classes in the morning are with young children 1st-3rd grade. That’s easy and not intimidating. The evening classes however consist of high school students, university students, and young adults. Quite intimidating in a culture where many of my personality traits would be misunderstood…
My mornings are filled with 1st grade classes. In the evening, I teach computer, elementary English, adult elementary English, and Bible. It’s a fun filled day. Khmer is super hard to learn. I’m really missing Spanish right about now…
My first adult class went really well. Typically Cambodians aren’t super expressive, so they weren’t really sure to do with all of my facial expressions. In trying to explain the difference between safe and dangerous, I nearly launched myself over a nearby wall. The boy in the front row panicked and thought he was going to have to save me. Hysterical.
More to come.
In case you were wondering….
