Holllaaa, after five days of travel my squad made it to Cambodia. We had a few bumps in the road getting here, but we made it nevertheless! Thanks God!
After stepping off the plane it immediately felt like getting into your car on the hottest day of the summer. Like being in someone’s moist mouth. You sweat as soon as you get out of the shower, wake up, and move your body in even the slightest. Through this slight difficulty, God has been teaching me how to choose joy in the most uncomfortable and hard circumstances. Even when every single pore on my body is sweeting, even when I want to give up, even when I feel like my body is literally on fire. What a privilege it is to choose joy in the hard things because ultimately that is what brings us closer to God!!!!
My team is working in three different established High Schools/Universities in Siem Reap. Some days we teach structured English classes and others we simple talk with them to practice conversational phrases.
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KHMER CULTURAL ——>
-Buddhism is the most popular religion in Cambodia.
-Even in thousand degree weather everyone wears long pants and long shirts #modestishottest
-hugggeee Facebook people (people are always asking for our FB names) ((even the teens here still uses FB))
-one of the most common questions we get is “you have boyfriend?”
-they use USD for everything, but Riel (their currency) for change.
-Motorcycles (Moto’s) are the main form of transportation.
-No one follows the driving laws, you just drive wherever your vehicle can fit.
-MATCHA & BUBBLE TEA ARE EVERYWHERE.
-PAD TAI & CURRY ARE ALSO.
-The students here are very respectful to their teachers & elders. They value education and most students go to school for about twelve hours a day.
-Baby under one arm, chicken under the other.
-The mops here are different.
-There are shrines with offerings on most street corners, store fronts and homes.
-The national language is Khmer, but a lot of people speak at least a little bit of English.
-Many people keep one finger nail long to pick their nose with. (Pro tip: don’t touch it!!!)
-Tuk Tuk rides are the best because of the breezeee, but usually more expensive. There is an App we use for transportation called PassApp which is the equivalent of Uber for Tuk Tuks.
-They greet one another by using “prayer hands“ and bowing their head down a bit. The level of the hands depends on how old & respected the other person is. There is not nearly as much physical touch here compared to Central America and that has been hard for me. But we’re all so sweaty all of the time so I don’t think anyone would want to hug us anyways, hahaha.
-There‘s a hugeee time difference. Twelve hours to be exact. So when you’re going to bed, I am just waking up!
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God is already bringing so much fruit to my time here. I have a huge desire to encourage and love the students here with my entire heart. I’m literally so passionate about our ministry here in Cambodia. I can’t wait for all the new friendships that will be built during our time here + to share them with you. Good things are to come!
Thank you all for continuing to read my blogs and reach out to me when you do. It means more to me than I could even begin to put into words. God bless you.<3
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Insta: @savannathomass
Blog: savannathomas.theworldrace.org
