Good morning! Things start out pretty early today. About 4:30 to be exact. A couple days ago someone in the village died which means the Buddhist temple we live down the street from plays music and prayers and chants over a loud speaker so the entire community can hear. Music starts at about 4:30 am and continues from there.
I Walk outside to about 15 children just standing at the gate staring at me, three little ones especially catch my eyes because they are only about 4 years old. Most of these children continue to follow us up to the school, just shouting hello, and what is your name. We teach the first English class for the day at 11:30. In our village the English school that Pastor started is one of the cheapest schools and most families can afford it, but still some students go for free. The cost is $1 a month.
The food in Cambodia is just the best. I don’t cook, and I really know nothing about cooking but I think it’s that everything is flavored really really well. After lunch Pastor asks us if we want to go on a bike ride through the village. After borrowing 7 bikes from the neighbors we are off. Our little biking adventure consists of really hilarious bikes with baskets falling off, and handle bars shaking. (we of course name all these bikes, with pink thunder being the worst, or best in this case.) As the bike ride advances it is seriously one of the most beautiful places I have seen. There are Ridiculously green rice fields, a huge river, village homes, temples, farmers, animals, and dirt. Children screaming hello as we pass by and ponies and donkeys carry carts with water jugs on top. We stop off at a few homes to visit some of pastor’s friends.
One of the communities we visited there was a boy working in the rice field who wanted to show us around and show us the lake. After a quick tour of the field, one canoe ride, and jumping into the lake we ride back home. And after a bucket shower we make it back to the school to teach 6 more English classes that night.
So this is my Tuesday in Kampong Chan. I get to teach English, ride bicycles, hang out with children, jump in lakes, and eat delicious food. There’s so much more I could list but these simple joys have been so special to me lately.
