Cambodia. Crazy hot temperatures. Non-stop sweating. No AC. Squatty potties. Scorpions in bed with you (happened to me). Crabs crawling on your back in the middle of the night (happened to a team mate). Rice for lunch and dinner every day. Sleeping on sleeping pads.
Cambodia. Beautiful country. Full of the sweetest and most caring people. Helping to teach English to the cutest kids. Lots of laughter. Beautiful sunsets. Iced coffee for $0.50. Tuk-tuk rides everywhere. Running water for showers. A market where we buy lots of local veggies. Teachers who go out of their way to care for you. Dance parties. Baby powder fights. Gorgeous, star-filled sky at night.
It’s all about perspective.
This month is definitely the hardest we have had so far on the race in terms of living conditions. Mostly just due to the heat. Especially being a Canadian girl, my body is not used to this ‘feels like 110 degrees’ weather. All day, every day, with no way to escape it. And it does start to wear on you – after about a week I became crazy tired and just didn’t feel like myself. When your body starts to react poorly to your living situation, it is easy to let that affect everything. What I’m learning though, is that it is so important to remember why I am here and all of the good things that I have been blessed with.
We are only about half way through this month but it is one of my favourites. Despite the harder living conditions, I absolutely love what we are doing! I have realized on the race how much I love teaching and getting to build relationships with kids. Every day I get to work with two different classes – one kindergarten age and one towards the older end of elementary school. It’s the best.
And we are surrounded by the most amazing staff at this school. The teachers are all incredibly kind and go out of their way to care for us. It has been so much fun getting to know them.
Long story short, God is good. He provides for us all that we need. And, He is there to support us through the harder times, we just need to learn to rely on Him. Incredibly thankful for all of the blessings He has given my team and I this month.
~
P.S.
It’s Khmer New Year here in Cambodia, so the kids have 4 days of school off and the weekend. So, my team gets a break as well. We are in Phnom Penh for the next 5 days, staying at a hostel. The hot showers and the AC are amazing, but I already miss the people like crazy.
