Take 1

Today, usual start with exception of a road block closer to the university.  Our tuk tuk made its way about a couple blocks from the university before the police stopped us. I actually enjoyed the walk in.  Lets just say that today was a great day. In class we did 'improv' with infomercials. I laughed quite a bit.  Each of us students grabbed blindly out of bag for an object.  We had a minute to produce our commercial in front of the class. Take a minute and look at this object...what does this look like to you?


I had two minutes to think something up. Do you ride a motorbike? Are passerby's getting a little too close? Getting up in your grill? Monks, are you tired of getting your head rubbed? >> Introducing the mmm..gurl,please (hand gestures included).  How does this amazing device work? Simply make eye contact with any perpetrator within a 1 mile radius and the device takes care of the rest.  There's no need to life a finger.  Let the lucky power of odds ruin his or her odds, with a five day welt in the locational you specify via brain waves. From there, continue your route.

Call now for your mmm..gurl,please..just 1 easy payment of 12,000 Riel. The mmm..gurl,please come is monk-a-licious yellow and tuk tuk brown.  Call now and get the pocket size, absolutely free. It's great for class, great for you! Call now.

So, my class of 14 has a great a quirky sense of humor.  I did my fair stare of laughing with this assignment.
How do infomercials make way into Khmer culture.  Example: A commercial aired for those wishing to be taller.  A small girl appears on the screen and want to be taller. A "Western" looking MD appears and peers down at the girl.  The girl is then put on a long board with tethers on the base to strap her feet in.  Her hard is held in with a cap.  She is then to sleep on the board every night for XX amount of days.  After a month or so she is measured and is 1/2" taller. Why? Because the board resets her spine and properly elongates her body.  I don't think this amazing contraption has reached the US.  In another case (Japanese commercial), there is a cap that bald men can place on their heads to yield abundant hair growth.  Electrodes stream the cap to stimulate hair follicles. BAM - Afro, if you don't believe me watch the commercial, it works.

The next segment of out morning class was team drama. As a class we came up with different movie/tv show genres. Then each group designated the other groups genres.  My groups got: Mexican tv show, Kung Fu, and horror.  We then had to act out the same crisis scene in each category.  I was Mexican soap opera damsel - long dramatic pauses into oblivion, slow motion hair flick... A bad male Chinese man in a Chinese dubbed movie, and finally a possessed policeman.  Other groups did North Korean soap opera, Bollywood, SciFi, etc. I was shocked by how well everyone contributed to their scenes, lots of laughing.  I also had no idea that my instructors would be so sarcastic - they know their place and adjust well to their audience.  On our break a couple student commented on my acting - in a German and Scottish accent.."your aktually do quite well with ahhKting." "Your Rrreally quite funny, your really goo'd..." I just like listening to their accents.  One sounds like the voice of Shrek when he's telling stories.  I smile every time. So there's that.

We had lunch at the Happy House. This was great. I ordered vegetable red curry with chapatti, delicious.  The funny things is, no matter when or where we go for lunch - someone's meal is always mixed up.  We tend to just go with the flow, the food is always decent. The rest of the day was grammar and teaching technicalities and strategies.  I stopped at a market after class. A cute little girl waved at me from her tuk tuk and blew me a kiss and followed it up with a giggle and a giant smile.  

We have two exams tomorrow to prep for.  We won't be leaving the hotel, as roads will be closed and chaotic tomorrow.  We will do some class in the am the 2 hours of testing. Then off to Angkor Wat - not sure what I will have for postings tomorrow of the weekend as I am usure if I will have internet connection.  Siem Reap is about 7 hours from Phnom Penh. We will be taking a bus or a van or two.

Tonight is karaoke night. I have heard some interesting music choices thus far. Several song choices I haven't heard of and others that I wished I hadn't heard of.  Also, some surprising hidden talent in these parts. All in all pretty fun day, I'll take it.

88, sunny side out

Today rings success. I was able to make a full Face Time connection with Nick. This morning he experienced my morning routine.  I brought breakfast to the lobby, yogurt and fresh Khmer bread, to the lobby.  My wifi connection allowed me to take him for a 1 minute ride in a tuk tuk.  He was able to see us turn into crowded street traffic and meet some of my fellow co-riders.  Then me, Nick, and the wifi parted ways. Altogether, kinda fun!

Then there's class, 88 degrees F inside, 60 degrees F inside. *Note to self: always bring a sweater to class, don't leave sweater at the breakfast table when you are talking to a Nicholas.  I presented/performed a dialogue in class today, with good reviews, great feedback.  Today learning entailed dialogue development, grammar (so fun), and presenting language in a reading format to varying academic levels.

Lunch took place a few blocks from the university.  I had a flatbread with chicken, peppers, various vegetables, and a bland sauce...served with mayo.  I don't really understand the mayo, perhaps a Westernized complement to then meal. Oh, and some complimentary tea.
 As a I sat and enjoyed my lunch, I took advantage of the wifi connection and sent family emails and texts..secretly hoping to reach them at 1 am, because I know they were up anyway thinking of me. At meals end, 8-10 golden floats made their way along the street in preparation to honor the king's passing.

Later in the afternoon, music hit the square, hear inside and outside via speakers as class trailed on.  Imagine 2 instruments 1) someone playing a low key bagpipe 3.5 notes on a loop 2) someone playing 4 notes on a xylophone with 6 second pauses between each...for at least an hour.  Dedication! I presume there will be even more for the next 5 days, I am guessing that was only practice.  The next few days will be interesting observing the preparation and and honoring of this king. a unique experience none-the-less.

Every evening, after a full day of class, my soul is instantly warmed by this. Too beautiful not to share.

On the way home from class, I enjoyed the ride through the city.  I observed families setting up the night markets.  I believe I am watching venders and locals purchase product and grocery for the upcoming day.  The displays are so beautiful.  Vegetables and fruits, colorful and strategically displayed along the curbside.  The best moment, as I faced oncoming traffic from my tuk tuk I saw a brown-eyed, brown-haired 3 year old with looking my way. She was sitting between her father (driving) and mother.  She and I made eye contact, she smiled and waved my way.  I waved back, and this continued for several blocks.  Soon enough her father caught on and had a huge smile on his face. They followed us til traffic swallowed them up.  Ha, it was pretty cute. Still makes me smile as I write this.

Arriving home, I decided to tackle some homework with the company of my ipod and the lizard straddling the yellow wall.  Music choice: Bruce Springsteen.. Hey, it was either that or Hank Williams Jr. - not sure how that got on my iPod...((Nick)).  Anyways, I got the job done - homework, Asian resume, cover letter and all completed.

Lastly, I would just like to add that I really like my fellow classmates, they are just the right amount of spunky, fun, and intelligent. Good times ahead. And then there are my blog followers, you are making this experience so great. Thank you.
  

And it's Tuesday

Today started out overcast. I woke up around 6 and worked on downloading some pictures and read through some emails.  I had my bakery bread this morning with strawberry jam and a mango yogurt. It was simple, yet delicious.

 

 Class entailed classroom management.  In regard to the content, we soon learned some of cultural-based concepts in regard to discipline, bribery, and cheating.  Are you curious what this entails? Well, it is common to physically abuse but not verbally abuse students.  Teachers often strike unruly students with rulers, open-hand to the face.  If you have ever been introduced to the' three-strike rule,' it is practice in many parts of SE Asia.  This is when a student is either given 3 strikes (warnings) before discipline intervenes OR students can start with 3 strikes and loses one for each negative action they do before disciple is acted upon.  We were told that a teacher once made a child stand in from of the window face the playground during recess, holding a sign that read, "I'm an idiot."

When it came to the area of cheating, I learned that this is a common practice in the region as well.  There is a lot of pressure for students to reach high academic achievement.  Even smart students cheat due to the pressure.  This may be a result of a family investing in one child to become successful.  As a result the student typically cheats on exams. An example, a student had his father below the classroom window.  The father would throw rocks through the open window with answers to the students questions, the student was caught. Other students try writing answers on water bottle labels, the inside of shoes, and on watch bands.  Coffee shops are known to print several note pages on small squares of paper for students.  To deter the issue, many streets are shut down during testing time to avoid people from cheating.

Bribery can involve students pooling together a collection of money and placing a envelope of money on the table, "so teacher, what about that test for tomorrow?"  Others may go up to a teacher and stroke their leg after class and ask for a better grade.  Unfortunately, in Cambodia, due to the cheating and bribery, the passing exam standards for medical schools are set at 50%, typically only 25% percent of students meet this.  These med students usually don't make it to pass the medical exams are typically don't pass the final exams.  In addition, the standards for academic achievements are lowered for these upcoming med professionals due to a lack of doctors in Cambodia.

The remainder of our class day was focused on grammar - aka word labeling (wahoo..) with word classes and parts of speech.  The class ended with dialogue formatting for new language learners, which was quite fascinating.  It has been a very productive first 2 days of class, feels like I have had a week of class. I am loving that I can learn culture with teaching, fascinating and relevant.

For lunch today I had Khmer noodles with fried egg, 6,000 Riel ($1.50).  This was an interesting dish.  It was bland, yet unique.  I choose to spice mine up with chili paste.  The spice was nice, but wow was it salty!  After class, I ventured around Phnom Penh with some friends.  We ended up eating at a corner restaurant tonight.  While we were waiting we casually watched a Khmer soap opera, when we looked up later the owner had changed the channel to Mr. Bean.  We are guessing this was to please us Westerners, as this is what we all watch.  A nice gesture none-the-less. For my supper I had a cold bottle of water with chicken vegetable rice, $2.50, and $1 for my 15-20 minute tuk tuk ride back to Marady.

 

On a side note, I keep noticing that several people park their cars randomly around the university - security guys hang out around the streets and casually push cars around as they please.  I am not really sure why, but it is kinda fun to watch on my breaks.

For those of you that have been reading my blog, I have been reading all of the comments through my email.  I will answer questions and provided feedback via email or through the next days blog.  I am working on adding pictures to the food page, if you are interested. 

First Day of School

Today, Monday 1/28, marked the first day of school.  I started out with a shower, which was nice and refreshing.  I wasn't sure how that would pan out, as there is significant construction around the hotel and a waterpipe was hit yesterday. Also, I failed to mention that while I was in the lobby I hear screaming women from the kitchen, look up and three women are running for the door with their hands over their ears.  I later found out that a a rag was left behind the stove in the kitchen, caught fire.  The "security dude" decided to 'super extinguish' the fire - seriously funny, so we had a very late supper, and since they forgot my dinner, I got the super super late supper.  We are all about the experience here!

Anyways, we left for school via tuk tuks at 8:20am today.  It was about a fifteen minute ride to the University.  I kinda like the ride, we pass by several markets.  I am curious about the grilled bananas/plantains and rice-biscuit-looking things.  We started out our lessons at 9am. The lessons entailed a basic orientation, teachings styles, classroom warmers or starters, teaching with dialogue, content, context, and modeling. Our class was capped off with resume writing - Asian style.  Many of us had several questions, as you need to be careful with wording. For example, a couple students have cocktail/bar-pub experience...if you put "bar" on your resume, you are associated with prostitution. "You were not a bar tender, you were a customer service representative..."

Unlike the USA, CVs you are to put your DOB, marital status, and picture on your resume. In addition, awards, competitions won, sports you play, are all applicable areas to add to the resume.  I directed most of my questions towards potential jobs/contracts.  I am sorting through what I want to do as far as teaching location, population, etc so that I have some direction.  I spent some time with our instructor Indy on the way back from class, he is originally from London and lived in Thailand for four years - I hammered him with questions.  I am even more fascinated, so excited!

We had a 90 minute lunch break, went to a local guest house.  Ordered chicken with cashew nut and a fresh pineapple drink. I am sure it would have been good, but my entree got mixed up.  Whatever I had was so good, one of my favorite meals yet. This meal was $3 and served with a smile.

After the day of class, several of LCs and I went for a jaunt down the broken-rubbled roads, 'dodging bullets' - and by bullets I mean oncoming unhelmitted motobikes with 3-5 people on each, a few cars, maybe a utility truck.  It is crazy, but seems to serve them well.  I have to say, I feel pretty safe walking - I would feel rather unsafe on a bicycle. PS all cars are Lexus or Toyota.  We purchased a giant brown spikey fruit - I would describe the scent as 'tropical awful'.  The texture was that of a well baked mushy sweet potato but tasted like a combination of pineapple-mango-seafood. I really have not much more to say. Moving on.. We made our way to the mall to buy whiteboard markers.  The markers are for teaching, the cost $1.30 each and are refillable.  We were advised to not buy the color red as it is associated with death. We were left with an impression after the instructor indicated that writing a child's name on the board in read is like wishing the dead.  I chose black and blue markers.  I stopped at the supermarket to buy some fresh bread, wheat-based, with a Chinese fragrant pear, a purple-red apple from New Zealand, a mango yogurt, a strawberry yogurt, and a nata de coco flavored yogurt - $4.20.  I keep the yogurt in the freezer as it appears it is more refrigeration temps.  I figured these would make for an interesting breakfast.  I really wish I could cook some meals, but I guess that will have to wait a couple of weeks. Until then I will plan to take advantage of some fresh produce and Khmer cuisine!

Upon leaving the markets 8 of us went to a Khmer restaurant that looked like a hanger.  We sat at tables that had a basket of Fanta sodas and a bucket of Angkor beer (Cambodian brewed).  I would describe the beer as somewhere between a Spotted Cow and Three Women, only my Wisconsin folk will understand this - many will be embarrassed by my lack of beer class.  I had half, Nick wasn't there to help me out.  And moving on, Fancy Bunsen-like burners were placed on our tables.  Atop was a metal bowl that resembled a sombrero.  The inside rim caught the broth and the top-point of the hat bowl was were we cooked the meats.  Meats consisted of squid, fish, pork, beef, shrimp, ?crayfish, and pork fat (used for frying - it's was no chicken as Sam found out - ha).  In the broth-rim leafy green vegetables and rice noodles were cooked.  Each of us received small dishes of sauces - sweet chili and a spicy pepper sauce that could be added to the broth.  Add some chopsticks and some team cooking and you have Khmer cuisine.  Overall this meal was similar to Vietnamese entrees in my opinion, but with a unique flare. Amazing flavor.

I went back to my hotel and tried yet again to Facetime Nick, fail. I'll get this figured out.  Others are getting their ipods to work, so we shall see. Nick emailed me great pics and a festive pink video involving a cute 6 years old. Thanks :)

Where Odds are Luck

Today was my first full day in Cambodia, quite eventful.  The day started with breakfast in the hotel, mostly westernized menu with some Cambodian dishes.  Over breakfast I spent some time getting to know fellow LCs.  Many are from all over the US, 1 from Germany, and 1 from Scotland/Sweden.  Nearly all of us have prior international experiences.

After breakfast we toured a local market and found a temple-like sanctuary. Lets just say that the walk to and from involves a lot of street-going activity.  As far as Cambodian traffic goes, the best way I can describe it, “side-walk rules,” just avoid running into someone.  When you cross the road in oncoming traffic you trust that buses, moped, vehicles or all sort slow or halt as you cross. The sounds of mopeds, dirt-bikes, tuk tuks, are what constantly streamline the roads.  Interestingly, when I in my tuk tuk approached the front of the hotel, there is NO turning lane.  “Are we driving in oncoming traffic? – Hannah.  Yep! Therefore you turn into the oncoming traffic lane and hang a left into the hotel’s mini-lot. These peeps know how to use their horns effectively; I haven’t heard any yelling though. I think they just like the sound of the occasional horn.

I digress, on the way back from the marketplace a couple of us stopped at the edge of a bridge near our hotel and talked with some Cambodian boys, ages ~7-10 years (looked much younger).  They were so cute!  They were bashful at first, but then warmed up to use and taught us some Khmer, they sang us the alphabet in English and proceeded to dance and sing Gangnam Style. This made me think of Elliott, he would have loved this.  Luckily I have some of it on video, just not sure how to transfer it via web.

We made it back to the hotel and then went for a tour to the Grand Palace via tuk tuks.  We saw two palaces, not recalling the name of the first Palace as it was written in Khamer.  They were both gorgeous.  Gorgeous vegetation surrounds the grounds.  Enroute there were many monks and Cambodians gathered around the palace grounds.   There was signing and cleaning/prepping for the funeral of the King that passed in October.  The funeral is to take place in the next week and is expected to attract thousands of people to the city.

The palaces are located along the Mekong River.  As we traveled parallel, there were houseboats in the water, people fishing, and exercise equipment facing the river bed.  As present the water level is low but rises significantly in the rainy season.  Interestingly, the Mekong is the only river that runs N to S and switched S to N, 7^th largest river in Asia.

We stopped for lunch at Metro, along the Mekong.  I would say this restaurant was upscaled.  I paid $2.40 for ginger lemongrass satay (chicken spiked through lemongrass strand), served with a mayo-mustard and chili-sweet sauce.  It was good.  I also tried squid with peppercorns, this was interesting.  Surprisingly the texture didn’t throw me off, the dish was quite beautiful.  In addition I did sample duck-noodle soup, which I didn’t care as much for.  Departing the eatery we saw hundreds of monks dressed in golden robes pass in front of the palace park.  It was quite a site.  Music lingered in the streets as we passed by.

Form there some of us went towards the shopping districts, as one LC lost his luggage and needed clothing.  I was able to tour a grocery store, quite fascinating.  Crazy foods and items fascinate me.  Whitening lotions, to cheeses, oreos, and. Milk, etc – yes, milk I saw low fat milk and wanted to take a picture..but it is not allowed.  A half gallon is $4.50.

Arriving back at the hotel, we regrouped and met with the LC coordinator. He laid out the main things we should know for the upcoming weeks.  We placed our supper orders so that they would get to us in an organized fashion during our group dinner.  Well, lets just say that Asian kitchens typically fashion out 3-4 meals at a time.  Perhaps a few rogue plates came out, some confusion.. I think I got my meal 1 hr and 15 minutes after the first meal was brought in. Makes me smile! After the meal we watched The Killing Fields, interesting movie on Cambodia early 1870s – If you have interest in this you may wanna check it out. Not the best actors, and not a happy film but gives some real depth on history.

I will work to get some photos up to fill you in on the days events.  Tomorrow, 1/28 starts my first day of class.  I leave 8:20 via Tuk Tuk for the University.  Our class training is 9-5:30, M-F.

Phnom Penh Stroll

8 minute walk from hotel. Temples and monks. Lots of friendly faces.

Breakfast

Phnom Penh at Marady Hotel. Cost $2.75, likely on upper end. And didn't order meat. Oh we'll!

Phnom Penh

I officially arrived in Phnom Penh 11:20pm 1/26. I met a fellow LC member while boarding my flight from Seoul to Phnom Penh.  I was greeted with a sign at the airport.  From there I met another LC member.  The weather was warm, humid, with a few mosquitos.  We took Tuk Tuk's to the Marady Hotel.  One tuk tuk was strictly for luggage.  A tuk tuk is essentially a bike with a carriage-like cart attached to it.  Enroute, approximately 15 minutes, we passed through the city, many people were out side in little groups talked around their vending cart areas.  I have a video/pictures, but the connection is too poor to get it off of my ipod at the moment. Stay tuned for updates.

Interestingly, I have the sensation of a hand falling asleep for the past 12-14 hours.  The feeling goes from my right pinky to my wrist.  Then there is the random heart beat and and twitching nerve I can see going up my arm.  I have been icing and using icy-hot, told it could take a week to dismiss.

It seems that internet is working better from my laptop than the ipod.  I was able to Facetime Nick for couple of minutes (while he was hitting the slopes - snowboarding ha).  I lost connection with him though.  I have not had time to contact anyone else with my poor internet connection via text.

I just has some breakfast in the lobby, toast with eggs, and some type of fatty greasy pork that I refrained from indulging in. Some of my friends purchased Cambodian ice-coffee from a street vendor.  The coffee is placed in a plastic bag with a straw rubber-banded to the top, tasty - and I don't even care for coffee.  I am told that it is made with a sweetened condensed milk.

I am currently sitting in my 2 bed-hotel room listening to construction, traffic noises, and occasional beeping.  In about ten minutes some LC friends and I are setting out for some exploration before I meet the full group at 12:30pm for a tour of Phnom Penh. Life is good!

Seoul Korea

I just arrived in Seoul Korea. I looked put the plane window and saw beatiful water with mountains and islands hugging the korean shoreline. The weather is cold, no snow. I'm am in the airport watching the sunset over the mountains, waiting for my flight to Phnom Penh Cambodia 7:10pm.

Bags Thai'd

Done with packing.
Wine by the fire.
Company to keep.

Janelle

Look what I got in the mail! Thanks Janelle, made my day. Perfect gift, I will be thinking of you! ...And yes, trying some great food, adventuring, and sharing pics.

Twins

Won't let you go. Great way to spend my last weekend in the states. Miss you already!

Mis hermanos

My 'See Ya Later Crew'

My brothers and my Amanda's up for my last weekend! Will miss them all.

Foodie Night

Many of my Madison friends over for a last hangout before I leave. Great food and company. Food included Ethiopian Spicy Red Lentil Stew, Mediterranean bread, nan, Moroccan beef kebabs, quinoa, hummus, horchata, scones, and so much more! Some really great food!

Starting my blog

I am just starting my blog. Stay tuned for my upcoming Asian adventures. This blog will feature adventure, people, culture, and cuisine!