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.