Happy Anniversary!

One year ago today (ish, depending on what time zone you are in), I left the United States of America and departed on this chaotic Cambodian adventure.  I traveled for way too many hours, with way too many delayed flights and snafus, I basically didn't have a January 3rd or 4th, yet somehow made it here.  While doing my annual holiday cleaning (wish I had the before and after photos to show you how chaotic my room had become),  I happened upon this self-evaluation on anticipation and expectations of mission.  I thought I would share some of them with you (and, it is scary how well I actually understood what I was getting into on this adventure and also how naive I was)...

For the positives, I was looking forward to learning a new language.  And, that still holds true.  I have even been lucky enough to learn two new languages (Cambodian Sign Language and Khmer).  Plus, thanks to some great friends...

Including these lovely ladies

I have been able to speak Spanish more here than my last year in DC.  My American Sign Language is getting a brush up (read as: I have forgotten or confused almost all my ASL but am now starting to relearn some) and, thanks to French visitors, I am again getting practice reading and listening in French (though, will still never claim any knowledge of this language, unless I have Google translate close by).

I also said I looked forward to stretching myself to learn a new culture and try new and different things...  On good days, I still enjoy that.  Though, there are definitely times I want to scream (usually when the culturally acceptable way of driving is involved).

My co-worker Makara preparing Ambok.  It is basically dried, pounded rice that you mash a banana into and eat.  Interesting experience.  

Part of the wedding crew.  Definitely a new cultural experience.

Another thing I was super excited about was sharing this experience with all of you!  Honestly, the hardest part has been figuring out what is worth sharing when I sit to blog.  I truly could not have made it through all the challenging times without the emails, messages, texts, skype-dates, and of course...

all the 'love letters' that you all gave me before leaving the USA to bring over here.  Many times these have motivated me in tough moments.  I just need to reach into the drawer and find a little message from a friend (I have about 1/3 of them yet to be opened)

Now for the challenges, these crack me up.

My biggest worries were:

1. Missing important events at home (well, four weddings and a funeral and counting, but life goes on)

Attending Grandma's funeral via Skype.  Now I just need to attend a wedding by Skype!  Or a birth...  That'd be exciting ;)

2. Physical injury/damage or loss of property (knock on wood, it wasn't worth the worry)

3. Inability to adapt - well, I can't really judge that but I think I am doing ok.

What will you miss most:

1) Freedom of movement (true, true, true!  Every invitation involves thinking: Do I bike? Will it be dark when I come home? Do I need to call a tuktuk?  Should I have the tuktuk wait?  Can I just walk out my door without people staring?!?!?! ;))

My co-workers were worried I would melt in the rain... So they gave me rain gear to borrow.

2) Ability to run

Half Marathon, baby!  Great to run at Angkor Wat.  Though, this may be the last run in the country so I can stop with this....

No caption needed

3. My people (Amen to that, though, the upside is all of y'all visiting and all my new 'people')

4. Cheese/food diversity (I plan to eat the entire month I am home, cheese is an essential part of every meal I have requested)

5. Wilderness (YES)

This brief trip to Mondulkiri just wasn't long enough...

Looks like Oregon!

And, these were my favorite... things you will miss least (aka things I thought I could escape).  How naive I was!

1. Constant connection (ha.ha.ha.)  I think I am on a computer more now than ever before.  It is my job to keep people connected, plus I am now keeping in touch with family and friends only through my computer.  I make phone calls through my computer. I text through my computer.  For the first time in my life, I feel like I am missing my third arm if I am away from my computer for more than six hours.  Yikes!

2. Being sized up for accomplishments, marriages, babies, etc. (please repeat your laughter).  Well, the DC "What does your business card say, then I will decide if I want to talk to you" is not so much here but I don't think I have gone one week without being asked, if I am married, why I am not married, when will I be married, etc.  My favorite is when this is followed with listing all the reasons they see that I should be married (usually starting with physical features and characteristics like I am very polite, and kind).

3. Consumerism - the green monster of greed and envy exists everywhere.

4. Self-centered lack of awareness of the world (aka Taylor Swift attracts more attention than famine or drone attacks).  This one sadly is true worldwide.  In Cambodia, actual world news coverage is even less than in the USA so if it is not trending on Facebook, it is not in the collective conscious. Though, I would still argue, here it is a bit better than the US, as here information is not as available where as in the US it is often ignored.

5. Feeling the need to conform to some societal expectation... Conform?  What?  I have always had this dress...

Wedding in the morning.  I feel this caption should read, I want to thank all the little people.  Never realized how 'large' I am until coming here ;)  You can dress her like she belongs, but she will always stand-out.

Christmas in Cambodia

What is it like to celebrate Christmas in Cambodia?  Well, it is kind of like any other day in Cambodia, is the short answer. Because Cambodia is a Buddhist country, Christmas literally is just any other normal day, though Consumerism-Christmas is catching on very quickly.  Some of the Christian NGOs shut down, but for most of us a Maryknoll Lay Missioners, we worked just like any other day.  It was somewhere around 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside, definitely not a white Christmas.

A lot of this happened:

Skyping with the sisters (Courtesy of Sarah B.)

Opening presents with family, not actually on Christmas

It was really like having an out of body experience.  I was watching all the Christmas traditions, listening to the music, seeing the Christmas tree at home but since I wasn't there, it felt like I was peering into a world of which I was not a part.

Some Christmas traditions did carry through.  When I woke up, way too early, on Christmas morning, I watched White Christmas before work (love that movie).  I listened to all kinds of Christmas tunes. I even picked out a Christmas tree (this was for my roommate's Christmas present, she wanted a tree). Though, the tree came home on the back of a moto, sandwiched between me and my very enthusiastic co-worker - who had never before purchased a Christmas tree (sorry, you will have to imagine that sight).

My roommate's tree!

I also decked my own halls.  I decided maybe if I had some decorations, I would feel more festive.

This is my recycled Christmas tree and nativity.  The tree and nativity people are made from toilet paper tubes, Jesus is made from recycled paper, the sheep are from the cotton that comes at the top of vitamin bottles, and the star and crowns are from the wrapper my antibiotics came in....  

There were a couple of moments that actually felt like Christmas.  One was actually a week or so before.  My friend Erin hosted a holiday party at a local restaurant.  Friends from work all gathered and there were Christmas carols, and a holiday photo booth, and even cake with candy cane on top. Many of my Khmer friends in attendance had lots of questions about this tradition of Christmas and it was so much fun to explain and share my traditions.  Maybe if I am healthy next year, I will be able to host my own party and share more traditions.

One good lookin' group

Another moment, that really felt like Christmas, was at Christmas eve mass.  One good thing about being Catholic is that church is basically the same, EVERYWHERE :)  And, I even provided the sign language interpreting for the Christmas songs.  As those who went to St. Pius in OR know, every Christmas, for many years, I would sign the songs at Christmas Eve mass.  Though, in Oregon, I don't think anyone actually relied on my interpreting nor understood much of the sign, they just thought it was pretty.  I am not sure how this tradition started but signing on Christmas Eve this year felt like it really was Christmas (right down to quaking like a shepherd, my insides rolling like the little drummer boy's drum, my legs prancing and pawing, what felt like my heart thumping to an enthusiastic version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, ;)  you get it, I hate being in front of people).

Interpreting the Psalm (this was the one song for which I had not seen lyrics before and thus had not prepared, I was doing Ok until she sang the word constancy, REALLY?  I couldn't even come up with that word in spoken English) (Courtesy of Miguel)

Father Charlie interpreting the gospel reading/nativity play.  He is awesome, he simultaneously interpreted and said the entire mass.  I cannot tell you how difficult that is to do.

On Christmas day, I worked, had lunch with a friend (nothing says holidays like a fresh mango smoothie), ate watermelon (never done that on Christmas before) and, Maryknoll hosted a Christmas dinner, with many, many guests.  Though, not the normal Christmas, it was a good meal and great conversation.

My one "Christmas picture" from the year with Erin and the Pope (Both looking far more classy than I) (Courtesy of Erin's FB)

More Christmas caroling.  And, the photo that inspired my New Year's resolution to look less pained and like the scream mask in photos (picture courtesy of Fr. Charlie)

The best looking table at dinner.  From left, me, Kila (demonstrating the sign for Facebook), Maria (MKLM), Hang (MKLM),  and Erin. (photo and empty plate courtesy of Fr. Charlie)